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Post by Fenwick on Jan 4, 2020 20:45:14 GMT -6
In my e-mail today:
Board, Members, and Friends, Happy New Year to everyone. Which means it's time to start thinking about the Mystery Fly™ Tournament! Go to lmfrfoundation.org/mystery-fly-rules-and-guidelines/ for the rules and click on the 'Buy Now' button at the bottom. You must be a member to participate. The first 36 people to register will receive a 2020 Mystery Fly cap. There will be many great prizes for everyone. It's also time for the annual reminder to renew your dues. Go to lmfrfoundation.org and click on the yellow 'Join/Renew' button. Our open board meeting will be Friday night, February 28nd, at 5pm at the Forest Heritage Center. Dinner will be catered, as usual. There will also be a silent auction for some very good donations to our fund raiser. The tournament will be Saturday morning at 6:30am at the Canoe Rental parking lot, like last year. It is the parking lot across the bridge from Beavers Bend Fly Shop. Thank you, Pat Waters LMFRF |
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Post by Fenwick on Feb 29, 2020 8:08:17 GMT -6
Today is Mystery Fly day. Well? How'd it go?
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Post by turfdawg on Feb 29, 2020 18:13:41 GMT -6
Today is Mystery Fly day. Well? How'd it go? Golfer Jeff for the win!!!! |
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Post by Fenwick on Feb 29, 2020 19:36:10 GMT -6
Thanks Bill. Jeff is now obliged to post a detailed recap of the days events!
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Post by greenman on Mar 1, 2020 16:24:25 GMT -6
It was a treat to watch Golfer Jeff fight for that 23" bow that he landed. It took him for a ride up and down Hickory Hole.
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Post by golferjeff on Mar 2, 2020 11:47:31 GMT -6
Thank you to Matt Lough for taking a job guiding and not winning this year. I think the fly was a size 16 Beadhead Flashback Hares Ear... pretty much a March Brown nymph. I think the majority of participants caught fish. I managed to scare 7 fish into taking the fly. I euro'd it the whole morning - bounced on the bottom and given some action on the lift. My partner LC and I started in EH and scared a bunch of fish with no bites. We headed down below EH bridge and fished upper hickory. I got into some 10" stockers to get on the board and LC got a couple too. There was one area where fish were piled up. We were just about ready to move on when I hooked into something pretty good. I knew it was a good fish because I didn't get to see it for about a minute - it bulldogged me to the bottom of about a 3 foot deep run. When I did get to see it, my heart started pounding. I guessed it was about 18-20" at first glance. A colored up male rainbow. The fight left the run and headed down the slow water toward hickory hole. The fish never shook his head once - it was all lift, dive, repeat. I chased him downstream through the salad and a few 5' deep areas (I got a little wet). He made one run toward a root ball, but the 5x held strong when I turned him around. I think the fight lasted about 8-10 minutes in all. IDK. After about 4-5 other guys moved so I could bring him closer, I got his head up one last time and netted him. I was about 75 yards downstream from where we started. Probably the most intense battle I have ever had. 3wt rod, 5x tippet, barbless hook. When I landed him he had 3 other hooks in his jaw - 1 bait hook, a small midge, and another hares ear. When I took my hook out it was bent into almost an 'L' shape.... i would've lost him if he had shaken his head or pulled downstream. Lucky me. Bill helped me take some pictures, measure him two ways, and gather myself. 22.75" flat and just shy of 24" when measured from snout to pinched tail along his side. He was FAT. I have caught a few longer, a few fatter, and some of those big brood fish, but this fish had everything. He was a either a wild fish or a long-term holdover. Every fin was intact, white tipped, beautiful colors, and shoulders like a linebacker. I was soooooo happy to land him, photo him, and release him. It did take quite a while to revive him, but he swam off to hickory hole pretty well. I hope he survives to reproduce. After I got back in the water, LC offered me a cigar which I gladly accepted - I was still shaking and unable to fish anyway. The funny part is, this run is only about 2-3' deep and full of stockers. What he was doing there is beyond me. Maybe eating stockers and decided a small snack was in order. I think a few guys had already fished this run before I got there as well. Whatever it was, I'll take it. This was my 4th Mystery Fly... until Saturday it had been Bagel, kidney stones, and lost flies (and watching Matt catch 20 fish). Persistence paid off! LC and I ended the morning catching a few fatties at cardiac. I even lost a real nice fish just as we were leaving. It was a great day and a great memory. Got to meet and talk to some good guys and Magick had a good weekend as well. Here are some pics of the big fish: also tells you alot about perspective and how to 'present' a fish     |
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Post by jonbo on Mar 2, 2020 12:37:24 GMT -6
Congrats, Jeff! Hey, how come you're always getting into the big fish? Wish I could have made it, but I had family stuff going on. I hope everyone had fun.
