BFTMASTER

Nice fish Clay, thanks for sharing

Did they seem to prefer a certain color jig and technique?

nice, looks like the water was low. Did that affect you tactics?

just curious, what does the "d" stand for?

Hey guys, I am trying to create a chart for myself to predict (best as possible) and create a formula to plan my days on the river with. Does anybody know what the elevation of the river is at minimum flow? I want to know when they schedule "X" that the river may rise "X" I have searched around but ran into a road block. If nobody knows I can wait until they are not running any water and look at the chart. Thanks

Okay Mr. Ham, I am getting ready to place a rather large order of Zig Jigs. What is (3) of your favorite colors? I have about 4lbs. of PJ's, but I like the head colors in these photos. Thx

If the water is down, Copper Johns has pretty good wading right there and they have a fly shop with every fly that works in that area. As far as boating and spin fishing goes, marabou jigs such as Zig Jigs or PJ's Finesse Jigs are the way to go. Watch some of the videos from Jigfest (a few treads down). Once the guys get the twitch down, this can be a very productive method. Thomas bouyant spoons in copper and gold are good for beginners (just keep them moving). I also like to fish Rapala countdowns (size up with high water), cast in 2-4ft of water and count to 3-5 and retrieve with a rod tip wiggle every half crank. Copper Johns is in a good location with miles of great water up and down stream. I will going on our annual boys trip around Feb. 19-22nd and always like to post report. I will pay better attention to the landscape so that I can relate the position of the holes to you.

That is quality! Nobody or nothing can ever take that day away from you. Good parenting! Can't wait for my boys (2 1/2 & 4 1/2) to fish Dry Run.

For a $100 boat, I would use whatever is free and available. Black Locust, Heart White Oak, Teak, IPE (Brazilian Walnut), or for a forever no maintenance use KING STARBOARD are all acceptable materials.

Oh man, I am dying here, gotta have a look. Nice report. Thanks

They will generally hit it very aggressively, but just because there is a bunch treble hooks doesn't mean a hooked fish. Sometimes the trout hit it so hard that the hooks get knocked out of the way. I miss more fish on countdowns than any other bait, but when they are hitting good another bite is not a long wait. Sometimes the trout are fighting each for position on the lure, then a fish from across the way lighting bolts across the river and nails it. Quite fun when you get the patterns refined.

On the smaller Rapala Countdowns, I constantly whip my rod tip side to side while reeling as slow as I can. This results in many more hits than a twitch or two. It takes a little rhythm but once you get it the fun begins. The trick is keeping the lure as close to the bottom as possible without getting snagged and losing a $5+ rapala. Also, get some jigs and bounce those through those holes. Thanks for the report

Please do post as much as you care too, I am missing the White and won't be over there until beginning of Feb.

Heading over for a annual reunion this weekend. Anybody see the river? I bet it is up...probably way up and dirty. Sometimes a little murky is good. Thanks

Took the wife and kids(2&4) down to watts to enjoy the cool weather. My 4 year old almost finished his limit on powerbait. I did well on Olive jigs cast across the river and reeled fast. If i did not get bit, at least 10 fish would follow the jig all the way across the river. Average size of the fish we caught was good. We left the fish biting and short of a (3) person limit, because we had plenty to eat.

Perhaps my taste needs refined but I really enjoy my Falcon Original 6' Light Action although my Falcon Original 6'6" in the Med. Light has a similar action with a little stiff backbone. I also have a Fenwick River Elite 7'6" that is B.A. for jig fishing from the bank or wading. In a boat it is just to long I agree with the Shimano Spinning reel remark. They are super smooth until one day....not. I have found that the sticky action comes from the spool skirt gasket getting pulled between the spool and frame. Once I remove this they work okay again, but nothing to protect that vital area and you have to clean it out periodically.

If you guys have a jigfest this year, let me know, I would like to meet some other jig fisherman. I trip in December would limit me to about (1) weekend available. Kinda of a busy time with the holidays and hunting season.

We camped and fished last weekend and the water was "cloudy". The fishing was tough, there was only a few guys who did well, but not like usual. I normally do well with the water clarity off but not this time. The fish were barely hitting the flies, you had to be really quick or no go. On another note, we watched our camping neighbor catch a really nice 5-6lb, 23-25" rainbow out of area 2. He was really careful and released the fish to let somebody else enjoy. A true trophy is the one that makes the day of many anglers many times. Kudos to Marshall, true class act of a fellow.

I usually politely offer some advice to those using illegal baits. I tell them that I went to jail for a month back in the 90's for using illegal baits in Zone 2. Just kidding, but I do tell people in a nice way that the bait the are using is illegal. Some people get really offended and want to argue. The people who just don't know and are calm, I will offer to help show some methods and share some lures with them. Many times in the 30 yrs my family has been going there, the people we have helped drop by our camp later to thank us

Dave, go up to the State Park Trout Dock. Those people in there will help you get going. Typical drift rig is: 1/8 oz egg sinker on the line before a small swivel then 18-24" of leader to #6 or #8 barbed bait hook. Then thread three attached powerbait eggs and try to hide the hook. You will catch fish like this.

Next time you are over there, take the boy to Dry Run Creek. Great place for the young ones

Stripping the right streamer at night in the quiet back waters is the best chance. There are many others that know this better than me, but this takes a lot of patience and stealth. He can't go stomping around and start fishing right away with an LED light flashing. You have to get into an area turn off the lights and let it calm down, then cast and strip occasionally. He can't pound the water. Good scouting during the day is the best. Try to find shallow mud flat type backwaters. If you are staying between Cotter and the Dam, PM me, I have some areas he can try. This could really lead to nothing or all the way to fish of a lifetime...of course every cast is like that!

Oh man, you should start a thread called, "Have Boat, need buddy" and I will reply. LOL

I lived in Granby, which is on the Western Side of the divide. RMNP is like the great serengetti in early summer before all the animals move out of the low meadows and back to higher altitudes.