White River Fishing Report 1/12/15

[Ham]

Kinda of an odd generation pattern lately ; high flow for a few hours and minimum flow the rest of the time. Not really what I like, but they dont ask me.Predictions were for continued pulse generation, but the weather while awful wasn't impossible to endure and so I went.

I had to go solo. My week of begging prior to the trip yielded no takers so I had to go it alone.

I opted for falling water at Rim Shoals. Lots of people prefer to fish a rise. Some people believe fish WON'T bite on falling water. I prefer steady water, but I play the cars I'm dealt. Fish certainly do change locations as the water level changes and You have to find them before you can really catch them.

I knew high water would hit later in the day and I would change locations when that happened.

it was CLOUDY which is NOT my favorite fo trout fishing. Wind was less than 10 MPH which I almost require for jig fishing for trout from a boat. Air temp was a steady 35 degrees or so. Pretty damp cold and dreary.

Started off kinda slow, but once I nailed down a couple of locations my catch rates improved. Nice Rainbows and a Nice Cutthroat in the first hour or so. I did a lazy drift from upper edge of C&R to the riffle aove the first island. I really wasn't pressing. Wind picked up and I put on a jacket. Grabbed gloves from my truck prior to a run above C&R.

I ran a couple of miles above the C&R area, I wanted to try spy baiting for trout. I threw it about 10-15 times. I got three hits and zero fish. tough to stick with when the hits don't connect.

I of course was steadily picking up fish on Zig Jig.

Decided to return to C&R and fish that upper riffle. Made the run down thru skinny water. I turned the boat to fish and the riffle was gone. In seconds that wall of 7000 CFS water flooded the area. Crazy how fast that happened. Literally 10-15 seconds. I was at 35 fish when I bailed on Rim.

I fished for a minute and then put it on the trailer and headed to Buffalo City where it was more of same. Steady fish catching once you dial into the proper locations. I was literally getting bitten every cast UNTIL the water caught up with me again. Once the high water hit, I tried for larger fish near shallow water obstructions. I got one small Brown for my trouble. I tried the area immediately across from the boat ramp and basically zeroed. I caught a few BUT Lost a couple of jigs and my temper. It was 4:25 PM. I had planned on leaving at 4:30, but I decided to run back to the shoals and try again. Good call. I picked an area and got a > 20 inch Brown (measured) on my first cast. Lengthy exciting fight. (pics later).

I still had a couple of minutes left so I kept at it and ended the trip with my 75 th fish a colored up Rainbow.

It was getting gloomier than before so I took my tired, cold butt to the truck. Good day on the water. I needed one.

[Terrierman]

75 fish? No way.

Buffalo Shoal is becoming one of my favorite spots, browns seem to kind of hang out there. I caught two 19" (measured) on successive drifts out of basically the same spot last time we were down. What are you doing Saturday?

[Ham]

My wife and I are going to Crystal Bridges for a special Modern Art exhibit that is ending soon. I hope we'll have a good lunch in there somewhere.

[Terrierman]

My wife and I are going to Crystal Bridges for a special Modern Art exhibit that is ending soon. I hope we'll have a good lunch in there somewhere.

Crystal Bridges is always a good time. The lunch there was really good when we went.

[Plastic_worm]

Great report, looking forward to the pics

[Ham]

Yeah, the areas around Buffalo Shoals are good. The shoals themselves scare the crap out of me going from top to bottom. It's not so bad running up them.

I'm getting to where I have too many favorite spots to fish. I primarily look at water level and make a call these days.

[Ham]

1/8 oz Zig Jig. > 20 inches

[Ham]

. Pretty little Cutt

[Ham]

. Colors

[Ham]

Typical winter crowds