"Introducing the "New Lower Mountain Fork River Rainbow Trout Local River Record" 7.10 pounds @ 25 1/4 inches
We started the day out fishing the 40 foot hole just downstream of the Evening Hole Bridge. I located the monster Rainbow Trout under a tree limb 38 feet down just off the bottom next to a huge boulder waiting in ambush. We used a 40 foot leader and had the indicator sitting at 38 foot just off the bottom. We were using a Near Deer with a lot of flash and a extra long marabou tail. 38 foot of leader line seems a little bit out in left field, but we had to do what we had to do to get that down to that fish. We thought about sending down a streamer, but I wanted a challenge. My client side casted underneath the tree hanging 2 feet over the water. as the fly drifted past the boulder, the trout moved on us. But the fish came back from six-foot away and smashed the Near Deer like no other strike I have ever seen. Absolutely hammered it! The fish took us up stream and under the Evening Hole Bridge with my client in tow. As we got close to the top of the Evening Hole, a Great Blue Heron was sitting there below the rapid stabbing fish to eat. The monster trout saw it and instantly turned away and shot back down the Evening Hole half way down. The huge fish then jumped 4 times like a tarpon shaking it's head vigorously trying to get the hook out. I always fish barbless so even though we were in a Blue Zone, and it swim to the Red Zone we were safe. Otherwise we would have had to break the fish off as it entered the Red Zone. Then, out of nowhere a Bald Eagle swooped down, and grabs our fish and takes off straight up in the air. In amazement, I told my client give it line give it line. The Eagle ended up actually following the river staying clear of all the trees as it took its prize to its eating table. It was like flying a kite. It flew all the way just passed white pipe above the Cold Hole with my client trailing behind looking straight up in the air fighting the Eagle for his prize back. The Eagle saw all the power lines above the White Pipe ( actually it green) and released the fish, and it actually fell back into the river thank goodness. The fish revived very quickly due to all the turbulent water area with a high oxygen level reviving the fish almost immediately. Then after 20 seconds, the fish went down the waterfall and actually went underneath the bridge above Cold Hole. My client jumped in the water, swam underneath the bridge with his fly rod while the fish actually helped him go under the bridge by pulling him out of the hole. The fish got wrapped around a bunch of bait chunkers throwing umbrella rigged salmon eggs, on Alabama Rigs. We had to cut a couple lines and get untangled while the fish was jumping furiously. After we got the fish untangled the fish swim all the way down to the Elbow and made another majestic jump. It jumped straight up in the air about 5 foot and over a branch and got us tangled. After about five minutes of untangling not mess we got it off. Thankfully, the tree was covered with moss and no abrasions happened. The line was not frayed one bit. The fish got another burst of energy and started to haul rear end towards the Evening Hole from the Elbow, passing the Bluffs. We actually had to take off our boots to sprint down the river with it. Thank goodness there is not a lot of glass or I would have cut my waders up bad! It got about halfway down the Evening Hole and at the corner of my eye, I see a River Otter shoot out from under a boulder and started chasing the fish wildly all around the pool in the upper Evening Hole. This went on for about five minutes, then out of nowhere I see a blur come from above and smash the water surface. Two seconds later I see the Bald Eagle that was trying to get our fish, take off with the River Otter and up and over the mountain, it took the otter. My client made a sound of relief when he saw the otter get taken out as we thought the fish was dead on that chase. He played with the fish for another five or 10 minutes and then out of the woods comes Mr. Near Deer, the infamous button buck. I had my client wedge his fly rod in a tree so the fish would not pull his rod in the water and we walked up to Mr. Near Deere to say hi, and took a couple pictures, and then went back and resumed the fight of a lifetime.
After a couple more majestic jumps the fish finally came to the net. We immediately put the fish on the Bogo Grips and certified it at 7.10 pounds. We took a couple pictures and released the magnificent "New Local River Rainbow Trout Record" back in the drink for someone else to experience. As we were walking down the trail, we looked back and saw a bear jump in the water and came out with our record fish. I had time and snapped a pic zoomed in, then it walked into the woods to enjoy this meal, sadly.
All the stories you guys are hearing at the Lower Mt. Fork River is void of fish is not true. Well, its kinda true. There are still fish left in the river. You just have to know where to look. Yes, however, most of the park has been fished out with mainly 10 inch and smaller trout lurking around, with a few Wild Stocker Sea Run Hold Overs left here and there spread out -immensely.
