Limited out on a cold morning on the Blue River... Icy rod guides, still fun! OPST Commando Head worked well in getting the fishing fly where I needed.
Had one take a Mop Fly but lost it when it threw the hook which then had me foul with a tree. Afterwards, caught them all on the Olive Near Deere.
"Now I have some questions on the Blue River in Oklahoma. I am a bit out of that loop.
2) I think the C-n-R is barbless? Kind of silly if you ask me, but my memory banks are full!
3) Are the stockings good in the C-n-R area? Still a mystery easter egg hunt?
"1) That parking on the E side of the Catch and Release (off 7) - is that just for parking, and there is still a hike up to the high point of the C-n-R?"
The parking on the East side off Hwy 7 is just for parking. It is designated as a walk-in area only and no camping.
Refer to Blue River Map below.
It is a 2+ mile hike to the Catch and Release area from the parking area on the East side of Hwy 7. For a shorter hike - about 1.3 miles, enter at the parking area furthest West of Hwy 7.
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| Parking Area Furthest West from Hwy 7 |
"2) I think the C-n-R is barbless? Kind of silly if you ask me, but my memory banks are full!"
The Catch and Release area is barbless. See excerpt below:
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| Retrieved from https://www.wildlifedepartment.com/fishing/regs/trout-area-information |
"3) Are the stockings good in the C-n-R area? Still a mystery Easter egg hunt?"
Changes each Season with larger trout noted in past stockings. For this Season, have been monitoring reports that indicate sizeable trout in the area. Picture below was posted 6 days ago.
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| 19" Rainbow Trout - Blue River C-n-R |
For more details, here are videos that may be of interest for anyone wanting to fish the Blue River Catch and Release Area:
First trip to the C-n-R, taking the "long route"...
Blue River's catch and release section was stocked recently. Gave it a try, ended up doing a lot of walking and scouting the river. First time fishing the C&R section. Trout are there, next round... plan to take a shorter path and do less walking and more fishing!
Was able to fish with the OPST Commando Head on the 9' 5wt. Does cast well in tight areas... roll casting and switch casting to where the fish were lurking was easily done!
Next trip to the C-n-R, taking the "shorter route"...
Headed back to Texas from Oklahoma City, decided to make one more stop at the Blue River Catch and Release area. Caught one, lost a number of others... still had a great time! Plus: Learned the parking area furthest west is best for accessing the C&R.
Detailed video of the C-n-R with key points noted in the video timeline:
Fished the Blue River in Oklahoma last Saturday - November 7. Plan was to fish the Hughes Crossing area for trout to make another catch and cook. Struck out though. That said, made the run North of HWY 7 and fished the Catch and Release Section. After a wrong turn or two, made it to the area and had a fun time catching, losing, and landing a trout or two.
Did see an armadillo on the walk back to the parking area, and stopped by the Fly Library to add a fishing fly or two to collection. Overall, a great time on the Blue River!
PS: Longer than normal video, have key points noted in the video for reference.
- Hughes Crossing: 1:06
- Walking In to the C&R: 2:09
- Fly Library Stop Inbound: 2:57
- Fishing the C&R: 4:49
- First Trout Caught: 6:52
- Fishing and Missing Trout: 10:49
- View of Retrieve Used: 17:20
- Walking Out of the C&R: 18:29
- Armadillo: 18:50
- Lesson Learned - Go Left not Right: 19:54
- FYI - Post Marker: 20:21
- FYI - Go Right not Left: 22:37
- Fly Library Stop Outbound: 21:26
How I Check My Hook is Barbless?:
Ever wonder if your hook is barbless when fishing an area that requires it? Try this fishing tip!
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| Retrieved from https://www.wildlifedepartment.com/fishing/regs/trout-area-information |
This round we discuss fishing opportunities at Denison Dam - tailrace to Lake Texoma, and the Nlue River Catch and Release area in Oklahoma.
Yours truly was unable to go fishing this weekend. But, not deterred, can always talk about fishing as well as watch fishing videos in preparation for our next fishing trip.
Do checkout the livestream, and do checkback... plan to use this format for providing timely updates to our Viewers!
#fishing #flyfishing #densiondam
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| See our Amazon Offerings! |
This round I decided to mix things up and forego the low water crossing. Instead, I walked the area north of the crossing and explored the area. Learned a few things and even limited out on Trout! Great times fishing a river!
PS: Here is the map referenced in the video of the Blue River.
Checkout these items from Bass Pro Shops!
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Decided to fish the Blue River Saturday on short notice. Plan was to go next weekend, but not sure how work and play will conflict in the next few weeks. Saw an opening for Saturday, so went for it.
Tied a number of fishing flies Friday night after work. Mainly tied Near Deere, Pat's Rubber Legs, and Mop Flies with plan to tie more GRHEN, Pheasant Tail Nymphs, and Muddler Minnows at a future date.
