Report 6-16-2007

[Brian Wise]

Hey guys,

Took 3 ladies from 417 magazine in Springfield on the river. 2 of them had never touched a fly rod and the other had only fly fished a couple of times. No offense guys, but teaching woman is so much easier than teaching men. They were all throwing stellar drifts within 30 minutes.

Again, we floated from River of life to Blair bridge. We pretty much started the day of fishing at Old House Riffle and immediately before we started fishing the flies were dangling in the water and we hooked a 2 1/2" rainbow which we REALLY like to see. Within the first couple of drifts one of the ladies hooked a decent little brown, and then we hooked another one of the young of the year rainbows. Moved down stream to the Corner above Blair 2 of the ladies were nymphing and one was swinging a bead head Crackleback. The Crackleback was the better of the flies at the corner.

Nothing big and not crazy good fishing but defintely enough action to keep things looking up.

Best flies were a #16 Chart. Copper John and the Bead Head Crackleback

Brian

[KCfisher]

Thanks for the consistent and great reports, Brian. I am hoping to come down for a trip with my kick boat middle of next week and this would be my first trip without a guide (you). I plan to float from Kelly to Blair Bridge. Is Blair Bridge easy to recognize? Can you tell me if this is an appropriate plan in the kick boat and give me a landmark or two to plan my float so I dont end up on the water too long (or miss any fishing 'cause Im hurrying. Also, do you know who I could contact about getting a shuttle with my car. If you have any other fly/sizes suggestions other than the great info you already post (without stealing any "secrets") I would appreciate that, too.

Thanks for taking the time; hopefully others will find this information helpful as well. Brian

[Brian Wise]

If you are planning on doing a kick boat I would make sure you have a FULL DAY planned. You will basically run through 3 of the longer pools on the river in a float from Kelley to Blair. When you get to the actual Blair Bridge you will know, it is big, the access is 1/4 of a mile below the actual bridge. As far as timing compared to landmarks about the only way I can help you there is by saying that the half-way mark for that float is roughly the first island below ROLF, I'm not sure I can give you timing from certain parts of the river to Blair not knowing much about kick boat floating.

Along with the other fly suggestions (my usuals ) I would add some San Juan Worms and Red Fox Squirrel Nymphs.

For a shuttle down there I would probably call Sunburst, I think they shuttle cars. Sunbursts # is 417-284-3443.

Good luck man, and let us know how it goes!

Brian