|
|
||
|
Home |
|
North Fork
This
incredible river is perhaps the crown jewel trout stream of the Missouri
Ozarks and is nationally known as one of the finest wildly reproducing
rainbow rivers in the U.S. It is a great big Western-style trout river like
you'd expect to find in the Rockies or the mountains of Northern California. The river is also
rich with a variety of aquatic insects, including two notable species of
large stoneflies, making it a fantastic place for "old school"
Western fly fishermen. There
are really only a couple of downers about this river. First, you'll be
competing for water space with canoes through much of the summer. That's not
so bad, though, when you consider that the fish are fairly desensitized to
people due to the consistent presence of boats floating by. That actually
makes the approach to the fish easier and the cast shorter than it might be
otherwise. Second, much of the best fishing water will require a boat to
reach. But, of course, this is why these areas are so productive -- no
whining is permitted on this issue please. Unlike
the majority of Missouri trout streams, the North Fork is also a fantastic
dry fly river, with a variety of notable hatches occurring throughout the
season. Here's the breakdown. Darker colored caddis imitations work best in
the Spring and Fall, with lighter colors working best in the Summer. Starting
in late Spring and stretching through much of the summer, you'll see tan
mayflies (#12-#14 is about the right size) and big black stoneflies (#6 works
well) come up. And, finally, you'll see some good Trico hatches in late
summer and into the fall. That's not so difficult, is it? If you are nymph
fisherman, it is much simpler: focus on the larger patterns in sizes 6
through 12 and you'll do fine. Black Wooleys and Rubber Legs are popular for
imitating stoneflies, but an actual fly tied to imitate will really knock em'
dead.
Bennett Stonefly, by Ed Bennett of Hot Sulphur Springs,
Colorado.
The Blue Ribbon Area Daily Limit of 1 trout at least 18" long, artificial lures
and flies only, soft plastic lures specifically forbidden. Don't take our word for it. Click here to read the code for yourself. This
section of river has drawn fishermen from across the country, due to its
notoriety as one of the best wildly reproducing rainbow trout waters in the
country. The area begins at the upper outlet of Rainbow Springs (AKA Double
Spring), although decent trout fishing can be had further upstream at North
Fork Spring, as well. Rainbow Springs is a very large spring, discharging
nearly 140 million gallons of water per day even in the driest part of the
summer. The Blue Ribbon Area extends downstream for
approximately 7 miles to Patrick Bridge. There
are several access points to this portion of the river. You can reach North
Fork Spring via dirt roads, and you can reach Rainbow Springs via County Road
372. Be forewarned, however, that the spring branch is privately owned and
jealously guarded. There is also access at Kelly Ford via County Road 368
upstream of McKee Bridge (private property). Beyond this point, you can find
a few spots here and there via dirt roads, but the next easily accessible
point is Blair Bridge at Highway KK. This 4-1/2 mile stretch between Kelly
Ford and Blair Bridge is among the finest water you'll ever fish, and this is
a highly recommended float for those looking to get into some trout.
A
favorite fishing stop is the stretch of water below "The Falls".
The word "Falls" is a bit grandiose. Those of you who have floated
some serious waters will consider it a simple chute and not at all hazardous --
unless of course you try to shoot it sideways or simply miss it all together.
If you've never done it before and don't have anyone to lead you through, you
might want to park and scout before attempting it, as it can be difficult to
see from the upstream end. At any rate, this stretch of water has a lot of
character and produces a lot of trout to nymph fishers.
The Red Ribbon Area Daily Limit of 2 trout at least 15" long, only one of which may
be a brown trout. No bait restrictions.
Don't take our word for it. Click here to read the code for yourself. Now,
while the upper end of the river has its devotees, the lower end is also
popular, however, its attraction is quite different. While the upstream
portion of the river is famous for its prolific wild rainbow trout
population, the downstream end is home to great big brown trout. This area
starts at Patrick Bridge and stretches about 6 miles downstream to
Norfork Lake. There is easy access at Patrick Bridge and Blair Bridge, both with
access areas owned by the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Now,
while fish are routinely caught all the way down to the lake, the best trout
water extends from Patrick Bridge just a short distance past Althea
Spring, a grand total of about 3 miles. In fact, one might be so bold as to
say you can skip the rest of the river during the warmer months of the year,
unless you are planning to float it anyway. The area just below Dawt Mill has
also been known to produce some decent fishing, as the fish are relatively trapped
below the dam. So, you might want to put forth a little effort in that area, if you
find yourself there. The
Missouri Department of Conservation has decided to permit all baits in this
area, even though it is being managed for trophy-sized brown trout. This
tactic has drawn its share of criticism. There are those who assert that
bait-caught fish suffer a much higher mortality rate, therefore bait and soft
plastics should be restricted. The
MDC simply believes that the regulations offer plenty of protection to the
brown trout, and this apparently is an accurate statement. Not only is the
fishing outstanding, but also when you think about it, which trout are caught
using Powerbait or corn or salmon eggs? They are generally recently stocked
rainbow trout. And, for some reason, brown trout stocked here begin acting
wild much more quickly than their rainbow cousins. So, it stands to reason
that the typical "sit-and-wait" bait fisherman will tend to
struggle here. The most
productive baits used in this area include larger nymphs, streamers, in-line
spinners, little crankbaits, and little spoons. When there is a good hatch
going on, dry flies can also work well, but trophy hunters have long
suspected that you won't catch a great big brownie on a little bug. They tend
to focus their efforts on catching larger fish on larger baits. The more
successful bait fishermen have learned this lesson as well. In fact, in the
summer time, you'll often find locals using large tail-hooked crawfish in
deep pools with good success. |
