| |
Summer Fly Fishing Tips from Mark Van
Patten
During the heat of the
summer the fish will congregate in deep pools just below
a good riffle. The riffle will provide much needed
oxygen and the deep pools provide cooler temperatures as
well as an escape from the sunlight that mortifies
trout. A sinking tip line or a sinking head placed above
the pool and allowed to drop deep into the pool should
produce results. Try using a larger Prince or Anderson
rubber leg stone. Use a tight line drift with a longer
leader. (9-10 ft) You need to keep the fly line off of
the water and keep a direct line with the fly. The
complex cross currents at the head of a pool will cause
your fly line to drag and not allow the fly to drift
naturally or deep enough. The take will be subtle at
best. You can use a strike indicator right where the
leader and fly line connect to aid in seeing a soft
take. Never take your eyes off of the indicator. It is
very easy to miss the take. Once that monster has taken
it and spit it out, he won't be fooled again. You get
one shot.
If this does not produce, position yourself in the
riffle and let out line directly below you into the
pool. Allow a large dark woolly bugger (black or dark
olive) to drop deep into the pool and retrieve with very
short and relatively slow strips back to you. You need
to get deep, keep a low profile, and work slow no matter
what you use. Once again the take will be very soft. If
you feel anything at all, or notice any movement not
consistent with the drift, set the hook.
I just finished filming some segments for my show and
used these tactics with very good results. I have used
them for years and am convinced of their validity.
I hope this tid-bit of info helps someone land the
"Summer trout" of their dreams at ROLF on the North
Fork.
Mark
Mark Van Patten
Streams Coordination Biologist
Missouri Department of Conservation
573-751-4115 ext. 3892
Barry's
Annalora's North Fork Fly Fishing Tips
Barry
is one of ROLF'S most successful dry fly fishermen. He
comes three or four times a year and always does well.
The North Fork is one of Barry's favorite trout fishing
stream.
For the hot Summer
mornings, Barry's fly preferences are as follows:
|
Early Morning Dries:
Olive trude #16
Blue dunn #18
Black trico #18 |
Wet Flies:
Caddis pupa #16
Sow bug #16 |
|
During the Fall months, Barry
sees the most action with:
|
|
Dries:
Mosquito #14
Adams #14 |
Wet Flies:
Prince (bead head) #14
C.R. gold #14 |
|
Barry wishes to pass on an
important tip concerning weight: "Use as
little as possible, generally a #6. Also use
a light tippet, say a 6X or 7X." |
|
Myron's General Flyfishing
Tips |
|
Nymphing is generally the
most consistent way to catch North Fork
trout. The local's favorite is the bead-head
Prince nymphs and brown Woolly Buggers in
various sizes. Don't forget that Crayfish
are also an important spring and summer time
food for the trout. |
 |
|
July on the North Fork brings
on the weighted hellgrammite nymphs as a fly
of choice. During May the light Cahill hatch
provides great dry fly action, but trout
will also generally strike caddis or
stoneflies at anytime. Skating an Elk Hair
Caddis across the surface remains a proven
method on the North Fork to generate a
strike. |
|
Do you need some assistance
in tackle selection?
Here are some
recommendations.
Further inquires or the
latest hot fly selection info may be
obtained from
Myron.
More information available on
the
Reports and
Library Pages.
Read Our Flyfisherman.com
Ghillie Report |
|
|
Trout Fishing Tips from Russ
Russ has been fishing
the North Fork since 1981 and has the following tips on flies and tackle.
In the Spring Russ likes
to find the big stone flies laying their eggs and then
throws a Stimulator in color to match; either yellow or
orange. Since these flies live several years in their
nymphal stage, a black stonefly nymph or black rubber
legs in various sizes will work all year long.