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Smallfry
Riffle Club
Trophy Sunfish Hunter
Posts: 434
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Post by Smallfry on Mar 2, 2020 15:37:21 GMT -6
Congrats on the win, too bad I had to work. Woulda had me a new rod, haha.
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Post by mirvc17 on Mar 2, 2020 17:26:41 GMT -6
Impressive fish Jeff, well done !!
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Post by danimal on Mar 2, 2020 18:07:52 GMT -6
Great fish Jeff!! Did the midge happen to be tan with a black nickel bead and a wine colored wire?...
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Post by Tommyboy on Mar 2, 2020 18:58:35 GMT -6
Well done Jeff. Did participate and the tournament was great. Whoever was responsible for the prizes did a fantastic job. Was able to secure a 6th spot and thanks to the Beavers Bend Fly Shop walked out with a new pair of Korkers. Love those guys.
They also set us up with several guides last weekend. Impressive on all fronts... Trey, Morgan, Cody. Solid and know their stuff.
See you guys next year.
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Post by gui on Mar 2, 2020 19:47:46 GMT -6
Dang, look at these shoulders! Awesome fish! Looks like you guys had a great time. Wish we could have joined the fun. Hopefully next year.
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Post by golferjeff on Mar 2, 2020 20:45:37 GMT -6
Danimal - cream midge with black thread. Not your fish  Gui - no speeding tickets and no flat tires this year! Haha. Hope Madi is doing well - good luck. I agree with Tommy Boy, the prizes were top notch. Several items or packages north of a Benjamin. Smallfry - I know if you had been there I would have won 2nd place. Nice seeing you at the meeting Friday night. You clean up well!!! Here is a cool shot of the big 'un and my boy relaxin' in Day Use Area   |
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Post by hoss on Mar 3, 2020 16:01:46 GMT -6
Congrats! By the way, how do you like the 3 wt rod? Been thinking of trying one out....
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Post by turfdawg on Mar 3, 2020 17:17:54 GMT -6
Congrats! By the way, how do you like the 3 wt rod? Been thinking of trying one out.... Is someone else Euro curious |
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Post by golferjeff on Mar 5, 2020 12:53:19 GMT -6
I highly recommend Cortland 10'6 3wt. Perfect for euro, but it can easily toss dries and light indicator nymph rigs.
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Post by hoss on Mar 5, 2020 13:15:26 GMT -6
Congrats! By the way, how do you like the 3 wt rod? Been thinking of trying one out.... Is someone else Euro curious Ha! Funny thing, I've actually been reading a blog about this guy that fishes for bass with what he describes as ultra light 0- 3 weight fly rod outfits. Has me intrigued. Last weekend I was able to fish local waters (with fly rod), got a bunch of Kentucky / spotted bass. And no crowds! www.byrdultrafly.com is his website. |
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Post by Fenwick on Mar 15, 2020 12:33:40 GMT -6
FWIW: I've cut and pasted updates as they appear on the Lower Mountain Fork River Foundation website. lmfrfoundation.org/latest-news-and-updates/ Latest News and Updates (3/2/2020 @11am) By lmfradmin Posted 02/28/2018 In Events 0 SPRING MARCH BROWNS Per Me – 3/2/2020 The March Browns are hatching and the trout are keying. Fishing has been great whether it’s cold or warm. Enjoy. Last week was our annual Mystery Fly™ tournament and semiannual meeting. Both were successful.
The only issue was this was the first year I took over ordering the hats.
