Generation

[zackroe]

Hey guys I am just wondering if there is an office where i can talk to a live person about when they will be running water. I always check the swp website before I drive down from Eufaula, but the last three times I have woke up at 5 and drove to gore, because the schedule said that they would not run water until 10 in the morning. But when i get there the water is running. I understand the need for generation and love fishing the upper and lower illinois, but i am really jonesing to catch trout and would just like to know ahead of time if there is small window of fishing.

[DaddyO]

Zackroe,

If you find yourself there and they are generating, give it a shot anyway. I've caught fish when they were generating. It's tough fishing but it is possible. Lengthen your leader and tippet, add a larger strike indicator and put on something that will get down in the water column. (heavily weighted)

Sometimes it's just fun to experiment and see what they will bite. Don't be afraid to throw things as large as a #6.

Good Luck

[OKFlyFisher44]

Exactly what Phil said. Don't be afraid to try it. The fish will stack up along the edges of the banks, away from the main current so they're quite accessible. Just gotta get your fly down to them. There's a couple of spots off the top of my head that I'd bet you could find tons of trout stacked up below the Watts area....