Fishing After Christmas!

[LittleRedFisherman]

Well, fishing was pretty tough yesterday, at least on the stretch we chose. My father in law wanted to fish the lobo area thinking how swift it get up stream while they are running two units. When we got there, the water was getting to LObo. We we immediately started fishing from the ramp down. Right away we started catching a few fish. My Father in law and his 10 yo grandson wanted to drift fish in the swift current, I was determined to throw jigs, so that's what we did. We all caught a few on the first float, when we boated back up to float down again, we were boating up into more fo the high water, which had got dingy and trashy. From then in on, the jig fishing was not working, and even the drift fishing power bait was almost usless, with a fish being caught every now and then. I am still second guessing our decision to go there, I really wanted to go up to JFK. The trash got so bad, on my last run up the river, I had to stop 10 times in 2 miles to clean the intake on my jet with the trash, must of been a heavy 2 units they were running.

However, it was a beautiful day for DEcember, we did tough out some fish, and my 10 yo nephew had a great time, and actually out fished us with his powerbait, which he rubbed in....lol. He took the three biggest ones he caught to take home to clean and show his dad! There's no such thing as a bad day on a river!!

[Quillback]

Looks like you had a good time, good to see that the 10 yo boy with that big smile!

[Ham]

That's a great photo! If I was that young man, I'd remember that trip for forever.

Trashy water, High wind, and muddy water are three things that make trout fishing with a jig difficult and much less productive. It wasn't your fault and might not have been all that much better upriver, but a location change If you have time is the thing to try. You can try to fish small protected areas and REALLY tight to the bank to scratch out a few fish. Sometimes I'll also throw a really visible jig that might stand apart from the suspended trash in the water.

Did y'all get to fish anymore?

[LittleRedFisherman]

Just that one day is all we could go, we came home yesterday as all of us caught some bug while we were up there. Spent 3 hours up there in an urgent care getting meds for my daughter, she has strep, think my wife does to, and it hit me last night, hot one minute cold the next, and sore throat. I was getting ready possibly tomorrow to go smallmouth fishing, but doubt it now...

[LittleRedFisherman]

I tried some of those tricks Ham with the jig, but I'm thinking if we had been closer to the Dam, the trash might not have been as bad. In that Lobo stretch, the river takes on an "alluvial" look to it, much like a delta river, it has a lot of grass and trees on the banks, leaves were everywere in the water. Up towards JFK, there big rocks more like white river. When they run more water in the white, its not a problem, this river is different for sure. Being closer up there would have been better, but the lady at Lobo said it's so swift up river that some of the docks stopped renting out there boats, the lobo stretch is deeper and not as swift. Anyhow, it was fun, but will not be as excited to fish on two units again....My jet stopped up so many times, that it isn't pumping water out the indicator, gonna try to back flush it before my next trip..

[Ham]

I know you can catch em on the White. I wish you had caught them a little better on the Little Red. It's hard to make myself go trout fishing anywhere other than the White although the NFOW has its charms.

[marcusearlt]

I was at the Lobo area on Thursday and you're right LRF, it was super dirty and filled with suspended debris. We ran up river and I was constantly having to stop and clean out my jet's intake as well. They were running 96 and with all the stained ice melt coming in from the feeder creeks and the high water picking up leaves and stuff off the bank it was tough conditions. We did a LOT better at JFK on Friday. JFK down to Lindsey's had much clearer water and next to no trash suspended in the water. Plus at JFK we were able to motor to the trees on the banks and pick up several spoons and bobbers tangled up in the limbs, free tackle! Saturday was a grind with the water still being kind of fast and dirty back down at Lobo, and probably because I was determined to trophy hunt with nothing but big streamers with no one else in the boat. I lost 5 browns all over 18', just a hook up, head shake and they were gone! Today was an epic day, really favorable CFS and clarity. We caught browns and bows from Mossy to Fat Possum Hollow, on the fly and with spinning gear. Man, I hate to hear that y'all got sick, that sucks! I hope y'all get to feeling better soon!

[LittleRedFisherman]

Marcus, I figured we should of went closer to the Dam, next time there running two, that's what i'm doing! I saw where they were running one unit yesterday, glad you got in um! When the LLR Is right, it's a hard one to beat!!

[marcusearlt]

JFK is always cold and clear! I just love the Little Red, and it doesn't hurt having permission to access a couple awesome spots from people's property either. Sometimes I wonder why the heck I moved up here to Fayetteville when the LR calling me back! Dang river-itis I suppose... Here are some of the browns we landed. My gf's brown trout is way bigger but that is totally cool, I promise. I think you'll get a laugh out of the third pic...

[LittleRedFisherman]

Wow, great pics and fish, that 3rd one looks painful!! It is a great river, I have a lot to learn about it really. I used to fish it a lot, but just been twice in the past year on it now. Maybe I can catch you down there some time and show me some pointers!! I knew we probably were making a bad call going to Lobo that day, but had father in law wanting to go there, and a 10 yo, so didn't want to chance unfamiliar swift water.. My best days have been when I went myself, that's when I can get serious!!