Beavers Bend Fly Shop

good to hear a nice fishing report. By the way, where is swimming hole? I have been fishing LMF for six years but never hit that place.

The swimming hole is the area you come to where the road T's after you turn at the cabin office. The actual swimming hole is on the east side of the island that is there.

I was there two weekends ago and the whole swimming area and the area above and below Sid's was as low as I've ever seen it. There were people standing in what I know to be 6 feet of water. Tons of exposed river bed in the swimming area and below Sid's (which I know is the same section of river).

Anyone seen this/ know why its low? I must be missing something. SC, CH, LC, and EH all look normal.

-Jason

Hoss,

Not being a fly fishing multi tasker at LMF, I do like to fish the wooley bugger almost exclusive.
Do you have any tips fishing the WB you can pass on ? First, do you tie your own ? Then color, size, method fished, etc ?

Thanks,
Slim

Slim,

Yeah, I understand the WB does keep it simple and it is effective. So I do tie my own, and really it is a copper head leech pattern. Hook is a size 14 streamer that I wrap in lead. For the body I use something called uni-mohair, it is similar to chenille only it is more fuzzy. Tail is marabou. Easy to tie and color is usually olive.

When fishing it, I will typically will start more aggressive, cast out and strip it back in. Sometimes they want it this way. If that isn't working, I begin to slow it down, drifting it down and across stream. One of my favorite ways to fish it and works really well in slower currents or when I want the fly to suspend is to attach a strike indicator above it. This allows it to have more hang time in the fish zone than simply drifting it. Try this rig when fishing at the head of the spillway sometime, works well.

I'm sure there are many other ways but this is how I approach it.

Slim,

In winter time you may want to just bounce the fly along the bottom, very slowly.

Kit

Hoss,

Your throwing a #14 WB ??
I throw #4's and #6. Quite a difference.

Many years ago, (and recently, see above) Kit taught me "ya gotta get deep Slim" so I load these #6 WB's up front with a 4.5mm tungsten bead.

For stream safety purposes, you cannot throw this heavy streamer with even a #6, 9' fly rod or you'll end up in the emergency ward with this streamer embedded in the back of your Longhorn hat.

So I use a GLX Loomis #8 two piece fast action rod and a 7/8 Nautilus reel with Rio Gold line and at the fly end #4 tippet and leader. This is not finesse fishing Hoss. This is about trying to catch only big fish. And it works from time to time.

C&R of course, I'd rather eat canned tuna than eat hatchery raised fish fed dog food for three years.

If you'll be at the LMF next week Hoss, I'll look you up.

Slim

I fished LMF 28-31 using all the usual suspects. I had a rash of luck with small (20-28) olive midges when the cloud cover was good. When it was sunny the old egg pattern was the ticket. I used white shammy SJW's with some good results as well.

Slim,

Sounds great. I'll take a look at my schedule but should be hitting the river next week. I'll send you an email this evening and see what we can get done.

Kit,

Went to the Tulsa Fly Club meeting last night and learned how to tie a Clouser. Quite a lot of stuff goes on one of these flies !! Especially on a large hook. The guy last night was tying a 0/3 hook !!

Anyway, going to tie up a few and see if they'll work next week at LMF. You better come up for a day or two.

Slim

Slim sure wish i could but can't yet.. Tie some up in white with some marabu, then when you cast it out let it sit for along time before you even move it. The move it really slow. I've heard this is how you pick up a few wallleyes.

Kit

Kit,

Sure, I'll give it a try at Spillway.
I got a nice walleye there last year on a WB.

Be good,
Slim

Hey Hoss,

Will you be around to toss a few wooley buggers this week ?

Want me to call you when I get down there ?

Email me, see your inbox.

Slim