April Fishing Trip

[kevcarr59]

Wouldn't the minimum flows help with the trout holdover, and be beneficial to the fishery overall. We've had 4 or 5 years of drought conditions here in central Texas, and have a decent trout fishery on the Guadalupe River, below Canyon Lake dam. The Guad is the southernmost trout fishery in the nation, and TU was able to get minimum flows several years ago. We have had a couple of decent rainfall years, and have had a few flood events included. Going from winter flows of 25 CFS outflows, to more suitable flows of around 100 CFS, we've had better water, and possibly had some holdover and reproduction.

I don't know what effect the flows have had on the fishery directly, but it still seems to be a popular fishing destination during the winter stockings, which run from beginning of December to the end of January. It's mostly a put & take fishery, but there is also a trophy section with only one 18" rainbow, and artificial-only restrictions of about 3 miles. TU also has lease agreements with landowners/resorts, and they do a lot of stocking for their lease areas. The Guadalupe TU chapter was the largest in the country for several years, with about 4500 members. Those stats are a few years old, so I don't know if that is still the case.

The Guadalupe River is a highly-used water recreation area during the summer, with Schiltterbahn Waterpark, and probably 2 dozen other tubing/rafting outfitters dotting the river from about 2 1/2 to 3 miles below the dam, all the way down to New Braunfels, about 18 miles away.

[sfiser]

On ‎2‎/‎2‎/‎2017 at 3:00 PM, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I noticed a real turn down in activity surrounding the Mountain Home area the past 7 or 8 years.  Started during the big flood years and just continued with Min flow being instituted.

Heck even the fly shop closed.

I have to disagree with this.  The river and everything around it is hopping.  More guides and shops then you can shake a stick at.  Blue Ribbon closed due to bad management and has since reopened.  Dallys fly shop is really the place to go and two rivers is over at norfork.  You go out on a nice weekend and the river is jam packed, same thing with the lakes.  Flood years are hard because fewer people come fish due to the high water but minimum flow has helped everyone.  When they ran big water all summer during 2015 there were noticeably fewer folks on the river (mostly less tourists) but still a fair amount.  The whole area is booming. I have guide buddies that rarely get a day off.

[kevcarr59]

I thought that with the seemingly rampant "lack of interest" in this fishery, by almost non-existent posts, that I might be making a mistake by fishing up at the Norfork tail water, and hopefully at Dry Run Creek. I could easily add a day or 2 up in Branson on the Taneycomo, which seems to be a better choice for some big fish. The allure of Dry Creek has been burning for almost 20 years, and that's what is driving my interest in fishing there. I won't have river access, except by wading when the conditions permit, and have heard that the best way to fish the Norfork is by drift. My wife & I are camping at COE-Quarry Park, so I will  be able to fish right there, and be right across from the hatchery, and Dry Run Creek.

I realize the requirements for the mobility card, and have printed some copies for my doctors to fill out. I'm totally optimistic that it will go through, and be able to fish the creek.  If that option doesn't pan out, then serious consideration will be adding the days to Branson. Right now I"m keeping the options open, just in case things don't go as planned.

[kevcarr59]

I've talked to the guys in the fly shop at work, and he ties at the Sowbug, and he explained some of the "etiquette" about that area, and how it's so different in other parts of the state. For example, he said, around Heber Springs, the fly shops are much more informative with reports and recipes as to what they're hitting. Plus, they're more open as to location. 

I'm curious about Lake Taneycomo, and fishing Branson area. Is the info as closely-held as Norfork, or is it any better?? I'm just trying to get ANY GENERAL info, for the planning stage of the trip. My wife started talking about Bull Shoals/White River State Park, and that could also be a possibility. I've heard the BIG browns run Nov/Dec on the White, but trying to get that time off would be tough, since I'm in retail. What success would be had up there the middle of April??

[Ham]

Tremendous fly and spin fishing opportunities on White River, Norfork, NFOW, and Taneycomo. I'm not sure what you're looking for that you aren't finding. 

All the local trout shops are plenty helpful IMO. They can tell you what the trout have been doing lately. The Caddis hatch will likely be on the wane. Sulphur mayflies are spotty at best, but it can be awesome if in the right place. A little early for hoppers, but you could find some that would bite it.

generally Big flys on dry run, normal size on White, and small stuff on Norfork. You want heavy stuff to get down and stay down in the current on NFOW

cant go wrong with size 16 and 18 zebra midges and Ruby midges, happy meal combos, and scuds. 

Good Luck

[kevcarr59]

Thanks for the info, Ham. It looks like I'll be getting to do Dry Run, my doc signed the mobility card form, and I've already sent it off. Should be back in plenty of time. I guess I was expecting more fishing stories here in the forums, that's all.  BTW, what's NFOW?? Would I be correct in thinking it's North Fork of the White River??

I also do some hardware chunkin', so if the flies don't work, I have another option. Some nice ultralight rods and 4# line, with Rooster Tails and Panther Martins at the terminal. With us usually hitting stockers here in Texas, I hardly even eat trout anymore. With these fish being in the rivers for a time do they have the nice white, sweet-tasting flesh that I remember from the old days. I know they use a liver-based feed at the hatcheries here in Texas, and the liver taste is in the flesh. Do they do the same over there in AR/MO??

Thanks again for your input...

[Ham]

My son had tremendous success on Dry Run Creek using size 10 flashback scuds on straight 10 lb mono. Absolute beasts Swim there. 

North Fork of the White is correct. 

You would be better off slinging White River Zig Jigs than in line spinners, but fish what you enjoy. 

[kevcarr59]

Are the Zig Jigs a local commodity, and where would I be able to find them?

Where we fish the Guadalupe by the dam, we would throw 1/16 Rooster Tails across to the other side of the channel into 6" of water, and watch the trout jump all over them. You almost had to start reeling before the lures hit the water, but it was a blast to watch.

My buddy said the little Cortland 6' fly rod probably would not survive the Dry Run. Lent it to a friend when he went to NM with our Boy Scout group, very nice little creek rod. I know he wasn't into any size fish like on DRC. Looking at a new Cabela's RLS+ 9' 5 wt. rod & reel combo. They use a line a 1/2 wt. heavier, makes it a little easier to cast.

Looks like I may have to dig out the vice again and see what supplies I've still got. It's probably been 10 years, at least, since I've tied anything, or picked up a fly rod. Got rotator cuff/dislocated bicep surgery last April, and now the shoulder feels a lot better. Doc had to put 5 anchors in the bone, the end of the muscle was almost totally shredded.

Sounds like to fish DRC I'll need to go a bit heavy on the tackle. I'm getting all new leaders and tippets for sure. I like to use light tackle when I can. One time we fished Matagorda Bay on the Texas coast, and I caught a 25# Jack Cravelle on a 6' Berkley bass rod and a little Shimano bait-casting reel. Fought him for 90 minutes, the line was absolutely SINGING in the breeze. Left about 6 wraps on the spool, I didn't dare spook him any further. Only big fish caught on the boat, one of the other guys caught a gaff-top catfish, about 3 pounds. Needles to say he wasn't happy I won the pool.