OKFlyFisher44

Some friends and I have a trout bum trip planned for next Friday-Monday (17th-20th). The original plan was to start in Arkansas on the White and Norfork, then work our way north back into missouri. Well, with the recent rains we've got...all the major dams have been generating lots of water during the day which could possibly rule out fishing the tailwaters. Our back-up plan is to come fish the Current River and then work our way south down I-44 probably fishing Mill Creek, Bennett Springs, Taneycomo (if possible at night), Crane, and then finish at Capps. I've been doing some research on the Current but its somewhat hit and miss on the info.... What are some good flies to have in the box for this time of year? For both the Current and Montauk? Also, how do you get to Tan Vat access coming from Montauk State Park? I've looked at different maps along with GoogleEarth and I can't figure out the roads to get there. Is it the first turn-off after you leave the park? I'm thinking we're going to drive up friday morning, arrive around 1ish, and start fishing in Montauk State Park. Then finish the evening around the Tan Vat access point. Then looking at doing a 1-day float on saturday, probably Baptist to Cedar Grove? Or is it Baptist to Akers? What do you guys think? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

I would have to agree that the White is going to be your best bet. There's a lot of access all down that river along with tons of lodging. The Cotter area might be a nice place that the wife could kill some time while you're fishing. Lots of options for wading access too...Cotter access, Wildcat Shoals, Roundhouse Shoals, Rim Shoals....along with Bull Shoals State Park directly below the dam. I haven't fished the White before but some friends and me are taking 4 days to fish several different places in the Ozarks and we're starting at the White just because of all the fishing options. I loved the Norfork but it only has 2 access points to fish (both offer great fishing) and if they're generating, you're out of luck. With the White, you can go down to Rim Shoals and have the water taxi take you out onto the shoals and you can still fish even under generation.

The creek looks fantastic in those photos. Looks like some good flow going through... Where were you fishing? Upper or lower access? We're going to be making a stop at Crane in a couple weeks... Those fish sure are beautiful!

Go fish Capps Creek or Crane Creek man...you could avoid the crowds....

Musta been for last weeks....coulda swore it said no generation but yeah....they start generating at like 6 in the morning Sorry I was mistaken...

They're showing no generation for saturday at Gore...could be some good fishing! Heh, the problem with my gear is that I have 2 trucks that I drive. My little isuzu that I drive to work everyday...lol, you throw in a rod-tube, gear bag, and my fishpond pack...well, my front seat is almost all the way full!!! Oh well....when they're generation 27,700 cfs at Zink, I dont see us fishing there for a while!

Its a good combo for the $$$. I'm a die-hard Scott fan but my TFO casts great for $120 and the Hobbs reel was exactly what I wanted; a large arbor style reel w/ an adjustable drag for less than $50. You'll be very happy with it...I've caught everything from alligator gar to largemouth to carp on it. I even caught a little channel catfish on accident in the little river we fish for carp. I'm with you on the afterwork trips to Zink...I think I'm going to start keeping my wader bag and rod-tube in the truck with me at all times.

Oh ok...sorry sir! Yeah, the SWPA website is a joke sometimes. I bet most places will be blowing full bore on the generation for a while. My dad said Grand was generating quite a bit water and Keystone is REALLY blowing some water. Really sucks...I was really wanting to fish Zink or maybe even sneak out to Gore. But it just isn't going to happen for a while.

Copy and paste this address... Its an hourly update on flows around the state. Awesome website... http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?cb_00010...ite_no=07198000

I wouldn't do it right now...water is still pretty chilly. There isn't any way I'm going to wet-wade right now...

I'm sorry...it is a large!

That's no lie there. I'm crossing my fingers that the "bucket-teers" haven't caught them all with their use of corn and power-bait Hopefully MDC will stock it again before we come through in April...

Just noticed that there's not been any fishing reports for Capps...has anyone been out lately? Or does it just not fish that well in the spring/summer due to the warmer temps? Just curious...and trying to stir up the pot a little

LOL...he's not even my boy and it makes me proud! I can't wait for my daughter to get old enough to start fishing...

I've tried searching for the phone numbers to Table Rock, Bull Shoals, and Norfork Dams but the only number I can find is the the one from the SW Power Administration which is voice activated so you can choose which powersite you want a generation schedule for. The phone # is 1-866-494-1993...is this the best source for a generation schedule? If anyone can give me the numbers if they have them saved in the cell phones or written down somewhere...that would be great. A buddy and me are planning on fishing Capps, Crane, Taney, White, and Norfork in mid-april and I'd like to have the correct phone numbers so we can call ahead to see what the generation is going to be like. If we need to change up our plans...we can, instead of showing up to the rivers and you can't fish.

