Trout Fishing Advice Request

[2sheds]

If you had tomorrow to wade fish the NF around Sunburst Ranch, which way would you head and what would you try ?

I'm on my annual wild trout fishing pilgrimage through the Ozarks - 1st time in October (typically June/July).  Had reasonably good success last week at the Roaring River Conservation Area (technically not "wild") and up at Crane Creek.  Then an exceptional couple of days on the Little Piney at Lane Springs.  But zero, so far, here on the NorthFork.

Have tried wooly buggers (#10 +/-), white/shad gray jigs, don's crawdad, prince nymph, and a bunch of others since yesterday afternoon - but perhaps only 3-4 strikes and no hookups.  I'm fishing the green to brown transitions, following the foam seams, spending time around the rocks, dead drifting - and swinging, went down to #6 tippet, even put on my sink tip to get as deep as possible.  Always inspecting my fly to clean the moss (and there's plenty floating through).

 All of those things that led me to some trout elsewhere have not (yet) panned out.  I suspect that I do not understand where to cast for fish here.  On the other creeks there are limited opportunities that help winnow down the options.  Here, it just looks to me like almost everywhere looks good, but maybe the water is always moving too fast.  I've tried to get down deep and work around the slowdown obstructions, but maybe not enough. 

I see fish on the bottom that I haven't spooked and they look like rainbows, but I haven't been able to break them away from whatever else they are so interested in at the time.

Any advice, constructive criticism, or humor this evening will be sincerely enjoyed.  I will try it all out tomorrow and issue a report when I find myself with another WiFi signal.

[Devan S.]

I found NFOW and Eleven Point both much more difficult than expected for the "Wild" trout streams. In both cases, I caught my fish just covering water with a jig like I would at Taneycomo out of a boat. I fished both in the early summer in higher water levels but in both cases I used a 1/8 oz jig as I just felt I wasn't getting deep enough with smaller jigs. 

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

Get it deep.  Surf and turf.  Egg fly with a San Juan worm dropper.  Or scud dropper.  I think most people think they are difficult to fish but I think it’s because there aren’t a bunch of stockers to catch.  Good luck.  

[Gavin]

Fish the same flies on both. Size 4 black/brown Pat’s Rubberlegs stone, rubber leg , bead head red Fox Squirrel, or a peach unreal egg. Gotta get deep. Bring  lots of split shot and big Thingamabobbers. That’s my usual selection, and I usually fish 3x, never lighter than 5x. Also some striper tackle and a big net. Ask Brian Bade for some tips when you get down there. The Bade’s know how to fish. You really need to float both to be successful. NFOW can be insanely tough if the water level is low. Quite easy when it is up and slightly stained if you get deep enough. Eleven Pt is stocked rainbows mostly and rather easy fishing in comparison. But you gotta float. Wasting your time otherwise. Capt’n Dave’s Blue Backed Olive Wooly Bugger excels on the 11pt. Size 6. It is a spot on match for the coldwater crawfish found in the trout waters of the 11pt and no place else. An olive mohair leach should do the trick as well.

[2sheds]

Thanks very much for the advice.  

Think I am all set.  Hope I am correctly planned for my day.

[2sheds]

OOPS - Wrong photo.

[ColdWaterFshr]

What others have said.  Heavy and deep on both.  I like the Pats rubber leg on the NFOW, and mohair leeches on 11 pt.  

[2sheds]

Bob's Report - I threw my heaviest and biggest flies (stuff I tied for fishing the Greer confluence into Eleven Point) and did catch a few.  I really appreciate all the input.  I see that Gavin is right (imagine that) about the preference for fishing from a watercraft; much easier to deal with the heavily weighted flies and the kicker - less chance to pick up moss.  My main timewaster was having to inspect (and clean) my flies after each cast.  This is a pretty big deal when you're relying on current drag to pre-load your rod.

Did catch plenty of golden redhorse.  Still, the NorthFork holds my 2 PB rainbows.  Looking forward to my next trip !

And the campground at Sunburst Ranch is very comfortable.  Incredible horizons made for great stargazing.   It was a fantastic 3-day sojourn.  If you haven't been )ately), you need to check it out.

 

Photo - Moonburst @ 4:00am