A Couple Days on the Huzzah

[ozark trout fisher]

I managed to get over to the upper Huzzah for Thursday and Friday. I've gotten plenty of time in the Ozarks this spring/early summer, and plenty of fishing in, but this was the first time for awhile I got to take a couple days, check out a new stretch of creek, and really put in some hours on the water. I ended up over at Red Bluff on Thursday morning with a kayak and some vague plans for a quick (because the water, while crystal clear, was up and moving at a pretty good clip) 8ish mile float, but for reasons that aren't worth going into that never materialized. Luckily, there is no shortage of water that is reachable from Red Bluff to a wade fisherman who is willing to bust a little brush, so it didn't turn out to be much of a problem.

When the Huzzah isn't crowded (and it wasn't, this high up, on a rainy weekday) it is always a joy to fish. Red Bluff Campgrounds namesake is really impressive, both from the stream and from Red Bluff trail. The creek (despite what felt at the time like about 40 inches of rainfall due to a cloud that kindly decided to sit over Steelville and not move for the better part of the day) was crystal clear, there was plenty of holding water, in all, the perfect place to be on an early June day..

Oh, and the fishing sucked.

I'm not going to say the fish weren't there, because they were. I could see them. The problem is that many of the smallies were on their beds, and that's a game I prefer to avoid playing if I can. Given the relatively small size of the stream and the total, glass-like clarity, I did my best to stay away from the beds and specifically target fish that were actively feeding. I don't need to tell any smallie fisherman that this isn't the most effective way to go about it, but did find some success, even if it was more work than I'm used to.

But it was spotty. I'm a guy who tends to pick one thing that's working at stick with it most if not all day, but I went through the tackle box three times by the end of the trip. Almost nothing completely failed to work, and absolutely nothing established even close to consistent success. I'd had some successful days recently on other bodies of water, but sometimes you need a reminder we still have a ways until the glory days of midsummer smallie fishing when hand-over-fist results are the expectation. The size of the fish caught wasn't bad, but not spectacular. 9-14 inches on average,  the usual drill. I hooked one that may have been 16-17 inches, but that was about it.

But if I have to endure a couple rain-soaked days of iffy fishing, doing it on a pretty, clear little creek under Red Bluff might be the best way to do it.

 

[goosetalk]

We are heading down to float Tuesday and Wednesday. Thanks for the report. Nice to to know what may be going on when we get there. We will be fishing the lower sections of the Huzzah and the Coutois. Haven't decided which parts yet. Will report our trip when we get back. 

[ozark trout fisher]

The Bluff really did make for a pretty amazing backdrop. The over-used "the fishing kinda sucked, but it was nice to get out" line actually applies.

 

[goosetalk]

Thats very scenic. Looks like the Saturday morning rain has finally hit the gauge. Guess I'll see just how high it goes. May push the floats back a day

[moguy1973]

11 hours ago, goosetalk said:

Thats very scenic. Looks like the Saturday morning rain has finally hit the gauge. Guess I'll see just how high it goes. May push the floats back a day

Huzzah drops about as fast as it comes up.  Unless there is more rain you should be fine Tuesday.  

[goosetalk]

14 minutes ago, moguy1973 said:

Huzzah drops about as fast as it comes up.  Unless there is more rain you should be fine Tuesday.  

 Yes, it's now dropping so we should be fine. I didn't know how much rain fell upstream Saturday. I've done way to much gauge watching this past week 

[Gavin]

Red Bluff is a pretty spot. Good place for kids to swim and catch tadpoles in the summer time, but fishing is not great. Lots of little bass, but not many over 10". Watch for snakes. Friends daughter got zapped by a Copperhead down there. Near dark, while walking back to camp from swimming. She didn't see it and stepped on it I think. Bit her in the leg. Think you will be fine mid-week. Would call Huzzah Valley before your trip.

 

 

[joeD]

At least you were out and about and trying to make things happen. That's what fishermen do.  Good on you.

[ozark trout fisher]

Thanks.

The Huzzah is one of those creeks that has never fished particularly well for me, but is just too darn pretty to give up on. And I've heard more than enough stories to the contrary that I'm sure I'm just not getting the best out of it.

Headed back to the Ozarks tomorrow. for reasons that are work related, but may still result in a line getting wet a time or two. With any luck I might have another report within a day or three.

 

[Coosa]

Did you happen to get passed by a green kayak? I was fishing Friday and passed someone wade fishing close to post office slab.