LMF fly fishing

[mikeys131]

Fished about 5 times, 2-3 day stretches, AM-PM, all weekdays, all kinds of weather. It’s an incredibly beautiful place! Fishing, though? Lots of pressure. A few 6-10 inch stocker rainbows, on nymphs & dead-drifted wooly buggers. One 16 inch ‘bow that looked & behaved as if he’d been in the river awhile. A great variety of other wildlife. Broken Bow accommodations & food are ok-adequate. Thus, the fishing really isn’t worth a 3-hour drive, unless I just haven’t caught on yet. Happy to hear suggestions!

[tx0630]

Go fish somewhere else … sorry, but I know I’m not the only one thinking it

[turfdawg]

If you just want numbers of stockers try the Blue river. I personally like the LMF so I can fish for brown trout also.

[huntnfish2much]

You might try hiring a guide from the fly shop. I’ve been fishing the LMF for probably 30 years or more, and I have my favorite spots that occasionally disappoint.

Years ago, I hired Jessie King, and he showed me and my buddies some places and tactics that are still true today.

Like TurfDawg said, there are places like the Blue River that are more regularly and more heavily stocked. I’ve even been thinking about trying the Little Missouri in Arkansas. It would be about the same distance for me since I’m in the Tyler area.

There are just as many reasons now for me to stay away from the crowds at the LMF as there are that used to draw me there monthly. It’s a beautiful place, but it’s not the LMF I grew to love 20 or 30 years ago.

[gui]

To me, what makes the LMF unique is that it is a true year round trout fishery that supports stream-born fish (browns and rainbows) in SE Oklahoma. I believe that the next closest streams that can somewhat match this are going to be in Arkansas or Missouri, so at least 4 to 6 hrs drive from Broken Bow.

Now, it is certainly a tailwater with educated fish. And the wild fish especially are not the easiest to catch compare to, let's say, trout in a western freestone river where fish are going to feed aggressively during the shorter warm season.
But I believe that wild/stream-born fish do live in good numbers in the LMF.

For me, the opportunity to catch stream-born trout alone is worth the drive, coping with the crowds and with the campers that blast music next to my tent. Even if I don't catch many, or any, of these beauties on a given trip...

I like also the variety of water available within the park, including pocket water, deep pools, slower stretches and flats.

Finally, I'm not the biggest trout fisherman out there, but I've been fortunate to catch a few trout in a bunch of different places all over the world. And I have to say that some of the best looking brown trout that I've ever caught came out of the LMFR.

[texasflycaster]

I still haven't made it there, but was invited to see the "NEW" LMF recently. Every water, even a puddle, has its pluses and minuses doesn't it? It's all in the eye of the beholder. For example, I have caught plenty of slabby stockers in the C-n-R area of the Blue River, to defend the comments on the Blue River. And, I have yet to see a consistent posting of brown trout images that make me want to come to the LMF to chase meat-eating-browns ... And I do like tx0630's comment, and that he's willing to put it out there. Maybe a survey or questionnaire is in order for these two - LMF and Blue River. Not a RANKING, just opinions. Regardless, I know I need to give a fair shake to the LMF since the biblical flood - so I can align what I see with what I hear.

[breeden3]

Check out the page @mountainforkgold on Instagram to see some browns from the LMF!

[jonbo]

Okay, I'll put in my $0.02. After "The Flood", the way they arranged back what used to be the Red Zone, if you know what that was, it's just not quite as lovely a fly-fishing area as it was, to me. The Bluffs is a big hole now, suited more to bait fishing (to me). There's no "S-curve", no Lost Creek, etc. The Evening Hole is scoured-out bedrock, a lot. All that, before the flood, made for a very, very nice fly-fishing area, I imagine one of the best you could find anywhere. Now it's 1) -not quite so sweet (to me), but 2) -it's still pretty doggone nice for a part of the country where trout aren't even native. Allowing kayakers, tubers to go through there has also damaged the exquisite fly-fishing, "River Runs Through It" experience. Having to compete now with the bait fishers doesn't help. Still, I think the Bluffs to somewhat past the EH bridge remains a really nice fly fishing area. I do miss the way it used to be.