Was worried that the heavy rain on Friday into Saturday morning would make the river murky and fast flowing. Luckily, the river stayed clear and the current was not heavy... actually seemed slow.
Caught a number of trout releasing all but three. Lost a lot more as my mojo was off. No worries, was a great start tot eh 2022 - 2023 Trout Stocking Season.
PS: Shout out to Donavan and Okie Fly Gal... great seeing ya'll again. Hope to be back on the Blue sooner than later!
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| Try a Redington Classic Trout Fly Rod in 5wt, 9ft |
For several Winters the COAF Field Team focused on fishing local community lakes and ponds for Rainbow Trout. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department would publish its Winter Rainbow Trout Stocking Schedule the latter half of November each year. The Team reviewed the schedule and adjusted work/personal commitments to maximize their chances at fishing for the scrappy Trout.
These locations included Bethany Lakes in Allen, Towne Lake in McKinney, and the Commons Pond in Frisco. Of the three, Bethany Lakes typically received a stocking mid-December, and then stockings in Towne Lake and Commons Pond would follow the next year in mid/late February.
About four years ago, the Team decided to try fishing the Blue River in Oklahoma. They heard from others that the River was less than two hours away, was stocked weekly starting November through March the following year, and offered an excellent opportunity for larger Rainbow Trout compared to the little Stockers being released the Team's area.
The Team's first fishing trip to the Blue River was November 13, 2010. The Team caught Trout; moreover, they saw some Bruisers that went easily over five possibly ten pounds! As it turned out, a Trout Derby was in progress. In support of the Trout Derby, larger fish were included in the stocking.
Since then the Team has returned several times to fish the Blue River with good results each time. More important, when the Trout fishing bug strikes, they have discovered a day trip to the Blue makes for a good cure!
Hoped to catch one of the Bruiser trout that are stocked for the Trout Derby on the Blue River. Did not catch a Bruiser but still managed three that went 12″ – 14″ in size, making for a nice dinner!
After scouting the upriver from Hughes Crossing, went back to Hughes Crossing and fished just upriver of the low water crossing. Tried the same fishing fly and presentation as I did on an earlier trip.
Pattern this round…
Pat’s Near Deere on dead drift with a twitch now and then as well as a Stop and Go Retrieve. Same applied to a Pat’s Rubber Leg.
Fishing an Olive Near Deere and a Guadalupana, trout wanted a fast retrieve with rapid short pulls. While a Pink Near Deere was a no go!
Do check out the video!
Made it to the Blue River in Oklahoma today. River was stocked October 28 but was not able to fish the river till today.
Limited out with three trout per the new daily limits this season. No worries… was a fun time.
Pat’s Near Deere worked well, do check back for the full video of the trip. Till then, this YouTube Shorts shows the first trout of the season for yours truly!
YouTube Shorts video of yours truly showing how I work a Near Deere set four feet under a strike indicator.
Working at a slight angle upstream, I drift the Near Deere at the same speed to match the bubbles drifting downriver.
This video was taken on the Blue River several seasons ago near the “Island” downriver from Hughes Crossing. Was a fun trip, even limited out!
Just over two weeks away from Trout Stocking Season in Oklahoma! In two Fridays, there will be Rainbow Trout swimming in the Blue River.
While checking out past videos and blog posts, came across a video that recalled a fly tying session the night before I headed to the Blue several seasons ago.
Tied Near Deere in Olive and Orange, and then a pattern I called the PMC Emerger that can be fished wet or dry.
Check it out the YouTube Short Video below, and do give it a try on your next trip for Trout!
In preparation for the approaching Trout Stocking Season, put a video together about three Oklahoma rivers – two that offer year round trout fishing and one seasonal fishery.
Do check it out; we also included some key items to be aware of in the the Trout Area Regulations and General Trout Regulations posted by Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation online at https://www.eregulations.com/oklahoma/fishing/trout-area-information.
May be useful to first timers thinking about fishing this Season!
Good Luck and Good Fishing!
PS: Added a bonus tip at the end that my be for interest to some!
Fun time fishing the Blue River in Oklahoma. Made the run across the border from Texas to Oklahoma for a go at the trout in 2020. This trip is the first one for us in 2021 and it did not disappoint.
Much colder than last time with ice forming on rod guides in the morning. The bite was steady but strikes were extremely light… luckily, we had the right fishing fly – a Pat’s Rubber Leg variant tied by Zach Flatt and available at Scotty’s Blue River One Stop.
Fished an olive and a cream pattern with the olive being the preferred this trip. Key take away… fish it using a dead drift, use a small indicator like the Corq version, and set the hook at any hesitation in the drift.
Do check back for more videos, this one was a fun one to day… especially when a limit of trout was had!
