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Post by jonbo on Dec 30, 2017 19:40:11 GMT -6
Hmmm... What with all the holiday bustle and getting sick with "The Crud", I haven't been able to fish any since the outing the way I'd intended to. So, I've made up my mind to go on New Years Day, freezing temps be dogged. Otherwise, I don't know when I'll get to go. The question for me is, Little Missouri River, or LMF? Neither are at their wintertime greatest, I don't think. The LMF has the construction at the CH bridge that's been muddying things up. The Lil' Mo' has also been off, somewhat, I think. Jeff Guerin, the local guide (whom I'd recommend any time, a fine gentleman), on his site says that the water's been muddy. He thinks it's due to low lake level. He thinks perhaps the O2 levels are low, making the fish lethargic. I have no idea, myself. In any case the fishing, at least a week or so ago, wasn't too great, I gather. So, which direction to head, Murfreesboro or Broken Bow? They're both around the same distance from me, sort of. I generally always choose the LMF if I have all day as in the past there's normally been a lot more variety in terms of water, flow, areas to fish, etc. But now, with the stop logs still in place, I can't seem to get Spillway Creek figured out, I just don't know. Zone 2 always beckons. Hmm, decisions.... Anyone want to fish New Years Day? It'll be nice and cold! Here's Jeff's (Guerin) site if anyone is ever interested: Arkansas Trout - Little Missouri Fly Fishing
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Decisions.
Dec 30, 2017 20:41:30 GMT -6
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Post by hankinsfly on Dec 30, 2017 20:41:30 GMT -6
I got into some action in Zone 2 during trout camp- I would consider trying that. No people were there that day, and solitude goes a long way for me. Beautiful down there.
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Decisions.
Dec 30, 2017 20:41:46 GMT -6
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Post by hankinsfly on Dec 30, 2017 20:41:46 GMT -6
And wear studs
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Post by jonbo on Dec 31, 2017 8:33:57 GMT -6
Oh,...man... I don't know... It's gonna be freezin'. Has anyone fished in, like, 22° degree weather? I just don't know...
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Post by jonbo on Dec 31, 2017 8:53:04 GMT -6
Hey, y'all, when the air temps are freezing, as they will be tomorrow, do hatches still occur, does anyone know? Do the larvae and pupae down at the river bottom where the water temps stay relatively stable, do they have any knowledge of what the air temps will be if they decide to emerge? I was just wondering if anyone knows anything about that.
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Smallfry
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Post by Smallfry on Dec 31, 2017 9:15:24 GMT -6
I'm heading over the afternoon, I'll make an update on findings!! Last year I tried when we got that 14 degree day, no luck, my guides were freezing and I literally had no idea where to start.
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Post by dannys on Dec 31, 2017 9:18:26 GMT -6
I know that in 13 degrees, I have seen fish feed actively and caught fish--the bugs in the water don't know the air temps and neither do the fish. I must admit though that dry fly action might be thwarted. If casting bugs--think small. Worm patterns and buggers should still work also. The one caution about fishing in real cold temps-- layer up and know the signs of hypothermia setting in, especially if you get wet! The one annoyance--ice in the guides. But that's quite tolerable if catching fish.
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Post by kovaku on Dec 31, 2017 10:14:53 GMT -6
I fished in North Carolina and Georgia last month when it was in the twenties. No top water action but we were fishing nymphs and the water was 40F. Fish wouldn’t bite until around 1000 hrs and the sun had been on the water a bit. But hey that’s half way across the country lol.
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Decisions.
Dec 31, 2017 10:39:03 GMT -6
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Post by hankinsfly on Dec 31, 2017 10:39:03 GMT -6
I've had excellent fishing in below freezing temps and negative wind chills. One time at the old bluffs area. They liked an orange egg and micro jig. I remember it will. Every other cast we had to dip our rod in the water to unclog the ice.
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Post by turfdawg on Dec 31, 2017 10:59:29 GMT -6
If it is freezing your guides fast try to keep the fish in the water. It can start to freeze their gills too.
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Post by danimal on Dec 31, 2017 11:16:56 GMT -6
Headed towards the Lower Illinois in a few for a quick (and cold) fix. Happy New Year everyone!!
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Post by jonbo on Dec 31, 2017 13:38:17 GMT -6
Oh yeah, I forgot to say, Happy New Year!
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Smallfry
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Decisions.
