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Post by okieman71 on Jul 11, 2017 14:03:45 GMT -6
I haven't been down to see but I am hoping you can still fish below SB bridge and below the Old Park Dam. The OPD is just an overflow dam anyway and we have fished there for years. I haven't seen the buoy line but they have always tried to keep people from getting close to the Junction where the hydro dam is. That would be nothing new.
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Post by greenman on Jul 11, 2017 18:21:22 GMT -6
So, from the post "So where's the good news here? lmfrfoundation.org/latest-news-and-updates/" Item three And with that, due to a difference in penalties imposed upon offenders, the Park Rangers have been instructed to NOT write tickets for violations of the “Fish” parts of the Fish and Game Laws. Yes, I know it makes less than no sense. Don’t waste your time calling in violators to the Park Am I understanding that the "Fish" regs are temporarily suspended? Will we be seeing MORE spin-fishers in the red zones with single and multiple treble hooks? Is nothing off limits to the Happy Go Plucking vaca-eco-terrorist? I may just skip the LMFR for the rest of the summer and just go to the Norfork..
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Post by mirvc17 on Jul 11, 2017 19:09:39 GMT -6
It sounds like it, although maybe unadvertised--but for how long? But if anyone browsing the web finds the LMFRF site and reads that bit about the rangers, they might be prompted to think that anything goes and the worst they'll get is a warning?
I guess if the money from license sales keep coming in and people are feeding Broken Bow's economy, then who cares right?
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Post by Fenwick on Jul 11, 2017 21:11:01 GMT -6
Greenman, spin rods and treble hooked lures are perfectly acceptable legal means of rod and reel fishing in the restricted red zones provided the lures are not those rubber chemically infused scented lure varieties and the barbs of the hooks are mashed down. Yep. Its true. The Zebco kind or your grandpa's eighty year old deep sea rig with a big ol' Ocean City reel with braided line on it are legit. Thing is, who is gonna mash down the barbs on their treble hook lures? Who is going to be able to successfully release an alive trout caught on a treble hook lure considering how trout inhale their prey where all three hooks of the lure are dug in way down in the trout? Honey, I need my pliers again. Anyway...the unbridled mayhem on the water ought to subside when colder weather gets here.
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Post by golferjeff on Jul 12, 2017 10:48:43 GMT -6
So, from the post "So where's the good news here? lmfrfoundation.org/latest-news-and-updates/" I may just skip the LMFR for the rest of the summer and just go to the Norfork.. I agree. So does Hankinsfly. So we are going.
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Post by greenman on Jul 12, 2017 11:15:49 GMT -6
Golfer, I'm trying to talk wife into trip to Norfolk for sometime next month. Wish me luck.
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Post by hankinsfly on Jul 12, 2017 12:21:24 GMT -6
Greenie, how bout July 28-Aug1
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Post by greenman on Jul 12, 2017 12:32:44 GMT -6
Hank, I'll have to check with wife to see what schedule is like that weekend. May try looking at 7-29 thru 8-5.
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Post by hankinsfly on Jul 12, 2017 12:37:00 GMT -6
Do eet!
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Post by greenman on Jul 12, 2017 14:12:25 GMT -6
I guess if you go by the "Rules" then the top end of spillway creek is off limits.. And the reg's differ from what the park is saying is off limits, bank fishing should be fine, just not wading. Just an FYI moment. Straight from the ODWC Fishing 2017-2018 regulation, Page 7, 12, 18, 19, 30 (link to PDF www.wildlifedepartment.com/sites/default/files/17OKAB-Fishing-PP3-FINAL.pdf)It is unlawful to: • Enter, swim, wade, operate a boat or a float or floating device in any safety zone (the water area below any dam for a distance of 50 yards from base of the dam). • Possess fish in a tailwater without keeping their fish separate, marked with their name and license number. See page 32 for all Tailwater regulations. TROUT (RAINBOW & BROWN) Rainbow Trout • State record: 11 lbs., 4.32 oz. • Black spots on tail • Iridescence on sides Brown Trout • State record: 17 lbs., 4.6 oz. • Few or no black spots on tail • Orange and red spots on side Statewide Daily Limit: W / Exceptions for Lower Illinois and Lower Mountain Fork • Rainbow Trout - 6 • Brown Trout - 6 Statewide Minimum Size Limit: • None w/ Exceptions Daily limit is six rainbow trout in all state designated trout areas except in portions of the Blue River, the Lower Illinois River and the Lower Mountain Fork River. (See maps and descriptions on pages 19 and 21.) • There is no minimum size limit for rainbow trout at any state-designated trout area except in portions of the Lower Illinois River and the Lower Mountain