Hybrids & Sandies

[Guest]

After checking the USGS data, as well as generation schedule yesterday, I decided it would be a good afternoon to head to the Arkansas. So, after sending out the battle cry to one of my fishing buddies, we loaded up the big sticks and set a course for Riverside. When we arrived, the water was running at roughly 1,000cfs and dropping (making wading pretty easy). After chucking clousers for a good half hour, with only a few hits and no hookups, the fish suddenly turned on. When it was all said and done, I believe we brought somewhere in the neighborhood of 20-25 sandies and hybrids to hand, with some of the larger fish averaging 2-3lbs. No stripers were brought to hand, but those little hybrids sure do have heart!!! The fishing was pretty amazing for about 30 minutes or so with both of us alternating catches every few casts, until the bite turned off and we packed it in. A couple of interesting notes: 1) my buddy did manage to hook a rather LARGE scale off of something and only noticed it after hearing his fly make a whizzing noise while flying past his ear, and 2) There are some REALLY big gar in the river (especially the one with a tail the size of my head that slapped the top of the water within arms reach of me)!! In all, it was a great afternoon to be on the river and can't wait to get back down there.

[FlyfishinOK]

Great report. I've been waiting for things to fire up. I've only been once this year and it was gar city.

I was going to go down and try things out Sunday but it looked like to much water for wading and my daughter wanted to go trout fishing.

[Guest]

Great report. I've been waiting for things to fire up. I've only been once this year and it was gar city.

I was going to go down and try things out Sunday but it looked like to much water for wading and my daughter wanted to go trout fishing.

Have you ever targeted gar specifically? Some may think I'm crazy for getting excited about a "trash" fish, but they can be extremely fun to catch on a fly rod depending on the fish. I've had a few take off like a rocket, jump and/or tail walking across the water!!! Others simply feel like a log on the end of your line or simply put up no fight at all. The key to catching them is using a fly made out of nylon rope, that doesn't have a hook. I usually carry a few in my box for those slow days, when the only fish biting are the gar!! They may not be the most appealing creature to have on the end of the line, but a fish is fish in my book. I can't imagine what hooking into a 4-5 footer would be like!

By the way, I checked the USGS data for last Sunday, and it showed the flow to be around 6,500cfs. You made the right decision going trout fishing; wading would have been interesting, to say the least!!

I'm hoping to get on the river again this afternoon to see what I can stir up, and will more than likely fish quite a bit this weekend if water levels permit.

Maybe I'll see ya down there sometime.

Cole

[FlyfishinOK]

how do you get that fly out of their mouth when you land them?

[DaddyO]

Cole,

If you decide to go this weekend, I would sure like to tag along. I've been wanting to do that style of fishing and can never catch the water/fish/my time in the right conditions. PM me if you're interested. Thanks!

[Poke 'Em]

how do you get that fly out of their mouth when you land them?

I carry a dowel rod and a pair of pliers (and some leather gloves). Pry their mouth open, stick the dowel in to keep it open, and you can pull the rope out fairly easily. I always wear leather gloves though, as they've been known to take a quick snap at me.