Dec 31, 2017 22:00:29 GMT -6
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Post by Smallfry on Dec 31, 2017 22:00:29 GMT -6
Didn't make it, 😞 half way there i had a family emergency.
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Post by hankinsfly on Dec 31, 2017 22:27:14 GMT -6
Sorry to hear that, smallfry. Y'all ok?
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Smallfry
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Post by Smallfry on Jan 1, 2018 14:13:55 GMT -6
Sorry to hear that, smallfry. Y'all ok? We're all good for now, thanks for asking. It was a rough way to end the year though.
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Post by dlinzy on Jan 1, 2018 17:27:12 GMT -6
I tried to catch Walleye from around 8:30 to 10 pm. had to give up after catching only one on the first cast. It was around 17 - 19F Flurocarbon was useless, I kept the guides form freezing but the spinning reel finally froze solid. Sunday Pm. Trout fishing at SBB was just Ok. most fish were gone from the Bridge and only a few aggressive 7"ers remained mid stream. ReReg was void of fish of all species, not sure if a lack of generation kept them from coming up, or if I just got there at the wrong times - after someone caught them all.
HNY!
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Post by jonbo on Jan 2, 2018 12:42:27 GMT -6
So, I did go to BB on Monday, the first. I ended up fishing EH the whole time. The main problem fishing when it's freezing, is it's freezing! That is, when I put on a Pat's with a midge larva trailer and I'm not getting bites, I just tend to stick with it instead of changing as I normally would. Changing baits is difficult enough with trembling hands. Fixing tangles is nearly impossible. OTOH, you don't have to go down to Zone II to find solitude. You do wonder occasionally, "Is there something wrong with me?" Anyhow, I caught a couple in the mid AM on a copper midge. Later, mayflies were actually coming off and I had a little luck swinging an RS2 in a size 22 although my 6x floro kept breaking. Isn't there a company that makes tiny hooks with big eyes?
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Post by jonbo on Jan 2, 2018 12:45:26 GMT -6
Oh yeah, I hope everything works out OK, Smallfry. Let us know if we can help.
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Post by mirvc17 on Jan 2, 2018 15:20:23 GMT -6
jonbo,
Orvis makes some hooks with big eyes. Specifically, their straight eye style (like the TMC 101) is available with a big eye. I think I'm gonna have to pick some up...
"Tie flies onto tippet faster and easier than you can with traditional-eye hooks. Great for fishing in poor light. Big Eye® hooks have eyes between 225% and 306% (depending on hook size) larger in the internal hook-eye area than conventional dry-fly hooks. Our size 22 Big Eye hooks have the same-size eye as a conventional size 16 hook! And a size 16 Big Eye has the eye of a normal size 10! These are some of the finest, most carefully made hooks ever offered.Ring eye, Model Perfect bend, and wide gape for best possible hooking angle; whisker barb for easy release and better hooking; chemically sharpened—every hook extremely sharp; deep bronzing for exceptional rust resistance. Even sizes: 12-26."
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Post by jonbo on Jan 2, 2018 18:01:04 GMT -6
Thanks, Mirv. I intend to check those out. I'd like to be able to use 5x tippet on a size 22-24 fly. But I start doing that, what'll I do with the 60-70 micro-flies I have already tied up?
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Post by troutbum54 on Jan 2, 2018 18:13:59 GMT -6
The gamakatsu C12U big eye barbless hooks are available in 26, 28, and 30 with really big eyes
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Post by soonerlongbow on Jan 3, 2018 15:51:05 GMT -6
You do wonder occasionally, "Is there something wrong with me?" Anyhow, I caught a couple in the mid AM on a copper midge. I understand completely. I spent the 31st roaming around the woods with a stick and string. My wife couldn’t understand why I would be out in weather like that.
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Post by jonbo on Jan 3, 2018 17:37:59 GMT -6
You never know when you'll get another chance!
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Post by fwood on Jan 3, 2018 20:55:04 GMT -6
👌
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Post by mirvc17 on Jan 10, 2018 17:51:04 GMT -6
Jonbo, i got those Orvis big eye hooks in the mail (still waiting on size 24 that’s back-ordered). Here is size 26...3X (yes you read it right) fits easily through the eye! Might effect the drift, but if the fish aren’t tippet shy, it just might be worth trying a heavier tippet. Who likes using 7X anyway? Anyway, gonna tie up some RS2, Black Beauties and anything else thats this ridiculously small and uses this style of hook. Attachments:
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