Robbers Cave Trout...

Robbers Cave trout ripe for the grill, when you find them

My Goto Flies

When fishing in Oklahoma, no matter where....Lower Illinois, Blue River, Lower Mountain Fork....I have several flies that are the key goto's and that routinely stay stocked within my box.

1. Bead Head Gold Ribbed Hares Ear - both in natural and olive green (the latter more lovingly known as a Beavers Bend special).   I seem to go thru more 14 and 16s in these.

2. Woolly Bugger - Whether they be Black, Olive, Brown, Rust or White these seem to be able to draw strikes when nothing else is working...key is get deep and work it slow...10s and 12s usually do the trick.

3. Pheasant Tail - another key goto pattern while similar to the hares ear...just pulls hits when the others aren't working.  14s-20s seem to work here.

4. Parachute Adams/Adams Dries - when they are sipping the surface and the hatch is on these seem to catch a majority of the action for me. 14s - 20s have worked for me.

5.  Midges - various flavors and colors, used on their own or as a dropper are almost always a hit.  The smaller the better seem to do the trick.

6. Scud - gray or olive have worked for me 18s - 20s get replenished the most.

7. Prince - certain days at the Lower Illinois, this was the only fly that could entice a strike 14s - 16s are the sizes i have to order the most.

8. San Juan worms...Red and Brown usually with a bead, larger the better usually use these with faster flows and deeper water and gives a larger target.

I have various and sundry other flies, however these are the ones that get replenished most in my fly box.  I also plan on trying some soft hackle wet flies this year.  Will be good as i just never have tried them.

Upcoming Lower Illinois River Fly Fishing Related Activities

Passing on some useful information

Meet TV host Don Wallace, Oklahoman Outdoors Editor Ed Godfrey at H&H Shooting Sports Complex

Learn to fly fish

The annual Illinois River Fly Fishing School will be Feb. 24-25 at Tenkiller State Park.

Instructors Mark Patton and Tom Adams will be teaching about equipment and flies in a classroom setting and then giving casting instruction on the banks of the Illinois River.

Cost of the course is $150. Call 340-1992 for more information.

Clean up the Lower Illinois

The 89er Chapter of Trout Unlimited in Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma Chapter of Trout Unlimited in Tulsa are combining forces to clean up the Lower Illinois River.

On Dec. 10, members of the state's two Trout Unlimited chapters will walk the banks of the Lower Illinois to pick up trash and debris. The cleanup is scheduled from 9 a.m. until noon.

Volunteers interested in helping should meet at the dam access parking lot at 9 a.m. The 89er Chapter of Trout Unlimited will be providing lunch to volunteers.

Anyone planning to participate is asked to email troutbum@89er.org. For more information, call Greg Mann at 401-3784 or Chuck Kaminski at 973-4571.

Another First on the Blue

Blue River, Oklahoma...beautiful and peaceful and full o trout.

A wonderful day on the Blue today with my friend Dave who is a first time fly fisher.  Although we couldn't catch a rise the fish were feeding deep, early.  Began with the tried and true standby's 12-16 BH Hares Ear, BH Prince, BH Lightning Bug and Black Wooly Bugger.

All of the takes were very subtle with the exception of Dave's First trout who was showing some attitude and was a very nice jumper.  The action died around 10 and unfortunately we had to roll out just after noon, think they were going to turn on again after lunch but most of em will wait for another day.

Congrats Dave, very nice first trout and as always kicking around with you for the day was excellent.

and our catch for the day