Spillway Creek, the way it is now, is not really for me, mainly because I'm pretty old and it's pretty rugged, especially in the river itself. I can see how, as Peter has said here before, that the fish environment is better than it ever was. But, while I've not fallen in the river there, I've spent many minutes standing in one place I've gotten to, trying to figure out how to turn around and get out without falling, meanwhile having NOT fished because I couldn't reach the spot I was trying to get to. Other than those, my personal issues derived from being old and not that agile anymore, yeah, the fishing's good in Spillway, especially with nymphs.

What I really continue to enjoy about the LMF, I think Gui mentioned it too, is the variety of fish in the river. I live actually closer to the Little Missouri. If I understand correctly, the Blue's like the Little Missouri. It's really strictly just put-and-take. Basically, all you're going to catch are stocked rainbows from this season that have grown up on fish pellets. It's fun fishing, and I liked it a lot till I got spoiled by the LMF. At the LMF, fishing's more like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates You really don't know what's likely to make that indicator to go under water. It might be the little stocker that goes skipping across the surface, or your line might just get really heavy and start to pull. You don't even see at first what took it, you just know, whoa! I've got something more serious on here. It's time to concentrate on fighting this thing! The browns, too. They stocked some little bitty browns a couple of seasons ago that are about 12" now. They're just beautiful fish. Peter's large browns? Kind of beyond my skill level or fishing knowledge. I believe him though. I did catch one years ago at the top of the Bluffs on an egg pattern, but that was it.

Bottom line, I think it's still a really good trout stream. It's pretty crowded sometimes, I understand, but what nice place isn't?

[greyghost]

It's true that he LMF ain't what it used to be. Early on, Spillway was comparable to the western trout streams of Colorado and New Mexico. The floods did a lot of damage, but Spillway is still eminently fishable and a test of fly fishing skills. It's the crowds that bother me. The trouble is, it's not just the LMF it's Colorado, NM, Montana and everywhere else you find trout. The sport has become very popular and so generates a lot of income for areas near fishable water. The only remedies I know of is to fish in places that require a long hike or a have hefty fishing fee. LMF is the best of the FF spots in this part of the world so you have to deal with it or move on. I haven't been to LMF in a couple of years but I have fond memories of how beautiful it was before it was discovered. I try to fish northern NM in the off season with a trip to the San Juan every other year or so.

[cojavahg]

I have face the same proble I can see how, as Peter has said here before, that the fish environment is better than it ever was. But, while I've not fallen in the river there, I've spent many minutes standing in one place I've gotten to get some marine equipment in dubai, trying to figure out how to turn around and get out without falling, meanwhile having NOT fished because I couldn't reach the spot I was trying to get to.

[jesusandy]

I simply love the LMF!!  While it was more picturesque before both of the floods, it is still the best river to fish that is close to DFW.  I've been on the Blue River, and it is ok if you want to catch only stockers. 

Maybe the key for me is that I have hired several guides over the years and have learned from each of them about how to fish the LMF river.  I've had some great days of catching many fish and I'm blessed to have never been shut out on a trip. It is becoming a little more technical, but that is not a bad thing.  Spillway Creek never disappoints, but as some have mentioned, it can be hard to maneuver around.  But there are MANY nice runs and pocket water that hold fish. 


While the LMF will never be what it once was, it is still a place to enjoy Gods majesty and catch some nice fish!! 

[cojavahgg]

I love going fishing on shiny sundays

[hoss]

Alright, after reading this post I think I will hit the river early tomorrow morning to see for myself. There have been times that if I do get there early by first light, I can at least get a few hours of relative solitude. Lately, I've been doing more lake fishing in the area but I'm itching to get back on the river.

[turfdawg]

Apr 29, 2022 7:45:28 GMT -6 hoss said:

Alright, after reading this post I think I will hit the river early tomorrow morning to see for myself. There have been times that if I do get there early by first light, I can at least get a few hours of relative solitude. Lately, I've been doing more lake fishing in the area but I'm itching to get back on the river.

With around 10 million people 3hrs from the river it’s going to be pretty rare to not have several people fishing the river. This is just my opinion.