Fork River. (See maps and descriptions on pages 19 and 21. • Daily limit for brown trout is six with no minimum size limit, except at the Lower Mountain Fork River and Lower Illinois River where the daily limit is one; size limit: 20-inch minimum, with a possession limit of two after the first day Special Regulations by Zone: Blue Zones: (From the Broken Bow Reservoir spillway downstream to the first Highway Bridge below the Spillway; from the second Highway Bridge below the Spillway downstream to the State Park Dam; and from the mouth of Rough Branch Creek downstream to U.S. 70 bridge): • Rainbow trout - Daily limit: six; no minimum size limit. • Use of bait and barbed hooks is permitted. Red Zones: Below Broken Bow dam from the first Highway Bridge below the Spillway downstream to the second Highway Bridge below the Spillway, including the Evening Hole stream channel; and from the State Park Dam downstream to the mouth of Rough Branch Creek): • Rainbow trout - Daily limit: one; Size limit: 20-inch minimum. • Possession of any trout less than 20 inches is prohibited. • Use of bait or barbed hooks is prohibited in the Red Zone. Fishing is restricted to barbless hooks, artificial flies and artificial lures only. Lower Mountain Fork River Trout Area Below Broken Bow Dam Fishing Contact: Southeast Region Fisheries Office (918) 297-0153. Game Warden: Mark Hannah (580) 513-4651. Fishing Methods: Fishing limited to one rod and reel per person. No other method of fishing allowed. (Also see “Tailwaters” regulations.) Note: For more trout regulations, see page 18. AND Just for Funsies: Trout, Brown 17 lbs 4.6 Oz. 32 3/4 in Length 20 in girth Lower Mtn. Fork River on 4-10-05 by Jason Archie Trout, Rainbow 11 lbs 4.32 Oz. 29 3/16 in Length 16 9/16 in girth Lower Illinois River on 4-4-15 by Paul Glover Pickerel, Chain 2 lbs 10 oz 22 1/2 in Length 9 1/2 in girth Lower Mtn. Fork River on 4-22-82 by Eric Lowe
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Post by mirvc17 on Jul 12, 2017 17:06:57 GMT -6
Yep but these rules don't make any sense for a Red Zone. If you're going to limit an angler to ONE fish over TWENTY inches, it clearly means you're going to be releasing somewhere around 90%(or more?) of the fish you'll catch. Like you said, who's going to remember to mash the barbs on a treb hook [oh, sorry Mr. Warden, I forgot]? And even if they do, it's going to tear up that fish and it will probably die anyway because it's going to take so damn long to get hook out or it bleeds to death. More, healthy fish in the river that survive being caught and released means less money spent on more fish to replace the dead/poached ones. Wait, that makes sense...so let the state do the opposite so it eats more of the budget. Oh, no worries, plenty of license sales coming in so it's no problem... I'm really surprised that Colorado's Gold Medal Waters sections don't specify single, barbless hooks either (Note that I don't mean single fly). But it appears that most people are fly fishing anyway in the rivers I've fished (which is not that many)... (For trout) It honestly baffles me that anyone would want to use barbed hooks anyway--it's just not necessary. And getting one stuck in you is no fun (I know, and it was a small one)--a single hook is bad enough--a treble would suck big time! Greenman, spin rods and treble hooked lures are perfectly acceptable legal means of rod and reel fishing in the restricted red zones provided the lures are not those rubber chemically infused scented lure varieties and the barbs of the hooks are mashed down. Yep. Its true. The Zebco kind or your grandpa's eighty year old deep sea rig with a big ol' Ocean City reel with braided line on it are legit. Thing is, who is gonna mash down the barbs on their treble hook lures? Who is going to be able to successfully release an alive trout caught on a treble hook lure considering how trout inhale their prey where all three hooks of the lure are dug in way down in the trout? Honey, I need my pliers again. Anyway...the unbridled mayhem on the water ought to subside when colder weather gets here.
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Post by hankinsfly on Jul 12, 2017 17:21:38 GMT -6
JP, come on up to Arkansas with me, Greendude, Jeff the Golfer, and Jonbro
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Post by greenman on Jul 12, 2017 20:02:36 GMT -6
Hank, just got the go ahead for last weekend, from the better 3/4s. Now to get clearance for time off from work. Plans are in motion, have time off, have cabin on norfork river in salesville. Will try to meet up with Hank and have him show me how to toss a "Hopper". LOL. Then down to Beavers Bend for some "Touristy" stuff and see how cold hole is progressing.
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Post by tsfarling on Jul 27, 2017 19:05:15 GMT -6
Swim beach to bouy line is still fishable. Two weeks ago, the bouy line had been cut and I notified the Army Corp ranger. As far as kayakers go in EH, Entry by waders only signs are currently in negotiation to be made and the LMFRF is going to purchase 13 of them and install them along spillway down to EH bridge.
