Fishing Report: July end of June

As of last week we began seeing some low water patterns which of course has made some folks who like to wade very happy.  Especially our locals who can now get out and hit theirs favorite spots.  This past Saturday I had a trip with Ralph from Knoxville and got to hit my favorite spot “The Magic Hole” which not only holds a ton of rainbows but also holds numerous brown trout (see the articles page on fishing for big fish).  This is one of those spots where the brown trout don’t have anywhere to go as there is some ledge rock to hold them in place.  Most of the time it’s just a matter of time before one takes a fly and this was the case with Ralph.  We began the day early (fly in the water by 7:15 am) with a dry and a dropper.  The dry was a stimulator with a dropper midge tied with pewter glitter thread and a natural tungsten bead.  Ralph caught fish on both but mostly on the dropper midge.  Ralph figured he had landed 15 fish the first hour and lost a few as well.  After another hour of pounding out some numbers I rigged up a nymph set up.  12 foot of leader below an indicator of palsa with one #4 split shot and a san juan worm to upstream fish less than 3 feet of water.  This spot is nice in that I can position myself and see the fish which allows me to coach the cast to the best spot to start a drift.  Ralph did a great job and was casting this rig 45 feet without tangles.  This isn’t an easy rig to cast that distance.  After about 20 minutes Ralph hooked up with this fish below which was just shy 24 inches and weighed right at 6 lbs.

Brown Trout 24 inches
Ralph from Knoxville Tn
Brown Trout

Ralph hooked another one and played it for a few minutes before it spit the hook a few feet away.  This one looked like it would go 18 inches.

We then put on a hopper and dropped a midge again and hooked a few more bows.  The hole was playing out after three and a half hours.  Here is a pic with a hopper in the rainbows mouth.

Bow with Hopper

I don’t know how long this low water pattern will last but I’m going to take advantage of it while it’s here.  Yesterday the generation schedule was up by 1:00 pm which is unusual as normally it is not up until at least 4:00 in the afternoon.  The lake level is at 656.53 and holding.  Supposedly this is the new summer time conservation pool level to save water for later in the summer and early fall.  Generation is starting up at 2:00 pm and running till 6:00 or 7:00 pm which gives plenty of time to get some wade fishing in.

Book your summer trip now by picking up the phone and calling 870-404-8906.  I’ll put you in the “spot” for a shot at a fish like the one pictured above.

Welcome to Fly Fish Arkansas. The leading fly fishing guide service on the White & Norfork rivers. Fish with the best! Forget the rest.  Providing  safe, educational and enjoyable fishing adventures since 1995.  Take your next fishing trip to the White River and fish with Jim at Fly Fish Arkansas. Call 870-404-8906 or send an e-mail to jim@flyfisharkansas.com

Good Fishing

Jim 7/6/10

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