Below 62 Bridge

[jtram]

Just curious how the tailwater fishes below 62 out of a boat? Can you effectively drift fish it with a fly rod similar to the White or LRR? I have fished the upper areas a few times and have started to hate that tailwater, mostly because it kicks my a$$.I want to love this river (55 min away) but it is not very cooperative. Thanks

[Ham]

I'm not a big fan of drifting a fly from a boat ANYWHERE. I am hoping to hit that tailwater from a yak using it as a water taxi. It's about to be a multispecies thing as fish move up river in the Spring. I'll happily catch the trout, but I would never go there for the trout as I live less than 20 minuttes away from multiple launches on the Norfork and the White.

[Beaverdamstore]

Most of the time from 62 bridge down river is still water fishing. You can and will catch fish with a fly rod in the slower water. I normally will use a clouser minnow or some other type of larger streamer. Ham mentioned the multispecies chances here. With a little luck the white bass will be up river along with walleye. Its realy hard to make me angry when that happens. Generally end of march-first of april, but we are already chasing the walleye

.

Jim

[jtram]

Am i correct that you cant run a boat above 62 bridge? Also how is the white bass run? I typically fish spring river in OK for whites but the bridge under 10 hwy can be a zoo.

[Amery]

You can learn to love that river if you go with the right people. Send me a pm sometime and maybe we can hook up.

[rps]

jtram

Unless the lake is way up, running an ordinary boat above the bridge is difficult to impossible. Specialty boats like a river boat with a jet can make it farther up the river.

[jtram]

I run a 25 jet on a 1640 flat bottom rps, and i run until i find out what too shallow is . Thanks amery, hope we can make something happen sometime.

[Beaverdamstore]

Unless they are generating when Table Rock gets below 913 you will have trouble getting up stream past 62 bridge in any boat. Usually can make it to Spider Creek island. Coming down stream with the current most river boats and drift boats can get through if you know where the channel is. There are spots during low water where the channel is only about 3' wide and 10" deep. Possible the cold water slows the whites a bit. They will spawn later here than the warm water rivers. Honestly it is like anywhere else with whites, you will be out one day and the water stinks and has a white scum from all the fish. 2 days later they have went back to Branson for a diner and a show.

Jtram I work most weekends but always looking for a fishing partner.

Jim