October 27, 2009 | FISHING REPORT - LITTLE RED RIVER
Update: Nov. 1st - Because of the protracted water releases forthcoming, the shop has adopted new working hours. Until the water recedes, we will close on Mondays starting tomorrow. The hours for Tuesday through Friday will be 9:00 to 4:00. Saturday, we will open from 8:00 to 5:00 and from 8:00 til noon on Sunday. Little Red Fishing Report: October 27, '09 The Greers Ferry lake level is still well into the flood pool which means continuing water  releases for several more weeks. As I prepare this report, the lake level is 469 feet above sea level. The preferred maximum is 461.44 feet asl. Operating both generators at 7,000 cubic feet of water per second for 24 hours, the lake can be lowered three tenths of one foot per day. This means at least four straight weeks of heavy releases to attain the target lake level and that's if we don't get any more rain! With the recent smaller releases, equal to the capacity of only one generator, fishing from a boat has been excellent.
In spite of all the high water, our drift fishing guide trips are producing good results. Fishing from a boat can be both productive and relaxing. Having a guide along to maintain safety and do all the work is a stellar idea. San Juan worms and jigs have attracted the most  trout. Your offering should be presented on the streambed by using enough split shot or sink putty to get it down all the way. Larger than average strike indicators will be required to float this heavy set-up. Indicators in the grape to ping pong ball size are recommended - pictured is the popular high water indicator called the Thingamabobber,available in the shop.
On this date last year, trout stocking on the Little Red River was suspended for the first time in history due to the low dissolved oxygen content in the lake water coming through the dam. The DO last year was a dismal 3.9 parts per million. The state minimum standard is 6.0 ppm. Today, the average temperature of the lake water coursing through the turbines is 55 degrees fahrenheit with an average DO content of 5.2 ppm.
Let's talk about the approaching brown trout spawn. There are certain combinations of flies that work uncommonly well during the spawning months of October, November and December. Fishing with two flies simultaneously is called a "combination rig", "a two fly rig", "fishing a dropper" or "fishing a trailer fly". Whatever you call it, you simply tie a length of tippet to the eyelet or bend of your fly hook and attach another fly below. In the early stages of the spawn, an egg pattern with a gold ribbed hare's ear dropper is highly effective. In mid-spawn, the best combination seems to be an egg pattern with a red a$$ soft hackle dropper.  In late spawn, an effective combination is an egg pattern with a San Juan worm dropper. This last one is often referred to as "snake and eggs". There should be about 18 inches between the two flies with split shot or sink putty in between. Sink putty is gaining in popularity with our customers because it can be shaped like a missile and hangs up less often in the moss and rocks than split shot. Pictured is the recommended lead-free soft weight from Loon Outdoors, available here.
Please bear in mind that fishing with a dropper rig at Cow Shoals during the spawn is taboo. Also at Cow Shoals during the spawn, there is no night fishing permitted, no barbs allowed, only a single hooking point allowed per angler and every fish caught must be released immediately. Fishing Cow Shoal during the spawn can be "combat casting" so please try to mind your manners and enjoy this incredible time of year.
Today is the 20th anniversary of the tragedy on the Winkley Bridge also known locally as the Swinging Bridge. On October 27th, 1989, a troop of boy scouts and about 20 members of a church field trip began swinging the bridge for fun. The cables that supported the bridge on one side snapped and all the children were thrown into the icy waters of the Little Red River. Tragically, five youngsters perished. More of the story on the fly shop blog here.
Aquatic insect hatches are continuing with midges and blue wings being the thickest. There are a few caddis and pmd mayflies coming off, as usual, during the most pleasant time of the day. I expect to see march brown mayflies joining the bug armada in the near future. The best dry flies to use include the adams (18), pale morning dun mayfly (16-18), bwo (18-20), midge (22-32 cream or black) or elk hair caddis (16-20 tan). Fishing below the surface? Try a sowbug (14-16 tan, uv tan, smokey olive or peacock), zebra midge (16-22 red, black or copper), red @ss soft hackle (14-18), San Juan worm (14 red, fl. cerise, hot pink or worm brown), egg pattern (14 roe, salmon, watermelon or bubble gum) or woolly bugger (8-12 olive, brown or black).
If you have questions about anything in this report, direct them to me at the Little Red Fly Shop of Heber Springs, Arkansas. My numbers are #888-442-4022 toll free or #501-887-9988. You can send an e-mail to me the "Contact" page on our website. I'm Little Red Jed Hollan, mgr. <*((((><
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