|
Post by hoss on Jul 22, 2022 13:37:39 GMT -6
Greetings,
So I stopped by the river a couple weeks ago and walked through the Evening Hole area. I enjoyed fishing this area (pre-floods), and spent many enjoyable hours on this section. I could be wrong but it does seem that this section of the river in it's current condition has limited potential to hold fish compared to other areas of the river. The EH section appears to be mostly flat and shallow from the bridge to the cliffs.
I believe if this area of the river could be fixed up that it would allow for more fishing opportunities in a river that is already too crowded. I've never seen a river restoration so I am not sure what it would entail. I do realize that since it is a state park that various agency would need to get involved if this is actually a viable option.
Is it possible to work / coordinate with the Oklahoma entities and perhaps some volunteer groups such as Trout Unlimited to begin to develop and execute a plan that could improve this section of the river? I'd be interested to hear your opinions.
Thanks,
Bob
|
|
|
Post by turfdawg on Jul 22, 2022 19:08:41 GMT -6
Actually several things were done to that section a few months ago.
|
|
|
Post by jonbo on Jul 23, 2022 8:37:50 GMT -6
TD, are you talking about the kind of steeper gradient section between Evening Hole and the Bluffs? They've installed a couple of big boulders and I forget what else in there. It should be good fishing come fall. I'm unaware of anything else having been attempted recently at the Evening Hole fishing area as far as upgrading the stream bed. I remember some time post flood I'd heard there was some kind of attempt made to deepen the stream bed through the Evening Hole, but they hit bed rock right away. Where the Evening Hole long flat area was made worse it seems to me is that the flood made it wider, therefore shallower. There are still several "fishy" places in it though.
Hoss, the main problem at this time with the Evening Hole area, I would guess, is that the temperatures are too high. I'd bet most of the fish in that part of the river are laying low at the Bluffs or the 40 Foot Hole and staying out of the Evening Hole as much as possible. I'd thing there will be plenty of fish there come winter. I plan to be at BB over labor day. I'll give y'all a report!
|
|
|
Post by hoss on Jul 25, 2022 8:20:35 GMT -6
TD, are you talking about the kind of steeper gradient section between Evening Hole and the Bluffs? They've installed a couple of big boulders and I forget what else in there. It should be good fishing come fall. I'm unaware of anything else having been attempted recently at the Evening Hole fishing area as far as upgrading the stream bed. I remember some time post flood I'd heard there was some kind of attempt made to deepen the stream bed through the Evening Hole, but they hit bed rock right away. Where the Evening Hole long flat area was made worse it seems to me is that the flood made it wider, therefore shallower. There are still several "fishy" places in it though. Hoss, the main problem at this time with the Evening Hole area, I would guess, is that the temperatures are too high. I'd bet most of the fish in that part of the river are laying low at the Bluffs or the 40 Foot Hole and staying out of the Evening Hole as much as possible. I'd thing there will be plenty of fish there come winter. I plan to be at BB over labor day. I'll give y'all a report! Okay, that makes sense, the stream is wider and shallower, I didn't realize about the bedrock, but it seems that there are opportunities to improve this area. I do like the area at the Bluffs, but I'd like to believe more could be done in the EH area.
|
|
|
Post by hoss on Jul 25, 2022 8:22:36 GMT -6
Actually several things were done to that section a few months ago. I'll need to check it out further, I see the work more up by the Bluffs, but the area downstream I believe could be improved.
|
|
|
Post by huntnfish2much on Jul 25, 2022 20:52:05 GMT -6
There is a really cool stretch of private property near Creede, CO that was professionally worked over to be more fish-friendly. I fished it years ago, and it was beautifully done.
Huge boulders were placed alternatively across the stream from each other, causing eddies and pockets that held fish.
Decades ago, before the floods, evening hole was nothing but frogwater just above the bridge. Tons of dirt was hauled in to narrow this run, and “it was good”.
I have always felt that a meandering stream would have looked better than the channel that was left, but it is what it is. I wish, too, that some effort would be put into building plunge pools along spillway creek.
Then there’s zone 2, but I digress…
JR
|
|
|
Post by trout on Aug 1, 2022 12:07:40 GMT -6
Where specifically is this property in Creede? I'm headed that way mid September and might see if I can check it out.
|
|
|
Post by huntnfish2much on Aug 2, 2022 8:08:33 GMT -6
Where specifically is this property in Creede? I'm headed that way mid September and might see if I can check it out. It is private property. No public access. Sorry. JR
|
|
|
Post by breeden3 on Aug 11, 2022 9:09:48 GMT -6
Unfortunately Spillway Creek is unable to ever be repaired to what it once was. It would cost millions and could be wiped out immediately. Fortunately, some of the holes in Spillway Creek are 10-15 ft deep and there is a good mix of pocket water and riffles that create prime trout habitat. The fish up in SC are the most protected on the LMF.
I consider area 2, which is now classified as Old Park dam to 70 bridge to be a seasonal trout fishery. I consider the fly shop bridge up to Spillway dam to really be the only year round part of the fishery that supports long term holdover and wild fish. There is probably a population of year round survivors at the power plant as well, because there is a constant leak of cold water coming out. Most likely some giant ones there.
Area 2 water is consistently 75+ degrees in the summer afternoon.
|
|
|
Post by huntnfish2much on Aug 11, 2022 15:01:45 GMT -6
I believe, too, that there has to be some huge fish in the river bend area below the power plant. Trout and walleye both. Rarely do I see anyone fishing there.
With all the commercialization and construction going on in and around the area, there is no way the trout fishery will get better as time goes on if there’s no plan to open up more water that will sustain trout.
The money that pours into that park from parking fees alone would make your head spin. I do see money being spent on facilities like restrooms and camping areas, but very little has been done recently to improve trout fishing.
Maybe Area 2 should be stocked with smallmouth bass and bream. Smallies are a ton of fun on a flyrod. Hybrid bluegill pull hard, too. The Little River just up the road and the Upper Mountain Fork are both known for the Smallmouth bass living there.
I do need to explore SC more. It just turns my stomach when I walk in there and remember how it used to be.
JR
|
|
|
Post by breeden3 on Aug 11, 2022 16:30:00 GMT -6
The old spillway creek was amazing and will never be replaced but this new one is pretty good. It keeps the LMF alive. I used to think about fishing and guiding the old one quite a bit and it was depressing lol. Now I just try to reminisce positively!
The LMF has some awesome smallies! Especially down around the power plant and below the Re-Reg dam!
|
|