Here are the pictures...

My wife got this vest for me last Christmas as a gift since my old vest had seen better days. I only wore the vest 4 or 5 times to Roaring River during the winter catch n' release season of '07-'08. I've recently switched to a Fishpond Arroyo pack and loved it. Since then I snagged a Fishpond WaterDance Guide pack off of Ebay as of yesterday for cheap that I plan to keep my trout stuff in while using the Arroyo pack for my warm-water stuff. So I have no use for the vest. Its absolute perfect, like-new condition. No tears, broken zippers, etc. Its a very comfortable vest and has plenty of storage for everything you could imagine. I especially liked the water-proof pocket for keeping my wallet or camera. This vest retails for $85 from Bass Pro Shops right now. I'm asking for $55 shipped to your door...or best offer! Take a look at the pictures...you'll see what I mean by how nice this vest is...

I'm using a 9' 7wt w/ an 8-10ft fluorocarbon 20lb leader. Nothing fancy. You could get away with a 5wt but, like Hopper said, if you stick a big striper or hybrid...you're going to really have a fight on your hands. You can get into a setup like mine (TFO rod w/ BPS Hobbs Creek III reel) for around $150 for rod and reel. Figure in a few more $$$ for backing and fly-line. I've used this stick for bass, carp, sand bass, hybrid, and stripers...

Right on. I thought that was you. That was us...thats where I caught most of my fish the last time I was at Zink but the water level was much lower. When we came back we fished basically where you fished the rest of the time. I woulda came over and said hello if I'd known it was you. Heh, it was also a long slippery walk over to you to pay a social visit

Nice fish Hopper! The flow was perfect today. That makes me sick...I couldn't get down there today on my day off because I was watching my little girl while my wife was at clinicals today. Wow... Did you go out sunday at all? I guess the wind didn't affect the fishing much huh?

Never saw anyone else with a fly rod after we got back from lunch...but if he put in at the soccer fields, I bet he was fishing down by PSO. We didn't venture back down to PSO when we came back after lunch, just stayed up by the dam. Wish we woulda went down there since the water was low...always next time!

It put a great fight even on my 7wt...I wasn't sure what I'd hooked at first to be honest. It made a couple hard runs and really put the bend in the ol' TFO. I got it in close and it rolled on the surface...lol, I said a few choice words and yelled at my buddy to come help me. I thought it was a striper at first till I got it in. The stripers have been hit and miss from what I've seen on here. Still a little too early maybe and the water temp is still a touch on the cool side. Today was prime conditions though...minus the freaking wind! I didn't go back out this evening because I didn't want to fight the stupid wind.

Got to Zink around 10:00 or so. The river was still coming down but it was still good for wading. We fished at the dam and then swung down to PSO without so much as 1 strike. I finally caught 1 small sand bass down by PSO and then we left to meet the wives for lunch. The wind was blowing hard all morning. Seen one other guy with a fly rod fishing the big hole below the flood gates. Was that you Hopper? I didn't see your truck in the parking lot? We came back after lunch around 1:00 and started throwing Clousers in the Big Hole directly below the dam. I managed to bring 7 fish to hand with a mixed bag of sandies/hybrids and 1 big drum. All were smaller fish minus the toad you see below which was the 1st fish I caught...I was excited! I'm still thinking about going to fish this evening past dark till they close River Parks if anyone wants to join me! Biggest hybrid I've ever caught...

A couple of buddies and me are going to be there in the morning as well. Shooting for 9:00 or so...at least that's the plan as long as the water is going to allow for prime wading... We'll be in a black/silver Dodge quadcab 4x4 w/ an Oklahoma State tag on the front. We'll be the only ones with fly rods besides yourself I'd imagine. Look for us...I'll have light brown Orvis waders on and a green/white Scott hat.

I just checked the SWPA projected generation chart and they are showing that there will be no generation all day Sunday, the 22nd! As long as they keep to this schedule...the river should drop enough that it would allow for prime wading conditions! There is a 40% chance of rain I believe for Sunday night but if it doesn't come in till later that night...the front moving in should get the fish active!! Anyone want to meet up at Zink at say 7:00 or 8:00 for some night fishing? I believe we can fish till 11:00 when the River Parks officially close. I think it would be a great night for fishing! Who knows what you might hook out there at night! Anyways...all of us that are local to Tulsa should meet up and do some fishing!