Don

I took my friend Greg for his first trip to Taney trophy area. He has flyfished for 30 years and is a very proficient fly tyer as well. He only fishes dry's and he finally tried his hand at deep water nymphing.Another friend, Chuck, met us at approx 8:30 AM and we were in the water by 9. We fished mainly in the pool below chute 2. Greg stated that it was fun and he really liked it. Fish surfaced a little at times but dries werent raking them in. Greg had one strike on a red ant. The three of us combined for about 40 fish all day. Most were taken on scuds and egg patterns. Gray and olive size 18 were the scuds of choice. Was a tough day. We took several breaks when rain and lightning became too much and had fly tying class on the parking lot. We made a stroll up to chute 1 and back but only caught a very few. I later ventured down to the rebar hole when it was vacant and found out why it was vacant, no takers. Water came on at 4 PM. I usually pick up a few then but only hooked one and it got away. Nevertheless, a great day of fishing and spending time with friends. Good Fishing, Don

I, myself, will not wade fish the White at night if you are not at the dam and have a quick access from the river. The White is too dangerous. Good Fishin, Don

I try to fish seams along the banks. I usually use a bright attractor fly such as red san juan worm, copper john, egg pattern, then I trail a small scud, sowbug, midge, appprox 1 ft behind. A little purple flash in the trailer fly has worked lately. I also make sure I have enough weight to get the flies down. Don

I'm camping at Roark Bluff next week. I flyfished last year and hooked a nice 4-5 lb ? bass near the swimming area on a wooly bugger but wasn't able to land him. Any flyfishing recommendations for wading shallow banks along the lake for carp, bass, bluegill, crappie, etc.? Thanks, Don

Nice rainbow Phil. Are you going to post the pic on OAF? Don

I have not a clue. Who are they? Don

Just curious as to how you learned this tip. Is this voice of experience? Don

Good to hear they're biting down there. I loved both trips to the Little Red last year and those at the Little Red Fly Shop were hospitable and helpful. There you can see the fiberglass mount of the world record brown.....HUGE! Camping is great at JFK park and we caught fish right below camp each time as well as Winkley Shoals. Most fish each time were from red butt soft hackles and sowbugs. I hope to go again this year.Little Red is a beautiful place. Good Fishing, Don

Fished Sunday 05/21 from chute 1 to chute 3, 12:00-8:00 PM. Caught 50 fish all on variety of scuds, egg patterns, and sculpins. Caught 4 during running water that evening with sowbug dropped behind a red san juan worm. Saw a guy catch a lunker on south side of river during running water. He yelled that it looked like a salmon. Incredible fog during the evening hours. Fished Thursday 5/18 6:00-8:30 PM. Ran water all the time. Caught 7 fish with same san juan/sowbug combo. All big fish 13-18 inches. Lost 20 plus inch fish. I guess size 20 fly couldnt hold on at the time. Sorry for lack of postings, internet is down at home. Good fishing, Don

Yes Indeed, Thanks goes to Phil and all the rest involved. Don

Hey Fitz, This is orange hat Drury Alumni from the Rebar Hole last month. Glad you got on the fish, but more importantly I'm glad you got quality time with your father. Priceless. I'll try Taney Sunday afternoon April 9. Good fishin Don

Nice to hear you got a brownie. I hear folks say they caught a brownie out of Roaring River many times I'm there. I've fished state parks Roaring River and Bennett quite a few times since 1976 and never have seen a brown landed.

By combing many areas of this forum, it makes me realize just how many of different bodies of water are covered by the same fisherman. I am very appreciative that you are all not just trout guys and just that there are many other diverse sportsman out there. Don

Thanks alot guys, I've been looking hard on many online sites. Do any of you own or have researched Trout Unlimited Colorado model? Has alot of storage topside. Has tough exterior lining. Pontoons are tall so it's not wind friendly and not the lightest model available. I seem to think it will do well in shallow water riffle crossings. Only rated level 1 river conditions. Does that make a difference in our part of the country? Also interested in upper Current and North Fork in Missouri rivers. Don

