1-11-10 Fishing Report

[Zack Hoyt]

Some morning and evening generation has allowed for some wading between generation periods. During low water periods, fishing nymphs under indicators will provide the most consistent action. Scuds, sow bugs, phheasant tails, copper johns and zebra midges all in sizes 16 - 20. Also, try swinging soft hackles (sizes 16 - 20) or stripping streamers (sizes 8 - 12). Recent trips have observed trout sipping midges most of the day. Small dry flies or soft hackles (sizes 20 - 24) in grey or creamy tan were the most productive. Drifting with any kind of indicator seem to alert the fish and put them down.

Draw down of Beaver Lake should begin next weekend. This will mean very high flows for the next few weeks.

[Adam B]

Thanks for all the Fishing Reports! I read them all buddy.

[Zack Hoyt]

No problem at all. If you ever have any questions about presentation, flies, etc, please feel free to post or drop me a pm.

[Adam B]

Oh yeah? Thanks man. I've been doing this and practicing casting for a few years but I just cant seem to get the hatch and patterns right. I have so many trout come and take a look at my flies about to sip it in and they just turn around. I have tried all kinds of tippet sizes and fly sizes and patterns and I just cant get the hang of it. I'm probably just going to start hiring a guide and learning from them. I'm not too worried about catching a fish with one I just want to learn and soak up as much information as I can so I can start hitting places all over and not look like a nooby haha. But any and all help would be very much appreciated. Since I cant seem to catch many trout and I go to Beaver tailwaters at least 2 times a month I have just been going for panfish during the week so I'm not a horrible caster. Do you guide or anything around here like Greers Ferry or Beaver?

Thanks alot!

Adam

[Zack Hoyt]

Beaver can be pretty technical fishng. You have to remember that Beaver, most of the year, is more like a bath tub than a running river. The fish have a long time to analyze a fly, and therefore can be a bit finicky about what they take. Also the amount of fishing pressure it receives can cause the fish to be pretty spooky. Without being to technical ad over analyzing everything, I will throw a few ideas out there.

I see a ton of fly fisherman coming to a spot and wading out about 10 feet and start casting. While fish can be pretty dumb, they still have natural tendencies. You wouldnt tromp throught he forrest and expect a deer to come by. Getting a good look ath the water and being able to pick out where fish will most likely be is a never ending learning curve. Beaver being so deep lets the fish kinda cruise for food. Think about the minnows you see in the warm water streams. While in a running river, a fish may keep a good lie within a few feet, fish in Beaver can go up and down stream as they please looking for food.

When the sky is very clear, it is very hard fishing. Swapping to smaller tippet and smaller flies is a must. Also presentation goes a long way. If a fly is moving in an odd manor, the fish is less likely to take it.

Let me ask a few questons...

Which areas at Beaver do you usually fish?

Do you use an indicator?

Are you strictly sight casting or do you blind cast into likely looking spots?

Wade fish or from a boat primarily?

Another thing to keep in mind......especially with the "schooling" aspect is you gotta move around. Try different spots, different approaches, etc. A twtich every once in a while on a drift does wonders.

We guide on both the Lil Red and on Beaver. I am about 20 minutes from Beaver, so I tend to fish it alot by myself. If you ever see a champagne Subaru outback with a JFG sticker on it......thats me.

[Adam B]

Well I only wade in the waters, and I try to wade as little as possible. The 2 most common places i go is just down a little from the new bath houses to where the erosion breaker trees on the right side (if your aiming down stream) are. Just a little before that and at that spot. I seem to like it there. And then also around Parker downstream just a little to where those shallow riffles are and then a little upstream from the handicap ramp where the big deep pools are on the same side as the ramp. I do use indicators, not yarn but those little sticker style and usually only use white ones. As far as casting I try to cast to pods of fish if I see them and other than that i just cast where i see some rising or just to deeper spots. But I have fished some days and landed about 10 fish but never had a 20 or 30 day like i hear some of you guys talk about. But I have had alot of times of 5-6 hours straight fishing and not land one fish. Maybe im just not cut out for this fly fishing stuff but i like it sooo much ha.

