Nortrad

Thanks for the updates. I'm heading down this coming Sunday. The river changes, new holes, sounds like an interesting June.

Here's a nice photo of these 'meaty morsels' for fish.

Too cold here in Springfield this morning for any activity, 47 right now, 42 tomorrow morning. That will delay them. Hopefully my prototypes will work next time I get to some water.

Not one of the Brood XIX, from last year, sitting on the porch one morning. Gives you an idea on proportion, wings, legs, eyes.

You have this creek dialed in Chance, excellent report.

Thanks for the report about the structure. Can't wait to explore the new holes, runs, riffles, etc. If only my CG, er, wife, would OK my request for 'river duty.'

I would also like to know if any new structure has been swept up/in. The Jedi fished Friday and didn't do too well. He said the aquatic weeds had been scoured out of the long flat stretch in upper Tan Vat and a lot of sand deposited on some banks. You must have thrown the big baits to scare up the browns?

Thanks for tying ideas. Did a lot of foam tying last Spring. Interesting material for the wings. Hopefully we'll get some days on the water when these bugs arrive.

Just under 400 cfs at the first gauge in the Blue Ribbon stretch, kinda high and fast IMO. A lot of guys fish it this high. I like 200 cfs or lower, just my two cents. Lots of guys can throw big lures in this water and be successful. If you go, target the slack, feeders, and sides, and place where normally they wouldn't hold. And, use a lot of weight if you are nymphing.

Thanks Gavin. The up/down trends aren't as high as past years. My biggest worry is when I get to fish again BTW, really liked your Montauk trip pictures. We have a little princess too, and, you have two!

That's the one, fast riffle/deadfall, slight turn then deep with narrow, short bank, nice and deep, undercut, my avatar fish came from there, much shallower now, filled in with gravel. That's OK, a river changes, and I found a nice place farther down from there. I'd like to see more structure from logs, but who knows? Hopefully the rest of the week won't add too much to the total rainfall.

That's my point in the opening post, a great hole below Tan Vat literally filled in with gravel from the floods, from 5-6' down to 3' if that. I agree that a river should change and will change, makes it a great challenge to find the new places where the fish hold.

Interesting, the major log structures are going to get it for sure. We can hope and wait. We'll see how it finally lowers later this week.

Just my relatively new observations, only been fishing this river for 3 yrs. or so, a nice hole I used to pull fish out of was filled in with gravel during the last period of really high water. But, on the other hand, new structure and some new holes have been scoured out. Any guidance? Or, is the response,"It depends..."?

Mmmmmmmmmmmorels.......

Looks like the river's going back up. Heard that the area was in the path of the storm.

I'm interested in your techniques during the upcoming unstable weather this week. Big baits if she rises and clouds up? Do you throw streamers or switch to the spin rod?

Thanks Gavin, your info has been very helpful over the last couple of years. I thought of a name for the Jedi's fly: the Imperial Guard...heh heh. My fishing bud said on Sunday, "I don't want to be known as a Jedi, I'd rather be Darth Vader." Ah, we know better...

The Jedi nailed them with two main flies, both from River Run in Branson, their Ruby Midge on a scud hook, crazy big holo flash midge in red, #12, go figure. And, a fly I'd never seen before, a straight shank nymph hook, #16, w. red brassie wire, hen back collar in brown, black nickel bead, and red thread head above the bead to finish. A 'brassie nymph'? I got the brown on, yes traditional fly throwers, a soft hackle I tied, #14 w. mallard flank tail, gold hare's ear, golden brown dub thorax, partridge, grey/silver bead. Had to switch flies a lot to keep them interested, and, snagging up with too deep setting on the Thingamabobber. Also caught them on red stretch tube midge--Jedi and I had a nice double right in the boulders. Not a lot of love from the fish in the PM for me downstream of Tan Vat, only 4 to hand, but one nice 'bow on a rubber legs. Jedi slayed with the 'brassie nymph'--an easy tie to replicate. Not a lot of interest for some of the new flies that worked last time. Wish I could have fished today. Oh well, shooting for early May, before the river traffic gets heavy. Hang in there, you will get back to the water...

Nice browns, wild how the weather was there on Sunday. Two layers of fleece, then total change of upper and hat for the PM fishing. It's Spring fishing. Excellent pics!

Only two things about the picture, the guy holding the fish needs some dental work in front, and seeing that net, now somewhere in the Current River, is, uh, bittersweet. I know, corny, but, a lot of nice fish in that net.

Here you go. Post more details later tonight.

Gotta generate some 'buzz' first then post the pic...No, I just didn't mail it to myself last night, it's still on the home computer. Nice brief fight, but he got himself into jam by 'spinning' trying to shake the hook. He had my trailer fly wrapped around his mid-section just enough to 'subdue' him. I unwrapped him while he recovered in the net and the Jedi snapped some pics. I'm a Landon Mayer follower when it comes to fighting the fish, really put the rod at an angle that tires the fish quick, keep the fish off balance. He calls a technique 'walking the dog,' controlling the fish like a dog on a leash. The Jedi said I was 'horsing him a little.' I must disagree with my 'teacher' this time. I've watched guys hold fish too long. Posting when I get home.

Had a good fishing day Sunday on the river with the Jedi transporting us over in his red Honda "4X4". He stuck a bunch of rainbows in upper Tan Vat and two small browns in the PM downstream from parking lot. Leap-frogging from hole to hole brought me to a great spot below the rocks and I hooked and landed a big brown. This one surpassed the one I landed last September, fat and beautiful. I hooked him on an old standard pattern that a lot of guys use but I had neglected to. Jedi outfished me 3-1 at least. The color fly of the day for him was red, go figure. Lotsa snags/lost flies/re-rigging, and, I had to give back to the River Goddess for landing the brown, lost my landing net after releasing a nice rainbow in the main riffle of the rocks. Using the lumbar pack so I just tuck under the waist band. (Forgot my magnet/cord setup, oops.) Walked downstream and put out the word to Chance and his OK crew and a couple of other guys but no luck. Oh well, looks like it's time for an upgrade.

It was worth the trip, again. That's great you threw the streamers at them. You guys are the emerger crew, lotsa success with them. Glad we ran into you and your crew on Sunday. Looking forward to the pictures.