If You Didn't Fish Sunday......

[Ted Calcaterra]

then you missed a great caddis hatch. With the sun shinning on a cold winter day, the caddis were popping off the water like mad. For a moment I closed my eyes and thought I was fishing the Mothers Day caddis out West. All one needed was a #16 tan elk hair caddis and a nice long 6x tippet. It was one of those days that don't come around very often in Missouri. I started the day fishing articulated dungeons looking for a good brown but never had any lookers. I was determined to fish streamers because I brought my Nikon D90 and wanted to get some good pics with a streamer hanging out a browns mouth. All morning I was watching fish rise and didn't have my dry fly box. So around 11am I high tailed it back to the car and rigged the 4wt up after eating a giant lunker burger of course. Caught small to medium sized rainbows all afternoon in the trout park on top. What a great way to spend a Sunday.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Thanks for the report. Sounds like a great time. If the big ones don't want to play, there is nothing better than a good dry fly bite.

Snagged

[Phil Lilley]

Nice to hear from you, Ted. Thanks for posting!

[fishgypsy]

Thanks for the report Ted- how did the water look below the park? I'm thinking about hitting it tomorrow or Thursday, before the rain's supposed to come.

[Ted Calcaterra]

The water was in great shape. I'd definitely go if you have the channce. Not sure how the dry fly fishing will be. It seems like its here one day and gone the next. Don't make the same mistake I did. Put the dry fly box in your pocket. I had to walk back to the car for it.....but worth it.

[ozark trout fisher]

then you missed a great caddis hatch. With the sun shinning on a cold winter day, the caddis were popping off the water like mad. For a moment I closed my eyes and thought I was fishing the Mothers Day caddis out West. All one needed was a #16 tan elk hair caddis and a nice long 6x tippet. It was one of those days that don't come around very often in Missouri. I started the day fishing articulated dungeons looking for a good brown but never had any lookers. I was determined to fish streamers because I brought my Nikon D90 and wanted to get some good pics with a streamer hanging out a browns mouth. All morning I was watching fish rise and didn't have my dry fly box. So around 11am I high tailed it back to the car and rigged the 4wt up after eating a giant lunker burger of course. Caught small to medium sized rainbows all afternoon in the trout park on top. What a great way to spend a Sunday.

I was up at Montauk that day, and I saw a few folks taking them on Caddis... Never tried it myself though.

[Chris Gates]

Nice report Ted. I have had those special Caddis days on the current as well. It seems like when I've fished the river quite a bit, fought the crowds and generally starting to get sick and frustrated with the current, I will have a special day like that. Those days keep me coming back to the Current. Generally now those special days are only on warm winter days. I seem to average one day a year that is real special to me on that river.

[Gavin]

The winter caddis hatch....Its hit or miss at best, but I think the key is a stable weather pattern with night & daytime temperatures above freezing. Cheers.