Russ likes to keep his
flies simple so losing one doesn't break his cheap
heart. Later in the spring when the water drops and
clears a little Russ likes a #18 parachute Blue Winged
Olive or parachute Adams. Also the #16 to #18 Elk Hair
Caddis comes into it's own around this time. Russ has
seen some Red Quills come off of the river in the spring
and also small Light Cahills. Basically lots of the
Eastern mayflies are present on the North Fork with a
few exceptions. Russ hasn't seen any Hendricksons or
Green Drakes but wouldn't be surprised to. Since the
North Fork has a bedrock bottom it's unlikely to find many burrowing types of
mayflies.
Summer brings out the
Tricos and fishing their spinners on a summer morning is
fantastic. Don't expect to see the big bruisers come up
for them but expect lots of fish. A 22 or 24 pattern
works fine. Again the para BWO and Elk Hair Caddis work
well during this time. Again throw a small Cahill when
you see tiny tan mayflies coming off. Russ' best fish
was a 21 inch brown caught on a 16 BWO fished down and
across during a hatch. Drift a Prince nymph as a dropper
behind a black rubber legs in the fast water and watch
your strike indicator! Fall is streamer time for the
browns when they move upstream to spawn. Russ has had
good luck with a black Marabou Muddler but a black or
olive Wolly Bugger will move some fish too. Russ will
throw an olive Wolly Bugger all season. This time of
year Russ has seen some huge mahogany duns flying
upstream so have some of then tucked away.
For the Fall, Russ digs
out Black Rubber Legs and olive Brown and Black Woolly
Buggers out of his fly box. These flies have proven
themselves as productive over Russ's 19 years on the
North Fork.
Winter means low and
slow and again a black rubber legs or stonefly nymph.
Don't be surprised to see some top water action and have
some Griffiths Gnats or tiny Baetis imitations in your
box. Russ throws a five weight with a floating weight
forward taper but wishes he had a seven for the big
Wolly Buggers. Chest waders with felt or lug soles are a
must and even then be within a short walk of dry clothes
as the river has a very uneven slick bedrock bottom.
Fish the deep fast water for the rainbows and the slower
deep water for the browns but the fish can be anywhere.
Russ hasn't tried night fly fishing for the trophy
browns but it's just a matter of time until he does and
then he will throw a big brown or black Wolly Bugger or
Marabou Muddler or crayfish pattern.
Read a
flyfishing article by Russ.
|
ROLF Exclusive Fly Fishing
Tips Articles |
|
Brian Wise, ROLF Flyfishing
Guide Profile |
|
Brian Wise is a veteran of
the North Fork
River, spending over 150 days of the year fishing the river. Click on the
link for his profile, including
North Fork
fishing tips. |
|
|
|
June and July Flyfishing Tips |
|
Chuck Tracey gives some
excellent tips for the fly fisherman seeking
summer trout on the North Fork.
|
|
|
|
Shelby Nold, ROLF Flyfishing
Guide, Profile (no
longer active at the ROLF) |
|
Shelby Nold is an
accomplished North Fork guide who has spent
many years on the river and can help you
land those wild trout. Included are North
Fork tips and tactics. |
|
|
|
Rory Bridges, Flyfishing
Guide, Profile (no
longer active at the ROLF) |
|
Rory Bridges, a premier North
Fork
River guide, gives a description of his background and
discusses his favorite tactics. |
|
|
|
North Fork Fly Fishing Tips
and Tactics
By Rory Bridges |
|
Read some valuable tips and
tactics from Rory, a gifted young
flyfisherman who guides occasionally for the
ROLF on the North Fork
River. |
|
|
|
Float Fishing on the North
Fork
By Jeff Bridges |
|
This masterpiece is the
definitive source for how to fish the North
Fork River from a canoe. Jeff explains
everything from canoe handling, to casting
tips, productive areas, and more. It is a
must read and an ROLF exclusive. |
|
|
|
Some Unconventional Thoughts
About Fly Fishing the North Fork
By David Dickinson |
|
David shares some
unconventional approaches and thoughts for
understanding and catching North Fork Trout. |
|
|