Blue River

[Texastroutfisher]

Hows the fishing there in the winter? Do they stock it enough on a regular basis to make it a decent fishery?

[mirvc17]

This is a tough question--it sort of depends on when you go, where you go (like the Catch & Release area), and what the conditions are like (i.e., good weather = crowded... bad weather and it should have plenty of water to yourself). In years past it's been OK, but last year I only went once and it wasn't good. None of the reports I read about or friends that took trips there were anything spectacular during the whole season. Find my trip reports and you'll see what I mean.

[fvanek]

It is a different area for fly fishing. It is mostly a small waterfall followed by 100 yards of deep slower water over and over. The catch and release area is ok. I went there once last year and caught about 20 trout in a couple of hours doing better with small streamers there. The areas that you can drive close to are better for bait fishing. There are areas that you can walk far into (a mile to a mile and half walk) that can be good. I have had days in cold bad weather where I walked in and caught plenty. You have to put in your time to find the good areas. It took us about 4 trips before we began to learn it. You will not find many shallow riffles there and some areas are tough wading with slick, uneven limestone bottom.

There is a lunch with the regular fly fishers there on Nov 4th. Visiting with the regulars there can help you learn the best areas and techniques.

Trout are stocked weekly Nov 1st through the end of March, and the larger trout are stocked after mid January.

[texanfisherman]

I'm not a big fan of Blue River. I've been quite a few times because it's about half the drive time compared to LMF, but it't just not the same. As said earlier, the river is basically a series of ponds separated by small waterfalls. I find it really difficult to locate fish sometimes...it's hard to find them in the large, deep pools. There's no riffle/run/pool/bend structure like there is in a normal trout stream. It's always hit or miss for me there. I've had 100 fish days and I've had 0 fish days - very little in between. For the record, I almost always fish the C&R section. The meat poachers are overly abundant at the Hughes Crossing area.

[sulross]

I've fished the Blue many, many weekends. I love to run up on Friday afternoon when my teaching/coaching day ends and set up a tent and fire for the weekend. There are always turkeys, owls, and coyotes singing out. The "main area," which is called Hughes Crossing is going to see more bait fishermen than the other areas, but can have some great trout if you catch the first light, or my favorite - the last 40 minutes of light in the evening. Most of the bait guys have gone to their campsites that last bit and you can swing a fly unimpeded. There are two nice riffle sections down river from Hughes Crossing; one is about 200 yards down and the other is just above the last campsites. If you will turn left just before Hughes Crossing and drive up that road until you see the dirt road going left and take it uphill, you can park in the lot and hike back to some beautiful areas. Waterfalls are going to be the most heavily pressured areas, but just below many of them you can find some nice wade-able water. It is slick on the rocks, so I recommend a wading staff, or that you take your time setting your steps in place. There are some runs down from the falls and if you look, you will see small pools with trout rising. It's a river that pays for you to sit still and watch the water for 10 minutes. The trout will give themselves away as they rise, or chase one another. I have a lot of success on dead drifting nymphs through the pools and tight runs. Anywhere that offers space, you can have a productive time on streamers. Most of my favorite spots on the river are off the visible areas from the main trail. I like to hike back into the river and go up and down. I'm not the only one, based on small trails that pop up during the winter, but I rarely encounter other fly fishermen. When I do, they are typically more seasoned and fish well with others in the vicinity. I often have to wade through water that is above the waist to reach the sandbars and raised areas that hold more trout. You can hike from that parking lot up to a waterfall that is probably pushing 1 to 1.25 miles. There is another area (mentioned above) that is Catch and Release and it sits above a long stretch of put-and-take stocked water. To get to these areas, you go up to Hwy. 7 and turn right. Drive down Hwy. 7 until you see the pull off areas to your left (also one on the right just before bridge and across from one on the left). If you cross the bridge, you've gone too far. The walk back from these areas is long, but you can get into some much less pressured water. I've seen 5 beavers playing at the same time just above me while fishing there. The first pull off to the left is the best for the Catch and Release section. The C&R has a few nice runs, but much of it is pocket fishing through boulders and holes in the river rock. You'll lose flies, but they do put several 20" plus size fish up there. On a typical weekend, I will fish the Blue at Hwy. 7 and also down in the lower sections. As I mentioned earlier, the Blue is mostly fished from easy areas; if you are willing to move back from the trails and go up/down from waterfalls, it can be productive. It is absolutely beautiful in those areas, as well.

[troutbum54]

There’s a photo floating around somewhere on here of my two hogs from
the catch and release area. Those ODWC guys stocked about 4-5 roughly 20” bows in this weird little pocket area that nobody fished and they couldn’t stand the Nancy P lol. Also if the water happens to be muddy at the catch and release area just throw on a squirmy wormy and watch all the other guys that have caught 2-3 fish freak out

[troutbum54]

Oh wait it’s actually my profile pic now that I look at it lol but ya those trout were hanging in a 5-6’ wide current under a tree fighting over that streamer

[turfdawg]

They stocked the C&R area yesterday. Will stock the rest on the 31st. I think Mark Gamble said they would stock the C&R area again in Jan but the rest would be stocked every week for awhile

[hankinsfly]

Camped really close to an owl one night at the Blue. Sounded like he was right on top of the tent.

