What a blustery start to the New Year.  I think it made it to 14 degrees before a few of us gals hit the water.  We lasted a couple hours and it was time to come off.  Any way you cut it though, it is the only way to start the New Year off right.  Go stand in the water and try to or catch a fish!

We’re having a heat wave right now.  Well for at least today through Wednesday.  Lot 40s today, 50 tomorrow but foggy and low 60s by Wednesday!  Wow!  Low 50s Thursday with a chance of rain.  Friday it’s back into the mid 30s and Saturday and Sunday both look like we’ll not make it to the low 30s.  That’s January!

Lots of no generation time in the afternoons.  Sunday they had the generators off all day.  Today they shut them down at noon and I think that will probably be the pattern most of the week.

No trips out but have been talking to those brave folks who have been doing some wade fishing and they report pretty good fishing.  It’s only going to get better as the fish are getting some much better quality water now to breath in!

Good basic fly tying clinic this past weekend.  And we’re full for the softhackle/crackleback clinic this coming weekend.  Check out the schedule for future clinics.  We have some good things coming up.

Bundle up and go fish!

What weather we have had!  However, the weather decided it was time to look like it’s supposed to.  We had a light dusting of snow on the trees and ground yesterday morning and this morning, it is 31 degrees!  Looks like low 40s and mid to upper 30s for next week.  Always fish on New Year’s Day and right now, it is looking like upper 20s.  Oh well, we’ve fished that and colder before!

Generation is still running spastic.  Three units on in the morning for 3-4 hours, then down to two, eventually a full or low one unit then back up around 5:00 p.m.

This past Wednesday was one of those nice days (temperature in the 60s) but the water was crazy.  Wednesday Jim spent the day with Gina.  They started out in the morning with the heavy water.  Fishing was tough with the high water and especially in the lower areas.  Gina noticed it was falling out, so row down to the take out, get the boat loaded, drive back up to the put in and fish the upper area with the water lower.  Bingo, fishing was certainly better up there and during the afternoon on the ruby 2 and stripping the tiger tail.  Merry Christmas Jim!

Thursday, Jep and his son Cam spent the afternoon on the water with Stan.  Heavy water when they started, but dropped out during the trip.  Not a great day on the water, but certainly not bad.  This was Cam’s first experience with a fly rod, so he learned the roll cast, worked on the pick up and lay down cast, as well as line management.  They caught fish on the ruby 2 under an orange egg pattern.

FROM ALL OF US AT RIVER RUN OUTFITTERS, WE WISH YOU AND YOURS A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wednesday it made it to 60 and yesterday the high was 41.  Both days had lots of wind!  Today might hit 50 and we are looking at 60 for Saturday.  Chances for rain in some areas by Sunday but not much…if any, and we do need the rain!  Thought I’d never say that!

Generation has been as spastic as the weather.  If you look at the graph, it looks like a really bad EKG.  Only three days where we have had no generation for four to five hours over the past seven days.  Otherwise, we have had three units going for a few hours early in the morning, then dropping to the equivalent of one or a low one unit from late morning until some time in the afternoon.  Fortunately, with the low one unit, you can do some wading in areas.  Right now there are three units going.  Should drop to a low one by noon and pretty much stay there until 5:00 or 6:00 p.m.

“Mo” and Ralph, from Kansas, fished half a day with Carolyn Wednesday.  Windy!  We hit the water after they shut down the three units and it was dropping.  Maybe 3000 cfs going which is usually not to difficult to row against….UNLESS you have 25-30 mph of wind coming at your back!  So, you row fast as you can every time the wind stops!  We made it to a good ‘honey hole’, anchored and proceeded to have a good day on the ruby 2 under a big ruby.  The wind seemed to slow down as the water was doing the same thing, so we moved to another location and pulled the holographic green crackleback behind a tiger tail and caught some more fish.  We had a lot one unit going all the time we were on the water.  Overall, a good, fun day on the water even though it was a big nippy and the wind played havoc with one’s cast every once in a while.

Thursday, Ralph was back for more.  This time he brought one of his sons with him….another Ralph.  Ralph drove in from Florida to meet the rest of the family for a get together.  Stan started them on the water a little later in the morning as it was one of those days where they had a heavy three units going early.  By noon, they shut the water completely off and it stayed off until 5:00 p.m.  Another good day for the guys on copper dun all by its self.  When the fish shut down on this, the bite was on the ruby 2 around 3:00.  Not as active stripping Thursday, but Ralph did catch a few on the holographic green crackleback.  Another good, fun day for these guys.

