December 1, 2014

Flow: 94

Water Temp: 47-40 Downstream

What a great holiday weekend folks, we had a great day with family and friends and hope you did the same. Black Friday and Saturday was pretty sporting on the river with anglers from all over in our little river. I talked to some as far as Las Vegas NV; there’s an active Trout Unlimited chapter there, I like meeting new people but the crowds can spark the ire of the locals from Bojon Town.

I have been remiss in my exploration of the upper sections of the river since I moved to my little house on the hill and with an upcoming trip to that section I figured I had better get out there. The new stone steps on the south bank are a welcome addition. I’ve slalomed down those mud banks more than once in a mix of arse, elbows and fly rods.

Fishing has been more cyclical since the flows dropped, we’re seeing more periods of slow fishing changing to a heavy bite than in years before the drought. Water clarity continues to improve and BWO hatches are rampant. The dinks are back and feeding heartily on the bugs. We typically carry two rods and now it’s paying off big time. Match the hatch exactly and when that doesn’t work tie on a Griffith’s gnat. Just don’t spend all day at it, catching trout on the dry is so much fun but the big boys are a bit deeper. BH Pheasant Tails and Johnny Flash in size 18 did well over the weekend.

Our friends at Trout Unlimited are in need of a little help. Friday night (the 5^th) is holding a conservation banquet and celebration of the Arkansas River featuring Bill Edrington’s The Arkansas River: Rags to Riches. The banquet will be held at the Coyote Grille just paces off the river, surrounded by our recent river improvements. Tickets are $40.00 each or $75.00 a couple. We still have a number of chairs to fill. There’s some nice stuff we’ll be raffling off including a month’s pass to Rainbow Falls Mountain Trout. Join us for a fun night. Tickets will be held at the door. Get them at http://chapter509tu.org/conservation-banquet-2014.html

Tight lines,

Ben