Uncrowded, Non-generation Fishing.

[semoseman]

New to the site, and though I don't get time with 2 small children like to trout fish as much as I can. 2 questions.

1) Is there any place on the river where there is good fishing without being too crowded - I generally fish at Marval, but on a nice weekend, most of the good holes are being guarded by other fisherman - just want to wander and enjoy less crowded fishing.

2) Does the generation schedule change over the spring and summer? Over the last 2 months I have kept track and it is 6am to noon or so and 5pm to 10pm they generate monday through Friday (best fishing times) - so can at least fish on the weekend, but was hoping for an uncrowded couple of weekdays off work during the spring and summer. Does it change at all?

thanks ahead of time for any responses.

[Zach Bearden]

A person that would be able to give you more information on the rivers generation would be Bill Butts. I'm sure he will chime in on this one. This is what I know about generation.

They generate when they need power. There is no telling when they will generate. They cant keep to the schedule very well but to me thats most all of the dams. It also depends on the lake levels. If the lake is up they will generate just so that they can get the lake levels down. Also check the lakes that pour into the lake that has the tailwater. If they are high then that means they will generate to drop their levels which makes ours go up then they generate which pushes water down into Robert S. Kerr. Rather confusing to me

If I am wrong on anything here please let me know as I am still working on figuring it out as well.

As for fishing, are you fly fishing or spin?

[Okieflyfisher53]

The SWPA "projected" generation schedule is unreliable. Here is a link for real time data on the flow below Tenkiller Dam http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=07198000

Steve

[Danoinark]

Glad to have you signed up. Thanks for registering.

Dano

[Bill Butts]

semoseman~

As Dano said, welcome to the OA Forum.

Your desire to have uncrowded water to fish the Lower IL River is a similar desire many fellow fishermen share with you.

With respect to finding less crowded trout water, yes fishing on a weekday would be less crowded but one of the best things you can do is be willing to walk some distance up and down river from where you access.

Personally, if I was going to do a lot of trout fishing on the Lower IL River, I would seriously consider using a kayak and leisurely roaming the river from up near the dam down to Mar Val or Gore Landing.

MarVal does have good water both up and downstream, if you're willing to hike. However, it is critical to always keep in mind when you're fishing any tailwater river that the water can come up at any time regardless of what generation is "scheduled" or any fisherman's prediction. Safety first, always.

There are sometimes patterns in water releases that can be observed, like you mentioned seeing over the past 2 months.

The pattern you've recently observed was not the pattern last summer or spring, due to being a different time of year, lake water level and power demands. It is an everchanging factor that we all face with every trip.

There is certainly a chance you could have weekday low water as you desire but only time will tell from season to season, and year to year. You are doing the right thing by monitoring the actual flow levels ahead of the time you plan to fish.

I really wish there was a more clear-cut approach to finding the desired uncrowded trout water you seek, but on the Lower IL and most other tailwaters there are many unpredictable factors you must address.

Another consideration that I would suggest to you in seeking pleasantly uncrowded water is that you find some nice wadable Smallmouth streams which are available in eastern OK, AR and MO. Smallmouth have many similar characteristics to trout and many of the same flies are productive. River Smallmouth fishing is the most under-utilized resource fly fishermen have in the Midwest.

Good luck in your quest.

Bill

[semoseman]

Thanks so much for the replies and welcome. I guess I will watch times in the spring and summer - I am a physician, and with the family have to plan time off well in advance. Well I guess every time you go fishing there is a risk of bad weather, water generation etc.

As to the answer of spin vs. fly - I grew up spinner fishing, and still do quite a bit. Recently started fly fishing - but doing that with a second child on the way is not the best idea, but I respect the skill, and hope to practice more as I get time. So if you see someone caught in the trees on a backcast - just remind me my trusty spinning reel and a few good mepps are back in the car.

Again thanks for the welcomes and quick replies.