Yakfly

Super nice fish. What part of Rim is that, looks like the 3rd island down near the power lines? What was the presentation technique for that streamer on LOW LOW water?

I have a Reddington RS-3, 9 feet, 5 weight, 4 piece, with Okuma Integrity reel and BSP 5wt DT floating line for sale. Inlcules rod sock and nice tube. I think Reddinton stopped making these last year, now they have the RS-4. The RS-3 rod alone was 139 when I bought it. Barely used. This was my backup system that I have used MAYBE 2 times in the past year that I've had it (bought new). Makes excellent starter system or backup. Asking $125, includes shipping.

Now that we can start thinking about wading the White again (maybe?) I am confused about the tailwater chart from the COE website. Looking at todays report, it looks like generation of 38 - 50 MW caused a tailwater level of 453 feet. But I was always told that dead low tailwater was right at 450 feet, and that 45-50 MW generation was about 1 full unit, which would cause a tailwater rise of about 1 foot (not 3 feet). I assume that the tailwater level is taken up close to the dam, so previous generation has a minimal effect. Am I missing something here, or do I just need to forget about these COE charts? Date time lake tailwater ft cfs mwh 05DEC2008 1000 653.73 454.37 6770 84 05DEC2008 1100 653.82 453.76 5066 56 05DEC2008 1200 653.82 453.58 4706 51 05DEC2008 1300 653.76 453.05 3314 38 05DEC2008 1400 653.73 453.10 3722 45 05DEC2008 1500 653.70 453.43 4034 50

I have the opportunity of getting some Cabela's gift cards in $100 denominations. I'd be willing to sell them for $80 each. Just trying to see if there is any interest. I need the cash more than gear right now. Probably will have 5 x $100 cards for sale. Thanks, and hope some of you could use these. =Yak

Fishing for trout I think best months November - April - less fishing pressure the reason I'm sure. Generally mid-week from November to May - fishing is very good and crowds are non-existent. Canoers are indeed more sparse after Labor day. Although on nice fall weekends there will be some, generally there either fishermen, or folks enjoying the nice weather and fall foilage - either way they are not the rowdies from summer. BTW, no worries about being pure here. It's all fishing.

No time for full report, but I did well last week at The bayou access. Water is running clear again. Hooked up 20+ in a couple of hours, all bows, all freshly stocked, except a couple that went in the 3+ lb class, brightly colored. Those 2 had been in the river a while. All caught on small (size 12) olive woolies.

http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=14010

Both sides of that island have some riffle water - if you want to fish small I'd start with some soft hackles there, partridge & orange/red/green/yellow. Nymphing I would try zebra midge, black/copper & red/silver. But my bet is that an olive wooley will outcatch anything else on that river. Good Luck. Please give a report when you get back!

I don't hear much about hoppers this year? This time last year there were a lot of reports about grasshopper patterns producing very well. They even worked for ME when I was on the White last Labor Day. Was last year a better "hopper year"?

Anybody have reports on trout fishing on the SR lately? I havent been since Feb this year. I was wondering if there has been reduced stocking since the hatchery got flooded out this past spring? Can you tell the difference over past years? Thanks

Nice tie. I'll bet it also catches a trout or two, drifted thru the riffles. Shorten the legs a tad and you have a great riffle beetle.

Buffalo City Arkansas, at the confluence of the White and Buffalo Rivers. Buffalo Shoals section on the White for trout. Lower section of The Buffalo holds big smallmouth and huge largemouth. Also tons of smallmouth on the White river in this area. For my money (and I've spent a bunch of it there) no better diversity and quality of fishing than Buffalo City.

OOoohhh - late summer on the Buffalo! I'll be there too. I take it you are talking about the lower section - Rush to White River. That time of year, the water levels will be near lowest of all year. The deep, deep sections (I'm talking 10+ feet) will be pretty much limited to the White River confluence area. You'll see a lot of shallow runs and small pools. Are there a lot of downed trees? I didn't see a whole bunch this summer, I saw more "bent over" trees from this years flood. Is this a good area for fall fishing? - YES. Upper Buffalo becomes hard to float due to low water levels. Lower section is better IMHO. More deeper runs, deeper pools. Flies? Well covered above and yeah, standard smallmouth fare works well. My opinions - Woolleys and more woolleys. Crawfish colors = brown/rootbeer/orange and the like. Go kinda big because by this time of year, you are seeing this years born crawfishies at their biggest size. Black woolley = leech. Chartruse clousers for minnow imitations. Oh and heck yeah, throw a hopper up against the banks.

From the parking lot at the hatchery, about 1/2 mile. walk down the train tracks. Be carefull, seems like theres a train going by every 30 minutes. I usually float the river, so I don't know all the access points from the tracks. may want to look for well worn paths where others have acceseed.

As said, DAM3, Lassiters, and Bayou are the three main access points. But see the most pressure/harvest by far. If you will access the water between The big island down from DAM3 and the Bayou, you'll find the best fishing on the river. Access by 1) walking the train tracks and scrambling down the bank, or 2) better, floating in a canoe/kayak. Lots of deep holes to drift, easy anchoring, many places to get out and wade. Only advisable though after the summer rowdies fade away, say from October to May. Flies? Match the type of water / style of fishing you prefer. Deep holes/runs - woolies. Big woolies. Olive/black/brown. Fish on sink tip is good. This river is LOADED with crawfish, I'm convinced woolies imitate well enough. Also consider dead drifting woolies under indicator - dynamite technique. Riffle water - as said, soft hackle flies. Also generic, simple stuff like wolley worms, cracklebacks are great. I've had some of my best days fly fishing with Walmart supplied Black Woolley worms fished in Spring River riffles. LAte summer up to November, toss grasshopper/ant patterns against the bank. This is the most effective "dry fly" fishing for me on the SR. I've dried Elk hair caddies/traditional fries with little success. Good luck. If you can access between DAM3 and Bayou, you'll have a ton of fun. Also see articles by area guide John Berry on fishing the Spring - always great information : http://www.berrybrothersguides.com/columns5.html#Springtime http://www.berrybrothersguides.com/columns...w%20Years%20Day