I want to share this address with you about a Missouri Rainbow. It has great pics and an interesting story to go with it. http://www.missouriskies.org/rainbow/febru...inbow_2006.html

I am interested in a one man rig. Ability to hold a backpack with minimum camping gear for float trips. Plan to use on all rivers in Southern Mo and Ark. Would like to float the Norfork and Little Red rivers in particular. Aso interested in Buffalo River. Interested in standing platform if one thinks it's necessary. Thanks, Don

I agree with Mizzou. Presentation should be of equal factor. Shape is first because it defines what the feed is. Color and presentation are next, depending on combinations of many factors of course. Next is size.

I accidentally first posted this message to the bass fishing equipment section then realized that this topic could apply there as well except for pontoon styles about river vs. lake water. I'll probably get one next year. So far I like the Trout Unlimited Colorado model on EBay for $420.00 shipped. Ive seen others rated for rougher water. The ones with standing platforms cost several hundred dollars more. My cousin states I need a light weight model in case I need to carry up banks and distance. Any suggestions?

I'll probably get one next year. So far I like the Trout Unlimited Colorado model on EBay for $420.00 shipped. Ive seen others rated for rougher water. The ones with standing platforms cost several hundred dollars more. My cousin states I need a light weight model in case I need to carry up banks and distance. Any suggestions?

Hoover, I caught spoonbill years ago and threw the loaves of eggs into the river when we cleaned them. Do you eat those eggs? If so, how?

Good fishin Leonard. I'm glad you got on them. I only fished the White once last summer. Cotter area and Wildcat. It's a beautiful river, saw eagles there. Olive woolies at camp and red zebra midge at Wildcat. I'm going again around 4th of July. I'll have a cold beer as well.

My friend and I showed up at Norfork Sat approx 9:00AM and set up camp immediately because of rain forecast. We were at Quarry Dam Park. We made McClellan's at 10:00. It looked weird when we paid because the dock was gone. A man was launching a blue river pontoon from the bank where the dock once stood. My first cast yielded a 15" cutthroat. I thought, what a day it's gonna be. I caught two more in the next three hours and my friend caught one. All on scuds. Oh well, weather was nice. Went back to camp and grilled brats. After lunch, I fished below the camp and caught nothing the first hour or two. Then I finally picked up six fish in riffles the last hour and a half before sundown off a rust colored midge 18" below indicator. Three rainbows, three cutthroats. Tornado warning and sirens made us take shelter late Saturday. Only hard rain and marble hail for approx 30 min Sat night. Tired from the storm, we hit handicapped access approx 7:30 Sun. Like fishing in chocolate milk. No takers, no fisherman except for some going and some coming. We contemplated going to the White. We then decided to to camp. Even though it rained for short period the night before, it rained alot. The 100 acres atop the hill overlooking the dam was sheved off for development is not so impressive. We cruised thru on our way back from McClellan's. Nice views of the dam. As reported by Mr Berry, runoff ruined fishing for us as well. However, water was half clear when we got back to camp and I slowly picked up three fish below camp in about an hour. I got back home, north of Clever MO,approx 4:00PM, glad I got away from that tornado business. 1/2 mil wide F-3 twister hit my home Sun night at approximately 10:30. Lot's of damage outside. vehicles, propane tank, garage roof structure, and much more, but I'm so lucky. Several families down my road and other areas of the community were displaced from their homes. I plan to fish again next month after tornado cleanup. Probably homewaters of Taney. You'll get a report of course. Good fishin' Don

My friend Kevin landing one at JFK Park, Little Red River AR, Oct 2005. Click for larger image.

Fished between chute 2 and rebar from 2:00-5:30 PM. Strikes were few and far between. Caught only eight fish, most all less than 12 inches. Caught all on a variety of scuds, usually immediately after switching flies or when the sun would hide behind a cloud. Tried a ginger wooly bugger, no takers. Tried a black soft hackle when fish started surfacing, no takers. Hey Fitz, thanks for the flies. Good to meet you and hope to run into you again. Good fishing, Don

Congtatulations Michael.