Little Mo' Generating

[jonbo]

I keep trying to find a time when they're not generating (Little Missouri River at Murfreesboro, AR), and I can't. Lake Greeson is way up.

[darrelln09]

Jonbo, I feel your pain. The Lower Illinois is not fishable right now either..

[hoss]

I'm curious on how the trout respond to the tail-waters when they are generating. Would the trout shift a bit toward the banks and provide some opportunity to hook up? I realize that the majority of the water is not accessible. At least say below re-reg when generating. But I just wonder if there is a limited opportunity to connect when the water is up along the banks with a bright fly or slightly larger fly.

[huntnfish2much]

Jan 8, 2019 17:01:43 GMT -6 hoss said:

I'm curious on how the trout respond to the tail-waters when they are generating. Would the trout shift a bit toward the banks and provide some opportunity to hook up? I realize that the majority of the water is not accessible. At least say below re-reg when generating. But I just wonder if there is a limited opportunity to connect when the water is up along the banks with a bright fly or slightly larger fly.

I’m certainly no expert on how fish behave, but in my readings and observations, fish will slide in behind a rock or hug the bottom in a hollow area to get out of the current.

Your idea is a distinct possibility, for the same reason, for the fish to seek out a spot in the shallows to avoid the current. Logs, over-hanging banks, boulders, or even the tree trunks in zone 2 might be areas to try while they’re generating.

JR

[hankinsfly]

Generation does push fish to the banks. White River, as an example, obviously sees massive generation in cold winter and summer heat, and if you hire a streamer guide during these times, you will pound the banks with streamers. This is where catchable big fish will be. And any other obstruction along those banks- boat docks, trees, rocks- is where you will want to put a fly. Same would be for LMF. If it were me and I wanted to fish during generation, I would swing streamers from the bank, or fish heavy nymph rigs and stalk up the bank. Look for depth changes along the banks too. These can cause current breaks and backwater areas.