Fly Selection

[Jeremy Hunt]

Mickey

I also agree with everyone and Thom it the nail right on the head!!

Few Questions to ask you?

Do you know anything about the other (Norfork) places to fish other then Bull shoals? Or are you just wanting to fish up at the dam?

Are you bringing a boat if they're generating?

Some things I have also found to help me fishing these flies are when to fish them. There are different ways trout would prefer SJW's, scuds, and midges etc. Yes, fish will feed on any of these patterns any given time, but in the conditions they will eat them more often is the key.

I have done really well on SJW's in high water vs. when it is off. You can also fish scuds the same way. When the water starts generating whatever bugs (scuds, midges, planeria worms, sowbugs) don't hang on for dear life they will get washed off and become easy pickens for the fish. It will be a feeding frenzy for about the first hour then it will slow down. I think the reason why they eat worms so much more is because they probably see more of these vs scud or sowbugs when they go by them. It's all about the number game. If you turn a rock over you will see alot more planeria worms vs anything else. So think about this, how many worms are going by the fish verses the scud or sowbug. I would say a great deal more. I have more luck on the color called worm brown. You also need this in two sizes micro and standard and when fishing these in high water you will want to go to a bigger size hook. I fish all mine on straight shank hooks because you will get a better hook set in high water. Most the ones that are commercially tied are on the curved hook.

Zebra midges will work extremely well when the water is off. Try fishing these in wind chop water. Set the fly about two feet under the indicator and keep the fly in the water without recasting it all the time. The longer you leave it in the water the better your chances are hooking up fish consistently. These fish will find it, it’s only a matter of time before you get hits. I wouldn’t fish these any smaller then 18 and I like to fish sizes 14 and 16 most of the time. I really don’t even fool with any color except black ribbed with copper wire and a copper bead most the time.

Give me a call Mickey and I can tell you more about what to use and give you some ideas on some other place to fish while you’re down there. 417-294-0759 or visit my site @taneycomotrout.com

Here is a picture of some planeria worms under a rock. You can see there are a lot of them.

[Mikey]

Jeremy:

Thanks for the in depth reply as well as the visual aid. They sure don't look appetizing to me, but then my reheated spaghetti I just inhaled might not trip their trigger either. I have purchased a san juan worm...I think it would be the micro size...it came outta the Umpaqua bins at my local dealer. A size 16 zebra midge seems like a little easier fly to work with when it comes to my fumbly fingers tying it on.

As far as Norfolk and such, since I'm riding with a buncha guys I kinda have to fish where they fish. I know they don't stay at BSD park but I'm not sure how far down the white they will be traveling. Not too far from the beer, I can promise that.

As far as the boat, he says he will be hitching it up to drive a bit. His claim is that first he needs to come up with a good drift chain but that shouldn't be too hard.

When I find out exactly what is gonna happen I may be givin' you a call to see if you can recommend any locations to me. Also, one day I hope to fish taney. Read so much good stuff about it...just not sure if I would get up to Mo often enough to offset the out of state license.

Mikey

[Thom]

If he is bringing a drift chain you might advise him to bring a good wallet full of cash. I believe it is illegal on the white both in MO and ARK and will be reported quickly.

[Mikey]

I see, well I will certainly let him know tomorrow morning at work. I know it's not something he has done before on the white, this will be his first time with a boat, where-as something he had read about and seen done elsewhere and thought it may be the ticket for controlling the drift speed.

All this being the case, how does everyone else drift? Methods and stuff...

Mikey

[Jeremy Hunt]

Chains will slow you down and will not help you in anyway with a good dead dritf. If you are drifting out a boat just keep the boat going the same speed as the current and leave the fly dead drifting along the side of your boat.

The key again is to keep it in the water without recasting all the time.

jh

[RiverRunner]

Drag chains are illegal on the Norfork tailwater only. They are OK on the White. If you do use one, make sure that you have a knife handy in case it snags on the rocks. If your not careful, you can sink a boat if it snags. Also, I'd try to avoid standing up with a drag chain out, when that thing catches, you'll go flying (and maybe swimming). But, like Jeremy says, they won't do you much good on a dead drift since they slow you down so much.

[back cast 6]

Wow. Im amazed at all the information you guys have. I know the difference between wet flies, dry flies, nymphs and midges..but after that...im still lost. Ive only been fishing for about 7 years but ive barely gotten my feet wet with trout fishing. I still have a hard time knowing when my fly has been hit, or when to try and set the hook. Im such a rookie I go as often as I can, but not nearly as much as Id like to. Ill have to keep checking back to posts like this for good sound advice. Thanks guys!

[JimmyT]

Backcast 6,

the beauty of 'trout crack' is it can pass as a Midge, Scud or even a sowbug if the profile is percieved by the fish from the top or bottom...

It has been tried in many rivers throughout the country and even in europe.

It's a good all round bug that's pretty simple..

Jimmy T.

[Danimal]

Hey Mikey, The Woodsman in Ft.Smith has Y2K's. Dan-o