Thanks

Adam

Oh and I might have to look you up for a guide pretty soon. I bet I could learn quite a bit more that way.

[Zack Hoyt]

I apologize for the late response.......had to run down to Shreveport last minute.

It sounds like you are doing pretty well. You have narrowed down spots you like and are learning to fish them. Also ten fish a day isn't bad at all. One thing you have to think about though.....is it more like ten a trip or ten a day? A trip can be anywhere from 30minutes to a few days. I say this to say, alot of the guys I talk to who have 20-30 fish days are on the water ALL day. Not just a 8am - noon or something similar. Obviously the longer you stay, the more fish you will catch. Also, I have a theory about killer fishing days following a good AGFC stocking.....but who knows.....lol.

Having dry spells is not uncommon at Beaver. As I said, the fish are able to move around alot, so there is a good chance the spots you are comfortable fishing(and tend to revisit) are not feeding spots during this time frame. This is where the moving around and trying different flies/presentation comes in very handy. A scud should not be presented the same as a woolie bugger or the same as a nymph(they can be presented similiar, but its luck alot of times that this works). I have also had days where I caught one fish in 8hrs.....drives me nuts. I could watch them follow it, but for the life of me I coudlnt get a strike......so is the fun of fly fishing. You can insert the joke about it being called "fishing because if it were easy it would be called catching".

Here is my recommendation of things to try. I am not saying you arent doing some already, but just a few thoughts:

-Don't be afraid to adjust you line length between indicator and fly. Depth of water, water speed, and weight of fly all affect how the fly moves and whichsection of the water table they are in.

-Look for changes in terrain. Alot of our trout will hangout near changes in river bottom. Going from pea sized gravel to bigger gravel, limestone slab to gravel, and shallow to deep all will provide a fish with a better chance of getting food.

-Fish don't have eyelids. So fish the same concept as above, just in the areas where it goes from sunny to shade.....either beneath a tree or boulder.

-Vary your areas. I know we get comfy with certain techniques, flies, areas....but we must adapt if there arent any fish there. The access down from the Bathouses and up from Parker holds some great fish. Keep going on past the bathouse turnoff to the turnaround. Walk down the path and cross the water. Fish either upstream or down. Be careful though, when the horn sounds, GET BACK ACROSS THE WATER.

-Observe the fish. Figure out what they are doing. If they are nose down in the gravel and "rutting around" it's scud time. If they are just schooling, try to pick how deep they are. Don;t be afraid to twitch you line now and again to make the fly "dance".

Just a few thoughts. Alot of it just comes with time. There are many guys out there fishing more than me. Don't be afraid to ask what their using......most will be more than happy to tell ya.

On a guide trip, I would enjoy taking you out. I love to be able to teach. Taking off my guide hat though......in all honesty, a guide will take years off your learning curve. These guys are on the water way more often than most. Of course not all guides are what I consider "good teachers", but you can usually tell alot by asking questions and seeing how they respond.

Hope this helps a little.

[Adam B]

Yes sir about crossing at the Trophy area sign on the turn around I have been there quite a bit on the other side. I have walked down too far before and was it some pretty high fast water trying to get back. Definatly not fun but I am glad I didnt have anyone else with me to not put them in that position. Woo. It made me want one of those inflatable wading belts ha. If you know anything about the drawdown do you think it will be going on pretty heavily or have an idea of the time?? Any info would be much appreciated. I will try some of your tips and some of your reccomended flies I have seen aren't really readily available to me (I shop at The Woodsman in Ft. Smith AR since its only like 10-15 mins from my home), its a small shop feel but my rods or anything else come from McLellans in Fayetteville. There all really nice and the tyer at the Woodsman is supposed to make me up a few. Thanks though I will try it all! I have fished a day after stocking and I arrived at night for an over-night stay and wooh. 6 or so fish in an hour or less. Good times. If you don't mind could you give me an idea on guiding cost at Beaver or where ever you would like me to go? Half day or Full day how ever is good. PMs or anything is good if posting prices isnt a your thing I completely understand. Thanks alot again. It is much appreciated. Looking forward to maybe getting some hands-on info from ya!