Today is the coldest day we have had so far and it will warm up after today.  The high for today will be in the mid to upper 30s.  Then we go into the mid 40s and back into the 50 through the weekend and into next week.  Yeah!  Not quite ready for cold yet.

Change in the generation pattern the past four days.  Now we are getting heavy flow (three units) in the morning, usually between 7:00 and 10:00 a.m. then shut down for six to several hours during the middle of the day.

Saturday, Stan took John and his son, Ryan out for half a day.  They were generating a low one unit that day so they did the full float from a little below the dam down to our take out off Acacia Club Road.  For this time of year, it was a good day on the ruby 2 midge.

Ken used a gift certificate his kids gave him for a half day float with Stan on Sunday.  Slower day than Saturday, but they caught fish again on the ruby 2.  Tried stripping a few patterns but no interest.  Carolyn had Sheila and Russ on the water.  We found a “honey hole” and Sheila

Sheila – 12/3/17

proceeded to have a very good day on the ruby 2 under the big ruby.  She did leave a few for Russ.  Her highlight of the day was a pretty brown trout. I must say, Russ did not have his fly rod in his hands all the time.  He found the area beautiful and was taking some great pictures a lot of the time while Sheila was catching.

Wednesday, Rick from Minnesota, spent a half day with Stan.  Very good day for them on the lightning bug in the morning.  When they stopped hitting this, he went to the P&P and the catching resumed!  Other than the windy, cool day, it was a pretty good bite day!

Nice pictures from Russ

Weather certainly does not feel like December.  Probably 70 today and again tomorrow.  Rain looks pretty likely for Monday, then we will start to see a cool down by the end of the week.  Upper 20s for the low and 40s and some 50s for the highs.

They continue to run at least a low every day, almost all day.  Saw a couple hour break early one morning, but low flow has been the pattern.

Stan on the water with Ron and Ruth Ann this past Sunday.   They had a good day on the big ruby with a ruby 2 dropper.  It was a beautiful, sunny day with little wind and the low one unit running.  Kathy and Ron were on their first of two full days with Carolyn.  Off to a good start using the ruby 2 under the size 16 red d-ribbed midge.

Ron and Kathy’s second day on Monday was good, but not quite as good as Sunday.  Best flies again were the ruby 2 and the red d-ribbed midges.  James had Theresa and Chuck from Wisconsin,

Theresa – 11/27/17

out for the first of their two full days.  Good first day mainly on the green holographic crackleback.  Also fished a ruby 2 under a peach egg and pulled a muraciever streamer.

Chuck – 11/28/17

Tuesday, Theresa and Chuck pulled fish again pretty much on the green holographic crackleback   Dana had Charley and Allison out, also for a full day.  It was a P&P under an orange egg or the red San Juan worm for them.

Wednesday Jim spent an enjoyable day on the water with Gina.  They fished the ruby 2 under a peach egg and stripped the holographic green crackleback.  Water was up and down this day, so fishing was up and down also.  But, it was a nice day and they caught enough fish to keep them busy and happy.

We have had awesome weather the past several days.  Thanksgiving Day was in the upper 60s and sunny.  Yesterday was sunny and in the 70s.  Today had been in the upper 60s and sunny.  Expect to see mid to upper 60s tomorrow and even low 70s Monday and Tuesday.  Bring it on!

We have had low generation for at least the past five days.  We had one spike day, which was Wednesday, there they ran three units for 3-4 hours in the morning then back to the low one unit.  That is the projection for Sunday and Monday.

Jim – 11/2217

This past Wednesday things were back to normal.  Jim spent most of the day on the water with Gina.  They had a cold start to the day….32 degrees at the start, but it warmed up in temperature and the fish did the same.  Better fishing as the day warmed up.  Ruby 2 and the holographic green crackleback were their patterns for the day.   Ted and his son Jack, took a one-day fly fishing school from Carolyn.  They worked on the classroom stuff in the morning at the shop.  Later in the morning, when it warmed up a little, they hit the pond and both looked very good by the time we finished up, with their casting.

