This Weekend

[copfisher]

How are things looking this weekend? The reports from last weekend seemed to indicate that conditions were improving and, while a bit up and off-color, very fishable.

Anyone closer to action know what this weekend will be like and have a sense of whether the rain this week blew out the river from the park down to Baptist?

[Gavin]

Keep and eye on this guage..

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv?cb_all_00065_00060_00045=on&format=gif_default&period=14&site_no=07064440

It was around 2.25' when I was tromping around below Baptist last Thurdsday..still hard to cross in places...but no problems above Tan Vat. Think I would have liked it allot better aroun 1.5-1.75'. Have Fun.

[Uncle Tupe]

I have been watching this forum for a while learning more about the river from you regulars. This is my first post. Fished below Baptist on Tue. The river was up higher than I had ever fished it all of last year. The river has changed some, as logs have been moved and replaced, new holes have formed and some have filled in. Wading was fine but you had to be more careful. The soft sand and gravel at the edges of some deeper spots and it a little tricky and some old stand by crossings were not an options. As for the fishing, so so. I was mainly helping my son who's new to fly fishing learn a few things. Landed a few small browns 10 to 12 inches or so but on the 7ft 3wt it was fun. All were caught on beadhead pheasant tail nymphs. No takers on SJ worms or Egg patterns which surprised me with the off color of the water. One other note I saw more snakes than I ever have, large 5 foot rat snakes at least 5 or 6. Wonder if the high water has dislodged them. I know they wont hurt you but they still scare the crap out of you while hiking around. One last note, while working back to the car we hear what is surely a jet boat making its way up river. As we near the access a Ozark National Scenic Waterway search and rescue jet boat come flying up. They were trimming limbs and logs blocking the river. Kinda ruined the last 30min of fishing though. Over all a tough day fishing but great just to be fishing! Thanks for all the good info. UT