River Conditions?

[trout junkie]

I'm headed down to stay at ROLF on Monday and was wondering how the river was looking. I'm planning to fish the river Monday and Tuesday and hit Bryant on Wednesday and Thursday. Any info would be much appreciated.

[Brian Wise]

Hey Trout Junkie, we have had a steady rise all day. Not real sure where it will peak but I would say all will be ok for you on Monday and Tuesday as long as we don't keep getting hit with rain like the last couple of nights.....actually you could see some really good conditions if it doesn't peak too high on the current rise.

Keep an eye on this USGS North Fork of the White River Flows you are looking for water under 900 cfs or so.... 700 is uber sweet water if that tells you anything.

Brian

[trout junkie]

That would be sweet if we could hit the river just as it's falling out. It could get ugly (in a good way) if the water has a little color to it on Monday. How had the river been fishing before the rise?

Also, has anyone fished the upper N. Fork lately? Can't decide if I should fish it or Bryant on Wed. and Thurs.

[Brian Wise]

With the way the river has been up and down lately fishing has been from decent to really good. There has been very few days where we really struggled....just fish DEEP, lose flies. Rubber-leg nymphs, Psycho Princes, Bead-Head Cracklebacks, and with this rise coming through a san juan worm would be a good idea too.

Good luck man!

Brian

[trout junkie]

One more thing, Brian. How do you you fish the crackle back? Somehow I haven't ever fished that one. It looks like it could be fished as a dry, swung as a soft hackle, or as a typical nymph with the bead head. Am I on track on this? I've always had a lot of success swinging soft hackles on that river. Also can you hook me up on the czech nymphing technique. You seem to mention it a lot, but I haven't been turned on to it yet.

[Brian Wise]

95% of the Cracklebacks I fish are bead-head and used as a dropper below a bigger lead fly, but, they can work really well in certain areas just swung...mostly in the evening and early mornings.

Czech and Euro Nymphing is something to do some homework on and then just jump into it. Check out this site for some info Click Hereand check youtube for some videos (most of the videos aren't that good but it gives you an idea.) Any questions let me know...it is a ton of fun and makes more sense than any fishing you will do on the fly when you do it right.

Brian

[trout junkie]

Thanks a bunch for your info and help. I'll send a report when we get back. Looks like we're going to fish the NFOW tomorrow through Wednesday and then hit up the Little Niangua for smallies at the end of the week. I'm stoked! We have some super pond fishing for largemouth, bluegill, and crappie in my neck of the woods, but the river/creek fishing isn't much to get excited about (other than the spring white bass/wiper runs) so it's always nice to get out your way and chase those wild 'bows. I hope you all realize (and I'm sure you do) what a treasure you have down there. I've fished from Alaska to Florida and the North Fork remains one of my top 2 or 3 rivers to fish.

Again, thanks!