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Post by turfdawg on Jul 28, 2017 4:43:28 GMT -6
Signs are not going to do anything if they aren't going to enforce it
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Post by greenman on Jul 28, 2017 6:42:53 GMT -6
Hypothetical question.. If signs are in place and a tuber/swimmer goes by, is it there fault if a fly hooks them?? If it is not enforced, but deemed hazardous to their health would they do it? Could we call it open season on homoaqueous idiotous hominids?
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Post by tsfarling on Jul 28, 2017 10:29:48 GMT -6
The head park ranger sat down and requested more signage. That way, if signs are up, they can then begin to enforce this. Remember though, enforcement just means they will be more apt to tell people, get out of the water. They won't always write a ticket though unless it is a repeat offender. Where they place the signs should help but you will still have people that disregard them.
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Post by todd13 on Jul 30, 2017 20:48:02 GMT -6
Disgusting thread. maybe a better word is distressing. Either way, I will spend less money in LMFR this fall/winter.
Who can tell me about the Blue River? Worth my time?
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Post by troutbum54 on Jul 31, 2017 0:25:12 GMT -6
If you like catching a ton of trout on nymphs as streamers than the blue is great... if you was to catch some on dry fly you’ll have to go out October 31 to catch “bass”
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Post by tsfarling on Jul 31, 2017 8:52:16 GMT -6
Disgusting thread. maybe a better word is distressing. Either way, I will spend less money in LMFR this fall/winter. Who can tell me about the Blue River? Worth my time? I've been to the Blue River before and it is just loaded with people unless you go during the week. I didn't think the fishing was that great. Not a lot of wading and lots of overhead tree canopies and large open water in some parts that are annoying to fish with a fly rod. I personally won't go back to it.
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Post by troutbeard on Jul 31, 2017 12:28:08 GMT -6
Disgusting thread. maybe a better word is distressing. Either way, I will spend less money in LMFR this fall/winter. Who can tell me about the Blue River? Worth my time? I've been to the Blue River before and it is just loaded with people unless you go during the week. I didn't think the fishing was that great. Not a lot of wading and lots of overhead tree canopies and large open water in some parts that are annoying to fish with a fly rod. I personally won't go back to it. The catch and release area is generally the best place to fish the Blue during the regular trout season. It's about a mile hike in, so it keeps a lot of people out. There are some overhead tree canopies present, but there is also a lot of open water. I have had a lot of luck in this portion of the river. As troutbum54 mentioned, the best fishing is done with streamers and nymphs. Baetis and midges, as well as junk flies, are the highest producing nymphs.
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Post by mirvc17 on Jul 31, 2017 12:35:30 GMT -6
I'll echo troutbum and tsfarling if I may...
The Blue River runs very slowly for most of it, and has a lot of little falls. There aren't many sections with good riffled water and it's not like any real trout habitat.
As troutbum said... the speed of the river means very, very slow drifts and sometimes almost none at all...requiring you to slow strip your nymphs. The Blue was flooded pretty bad as well around the time the LMFR was flooded and the structure did change some I'd noticed--it's definitely slower than it was.
It is possible to catch fish on dries like midges, but you probably won't catch much--a better option would be to use something like a Crackleback subsurface--you'll get more action that way.
The crowds are a problem unless you are willing to hoof it and hike into the South Wilderness or the C&R area. The fishing was not very good last winter--based on my own experience and several reports from others--the crowds were bad, poachers, warm water temps, and very, very few decent fish--mostly cookie cutter 11" stockers. You need a decent roll cast there for sure and it's usually always windy.
Like Tyler, I am over the Blue and probably won't go back either. Even though Medicine Park doesn't provide much in the way of a real trout experience, if they stock the same quality of rainbows they did last winter, I'll happily suspend midges under an indicator and go there as much as possible (45 min for me). Medicine Park was awesome last winter. The Blue isn't worth the 3 hr drive--I'd rather go west 6+ hrs to NM.
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Post by mirvc17 on Jul 31, 2017 12:39:21 GMT -6
Troutbeard beat me to it... Yes, bring a mountain bike if you want to speed your entry into the C&R... I didn't hear of any great reports for the C&R last year, but some were OK. I think it's been better in years past. I had a good experience when I went there a few years ago.
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Post by todd13 on Jul 31, 2017 13:47:20 GMT -6
Thanks for all the input and advice. I will give it a shot as I see/read that things are changing at LMFR. Wish I had taken up FF before the floods! Oh well. Too bad they don't value FF enough to protect the small parts that once were managed. Does sound like the leadership has just sold out: not enforcing poaching, won't reestablish FF/angling areas, no regards for safety of swimmers by allowing them to swim in the bluffs when they know there are treble hooks strewn below, etc....I wonder if they will be selling homesites near the EH for profits.
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Post by slim on Jul 31, 2017 14:22:25 GMT -6
Slim, is taking his disposable fishing funds to Idaho.
Fishing is fabulous ..........
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