Striper Fishing, Dawt Mill area

[fisheye]

All,

Thinking about heading down to the NFWR and fly fishing from Patrick Bridge area to Dawt Mill during the week, not the weekend.  Will be wading, Yes I know it's a "BIG" rough river, but I am happy to fish around the bridge accesses.

Has/does anybody target the Stripers that migrate from Norfork Lake to Dawt Mill section of the NFWR?  Are the Stripers "residents" or do the Stripers just run up the river at certain times of the day or certain times of the year? Any particular stretch of the NFWR to concentrate on for Stripers?

What flies to use, big streamers that represent Rainbow Trout?  Not afraid to cast a 4/0 or larger.

Thanks!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[fishinwrench]

I'd say to start about 4-6 miles above Dawt this time of the year.   Concentrate on the heads of the pools.  

A big bulky fly that you can see would be best for FINDING the best zone, because you can watch for chasers & flashers, but you'll likely do better at actually catching them on something less than 3" long.  A simple olive over tan #4 Clouser for example.   

Timing is huge. Evenings (4:pm until dark) are your Best bet.  

[Gavin]

I tend to see more  stripers in the slow holes between Rainbow Spring and Blair Bridge than I do on the lower river. The river was flowing pretty well last week, 1,300 cfs. Wading is tough at that level, you will need a boat to cover water.

 

 

[2sheds]

Also - That river bottom contains lots of big flat fault slabs.  Can be surprisingly slick.  Be careful wading in the current.

Hope it's a good outing !

[fisheye]

All,

Thank you for your valuable feed back!!  I will use it!!

Wrench, I have observed that most of your White/Hybrid/Striper experience seems to have taken place in the LOZ drainage.  Have you every gone to the NFWR to target the White/Hybrid/Striper?  Why Olive over Tan Clouser, what does the fly represent?

Gavin, when you are targeting White/Hybrid/Striper on the NFWR what flies did you use?

2sheds, finally " bit the bullet" and bought a pair of Korkers.  Should have bought them years ago!!

Will be using a 9 ft, 8 weight rod with floating line and high density sinking tip line.

Going down sometime in the first half of June.  Better get busy tying some flies!!

Will follow up with a detailed trip report.

 

Once again THANKS!!!

 

[fishinwrench]

7 hours ago, fisheye said:

 

Wrench, I have observed that most of your White/Hybrid/Striper experience seems to have taken place in the LOZ drainage.  Have you every gone to the NFWR to target the White/Hybrid/Striper?  Why Olive over Tan Clouser, what does the fly represent?

Wasn't targeting them but happened across a riffle&pool that was loaded, and had some success (4) on a fur strip muddler. Nothing huge, but it was all my 6wt. trout rod with 4x could handle 😉

Olive over tan with 8 strands of root beer Krystal flash...... Hands down the best clear water Clouser of all time.  No crazy fluorescent painted dumbbell eyes. Just paint them black, if you must (probably best to just use unpainted lead eyes).  No fluorescent red or orange THREAD either.  Just ugly old olive.  

Everybody wants to dress a Clouser up like a Christmas tree....... DON'T!    The fish don't need any help seeing it.  

It represents something alive and real, that belongs there.  

[Gavin]

I usually have better luck with suspending jerkbaits or a rattle trap, but have caught them on clousers. Coyote tail, with minimal flash. My nymph rod usually has a Pat's Rubberlegs...size 4, and another fly. RLGRHE, Pinky Peach Glo Ball, Prince, or a CR Gold.