Foghorn Posted March 23, 2023 Posted March 23, 2023 Susie and I ventured to RRSP last Monday the 13th to fish the park for the first time in 2023. We made a side trip over to Bennett to check water levels and pick up some fly tying materials. We were late getting to the park and didn't plan on fishing Monday so no big deal. We drove thru the park and I was shocked by the number of people fishing on a Monday. Little did I realize it was spring break for what seemed to be the whole state of Oklahoma. We got up Tuesday morning to 20 degree temps and Susie decided to stay at the resort and I would come back for her later. I had seen several 18-20" fish Monday afternoon and in 2 hours never saw any of those fish. And I didn't get many strikes either. I returned for the better half and we decided a trip to the C&R might be a better plan. Right off the bat, Susie hooked a decent rainbow and saw another fish in the 4-5# range. Never fooled that fish as it was shy from all the attention I assumed it had seen. And Susie kept catching some decent rainbows. Shortly after, I found 2 big fish and started throwing at them. They were stacked next to each other and one drift had a chance at either fish. I caught the smaller of the 2, a brightly colored 3.5# rainbow but that sent the bigger fish scooting. And Susie kept catching fish. We fished down to the end of the C&R and by then it was getting late afternoon. As we started walking back to the car on the high bank, we started seeing some big fish right against the bank. Of course you couldn't see them from the stream so I figured what the heck, let's see if I can catch one. Picked out what appeared to be the biggest fish and put a white cross cut rabbit leech on. The big fish hit the fly on the second cast to which Susie said "how are you going to land that fish". I had no good plan as the bank I was on was lined with trees and I was 7-8 feet off the water. I got around a couple trees thanks to long arms but the fish got me into a downed tree and it was over. We estimated the fish in the 8-9# range. We went back Wednesday only to see at least a dozen fly fishermen in the C&R including some folks from River Run in Branson. And shortly thereafter a school bus arrived with close to 30 aspiring high school students from a high school fly fishing class. Was a good trip, but way too many people netboy, BilletHead, nomolites and 1 other 4
fshndoug Posted March 23, 2023 Posted March 23, 2023 no one has to work anymore. I just haven't figured it out yet. trythisonemv 1
Quillback Posted March 23, 2023 Posted March 23, 2023 I drove through there that Wednesday and I wondered why there were so many people fishing. Looking up stream from the bridge there was probably 8-10 people wading. In about a 50 yard stretch.
BilletHead Posted March 23, 2023 Posted March 23, 2023 Other than the crowd great synopsis of your trip. Thanks Mr. Foghorn. 😁 trythisonemv 1 "We have met the enemy and it is us", Pogo If you compete with your fellow anglers, you become their competitor, If you help them you become their friend" Lefty Kreh " Never display your knowledge, you only share it" Lefty Kreh "Eat more bass and there will be more room for walleye to grow!" BilletHead " One thing in life is for sure. If you are careful you can straddle the barbed wire fence but make one mistake and you will be hurting" BilletHead P.S. "May your fences be short or hope you have long legs" BilletHead
Foghorn Posted March 23, 2023 Author Posted March 23, 2023 2 hours ago, fshndoug said: no one has to work anymore. I just haven't figured it out yet. You are correct Doug. It looked like an opening day crowd that falls on a weekday. trythisonemv 1
Foghorn Posted March 23, 2023 Author Posted March 23, 2023 39 minutes ago, BilletHead said: Other than the crowd great synopsis of your trip. Thanks Mr. Foghorn. 😁 I was trying to figure out a way off of that high bank to get in the water but the thought of my almost 70 years old body attempting that move and Susie questioning me nixed that idea. trythisonemv 1
BilletHead Posted March 23, 2023 Posted March 23, 2023 All I can say is it's nice we have someone to watch over us. I get read the riot act quite often for doing something before thinking it out. Quillback, trythisonemv, Foghorn and 1 other 1 3 "We have met the enemy and it is us", Pogo If you compete with your fellow anglers, you become their competitor, If you help them you become their friend" Lefty Kreh " Never display your knowledge, you only share it" Lefty Kreh "Eat more bass and there will be more room for walleye to grow!" BilletHead " One thing in life is for sure. If you are careful you can straddle the barbed wire fence but make one mistake and you will be hurting" BilletHead P.S. "May your fences be short or hope you have long legs" BilletHead
Members scooper54 Posted March 24, 2023 Members Posted March 24, 2023 "no one has to work anymore. I just haven't figured it out yet." Ain't that the truth. I retired two years ago at age 66 and, in the years leading up to retiring, looked forward to fishing during the week without crowds. Little did I know that, no matter what day of the week, I was going to have to deal with crowds. COVID changed things, including causing a big group of folks, like me, to retire. trythisonemv 1
fshndoug Posted March 24, 2023 Posted March 24, 2023 wish all these folks would have taken up golf instead of fishing . trythisonemv, Quillback and BilletHead 1 2
BilletHead Posted March 24, 2023 Posted March 24, 2023 33 minutes ago, fshndoug said: wish all these folks would have taken up golf instead of fishing . I agree and think you should start hitting the links and get out of our way. 😁 Quillback, bfishn, fshndoug and 1 other 3 1 "We have met the enemy and it is us", Pogo If you compete with your fellow anglers, you become their competitor, If you help them you become their friend" Lefty Kreh " Never display your knowledge, you only share it" Lefty Kreh "Eat more bass and there will be more room for walleye to grow!" BilletHead " One thing in life is for sure. If you are careful you can straddle the barbed wire fence but make one mistake and you will be hurting" BilletHead P.S. "May your fences be short or hope you have long legs" BilletHead
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