I always check the fly line to leader connection every time I string up a rod. It’s critical. New welded fly line loops become old quickly and leaders cut into them. I am quick to replace them if there is any sign of wear. The loop-to-loop connection makes it easy for changing leaders, and more importantly provides a transition to the butt section of the leader. Use a material that is similar to the fly line in thickness and flexibility to get it right.
It took all of 5-10 minutes to see what it contained. Anyone already familiar with the Corps’ Water Resource pages will recognize the info provided. Here’s a run down of the app menu items.
Releases – This contains table formatted data for all the Little Rock District lakes. The table gives lake elevation, tailwater stage, turbine release in cubic feet per second (cfs), and generation in megawatts. The latest entry is pretty much realtime (about an hour or two delay), and you can view past data back about 36 hours.
Lake Forecast – This is the Little Rock District lake pools forecast. It forecasts three days out and also tells when a lake crested and when its flood storage is forecast to be empty when applicable.
MKARNS – This is table data for the locks and dams on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. It includes pool elevations and release info for below the dams.
MKARNS Forecast – Find the forecast page for the locks and dams on the navigation system here.
Ark River Basin – Stage readings for sites on the river in table format.
Black River Basin – Stage readings for sites on the river in table format.
Little River Basin – Stage readings for sites on the river in table format.
White River Basin – Stage readings for sites on the river in table format.
Real Time – This is the current conditions page for Corps lakes, White River, and MKARNS sites—again in table format.
White River Forecast – Longrange forecast for the White River Entrance Channel to the MKARNS is here.
SWPA Forecasts – There is a convenient link to the Southwestern Power Administration generation forecast pages.
USGS – Likewise, a handy link to the USGS water resources streamflow pages by station is here.
At the bottom of the menu are links to contacting the Little Rock District, news releases, and district Facebook and Twitter page links.
The app is handy, but noticeably absent are links to the graphic realtime data pages. Also, there are no phone numbers for current status generation or the SWPA generation forecast number. It would be nice to have those on the contact menu. Those links and all of the above have been on my river report page since they were first introduced and will continue to be available there as well as on the Corps district website. You might prefer one layout over the other, especially if you are only interested in White River tailwater data.
Early March held some cold days on the White River this winter. I had a two day trip with two return clients. One of them had a new video camera along and took some footage through the first day. We had fair fishing that day, but it started out warmer and turned colder by noon. Both anglers caught a nice brown, several good rainbows, and we even had some doubles. They were kind to send me the raw footage to play with, and I came up with this little video showcasing some winter solitude on an otherwise busy stretch of tailwater. Enjoy!
The nail knot connects the leader onto the fly line. A nail knot tool makes quick work of the knot, provided you understand how it works and have practiced with it. Here’s a short video that teaches how to use a nail knot tool to tie the nail knot.
Every time I do a fly-tying tutorial or demonstration using the hand whip finish, someone watching wants to know how they can learn it. Here you go.
I learned this from Gary Borger’s video “Tying Trout Flies’ many years ago. It is also described in Eric Leiser’s, “The Complete Book of Fly Tying.” Both are great resources, especially for beginning tiers.
Here’s another fly-tying tutorial. This one shows a variety of techniques, materials and tools used in tying some easy trout flies.
I have to give credit to Tim Homesley at Roaring River for showing me the Burlap Caddis many years ago. It’s a fun pattern to tie and fish, and I continue to come back to it from time to time.
Hopefully, there’s something everyone can take away from watching the video.
The ClustrMaps log for my blog is showing visits from 48 states and DC. It included Alaska. What are the hold-out states? Hawaii and Rhode Island. Please contact your friends there and have them visit the blog! I’m joking!!!
Thanks for all of you who have visited and keep coming back. I appreciate all the comments I’ve received on the website over the years. I have the best web audience there is!
I had fun putting together this tying tutorial. The woolly bugger is certainly a go-to pattern for many anglers. It’s also often one of the first flies a beginner ties, being one of the easier fly patterns to learn. After looking at a few tutorials out there, I decided to make mine on a simpler scale, minimize distractions, and focus on good technique.
Many years ago, I was fortunate to take a tying class with Cathy and Barry Beck. Barry was friends with Russell Blessing, who developed the woolly bugger. It is primarily due to Barry that the fly has gained such popularity. He promoted the fly, sold it in their fly shop, and wrote about it. The Becks’ class was very useful in getting some tying hints on the pattern from someone who is close to its origin. One thing I’ve always remembered from Barry’s talk is that most tiers do not make the tail long enough. It should be at least one-and-a-quarter times the shank length.
I just posted the 2012 Photo Gallery. I usually try to post photos every three or four months throughout the year, but I found it hard to get around to doing so this year. Anyway, they provide a good visual record of the main events of the year and some candid shots of many clients who come to fish.
This spring will be the start of my eighteenth year as a fly-fishing, catch and release, driftboat guide on the White. I feel very blessed to have had that kind of run so far and know it is because I have the greatest clients in the world. Thanks for your business, your trust, and your friendship! May you have an awesome year of fishing in 2013.
I always enjoy putting together the end of the year review and electronic holiday greeting card. The Ozark Fly Flinger 2012 Holiday Card is now officially out.
Many thanks go out to my clients and website readers. You all are great.
The Branyan family wishes you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
