I Have An Itch...

[fozzie.]

Hey folks,

It's been too gorgeous the past few days to stay cooped up again tomorrow, thinking about busting out the fly rod and heading either to the Mineral Fork or to the upper Big River (Caledonia area). I've checked the USGS site and everything looks fine; has anyone been down and checked out either area this season? I've fished both 3-4 times and never had much luck, what patterns should I be throwing.

Thanks.

[jdmidwest]

I have only fished Mineral Fork once and it was a long time ago. We do float the Big River a few times each year. I plan on being in the area next weekend to visit my buddy and start our annual Mushroom Hunt. We may get on the river and try a float.

Wading is pretty limited as there are alot of long deep holes. We usually float from Bootleg to Irondale, Irondale to gravel pit at HWY 8, 8 to TDL, or TDL to Leadwood. Last float of the summer was in Oct from TDL to Leadwood and we nailed some nice fish that day.

Usual flies for panfish, streamers, poppers, big nymphs. We use spin gear for the most part on that river.

[Gavin]

Anything brown & down seems to work really well on the MF, Huzzah, & Cortois...I'd never fish any of them without at least a half dozen brown sparkleminnows. Pearl works great too.

http://www.ozarkflyfishers.org/fly/spminnow.html

In the summer I'd have to add some sneaky petes, Chartruese size #2, and some big blockhead poppers.

[fozzie.]

Thanks guys, I wound up going out yesterday, but did more walking than fishing. I hadn't fished MF in six or seven years; the water looks a whole lot better than I remembered. Managed a couple surprisingly large rock bass, a few bluegill, and 3-4 spots. Saw a few impressive smallmouth, and two or three monstrous largemouth, but wasn't able to connect.

I'll definitely have to try it again later this spring, though. Thanks for the advice.