Fishing Report 7/18

[Paola Cat]

The warden and I were in the area Saturday and she took pity on me and let me fish for about 5 hours. Had a good time .... used nothing but an olive crackleback. Started out in the C&R and then moved further down in Zone 2. Great action the entire time. The C&R was smokin' hot for the first hour and a half. Fishing dead downstream and stripping the crackleback just under the surface. Used 6X. Moved on down from the C&R and targeted active fish near the surface .... fished the crackleback dry. Lots of lookers and takers. Used 7X exclusively after 8:30 AM. Pretty big crowd, poor etiquette, and illegal baits. I'd find a small stretch to fish .... land a couple of fish ..... then look up to find myself surrounded by the "crowders" .... I'd move and it would immediately happen again. I saw it all and made several attempts to stop the insanity .... people fishing with plastic worms and power eggs in Zone 2 .... 5 fish on a stringer .....etc. Anyway ..... the weather was fantastic and the fishing was equally good. Lots of fish in the river. No lunkers today but tons of action. PC

[wily]

thanks, not much to add but we just got back from a couple days. i fished in zone 1 with a john deere early, then switched to a #10 black beetle once the wind and sun came up.

lots of fish in our three days. water is clear and low.

the CCC lodge is closed...you buy your daily tag at the new shop...which is directly beneath the new lodge --- just across the dry hollow bridge.

I'd like to give a shout out to tim from tim's fly shop. he's got a great shop, and a helpful attitude. thanks

[DoveTail]

That's terrible with the violations...Game Wardens should be notified.

[brittsnbirds]

PC-

My boss and I hit it about 3 weeks ago on our way back from Santa Fe NM. I had very good luck the first day on a copper zebra midge (16) that Tim hooked me up with.

Your right that place is lousy with violators. Did you see the "vinyl hatch"?

You working yet?

Pat

[Paola Cat]

Britt/Pat .... not working yet. Actively searching. Great action down there at RR. Very active and aggressive fish. I really like fishing the C&R. The rest of the park was just a crazy free-for-all. I personally confronted 3 different folks fishing illegally in Zone 2. The worst thing were the "crowders" ..... I'd search for a stretch with nobody close by and target some active fish near the surface ..... bring a few fish to hand ..... then look up and there's people everywhere. I'd immediately move to a new spot. I actually had some folks come up and ask me if they could have the next fish I brought to hand (they noticed that I was releasing everything). It was kind of freaky. I had a great time though. Gonna go sometime during the week .... maybe it won't be so crazy. Didn't stop by to say howdy to Tim. The warden just cringed when we drove by ..... being unemployed I'm using up my existing inventory if you know what I mean .... and you know I've got some inventory to burn. Been tying up cracklebacks ..... used the classic olive in #12 down there .... never changed. Worked great for me. PC/Mike

[OKFlyFisher44]

Oh the joys of fishing in trout parks....you love them and hate them at the same time. I can't stand people who crowd you after you've caught a few fish. Bunch of idiots. I'll cast over their line and tangle them up on purpose just to get them to leave. I'll sacrifice a few minutes to re-rig if I can make someone give me some space...

But that's all part of trout parks...heck, fishing in general anymore. Happens on Taneycomo. Happens on the lower illinois here in Oklahoma. That's the world we live in...

I remember when I was younger, we'd go during the week to beat the crowds and you'd have Zone 2 all to yourself...absolutely amazing. Not that way anymore...but that's how it goes.

OK, I'm going to step off my soap box now...

[NechesBobcat]

I know this is an old topic but on the subject of people crowding you. I was fishing in zone 2 when 5 little kids came up on bicycles and started fishing with power eggs. They were on both sides of me casting in front of me. I just moved to the closest kid and literally got right behind him and started casting everywhere he casted. When he figured I was crazy and moved I went to the next kid. After a couple minutes I had the hole to myself again.

A buddy of mine walked up on a guy sitting on the bank hidden up in some brush in the C&R area using night crawlers and had 2 fish on a stringer. He said,"Sir, do you know that this is a catch and release area and you are not allowed to keep any fish here?" The guy said, "No, I didn't know that." Then my buddy said, "Did you know that this area is flies only and you are not allowed to use night crawlers here?" The guy said no. My buddy said, "If you turn those fish loose and they swim off with no problem and you dump those worms out into the river I won't write you a ticket." The guy gently let the fish go and dumped the worms out and graciously thanked my friend for letting him go. Only thing was my friend isn't a game warden.

[Fly_Guy]

I gotta remember that one! As long as you don't say you're a warden, you aren't technically impersonating an officer, are you?

Slightly less annoying are the kids throwing large rocks right where you're fishing in zone 2, apparently for the thrill of seeing a rock splash in that water. There's a pond for that sort of thing!