Question From An Unknown Poster...

[Brian Wise]

Hey all,

Not sure who posted this or if it was posted. I received this email from the forum becuase of the "Report this to a Moderator" option.

Here is the exact email and the question that I want to answer. The have made the text of the question red.

Brian Wise,

You have been sent this communication from PBR via the "Report this post to a moderator" link.

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Topic: Report 12-29-07

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Link to post: http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?a...amp;#entry54613

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Report:

Brian,<br /><br />My buddy and I walked from the bottom of the blue ribbon area bridge to the next upstream bridge without seeing one fish (@4miles?) on 1-3-'08. Frustrated, we went upstream to the put in below rainbow springs and walked about 4-500 yrds upstream again w/o seeing one fish. We have @ 15yrs. flyfishing expereince and were using polarized glasses. Where did the fish go? The only thing we did see were a ton of chubs<br /><br />Thanks and great looking river

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Regards,

The OzarkAnglers.Com Forum team.

http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php

I do have a couple of questions for the person who posted this. Where you fishing or just walking?

From the bottom of the Blue Ribbon section to Blair Bridge (the next bridge upstream) is around 2.5 miles.

About not seeing fish. To be honest with you the only fish we see before we catch them is when were are sight fishing to a big, big fish that is in a smoother water tailout or in a pool. Another thing is if you are wading or even up on the bank a little it is going to be hard to see the fish from a distance especially in the water where you 'may' see a big fish. Another thing, this time of year we don't generally see a lot of big fish in the pools, they are usually in the deeper tailouts. The vast majority of our fish are caught in the riffles where it is especially hard to see fish. I'm not exactly sure of where you fish for the most part but if you are used to fishing in the tailwaters these freestone rivers are a LOT different....you just don't 'see' as many fish before you catch them. However, having said all of that--during certain times of the year you can wade to spots and totally sight fish to big fish---a total sight casting kind of thing.

The only way to 'see' the vast majority of the fish in the NFOW is if you were to snorkel (sp?) the riffles and deeper tailouts....you would defenitely see a ton of fish if you did that.

If you were fishing my first instinct would be to say that you weren't nymphing deep enough.

I would like to touch a little more on this and get a little deeper into the subject with whoever posted this, would you care to repost this with what exactly your day was, was it a fishing day or just a scouting day? If you were fishing what flies did you use, how deep were they and so on. I'd have to see this info before I could go any farther than my explanation for not seeing fish above.

Thanks guys!

Brian

[PBR]

Brian,

yeah sorry about that. This was the first time I've posted anything. Anyhow, we had intended to fish but became frustrated w/o seeing any fish. We were wading the entire part. I've fished all over America (w/ much in Alaska) and am used to seeing fish in the "fishy" looking pools, riffles, etc.--basically where fish should be. We tried S.J. worms, eggs (various), stone fly nymphs, streamers, wets, 7x-5x tippet-fluro, depth depended on the pool--however basically gave up and stoped fishing after the "islands" going upstream(i'm assuming that's what everyone's talking about)and just looked for a fish. It is amazing that with that type of H20 not a single fish was seen or even spooked. Unless these trout are small and then maybe some of the chubs could have been trout? Doubt it but maybe...

Cheers,

Orion

[Gavin]

The NFoW is a hard stream to spot fish on. I rarely see them if I'm wading, but I see lots of when I'm paddling in my canoe.

The area between Patrick and Blair holds some good fish..Usually around the islands above Patrick, some hold near the confluence with Spring Creek, in front of Sunburst Ranch, and the big ledge just below Blair. As a rule, I rarely see fish in the choppy water were you can catch them and most of the fish in the long slow pools (usually browns) tend slink away once you get withing 75' of them. Cheers.

[Brian Wise]

Hey Orion,

I really have to agree with Gavin, pretty much the same as I said in the first post.

I have been fishing the area at the islands above Patrick Bridge a lot lately, and have had stellar trips every time I have went. That isn't saying the fishing may have been a little off but that stretch is always good for a few fish at least. Could have just been a horrible day of fishing.

The type of fish it would take to physically 'see' the fish in the better water would be a real nice fish.

As you waded upstream there is a long deep hole upstream of the second island above Patrick, I would almost guarantee you missed seeing a fish in that hole by not being in a boat. And that is the case for the pretty much the rest of the river and most of the rivers I have seen in Missouri minus the tailwaters and trout parks, and the tiny creeks. Sure, I guess you could take off wading across a nice riffle and maybe see some fish spooked that way but most of the time when you are wading you don't even see the fish that you spook.

Give it another shot if you get the chance....for sure.

Brian