Well since the season on the Blue River opened up has anyone been down that way? if so what was the water level and did you do any good?
Also anyone been below Tenkiller in the last week or so? I think I’m going to visit the folks this weekend and well it’s not that far might have to make a day trip out of it. Fishing good or bad it beats doing nothing right! I would thank any report you can offer, thanks!
Kirk
Did you just fish below the dam or did you venture further downstream? I was wondering about the new area that used to be the pay area. Are you gonna let out what they were hitting? I’ve been tying up flies the last few days and well a hint might not hurt my feelings too bad 
Later,
Kirk
Well, the wife and I got a late start so didn’t get to the Blue until 9:30am last Friday and did some exploring up river from the crossing without luck. Did see some action in area 6 (I think that was were I was) on spinning gear. Back to the crossing at 11am and the prime spots were taken so we went down river and worked our way back. Didn’t have any luck until we got back to the island and the other fellows had vacated. Caught some on a size 12 olive and peacock colored bugger (yes with a bead head).
I switched to a size 18 BH GRHE swung 4 feet below a strike indicator with a number 4 shot about 10 inches up from the fly. Worked well for me today but
seemed to work best when the current and wind allowed for some drift. When the wind died down and the fly just sat I had very few takers. Started using short 1 inch strips to impart some motion and had a lot more takers. In all I landed 17 to 18 fish, had 6 long distance releases (size 18 barbless and slack line usually did the trick), and a considerable number of missed strikes. Probably the biggest fish was a little over 12" and the smallest
right at 9". Not sure how many the wife landed but I did see at least 4 or 5 all on buggers. One fella upstream was killing them, he probably caught 3 to
every one I caught. He got out before I could do some recon and ask what he was using. He was fishing between the crossing and the island probably 50
yards upstream from the island and I did see a strike indicator.
Dan 
Okfly and Dan thanks! it’s hard to beat the ol’ olive bugger on the Blue, that area before the island and the small creek area have always been good producers.
A 20-30 minute walk in huh, maybe I might find some quiet time hoping the others down there are lazy well working on some other color variations on the bugger pattern, I know it’s not matching the hatch and stuff like but hey I do like to catch fish. I’ll tie up some nymphs also and a couple of small streamers I’ve had good luck when nothing else would work. Folks thanks again for your replies and maybe I’ll see you on the river, look for the camo roll-up hat. Later,
Kirk
Ksmirk,
I haven’t fished the Lower Illinois lately, but I have done well there with zebra midges and pheasant tail nymphs in the past.
Steve
biot, yes the pheasant tails are a must to have down there, and don’t forget the hare’s ears. I’ve not tried the zebra pattern yet but hey why not I say. Have you tried the micro jigs yet? I’ve been going down there for many years but have just started fly fishing it for the last 5 or 6 years and you know I could not tell you where my spinning box for trout is at. Thanks for the replies fella’s! Later,
Kirk
Well fella’s for the first time out this year or fall I must say it was a pretty good start, the dam was well 1 fish and a small one at that so after an hour of fighting the wind and fixing wind knots it was off down the road.
I went to what I call 5 mile and started catching fish left and right! I had never caught a brown and some how I have yet to figure out caught an 18" on the third cast along a log! I was pretty stoked after that until the next fish broke me off when he got into the logs I’m sure it was at least a 24" fish :lol: but several more in the 10"-12" and they just quit.
I went to another place I used to go several years ago and have not been there in some time, it didn’t look to good but the first 4 cast I brought in fish and after that I’d say a fish every 3 or 4 cast and I never saw a soul the couple hours I was there, after about 30 minutes of this it got a bit harder to hook up but it was enough to keep me interested.
I didn’t make it to the new area or to the fish camp but I caught a mess of fish that are still in the river, I did notice that the water below the dam was a bit off color and had a slight smell to it? I think the lake may be turning or at least I hope that’s what it is. but all in all it was a good trip caught a load of fish a great or at least for me a big fish and got to go to the Burger Barn for a hamburger, fires, and one of there great chocolate shakes. I think I might try the Blue river this Sunday but we’ll see if I can get some more flies tied up. Later folks,
Kirk
Well I’m a bit slow to post this but I made a trip to the Blue River Sunday and while it was a great day of fishing the catching part was sub par, I picked up 2 small trout in the first 30 minutes I was there and nothing after that. I drove up and fished the area below Hwy 7 bridge since it’s been a long time since I’ve been down there and I have to admit it will be a long time before I go back, it is grown up something awful! I belive I am going to try my luck again on the lower Illinois this Saturday so if you see a guy that does not look like he should be flyfishing with a camo roll-up hat say hi. Later,
Kirk