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Post by haulinbass02 on Oct 7, 2020 14:27:22 GMT -6
Hey board, I’m considering a trip up to the Bend late this month or early Nov. it’s my favorite time to be up there and thankfully I’m off during the week so it should be less crowded. I haven’t been up there since BEFORE the flood and I’ve been told the river is NOTHING like it used to be. I enjoy wading in and fly fishing but I’m not sure if or where that is possible up there now. I’m seeing a lot of “euro” technique being mentioned. Can one no longer traditionally flyfish with a good 4wt fly rod anymore? Any info on the Lower MF river would be much, much appreciated.
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Post by jonbo on Oct 7, 2020 15:58:59 GMT -6
"NOTHING like it used to be" is way too extreme. The Evening Hole has come back fairly similar to what it used to be. The area above it that used to have S-curves and such, it's now a fairly straight run that we call the "Rockpile Run". Being somewhat faster water, it's a fun change-up from the EH. All of this you can fish traditionally as much as ever. The Bluffs, it's now deep and slow. I can't figure out what to do with it, so I mostly leave it to the spin-fishers. Spillway Creek is a lot different. It's all fairly extreme pocket-water, plunge pockets, deep pools and eddies. I try to get a nymph as deep as possible. Basically, most of us who are doing the "Euro" bit, it's just something we're doing. One can still traditional-style fly-fish as well as ever.
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Post by dainw on Oct 8, 2020 5:32:33 GMT -6
No traditional fly fishing is no longer allowed. Fly lines, split shot, indicators, dry flies, wet flies, any flies without tungsten beads, and rods less than 10 ft in length are all now illegal. It’s also considered extremely poor etiquette to drink anything besides wild turkey 101 on the river.
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Post by schrederman on Oct 8, 2020 10:18:37 GMT -6
Buffalo Trace Bourbon is allowed but only in the Armadillo RV Area.... and only if you share with the old guy playing his guitar.... You'll be glad to share because if he's drinking, he ain't tryin' to sing... 8^0
Last year (...?... I'm old) I had an 80-fish day catching stocker browns at the bluff hole on rubber-legs. I finally lost the last one and had to give up my spot.... Coach had come by earlier and gifted me a couple, so I went by and bought a few more and to say thanks! With the park so full I imagine the Fly Shop business is doing very well... and well deserved. 8^) But the river is different. I miss the pre-flood river. But what's there isn't worse, just different.
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Post by golferjeff on Oct 8, 2020 16:41:41 GMT -6
Spillway Creek is nothing like it used to be. Cold hole is almost the same. Evening hole is better but similar. All are fly-fishable, but varying levels of wading competency are required. Not a lot is recognizable, but head on up and enjoy. 4wt is perfect for EH and below the bridge.
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Post by jonbo on Oct 8, 2020 17:20:49 GMT -6
It’s also considered extremely poor etiquette to drink anything besides wild turkey 101 on the river. At least that hasn't changed.
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Post by FlyAndStream on Oct 8, 2020 17:31:10 GMT -6
It’s also considered extremely poor etiquette to drink anything besides wild turkey 101 on the river. At least that hasn't changed. Some things are timeless.
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Post by haulinbass02 on Oct 8, 2020 20:53:53 GMT -6
All this is good to know. I knew it wasn’t the same with the pockets and pools they were built but I was hoping it was more “natural” like you would find out west somewhere.....I do know that the place has gotten to be extremely popular which was one reason we hadn’t been for so long. Used to, we could go up during the week and I’d see a small handful of people. Now, I’m not sure I would find quiet and solitude. We will more than likely head up there regardless, love the scenery at the very least. And I’ll make sure some 101 is sipped riverside as well.....
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Post by dainw on Oct 9, 2020 7:58:01 GMT -6
If you like western freestone streams, you’ll probably like the way spillway looks since the flood. Can be tough wading there at times, but probably the best chance to get away from some folks and have a piece of river to yourself. Also probably the most interesting part of the river habitat wise for trout to hide.
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Post by texasflycaster on Oct 26, 2020 16:57:42 GMT -6
I have heard first-hand reliable source, that the crowds are now off the charts at Beaver's Bend - as of this past weekend anyway. Is that fake news, or is it crowded like NEVER before? Apparently these crowds, and those inside businesses (restaurants, etc...) are maskless for the vast majority (95% or more)? I always want to know before I go - - especially these days.
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Post by hoss on Oct 27, 2020 11:12:10 GMT -6
Yeah, so the BBSP has been discovered and as a result is more crowded. More and more cabins being built and they have record high occupancy rates this year in particular. The campsites even currently are filled up as well. My understanding as those in the Dallas and other surrounding metropolitan areas, are not making their usual vacation long distance plans but now are making the drive to the area to spend their vacations. As a result the area is booming with tourism. I would suspect that those that are now working from home are taking advantage and working here from their cabins and enjoying the area as well. The good news to me is that yeah more crowds but at least with the cooler weather, fewer tubes, kayaks, and swimmers in the water. And the fishing remains good enough and depending on how you hit it, or can be really good. That said, fish weekdays if you can manage it, would be a better bet. But still if you can't, weekends now can be workable and not too frustrating. Sunday afternoon for example I was driving through the park, and not a single person fishing Evening Hole and limited numbers on the river. And no one fishing below Old Park Dam, Zone II. As far as COVID I'd recommend to keep your eating out to a minimum. I'll refrain from too much commentary on this point but from my view, compliance with masks and social distancing could be better. There is one restaurant called the Takery, www.rollingforktakery.com It is a call in / pick up place which works well when you want to avoid the crowds.
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Post by huntnfish2much on Oct 27, 2020 12:09:07 GMT -6
Thanks for the perspective, Hoss. Makes perfect sense. The area is beautiful, and you can’t blame people for wanting to ‘escape’ to the area.
For someone that has been fishing LMF and Beavers Bend for a long time, I have to try to adjust my expectations. There are new cabins (if you can call them cabins) popping up all over the area.
I plan to visit in the next few weeks myself, and I always try to avoid the crowds. COVID makes me doubly crowd-wary. I have a few places I usually fish that it seems nobody else cares about, so I am fine with taking in the scenery at those spots. Swinging a Soft Hackles or a Deena usually gets me a bonus trout or two...
Thanks again for your kind perspective.
JR
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Post by jonbo on Oct 27, 2020 15:44:56 GMT -6
I have heard first-hand reliable source, that the crowds are now off the charts at Beaver's Bend - as of this past weekend anyway. Is that fake news, or is it crowded like NEVER before? Apparently these crowds, and those inside businesses (restaurants, etc...) are maskless for the vast majority (95% or more)? I always want to know before I go - - especially these days. Wifey and I are big time campers. Well, she is, and I go along, mostly. The campgrounds everywhere are more crowded than is usual for this time of year. Covid has shut down entertainment in many venues, but not camping. That's my guess as to why.
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Post by bcttu on Oct 28, 2020 14:53:14 GMT -6
Yep, every single campsite in the SP is booked for the next several weeks. I imagine some of those folks won't actually show up, but they got a spot reserved if they decide to. I'm headed up during the week next week. The campsites are almost empty until Friday evening.
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