MaxDrown Posted December 4, 2009 Posted December 4, 2009 A friend and I are going to be making our first trip down to NFoW over the holidays (probably the last week of the year). Can y'all make some suggestions on where to camp, eat, park, fish, buy flies, what flies to use and how to fish them, etc? We have our own canoes if wading is not doable. We will be fly fishing. We'd like to catch a lot of decent sized fish with a chance to catch some big ones. We are mostly catch and release although we're not opposed to throwing a trout or two on the skillet when camping. -- Max Drown
Tito Degiosio Posted December 4, 2009 Posted December 4, 2009 A friend and I are going to be making our first trip down to NFoW over the holidays (probably the last week of the year). Can y'all make some suggestions on where to camp, eat, park, fish, buy flies, what flies to use and how to fish them, etc? We have our own canoes if wading is not doable. We will be fly fishing. We'd like to catch a lot of decent sized fish with a chance to catch some big ones. We are mostly catch and release although we're not opposed to throwing a trout or two on the skillet when camping. hey max That river will fish alot like the eleven point stay deep except the shallow runs 1 foot to three foot should not be pasted up your odds are just as likely to catch fish there fish the seams and stay deep and you should be fine those fish can be a challenge there is fish in there they are just picky you could start up stream and float down to sunburst ranch camp and continue down talk to justin at sunburst about a place to start and take out he will know what may be best I'm still am not 100 percent on that river and have only fished from sunburst to patrick bridge a few times but have always caught fish great place to spend a few hours as far as flies go same flies for the eleven point will do fine crawdads,stoneflies,eggs,and so on but don't forget about throwing a big streamer from time to time for some big browns down towards the lower section from what I have been told thats what some big ones have been landed on you check out sunburst website I don't know who sells flies there good luck and injoy that great river but be prepared to get a work out on those slippery rocks I fell in twice this week when I was down there Tito DeGiosio & Cydney Siri Pleasnt Valley Cabin and Camping (Home of the fresh baked pies) www.pleasant-valley.biz 970-249-8330
Justin Spencer Posted December 5, 2009 Posted December 5, 2009 Max, if you wish to tent camp you might want to stay at Patrick Bridge campground (MDC), I think it is free and has non-flush toilets. Our water is now off in our campground however you could still camp here for $5 per person per night have about a mile of good riverfront fishing here. If you wish to step it up a little we have sleeper cabins which have no plumbing but do have space heaters and beds. These are $20 per person per night, or $65 for up to 6 people, whichever is cheaper for you. We'd all like to catch lots of decent sized fish, but don't come to this river for the first time with too high of expectations. If you cast and mend well with lots of weight you should do pretty good, but crystal clear water paired with sunny days can make things tough on this river. You will want to focus on floats from Kelly Shoals to Sunburst or Patrick for rainbows, and the Sunburst or Patrick to James Bridge for browns. Lately the float for browns has resulted in more fish, but sizes have been smaller. There is really no where down here to buy flies, I sell a few, and could tie you up some of my special "hot flashes" if you wish, but be sure to come down with some hare's ear nymphs, a variety of prince's, eggs, other nymphs (big stones), woolies, leeches, etc. Bring plenty of lead, and tippet from 3X to no smaller than 5X. Give me a call before you come down and I can clue you in as to what is happening and help with shuttles if I am in the area. Check out sunburstranchcanoe.com for phone and e-mail info. "The problem with a politician’s quote on Facebook is you don’t know whether or not they really said it." –Abraham Lincoln Tales of an Ozark Campground Proprietor Dead Drift Fly Shop
dgames Posted December 5, 2009 Posted December 5, 2009 Make sure you have big weighted rubber leg stoneflies - size 8 or so. Brian Wise posted a recipe for a good pattern on the Fly Recipe forum here a while back.
MaxDrown Posted December 6, 2009 Author Posted December 6, 2009 Thanks for the suggestions, guy! Keep 'em coming! -- Max Drown
Brian Wise Posted December 7, 2009 Posted December 7, 2009 I would suggest taking a float at least one day for sure. That is really the best way to fish the river. As far as size of fish....catching a lot of decent sized fish is relative and depends on how you really look at it--and there is always a chance at a really big fish. Like said above the Rubber-Legs have been a great lead fly in a 2 nymph rig for a long, long time but I would also have some mohairs to bring as a lead fly too. The dropper can be anything from egg patterns, Psycho Princes, San Juans, Hare's Ears, Pheasant Tails, and so on. Fish them deep. If you do want to keep fish be sure to watch the regs in the area you are fishing...the Blue Ribbon water is one fish over 18"--and I will say our rainbows are wild and have been for generations and generations and I would personally BEG you to leave them. Brian My Youtube Channel
MaxDrown Posted December 7, 2009 Author Posted December 7, 2009 We never keep any fish, but we have been tempted to cook one (just one!) in the past. The chance for bigger fish is all we can really ask for! We were a little disappointed in the Little Piney because the trout were like blue gills and I didn't get the impression from either what I'd read or from personal experience that there was a very good chance to catch bigger fish there. So, this trip, we're hoping to throw some flies at some bigger fish and see what happens. Justin, we'll give you a call soon. Brian, could you perhaps paste a link to your stonefly pattern? Thank you for the great info. If anyone else has anything additional to add, we'd be very grateful! -- Max Drown
Members ChadO Posted December 7, 2009 Members Posted December 7, 2009 I'm on the trip too, and second what Max is saying. We love the fish and our first priority is to make sure that there are more to catch next trip. We're looking forward to christening the North Fork and just hope to get into some good fishing. Brian, looks like from the your last report it was pretty good on the 5th. I also was reading about the reds and the spawn. Is there a place in particular to avoid? Also, if you do post the pattern or source of your Stonefly, can you also do the Psycho nymph? i'm new to tying, so it is bound to be a bit different, but any help is surely appreciated. chadO
Brian Wise Posted December 7, 2009 Posted December 7, 2009 Hey guys, If you don't mind the stupid audio to go along with them I did some videos on tying the Rubber-Legs and a Slacker-Psycho (my version of the Psyco Prince) Fly Fishing the Ozarks Fishing and Tying Videos The videos are marked as such. Brian My Youtube Channel
MaxDrown Posted December 22, 2009 Author Posted December 22, 2009 Hey guys, If you don't mind the stupid audio to go along with them I did some videos on tying the Rubber-Legs and a Slacker-Psycho (my version of the Psyco Prince) Fly Fishing the Ozarks Fishing and Tying Videos The videos are marked as such. Brian Brian, is there any chance I could buy some of those two types of flies from you? Or do you know of a place that sells them? -- Max Drown
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