Fishing Report 12-5-09

Since the yo-yo water of October and November has slacked off and we have steady water levels fishing has gone through the roof! Fishing deep is still key with a Rubber-Legs or Mohair leechs as a lead fly and egg patterns, Psycho Princes, Hare's Ears, Pheasant Tails, and the like are great for droppers. The fish are still a touch on the scattered side so fishing the whole riffle and through the tailout is crucial.

On a side note....The North Fork of the White is known most for it's population of wild rainbow trout. Our rainbows are in spawn mode right now and will be for the next few weeks. When trout spawn their beds (redds) are scattered all over the river and these redds are where the trout lay their eggs. The redds look like "washed gravel" or lighter colored than the surrounding gravel and they are generally round in shape. Watch your step because hundred and hundred of eggs are in these redds and one step from a wading fisherman could literally kill hundred of eggs.

Brian Wise

Head Guide

River of Life Farm

www.riveroflifefarm.com

A fall hike at River of Life Farm

I recently had the opportunity to take an afternoon at ROLF...not on the river for once but on a great hike to Inspiration Point with my little boys. The fall colors were at peak and it was a crisp and cool, but beautiful day.

Smiling faces

Inspiration Point Trail


Great view of the North Fork from Inspiration Point.



We made a couple new friends as well.

Fall is a beautiful time in the Ozarks and especially well spent on the banks of the North Fork of the White River.

Fall Fishing Outlook

A picture is worth a thousand words....

With a LOT of the canoe traffic slowing down, the nights cooling off, and already some leaves changing color it is time to look at the outlook for fall fishing. Besides, when you see temps in the high 40's in late August--you can't help but to look forward to fall fishing.
Usually when we think of fall fishing we think about water levels being low and crystal clear, not so much this year. We had a great summer with water levels staying as close to the 60 year average as we have seen in a while so the low and clear water we usually have this time of year really isn't there. With an above average prediction for rainfall in September we are looking (and hoping) for water levels to do very well.

With the water levels being higher than they typically are this time of year we are taking full advantage of it, we are still fishing bigger flies, and above that we are still getting away with heavier tippet. You see, the peak of the colors changing is pretty close to the peak of the brown trout movement as they get started in their spawn....which makes using 4x tippet to any given nymph and 3x + on streamers incredibly helpful and landing any "pig" you happen to hook--we like that ;)

Finding the fish is usually pretty easy in the Fall. The deeper tailouts and deeper riffles are the go-to without a doubt. I have said it a thousand times but it demands to be said again, if you see a drop-off fish it HARD, especially in a faster running tailout. While nymphing, nymph DEEP (another thing I can't stress enough) lose flies! If you are a fan of stripping streamers jump all over ANY chance you get this fall...basically any low-light situation be it early morning, late evening, cloudy, rainy--all of this equals good stuff for streamers. Be aggressive with it, if I am personally stripping streamers for fishing I am not going to mess around--give me big and nasty and I'll strip it back like my life depends on it, unless the fish tell me otherwise. :P

The most beautiful time of year equals awesome fishing....even if the fishing is tough.

Brian Wise

Head Guide

River of Life Farm

http://www.riveroflifefarm.com/

Late Summer Fishing Report

Usually when you think of fishing late into the summer you usually think of low and super clear water....making fishing pretty tough. The summer of '09 will probably go down as one of the most consistant fishing summers I have ever seen. The fish moved to the usual holding spots as they do every summer--deep into the tailouts, but this year it seemed like we got rain when we really needed it bringing water levels up just enough and bringing some color back to the water.

Fishing with the usual nymphs under an indicator was usually the way to go but with water levels going up and down we actually saw some days where stripping streamers was THE way to go....all day!

We are also starting to catch more and more young of the year. These little fish can be found just about anywhere in the water they can eat food and grow. They are pretty quick to bite and will eat just about anything that won't eat them first at this point. :)

Stay tuned for the Fall Fishing Outlook coming in the next week!!

Brian Wise

Head Guide

River of Life Farm

www.riveroflifefarm.com

The Outdoor Channel Visits River of Life Farm

We recently had the opportunity to have a film crew from the Outdoor Channel visit ROLF to film some turkey hunting with Shelby Nold, fishing with Brian Wise, and some of the cabins. Although the turkey hunting was pretty tough the fishing went well and we only ended up needing one day of shooting to get the segment for the Outdoor Channel Outfitters television show. Brian, Shelby, and Tommy McKee (the youngest of the McKee children yet probably the biggest feet!!) joined together to do some fishing for the cameras.

Brian Wise in an interview


Shelby Nold making some casts

Brian Wise and Cameraman John Nabors

Tommy McKee and Cameraman John Nabors

Stay tuned for the airing hopefully sometime this Fall. Spoiler Alert!!! Tommy catches something REALLY COOL for the camera....and also rows Brian's drift boat over the falls!

April Fishing Report

April brought us many ups and downs as far as fishing goes on the North Fork of the White.....and most of those ups and downs were the water levels. :)

All in all fishing was real steady even with the fluctuating water levels. Of course fishing on the miles of access at River of Life has been real good too. The key to catching fish on slightly higher water levels are to fish REALLY DEEP(sometimes 9+ feet under an indicator) The fly of the month....the Rubber-Leg Stone that has been catching us a ton of fish this spring, along with San Juan worms, Mohair Leeches, and Psycho Princes--all of which can be found in the grab bag of flies in the store in the lodge at ROLF.

Brian Wise

Head Guide

River of Life Farm

http://www.riveroflifefarm.com/

A great letter from a world class fly fisherman and ROLF guest.

Dear Myron,
My name is António Rodrigues, from Portugal and i met you last october. I was with John Wilson giving the Chech Nimph Class (Of the Conclave)in front of your house! I have some pictures of that day and i want to share those with you! Thanks to alloud us to use your Wonderfull Farm, to give that lesson, and also (for me) to visit one of the most beautifull places i ever saw!And Easter is time to share! God bless you and all McKee's family!
Best Wishes
From Portugal
António Rodrigues - Tony