3/2 And 3/3 At Gastons

[DaddyO]

I'll be staying at Gastons 3/2 and 3/3 hoping to have some wadeable water to fish. Will be fishing with my Dad and Brother and a couple of friends. Gonna stop by Taney Thursday night. Hoping to have good water for some strippin'. If not, we'll just fish the outlets with lighted indicators for a little while.

Do you guys have any suggestions for flies? I'll have Scuds, Midges, Eggs, Hibernators and Woolys.

[joeD]

If you're staying at Gaston's, they'll have the lowdown on what to use. Read John Berry's reports on this forum. He'll tell you all you need to know.

BIG HOWEVER: What are you going to do if the Corp is running water? Are you going to hire a guide? Rent a boat? Go to Norfork (if they're not running water)?

I don't know what you mean by fishing the outlets with lighted indicators.

But know this, fly-fisherman. Learn to love a spinning rod and a jerkbait. And ask yourself, is it more important for you to catch fish, or is it more important to you to FLYFISH for your quarry?

One doesn't go to the White River (and Gastons) to sit on the sidelines.

[DaddyO]

If the water is running, I'll either try to stay ahead of it, go to Norfork, if it is wadeable, do the water taxi at RimShoals or drive back up to Taney. And, yes, it is more important, to me, to FLYFISH.

The outlets with lighted indicators was in reference to night fishing at TaneyCoMo, which is Plan B if they are generating. Plan A is streamer fishing.

[lockjaw]

I know exactly how you feel and share your feelings. On top of that, I too like to wade and leave my boat in the garage, any day of the week. Unfortunately, last week we had ONE day of zero generation. This was the first day of zero that we have had in well over a month. I hope you catch it right, I will be out there with you. Seems like the COE is a little gun shy after the flood waters of last year. Everytime it rains, they hurry to bring the lake down to 654. I would think with the mild temperatures, we would have more wadable water, but we also expect that in Oct & Nov and it didn't happen. It would be great if the sportsman could have a little insight as to what they want to accomplish each week or month. PR would be a great thing for the Corp, again, unfortunately, they don't have to talk to anyone or answer to anyone.

Have a good trip, last week, in the zero generation, size 22 midges were hot in red and silver along with soft hackles in orange.

Lockjaw

[JCWolfe]

I would take yout spinning gear as well. Last time we hit the Norfolk it was non stop generation. I caught some on flies but caught many on rapala crankbaits. Rainbow, Brooke trout, Gold black, Silver black patterns caught fish. We used the sinking rapalas. Good luck and post a report so we can be jealous.

[DaddyO]

Guys, thanks for all of the advice, keep it coming.

JCW, I'm just stubborn enough not to take the spinning gear. I've almost converted to fly rod only on all species. Part of my enjoyment with fly fishing is trying to be creative enough to catch fish in all situations and conditions. It's part of my obsession / addiction.

[Greasy B]

Last weekend we fished 3000-6000 cfs. With aid of a boat we found plenty of wadable water. Saturday with the wind calm we were able to drift fish pretty effectively, Sunday the wind blew so hard wading was the only option besides a man on the oars full time. I'm with you on the spin fishing, I would just as soon not fish. I'm afraid if set my fly rod down and pick up a spinning rod my brain would go numb from the boredom.

[Jason R.]

Totally agree- how could how possibly catch fish on high water without bait? I mean sinking lines, 9wts, articulated streamers- arrggh its all so complicated- I'd rather just tie on some bell sinkers and a treble hook and drift around.

[joeD]

This is my friend. We used spinning gear and jerkbaits in high water in January. This was the biggest. We also broke off at least three that were just as big. Not to mention the 30 or so other browns in the 2-3 pound range that we didn't photograph and were put back.

We also flyfished on the day they weren't generating.

I'm not bragging. I've had plenty of tough days on the White. My point is, if one is going to go through the trouble of booking rooms at a resort, buying gas and food and booze and cigars and licenses, inviting friends, ON A FISHING TRIP, shouldn't actually catching fish be somewhat of a priority? Especially when water levels are unpredictable?

Obviously, I don't understand the philosophical rigidity when it comes to flyfishing ( "I just like it" ). It almost seems as if your hand would melt if you actually picked up a spinning rod. Not to mention the existential hell you would go through for straying from the zen of the "art" of flyfishing.

But, who am I to get in the way of someone's desire to fish a certain way? Really. We're all after the same thing, one way or another, fish or not.

[Greasy B]

Tongue in cheek, I have a bundle of worn out spinning rods in my basement, the real reason I favor the fly rod is the darn knot on my fingers from holding the reel stem between them. By the fall of every season my finger look like it has a marble under the skin. Snobs are slobs.

Great fish!