Fishing Report

[Phil Lilley]

I've gotten out several times over the last 4-5 days. Back when the water was down and they were running "fish water" last week, I boated up to Lookout and fish both sides of the island using my shooting line and caught rainbows on a red san juan- best fly. Dropped down to the narrows and did real well doing the same. The current was perfect for using shooting line- perfect presentation. Again, stopped at Fall Creek and fished the channel shoot on the east side and did ok.

Fished yesterday with John Johnson from Kingfisher, OK and friends. Boated to the dam in his boat and fished white 1/8th oz jigs and caught some real nice rainbows from the cable to the island. A couple pushing 18 inches. All were good looking and fought pretty hard. Caught others downstream but not as big.

This morning I boated up to join the guys. Brent jumped in my boat and we drifted from Lookout to the narrows, first the shallow side using a red san juan under an indicator and caught a couple. Then drifted the other side and caught a blue gill on a stimulator. Then we worked 1/16th oz sculpin jigs and caught several rainbows- small. Boated to the cable and started throwing white jigs again and caught several rainbows, not the big ones though. I drifted a natural bead using a small split shot and caught 4 trout, one brown. Caught a rainbow spewing eggs just before putting on the bead. Earlier in the morning the guys caught a smalley, a kentuky, a white bass and a crappie on jigs at the dam.

I have no idea why they continue to run the water all day like this. I'd think they'd start conserving since Table Rock is now below power pool- regardless that Beaver continues to dump it's water.

?????????

But didn't see any browns below the dam, nor did I see any jumping. Not a good sign for the brown run. Not a good sign for our hatchery and harvesting eggs this season.

Guys are catching rainbows from Fall to Short Creek on night crawlers.

[hookinear]

Hey Phil. I am coming down this friday and staying until monday and i want to get in as much fishing as i can. I live 5+ hrs away and wouldnt mind pulling the boat all the way down if i was able to use it more than a couple hrs. Its a 18 ft V bottom Bass tracker. Would it be worth bringing all the way down, or should i just hope for the best and pray they stop running water so that i can get some quality fly fishing time in? Just wondering

Greg Deien

[Phil Lilley]

I'd bring it. It gives you more options.

[Fishing Milwright]

Phil

Explain how you fish the running line - perfect presentation and the set up from a boat.

John Wilson's nymphing class at the conclave used the running line for the checz fishing method.

I was wondering if its similar.

thanks

[Phil Lilley]

I don't know if there's a difference between shooting and running lines.

Here's an image I drew up of the rig. You cast it upstream and hold the rod high, then dropping it as the rig sinks, then following the fly with the rod. You have to be careful not to get ahead of the fly or you'll drag it. At the end of the drift, I usually hold the rod low and pointed downstream till I can't feel the bottom anymore. Of course there could be varied conditions that would require modifications to the drift. Just like any new technique- the more practice you get the better you are. I've been using this technique for about 22 years mainly on the Pere Marquette River in Michigan, where I first learned it.