Super nice fish, thanks for sharing. My opinion, it was your presentation that was the key. I used to try and fish large cranks and jerkbaits (love Rapalas) with med/light spin gear. When I switched over to using heavy rods and REALLY slashing my presentation, I stated catching those quality fish (although NEVER 3 like that in 15 mins!) I have caught a few like that using gaudy, BIG steelhead flies fished in the same style on a 8 wt. sink tip, but that even MORE work! Again, thanks, and congrats!

Anyone have recommendations for wading sandals/foot ware? I intend to use them for slick rock streams, where I'll need felt bottoms for traction. I'm looking at Simms Keen River sandal ($90) or Bite Troutsream sandals ($75). Although I cringe at those prices, I'll do it it they will be durable and comfortable. I tried glueing felt soles onto old tennis shoes in the past, wasn't happy with the wet feet feeling out of the water all day. Plus the soles came loose/off pretty quick. I like the sandal concept, but never tried any. Also, has anybody tried attaching felt to regular sandals? If so, what's the best method for attaching the felt? Anybody willing to share some ideas for wet wading foot ware, I'd appreciate it.

Class III rapid???? At normal water levels? I'm not doubting you, just didn't think rocks/boulder would be moved around that much. Any details would be appreciated. Thanks.

Sounds like a great trip, hope the water clears up a bit for you. I assume you will be fishing for smallmouth bass? Also assuming you'll be spin fishing. Not sure what has "been" biting, but here's some proven patters that are traditional stream smallmouth producers. Remember smallmouth 3 food sources in rivers - 1) minnows/baitfish 2) crawfish - the preffered food! 3) terrestrials insects - pretty much late summer & fall For smallies, its tough to beat soft plastics. 4" lizards, worms, natural colors - watermelon, pumpkin, etc... Texas rig on 1/0 & 2/0 hooks using 1/8 oz weight. Fish TIGHT to structure - root wads, big boulders, deep holes, etc. Also tube jigs work well. Crawfish looking things. Small crank baits to imitate minnows - Rapalas are a favorite. Also in-line spinners work well in faster current/shoal areas. Top water lures/plugs work better in summer (morning and evening). If you'll be fly-fishing - big woolies - crawfish imitators, clouser minnows will catch them always. Top water poppers in the summer.

"My questions is am I going wrong with selecting a 4-wt rather than a 5-wt for my 1st fly rod? I will only be using this rod to trout fish with, primarily on the Little Red & occasionally on the White." Go with the 5 weight - will give you the more versatile rod. Make sure you pair it GOOD quality line - don't scrimp on the line. Good line will work well on even a cheaper ($100) rod. Lousy line on a good rod (say $200+) will cast like crap.

Our country needs a system of aquaducs and pipes to route all this clean water where we need it. Georgia is bone dry and here we are with TOO much water. Anyway, sounds like this will be the spring to fish the smallmouth streams!

"Either the woolly booger is a myth, or I must be fishing them completely wrong. " Hmmm... not catching with a bugger?... I have always heard (and believed) there's no wrong way to fish a woolly bugger! First, find good water - meaning for trout and smallmouth streams, transition areas. Fast water next to slow (seams), deep next to shallow (dropoffs), and my favorite bedrock next to gravel, shade next to sunny, etc.... Cast quartering downstream and let it swing through the transition area.. when gets to the bottom, let it hang, strip if if needed. Often strikes will come at bottom of the swing. Usually after you give up and are walking to next wading spot you'll bet the telltale "bump bump". If you're not hanging up on bottom every once in a while, ad some weight to your leader. You want to be dredging the bottom. Fishing the shadkill on the White at high water? Big white/silver woolly under indicator always works for me. Also a killer tactic is to dead drift the woolly under a big indicator thru deep, slow water. Woolly tied with a foam body makes a great grasshopper fly in late summer. For smallmouth - tie it big and hairy with some rubber legs makes a good crawfish - tie in purple/black/olive - heavily weighted, and then fish on sinktip line. Basically fishes like texas rigged soft plastics. Good luck.

"Either the woolly booger is a myth, or I must be fishing them completely wrong. " Hmmm... not catching with a bugger?... I have always heard (and believed) there's no wrong way to fish a woolly bugger! First, find good water - meaning for trout and smallmouth streams, transition areas. Fast water next to slow (seams), deep next to shallow (dropoffs), and my favorite bedrock next to gravel, shade next to sunny, etc.... Cast quartering downstream and let it swing through the transition area.. when gets to the bottom, let it hang, strip if if needed. Often strikes will come at bottom of the swing. Usually after you give up and are walking to next wading spot you'll bet the telltale "bump bump". If you're not hanging up on bottom every once in a while, ad some weight to your leader. You want to be dredging the bottom. Fishing the shadkill on the White at high water? Big white/silver woolly under indicator always works for me. Also a killer tactic is to dead drift the woolly under a big indicator thru deep, slow water. Woolly tied with a foam body makes a great grasshopper fly in late summer. For smallmouth - tie it big and hairy with some rubber legs makes a good crawfish - tie in purple/black/olive - heavily weighted, and then fish on sinktip line. Basically fishes like texas rigged soft plastics. Good luck.

I dunno, by your math over 40 got to swim away! I think the fishery will be OK. I enjoy your reports, what section of the river were you fishing, and what did you catch them on?