[flyfishermann1955]

As mentioned, many areas are not easy to fish with a fly rod. My #1 tip: be very cautious about wading when the water is off-color!

Tight Lines- Ken

[darrelln09]

I spent most of the past weekend at the Blue River. First time there. It was almost 90 degrees and I had to do quite a bit of hiking but it was definitely worth it. There are lots of fish there right now and they are pretty active, jumping and generally just chasing about. Saturday was kind of a mess for me, not knowing exactly where to go, quite a lot of bucket-sitters when I got there, and a bad tangle right at sunset. Sunday was much better. Starting out it was basically a strike on every cast. I did have to change my approach on strikes though. Every time I set the hook on first indication, I missed. Every damn time. I had to slow down and let them play a little before setting the hook. For the morning I probably missed 10 and released another 10. Nothing big for me but the powerbaters were hauling out some good sized fish, 15 to 20 inchers, I’m sure.

I was quite impressed with the Blue River, especially the flats between the waterfalls. Lots of areas to get in and wade but definitely a challenge to get there. Tons (literally) of rocks and downed trees to navigate. It’s amazing though how the river splits into two and sometimes three river channels before joining back up again. Most of my time was spent at the confluence of two sections where the flow was higher and the drift was somewhat circular. I’ll definitely go back and explore more sections of the river. Two thumbs up!

Update: The very vast majority of the strikes were on my new favorite fly, the Copper Zebra Midge (a zebra midge tricked out with a Krystal Flash shuck and a Midge Diamond Braid wing bud). Two were caught on a red Ian’s Brass Ass and one was caught on my leading heavyweight nymph - that time a Guide’s Choice Hare’s Ear (a hare’s ear tricked out with a Pearl Flashabou wing case, a partridge feather soft hackle, and a Fl. Fire Orange thread hotspot).

[flyfishermann1955]

Can you post a picture of your Copper Zebra Midge in the fly tying section?

Thanks- Ken

[mirvc17]

Ken,

Check here for the pattern: www.orvis.com/news/fly-fishing/video-how-to-tie-the-copper-zebra-midge/

[darrelln09]

You can also find the video for that midge pattern here (click on link below), in the “Nymph Patterns” section. That hare’s ear pattern is there as well. Almost all the flies I’ve learned to tie come from this website.

howtoflyfish.orvis.com/fly-tying-videos

[flyfishermann1955]

I appreciate the links to the patterns/videos.

Thanks- Ken

[troutbum54]

A couple of the bigger ones from today! They were loving the France flies and the juju Baetis

[mirvc17]

What area are you fishing in?

[troutbum54]

Catch and release area

[Texastroutfisher]

Hey Everyone,

My sons and I will be coming up to the BR in early March, this will be my first time out with the fly rod and fishing the BR. Are there any places on the river that are better for a first time fly fisherman to go to? Not really worried about catching fish, just getting used to the rod and casting techniques on the water. Thanks!

[golferjeff]

Best advice - the Blue is not a river to learn a fly rod. There isn't much casting involved. Not much water flow either. The popular and easy access spots downstream you can cast a bit but you will be with 200 baitcasting friends. You can find some decent water to cast and fish if you are willing to hike about a mile or two, but still not the best place to learn the fly......

[darrelln09]

Jeff is right on this. On my few times fishing at the Blue, the hottest spots were in the section called The Waterfalls. Lots of fish and holes to fish in but there are LOTS of trees and boulders to cast around. That makes it a tough place to learn to cast.

Have you considered going to the Lower Illinois River? That river is wider and it’s much easier to wade into an area where there aren’t any trees to grab your flies on the back cast. There are even spots where your back cast is clear without needing to get your feet wet! I taught my daughter how to cast there.

[Texastroutfisher]

Thanks Guys. The LIR is a bit to far for a day trip for me. We will be heading to the LMFR in mid march so until then I'll just keep practicing in the yard and take the fly rod up to the BR just in case I happen upon a spot. Thanks.

[darrelln09]

I hope we haven’t completely discouraged you from going to the Blue! Just plan on scouting around a little when you get there until you find a spot to your liking. And be prepared to hike a little. I’ve even considered packing my waders in and putting them on when I find a spot. I had that thought on a 90 degree day though.

[Texastroutfisher]

Definitely not. I’ve been practicing my casting in the back yard,straight lines, rod tip loading on the forward and back cast etc. Working on shooting line and have even been hitting targets with some regularity. Can’t wait to get on the water.

[turfdawg]

Feb 11, 2018 16:20:13 GMT -6 Texastroutfisher said:

Definitely not. I’ve been practicing my casting in the back yard,straight lines, rod tip loading on the forward and back cast etc. Working on shooting line and have even been hitting targets with some regularity. Can’t wait to get on the water.

Most places I fish on the Blue require a roll cast. If you don't know how to roll cast please watch some videos on it because you are definitely going to need to.