STREAM CONDITIONS and UPDATES

You will find messages regarding stream conditions the most current at the top.

6-2-10     It is starting to warm up but the fishing conditions are still good.  After having the power generators off-line for maintenance, one is now back up and running putting colder water into Zones II and III.  The reports have been really good in Zone I and II.  Conditions in Zone III may be better now because of the cooler water, but it had warmed up once we started getting consistently warmer days.  The mornings are still in the mid-60's and very pleasant.  We've had little rain this spring keeping our water levels in good condition.  

Lost Creek has been a pleasant place to be in the afternoons since it's shady and both Lost Creek and the Evening Hole are fishing really well.

Crowds were heavy over Memorial Day, but not too heavy on the river.  BUT, crowds are very low during the week - a great time to be here!

Oklahoma  offers "Free Fishing" this weekend - June 5 & 6.  Check it out at  http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/freefishing.htm.  However, a trout permit IS still required.  No exceptions...adults ($10) AND youth ($5)!

The next stocking will be June 3.  

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4-27-10   We made it through the very long cold and wet winter and are enjoying beautiful weather and great fishing!  Lots of fish everywhere!

• Spillway Creek is fishing really well.  Foot bridges are still out.

• Lost Creek LOST CREEK IS READY!!!   The ODWC has worked many days and weeks to repair Lost Creek from the flooding in May 2009.  Fishermen have waited with great anticipation for this area to be finished.  We are happy to report that it has been stocked and ready for you.  It may take a while to get "great" because of the lack of vegetation and insects, but come try it the next time you're here.

• Evening Hole has cleared up now that the dredging has finished at Lost Creek.

• Power house generation has been off and on.  But at least we aren't seeing them on 24/7.  Zone II has been a little slow, but the caddis hatch has been tremendous, making Zone III fun.

The lake level is in good shape and we aren't expecting any flooding conditions like we experienced in 2009.

Winter 2010

2-10-10       Brrrr!   It's been a cold (wet) winter so far!  But this little corner of Oklahoma has escaped practically all of the extreme weather that the rest of the state has experienced.  That is also pretty typical, too.  If "Oklahoma" is having bad weather, you still might want to call us, because we very well may NOT be getting it here.

The fishin's been SOOOOOO good.  They are currently working on the Lost Creek repair.  We will let you know when it's completed.   Fishin' in the snow can  be fun.   We just don't get to see a lot of snow here, but when we do it is breathtaking.  Hope you can come soon!

Don't forget...March 13-23 should be busy for Spring Break...so plan your trip before or after to avoid some of the crowds.

 Fall 2009

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10-27-09  2:00 p.m.

THE POWER UNITS ARE RUNNING BUT THE TAINTER GATES ARE NOW CLOSED.

FISHING IS AGAIN POSSIBLE IN THE PARK.

10-27-09  9:00 a.m.

THE POWER UNITS ARE RUNNING AND TWO TAINTER GATES ARE OPEN AGAIN. 

WADING WILL BE VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE.  ALL ZONES WILL BE HIGH AND FAST.   ONCE THE RAIN STOPS AND THE LAKE LEVELS COME DOWN, THE GENERATORS WILL BE OFF-LINE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND ALL RELEASES WILL BE COMING THROUGH THE SPILLWAY TAINTER GATES. 

WE WILL UPDATE THIS PAGE ONCE THE GENERATORS ARE OFFLINE OR ANOTHER CHANGE SHOULD HAPPEN.  BUT FOR NOW, FLY FISHING THE MOUNTAIN FORK RIVER WILL BE DIFFICULT TO DO.

10-26-09  9:30 a.m.

No change.  Fishing is still possible in the park, but not Zones II or III.

10-24-09  4:30 p.m.

Currently, there is one unit running at the Power House making Zones II and III not fishable.  The tainter gates on the Spillway remain closed for now.  Fishing is still possible in the park.  No word on when those gates will open again, just be prepared if you are coming this way. 

This afternoon the word from ODWC is that the goal level for the lake is 599' and then they will take BOTH turbines offline simultaneously to do maintenance them. Once they do that we are at Mother Nature's mercy and hopefully it will remain relatively dry for the duration of the time the turbines are offline. The flow during that time will be the 900-1000cfs from Spillway. This means if we get significant rain during that time the overflow has to come out of Spillway, keep your fingers crossed and pray for dry weather!

The upside, in my opinion, is that this will probably make at least parts of Z2 and Z3 fishable during the repairs. Also it may shorten the time of the repairs by working on both of them at once as opposed one at a time. But, as many including I have said, be very careful with that waterflow as it is much more powerful than you might imagine.

Now, the stockings next Thursday are suspended. After that they will evaluate the possibility of taking the fish due for Z1 and stock Zones 2 and 3 during this. Even if the stockings are suspended entirely during the repairs the fish will be on "hold" so that when stockings begin again they would begin adding the held fish into future stockings. So the lower end of the river may get some additional fish or in the not too distant future we would get LOTS of fish.

That is the word as of this afternoon (Monday, Oct. 19), I hope it works out for the best and we can all get back to fishing and enjoying the LMF soon.
 

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Spring and Summer 2009

Update July 9, 2009...

Summer fishing is really fun right now!!!  Sure, it's hot...but you'll find the water refreshing when you just forget the waders and wear shorts and your felt-soled wading shoes.  Our customers are having a blast right now!   The fish are biting on just about anything from midges to wooly buggers.  Stop by the store to get more specifics.  The May flooding did some damage, but repairs have been made to most of it....and the rest will be repaired shortly.  Don't let that keep you from coming.  You'll be missing out!

But before...

5-14-09  After heavy rainfall in April and into May, Broken Bow Lake came within inches of going over the top of the spillway.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had held water in the lake to relieve saturated areas to the south, but now was forced to open the spillway tainter gates which would directly effect the trout stream.

The trout stream was virtually shut down accept for fishing off the bridges in high water.

  The gates remained open until 5-29 and then we were left with the aftermath!

The upper and lower foot bridges were lost as well as the low water bridge for Spillway Creek and the Cold Hole.

      but now it looks like this...  

Lost Creek took a hit!  It was filled in with gravel and sediment,  

 but the plans are to have it repaired and maybe even better by the end of October...keep watching for updates!

The upper part of the Evening Hole was damaged, too,  

but has already been repaired and looks great!

This was previously the plunge pool at the end of Lost Creek

So, all in all, we went through some "down" time on the trout stream but it is back to where we are encouraging our customers to come and enjoy it.