Thursday, we did an early afternoon float so they could practice

Jack – 11/23/17

their casting at a few fish and learn a little on rigging, presentation and bringing in some fish.  They both caught several Thanksgiving Fish!  Fun couple hours on the ruby 2 midge dropped from either the Lightning Bug or the red d-ribbed

Ted – 11/23/17

midge.

Stan had his regular fishers who have fished with him the day after Thanksgiving Day since 2007, Brandon and his mother Brenda on the water Friday.  Good day for them on the lightning bug under the big ruby.   Mike and his father, Mark spent half a day with Dana.  This was Mark’s first experience with a fly rod.  They caught a few fish on the beaded red San Juan worm, and a tiger tail.

A little nippy these past few mornings.  Tomorrow will be no exception.  Should be in the 30s around 7:00 a.m. and warm up to the upper 40s during the day.  Turkey Day we will get a little warmer start to the morning…mid to upper 30s by 7:00 a.m. then 60 for the high.  Friday and Saturday are both looking like 60s for the high.  Sunday a little cooler, but back into the 60s for the early part of next week.

Non-stop generation for the past four days.  Tomorrow’s projection shows three units on at 7:00 a.m. and running at least three hours, down to two units for an hour then about 2500 cfs for the balance of the day.

Stan on the river last Thursday with Gary and Barry from the Lee’s Summit.  They worked hard and found some fish willing to take the holographic green crackleback.  The midge bite was definitely off.

Friday, Carolyn took Wednesday Jim out for half a day.  Morning started out pretty good on the black copperhead midge.  Tried moving around and using other patterns with little luck.  Went back to our original location and started fishing a size 20 tan scud about 10 inches under a dry and had a fun rest of the trip catching on this.

Matt – 11/20/17

David and his grandson, Matt spent half a day yesterday on the water with Dana.  Fun day for Matt.  This was his first trip and a birthday present from his grandfather.  Matt caught the most and biggest fish.  Of course, after all….it was his birthday!  Ruby 2 under an orange egg pattern was the combo for them.

Temperatures the past several days have been on the cool side.  Shouldn’t complain as it is more normal that we had been having.  Days have maybe hit the mid 50s and with the overcast skies and wind kicking up, it has been nippy!  Looks like the trend for most of this week.  They are saying chances of rain by Wednesday.  Might see low 70s Friday, but overall, temperatures in the 50s.

More off generation than on over the past week.  They had projected low two units for this morning, but we have not seen any generation this morning.  Maybe something this afternoon.

Gina on the water last Tuesday both Bob and Craig.  Pretty good day for this father/son competition.  Dad won with fish to the boat.  It was the black copperhead, and ruby 2 midges.  Did catch a few stripping the JQ streamer.

Thursday, James took Mark out for the first of his two-day booking.  They had a good day on the black copperhead midge, t5he big ugly and stripping the crackleback.

Mark – 11/10/17

Friday was another good day for Mark, again on the black copperhead midge and the big ugly.  Even caught a pretty brown.

Saturday, Stan had Robert and Tina out for their anniversary.  Their best pattern was the black copperhead midge.

Pam – 11/11/17

Pam and Tiffany were out

Tiffany – 11/11/17

with James.  Pretty good day on the black copperhead and ruby 2 midges.  Chip and DaWain  spent Saturday on the water with Carolyn.  Little water running when we hit the water so it was a black copperhead or ruby 2 midge under the #16 red

DaWain – 11/11/17

tungheaD-ribbed midge.  Didn’t take long for Chip to take the lead.  However, before the morning was over, DaWain did a hurt on the fish and they probably wound up about even at the end of the day.

Back on the water for Chip and DaWain again Sunday with Carolyn.  Another Chip hitting fish to the point we threatened for pitch him out of the boat.  Even

Chip – 11/12/17

with the overcast day, the P&P was the midge of choice for most of the morning.  Finally, they shut off the P&P and the black copperhead midge took over.   David and Chris fished with James.  Started off pretty slow,

David – 11/12/17

but they started catching later in the morning on an apricot egg with the black ruby midge dropper.

Great weather this weekend.  70s Saturday and 80s today.  Looks like we will get some rain tomorrow with temperatures in the upper 50s.  What a change!  Tuesday and Wednesday will both be in the low 50s and a chance of rain again on Wednesday.  After that, upper 50s to low 60s are the forecast into next week.

