Heading to Lower Ill w/son

[Mikey]

I;m a new user here, but have fished the lower ill for the past 7 months or so. I am thinking about making the trip up there (I'm in Ft. Smith) the 30th (weather permitting). I've used a fly rod there a few times with little luck. What seems to work best? The only 2 trout I've taken on the fly were both taken on dries. Typically I pack some night crawlers if the kids are going. Any response would be appreciated.

-Mikey

[The Caddis]

I'm in OKC and fish the Lower Illinois about 6 to 10 times a year. I've found that small nymphs work the best for my style or lack of style. Olive, brown or ginger are the colors if it is sunny. Black, grey and a dark purple if overcast or raining.

When I say small, I mean small, 18's are typically the largest I fish with there, and I generally use 7x tippet. I know that others will say they use bigger, but my experience has been to stick with small.

[CaptainT16]

Yeah, I have had the pleasure of fishing the lower illinois right below the Tenkiller dam and it does seem like the smaller the better. Last time I did really well on a griffiths gnat. Seems like everytime I am down there, they are always taking bug from the surface. Cracklebacks and gnats and occasionally an adams will work the best. I have had some luck using woolies, but honestly, about all I use are dry flies or something to get just below the surface and you can really tear them up. Good luck!

[Zach Bearden]

Un less you want to take a chance of breaking off flies Id use a 5lb tippet if you fish wooly buggers, Jigs, And larger streamers.... ( I dont fish under 5lb unless I have to and when I do Its either 3.4 Rio Powerflex or 4lb...) I normally Fish a Wooly Bugger, Egg flys, white jigs, and nymphs. (Pretty much no Topwater flies in my box.) I Live approxamatly 4 miles away from the river when they arent generating and its not a weekday Im there... Send me a message if your going to go on a weekend. (Cant go on a Sunday at least from 9-12 anyways.) But Ill come down at show ya how to catch them on a fly rod.

What Part of the river are you planning on going to? I personally Like going to T&M and go down or the dam (T&M has some big fish if you go down river a ways.) Send me a message and Ill help you out a little bit...

[Mikey]

To be honest I'm not too familiar with the slang for the river locations. I've more often fished the area at the first turn in below the dam. Heading left and upstream of the "island" area. I usually start about 50 yards upstream of the first rock breaker. Then I work my way downstream to the other rock breaker. Never been further down than that.

I've also taken my fly rod up right under the dam past the "no boats beyond this point" sign. It looked like really good water, with nice riffles and slows but to be honest I didn't have a single hit. I'm just not too confident with my fly selection or presentation. Still a little new. Primarily I fish with worms and occasionally power baits, but something pure about catching a trout on the fly. Heck, catching anything on the fly.

It may be a bit before I get back up there again, whatc with my license expiring. Out of staters gotta pay $52. Zach, when I do go again I'll be sure and message you so you can show me the ways.

-Mikey

p.s. just got my copy of 'trout bum diaries vol. 1' for Christmas. Fantastic!

[Zach Bearden]

Unless we decide to make a sudden trip to Branson Ill be here...

Is the Trout bum book any good?

[Mikey]

Confusing name, the trout bum diaries is not a book but rather a dvd of a group of guys that head off to the patagonia area in south america and hook up with some monster trout of all species, even big brookies. Check out the trailer at their website:

Angling Exploration Group

Link to trailer:

Patagonia Trailer

Mikey

[Okieflyfisher53]

Mikey,

I would suggest that you check this link for flows before heading over there. They have been running water 24/7 since Jan 1st. http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=07198000 Normal flows (no generation) will be 150cfs or less. Right now it is at over 4000 cfs. Great for striper fishing from a boat but not wadable.

Steve

[Zach Bearden]

Umm Okie the stripers dont move up until summer...

[Mikey]

Thanks for all your feedback on this topic, guys. It may be sometime in feb or march before I'm able to head up there again. I am planning a week long trip to the white, near the bull shoals area. I've been lurking those forums trying to find some tips. The guys I'm going with usually stick with spinning rigs, but I'm determined to hook up with some browns on my fly rod. I'm already stalking the local fly shops here in Ft. Smith, trying to find some decent midges. If you've got anything for me on my trip, do tell. I'm rather new to the whole fly fishing for trout. Done it for bream and bass, but I've come to find that flying for trout requires more finesse.

Mikey