I did not proof it well enough and we now have two different 2019 hats and nothing for 2020. I thank everyone for not tar and feathering me. The MF Tournament was Saturday morning and the fly turned out to be a #20 bead head flashback hare’s ear nymph. Congratulations to Jeff Cook. The 2020 (or some might say 2019) Mystery Fly top three: Jeff Cook—16 points Tyler Parrish—10 points David Dillow—9 points The meeting was short and sweet. We went over the proposed new regulations for the LMF trout Fishery.
They have been approved and now just have to pass the state legislature and be signed by the governor which is expected to occur and go into effect this fall. Per Don Groom: From Spillway Dam to the I70 Bridge: All Blue Zone. No more Red Zones. All barbless hooks regardless of fishing style. From Spillway Dam to the Old Park Dam (In the Park). Daily keep limit is 3 rainbow trout of which only one may be over 25″. One brown trout over 30″. From Old Park Dam to the I70 Bridge: The Rough Creek Branch to Rereg Dam exclusion zone is gone. The whole length is Blue and barbless. You can keep one rainbow over 25″ and one brown over 30″. All other trout must be released. ODWC is working to return this area to the Trophy Water it used to be. The RUMOR that the stocking contract is being cut in half because the keep limit is being cut is patently FALSE! per Don Groom. |
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Post by huntnfish2much on Mar 16, 2020 16:47:38 GMT -6
From Old Park Dam to the I70 Bridge: The Rough Creek Branch to Rereg Dam exclusion zone is gone. The whole length is Blue and barbless. You can keep one rainbow over 25″ and one brown over 30″. All other trout must be released. ODWC is working to return this area to the Trophy Water it used to be. The RUMOR that the stocking contract is being cut in half because the keep limit is being cut is patently FALSE! per Don Groom. OK... So someone pinch me... This describes ZONE TWO that they’re proposing to turn back into “the Trophy Water it used to be”...... Am I reading this right?!? After all the times I’ve been told that Zone Two is frog water and that none of the fingerling Brown Trout would be stocked in this area.... It is now going to be brought back to its old glory days? AWESOME NEWS!!! JR |
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Post by johnmac541 on Mar 17, 2020 12:21:52 GMT -6
This is great! When do all the new regulations start?
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Post by golferjeff on Mar 17, 2020 14:40:38 GMT -6
Likely in the fall - they still need to pass and be implemented. And enforced.....
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Post by hoss on Mar 18, 2020 9:21:47 GMT -6
From Old Park Dam to the I70 Bridge: The Rough Creek Branch to Rereg Dam exclusion zone is gone. The whole length is Blue and barbless. You can keep one rainbow over 25″ and one brown over 30″. All other trout must be released. ODWC is working to return this area to the Trophy Water it used to be. The RUMOR that the stocking contract is being cut in half because the keep limit is being cut is patently FALSE! per Don Groom. OK... So someone pinch me... This describes ZONE TWO that they’re proposing to turn back into “the Trophy Water it used to be”...... Am I reading this right?!? After all the times I’ve been told that Zone Two is frog water and that none of the fingerling Brown Trout would be stocked in this area.... It is now going to be brought back to its old glory days? AWESOME NEWS!!! JR So what I would like to better understand is an area referred to as re-reg lake, just above re-reg dam. As far as developing / managing re-reg lake to become a trout fishery area. So there are some that like to fly fish still waters (basically that is how I view re-reg lake area). So for those that have access to canoe, kayak or flat bottom boat this would be or could be an opportunity to get away from the crowds and fly fish for trout in a still water environment. And there are deeper areas in the lake, 20' if I recall correctly. That should help them sustain in the summer heat. Although that being said, I realize there are plenty of bass, catfish and otters in the area that keep the population of trout down. But I do think that if this could be developed, it would make for a cool option. |
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Gui - no speeding tickets and no flat tires this year! Haha. Hope Madi is doing well - good luck. I agree with Tommy Boy, the prizes were top notch. Several items or packages north of a Benjamin. Smallfry - I know if you had been there I would have won 2nd place. Nice seeing you at the meeting Friday night. You clean up well!!! 