No generation during the day this weekend.  They did turn on a low one unit yesterday around 4:00 p.m. and we expect to see the same again today.  Monday shows no generation until 5:00 p.m. with a low two units, then a low three, back to low two and off after 4-5 hours.

Jim – 11/1/17

Wednesday Jim out last Wednesday with Gina.  Tough morning, but they persisted and got into some fish in the afternoon.  Black copperhead midge under the Big Ugly in shallow water.

Thursday, Gina took Charlene and Linda out for half a day.  These two ladies came

Charlene – 11/2/17

in early as they were attending the River Runners Women’s Fly Fishing outing held here over the weekend.  They had a fun day on the black copperhead, P&P and Ruby 2 midges.  Carolyn had a couple new fly fishing ladies on the water, Kris and her friend Beth.  We started with basic casting and worked our way up to catching.  Fun day for these gals and I think they have found a new activity.

Twenty women from the RRWFF Club showed up Friday evening and hit the water hard on Saturday.  Good, fun and beautiful day for all of us.  Fishing was not fast and furious, but everyone hooked up with a fish.  Neat to see this many women on the river having such a great time!

Linda – 11/2/17

Kris – 11/2/17 – first on a fly rod

Beth – 11/2/17 – first on a fly rod

Just finished up several days of WINDY conditions on the river.  Wow!  30-40 mph wind gusts.  It flat blows those drift boats off anchor.  Overcast today with the high forecast to be 63 degrees.  Going to have to go a little to make that.  Thursday is looking great.  High in the low 80s and lots of sunshine and light wind.  Friday has a high in the 70s, maybe a shower in the morning, but light winds and cloudy.  Weekend looks great.  Upper 70s to low 80s and sunshine.  Next week is looking like normal weather for this time of the year.  mid 60s to upper 50s later in the week.  Chance for showers is showing up on Tuesday.

One or two generators running pretty low for two to three hours in the morning if they run anything in the morning.  Then off most of the day and one or two units back on in the late afternoon for a couple hours and back off through the night.  This has been the norm for the past several days.

Dana on the water last Monday for the first of two days with Charles.  Pretty good day for him stripping the pumpkin or blonde cracklebacks on a 1.5 ips sinking leader, and also caught a few stripping the tiger tail.  Fish were hanging mainly in the shallower water.  Marvin and Richard fished with Carolyn and they caught a few fish on the P&P midge or stripping a pumpkin crackleback.  Stan’s guy, Gordon, from Alabama, was also stripping the pumpkin crackleback.   This was one of those windy days and they were blown off anchor at least twice.

Gordon enjoyed the windy day so much, he spent Tuesday back out on the water with Stan again.  This day was even more WINDY!  It was one of those 35-40 mph days.  Hard to detect a strike due to the white caps on the water!  Friday was a tiger tail day…..didn’t touch the crackleback.  Wednesday, Charles spent another half day on the water with Dana.  Not as good as Monday, but they caught fish again on the pumpkin crackleback.  Stan and Carolyn had a group on the water for half a day.  Carolyn took the ladies, Dawn and Ashley, and Stan took the guys, John and Richard.  Understand whichever boat caught the most fish did not have to wash dishes while they were here.  The ladies outfished the guys on the black copperhead midge.  The guys were catching on the pumpkin crackleback.  It was another one of those WINDY days and tough to stay in one place very long.  Wednesday Jim spent a full day on the water with Gina.  They stripped the tiger tail or JQ streamer and also caught some on the ruby 2.

Thursday, Marvin and Richard spent another half day with Carolyn.  It didn’t fish great, but as Richard said “I caught more fish today than I have over the past three”.  It was the black copperhead

Dennis – 10/26/17

midge or ruby 2.  Gina had Dennis and Randy out for the morning.  They were catching on the tiger tail or an olive bugger early in the day.  Later it was a ruby 2 or P&P midge.  Dennis likes dries and caught the best fish of the day on a size 14 Adams.  Made his day.

Randy – 10/26/17

Randy likes stripping so he was fishing the tiger tail and bugger.

Terry, from Oklahoma, fished with Stan on Saturday.   They did not start until noon and it was one of the more difficult days Stan has had on the water.  Not every very many opportunities to catch any as they were not biting that well.  Fortunately, he did not get skunked.