Report 6/20

[OKFlyFisher44]

Got down to the lower illinois around 5 or so after work. I drove on up to the upper section by the dam since Phil (DaddyO) was up there fishing. I met up with him and we headed up river towards the dam. Lots of people on the river fishing, surprised by how many people trout fish down there, both fly and spin gear.

Water was really low so there was only a few prime spots it seemed. I stopped and fished the little riffle where that feeder creek dumps in. Caught 2 rainbows really quick, 1 on a midge and another on a beadhead san juan worm along with having several strikes. The guy at the top of the riffle was picking them up left and right...lots of fish in that little hole.

Phil and I walked on up to the deep hole by the powersite where the big boulders are. There were a ton of fish stacked up in that deep hole just on the other side of those big boulders. I stood on 1 of the boulders there and picked up just over a dozen from that spot to end the day with 15 rainbows.

I was really impressed with the number of fish in the river and the size of the fish was pretty decent actually...lots of 13-15 inch fish along with the standard 10-12 inch silver bullets. The fish also put on a great fight too for the water temps....lots of jumps and runs. Fun fish!

Fish of the day was the 18+ inch rainbow that Phil caught on one of his BobWhite patterns. It was a toad of a fish and was a pain to land. Solid fish though...

Another cool thing...I hooked like a 12 inch rainbow and had like a 15lb striper trying to eat it when I was reeling it in! Freaked me out. It was a toad of a striper. Came up and mouthed the rainbow like 3 times. I got the itch to have my 7wt right then and my box of clousers! I will be back soon with my 7wt to chase carp and stripers if the rainbows don't cooperate!

[Zach Bearden]

Jeez! Had a bass come after it right then?!

I went down there today and couldn't buy a bass.... Made me mad

.

[OKFlyFisher44]

Yeah, just tried to enhale the little rainbow. I was amazed! I would think you would slay some stripers with a sink tip line fishing a clouser or deceiver in those deep pools. They have to be in there...getting fat on little rainbow trout

[On The Fly 6]

Yeah, just tried to enhale the little rainbow. I was amazed! I would think you would slay some stripers with a sink tip line fishing a clouser or deceiver in those deep pools. They have to be in there...getting fat on little rainbow trout

Hopefully thats what I catch while im out there today, (the fat rainbows that is....) though a striper would probably tickle me pink!

[4wtMartin]

I fished all last week from Wed to Sunday and the previous weekend.. Most days I hooked about 20 to 35 fish with one day Friday just a few. The previous Saturday I hooked about 50 to 70 fish it was a boomer day. Mostly on red san Juan Worms and a fire orange san Juan. I cought a few on John berry's green butt. there is a caddis fly that is inch worm green that I could not quite match with what I had in my boxes. I think that the fish rising early with violent rises were either getting that caddis or an emerger of that caddis.

What is this Bob White pattern you speak of. I would really like to know what that patttern is. I have searched this site and I see his name in many places but no fly recipe to speak of.

The Illinois is fishing great right now in my opinion. I have hooked a few really nice trout in the 19 to 22" range. Maybe a one bigger I don't have a tape measure. The fish seem very healthy. I had a blast last week taking off work and fishing. It did wonders for my spirit.

I drive the black Toyota Tacoma 4-Door pickup with the wildlife stickers on the back window. I do not know very many of the people on this forum but I would love to meet some of you guys and fish with you some day. I will join the Trout Unlimited club and start attending some meetings this fall. I know I should have done that already. This is my 3rd year fishing the Illinois. I really think its way underrated.

So if anyone knows what this BOB White pattern is I would really like to check it out.

And let me know if I can be of assistance to you folks in anyway. I tie some flys pretty well and some I'm still perfecting. But I would be happy to share any of my knowledge with anyone.

Anyway tite lines.

Martin Black

[DaddyO]

Martin,

I don't know why it's called a BobWhite. To my knowledge, it doesn't have anything to do with Bob White the author/artist, other than the name. Here is a picture of the BobWhite and the recipe.

Hook: 1/80th Jighead Hook (You can buy these at Bass Pro by the other fly tying hooks.

Thread: White 6/0

Body: White Dental Floss

Color: White Fingernail Polish

Take all of the Jigheads out of the package and paint each of them with the White Fingernail Polish. Let them dry.

Start the thread right behind the jighead and wrap to the middle of the hook. Tie in the Dental Floss and wrap the thread towards the end of the hook and stop right above the hook point. Next, work the thread all the way forward to the initial tie in point right behind the jighead. Now, begin wrapping the Dental Floss towards the jighead in overlapping wraps all the way to the jighead working in this fashion back and forth to create a tapered body. Whip finish behind the jighead and apply a little head cement and you are done.

I fish this in a dead drift under a strike indicator varying the depth based on where I think the fish are holding. I have caught a ton of fish on this pattern at TaneyComo, Lower Illinois and the Roaring River. I find that this pattern works well when the water is a little off colored also.

[On The Fly 6]

I got to fish for about 3 hours before they started generating at noon today! I was a little upset because I drove all the way from Fayetteville (originally from OK, so the lower Illinois kinda feels like my "home water".)

I was up near the dam where the other creek feeds into the Illinois and caught about 8 in 30-45 minutes. I even managed to catch a little brown! I caught several of them on a copper john and a few on a chartreuse bead head I had tied.

Water felt great and I was able to fish near some shade so I didnt get baked in the sun!

Im hoping to go back sometime this week to fish some more, but I wanted some info on generation schedules and what not. Is there a number to call or website I can visit? I usually check the USGS website, but if it has the daily schedule times for generation...I hadnt found it.

Martin, I dont know many people on this forum either (actually no one) and am always looking for a fishing buddy.

(Ill fish anywhere in Northwest Arkansas, Southern Missouri, and most of Eastern Oklahoma...just need a date and time)

[Okieflyfisher53]

Here is the link to the SWPA "projected" generation schedule. It is not always accurate, but they seem to be following it recently. http://www.swt-wc.usace.army.mil/power/hydropower.html

Steve

[DaddyO]

I even managed to catch a little brown!

Really!!? I didn't know that they put any browns in the river. I know it used to have some, but after the fish kill I thought that they only stocked Rainbows.

Does anyone else have any info on what they've stocked? Zach?

[4wtMartin]

I have caught at least 5-6 browns on the Illinois in the past few weeks. More down by watts than the dam. But I know I've hooked two at the dam area.

I'm planning on being at the river this weekend both Saturday and Sunday. It's getting hot this week as far as temp goes. I hope the fishing holds for another week or two.