The Real Report: Its been Epic
I have a spot now that I've been fishing for the last two months. It apparently was stocked with quite a few fish, obviously. These are all Crystal River's fish as they are all colorful not silver. And, there are 100's of them in this spot. If you're new to fishing and don't know how to fly fish I would expect you to catch at least 20 trout. If you're mediocre and just want to learn the river I'd expect you to catch around 30 to 50. If you consider yourself an expert and you can set the hook on almost every bite, then you will expect to catch at least 100 or more. Just a few days ago, one of my clients landed 83 rainbow trout. Nothing, was smaller than 14 inches and nothing bigger than 23 inches. We are catching 2-4 Brown Trout on average per trip as well. The browns are 13-18 inches. We see a monster 25+ inch Brown swim by on occasion, but it never lays up, He just chases the other fish all over the place. For the last two months and throughout the spawn, on my end eggs were not working very well. Near Deer's, and RS2's in Olive and Grey size #22 to use in all of the gray size 22, we have been Wacking them Dead. In the park I suggest, till the next stocking, fish with BWO's and RS2's, which are a emerging Blue Wingged Olive. Most of the fish left are to small to attack a Near Deer, but there are a few big fish left, id say under 50 in the upper spillway to EH. I am not going to post pics of the fish we are catching at Secret Spot P-32, due to it will give away my location, and I don't want the spot to be over run with peeps. I will post the pics at the end of February, when I stop taking trips, due to the hoards of peeps during Spring Break. Plus Ill be full time Striper Guiding Texoma again.
On that note: I put my Jr Angler on the New Jr. Lake Texoma Record Flat Head Catfish:
The fish was in 26 ft of water hugging an old bridge column that was about 5 ft tall. I Side Scanned it with my Humminbird 899 si. as I scanned it, I saw it was loaded with striper hugging it. And, We could see a huge fish hugging the bottom of the column. I pointed it out to my group and stated, "look at that fish! its huge! its got to be a big catfish!" -We set up and I spot locked with the ipilot trolling motor and we landed 20 or so striper from 8-15 lbs. My Jr. Angler landed his personal best Striper and it was actually the biggest fish he has ever landed. Ten mins later, he yells, "Capt. Carey, I got something big!" The fish was hugging the bottom the whole time and actually at one point, the catfish sat on the bottom, We could pull it up off the bottom 2 ft, but it would immediately settle back to the bottom. After 35 mins of my Jr. Angler pulling on the beast, it finally came up. The huge fish ripped the net as we were lifting it in the boat, and I reached for it, and grabbed it by the mouth and pulled it in the boat! Awesome fish!
Jr Anglers Personal Best Striper:
Those are just a few fish from my many many adventures working with StriperExpress.com
Starting in May all the way till October, Fly Fishing for Striper is incredible. A bit before October came and went, we were having a blast catching 15-25 inch striper from 2 lbs to 15 lbs on the fly rod. Its a two person sport per boat trip. More than 2 people makes it a bit dangerous. Mainly for me!
To give you an example of what we are throwing for the top water striper while fly fishing, that's an H2O top water next to my popper I tie up for the stripers
Average brown we are landing right now on a daily basis below:
Beautiful Wild Sea Run Holdover Stocker below:
When I go up there I usually ignore the red zone altogether. but, I will mosey on through and power fish, by targeting only big fish visibly. Too many people fishing and the fish are getting hammered -and there's not that many left there to keep me interested. Yes, there are a few big fish left in the river but not many and not worth my time fighting the crowds. The hole I'm fishing, has tons of fish left & zero pressure. The only peeps you will find in this spot are previous clients of mine. Solitary at its best. I found this spot while chasing smallmouth in between trips. I have never seen this many trout in this spot before. I have never seen them stock this part of the river. Between 10 am and 12:30 pm, you can see almost every fish sitting in front of you as the sun passes. Truly amazing. After 3 hours of that, most clients are spent and give up after they have had enough action. Plus your standing in the cold water the whole time so your feet eventually go numb. You don't feel the coldness cause your adrenalin is so high catching fish, but on the walk back, your really feel how cold you got.
All my weekend's are booked solid till June with Striper Trips. I have a few spots open only during the week to hit the trout at the LMF. If you would like to go during the week to whack some fish, contact me for open dates. Texting me is the best way to get an answer fastest.
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As for all the lettering in blue. That has as much truth as the previous said "Local Rainbow Trout Record". NO WHERE, but the dudes website states there is a "Local River Record" for the LMF. Lots of us have caught 7-8 lb trout out of the LMF. Especially last year when they stocked 400 Breeder Trout. Thanks to the Lower Mt Fork Federation for that. It was a great surprise. The state of Oklahoma has a new program "Lake Records" and the rules are as follows:
1. Fish MUST be caught on rod and line and MUST be hooked and played by only one person. (Except for unrestricted division).
2. Fish MUST be caught in accordance with Oklahoma Fishing Regulations.
3. No fish caught from any hatchery or commercial put-and-take lake is eligible. ( That is in plain English and to the point )
4. Accredited or certified weight scales MUST be used to weigh the fish. Accredited steel measuring tapes MUST be used to measure the fish. The fish should be measured over the side from tip of nose to tip of tail (tail lobes pressed together) giving length of fish in inches. Measure the girth of the fish in inches around its widest point. Three witnesses, one of which must be an employee of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife, must witness the weighing and measuring of the fish and sign the affidavit. (The state of Oklahoma, per the lady in charge of the record program, stated that there is not an Accredited Scale at the location the fish was weighed)5. The fish MUST be preserved in a live-weight condition until approved by an Oklahoma Wildlife Fisheries biologist or technician, and an official letter of verification from the Director of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has been received by the angler.
6. A clear photograph showing a close-up side view of the fish MUST accompany the completed fish affidavit form. All photographs become the property of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
7. The Department reserves the right to collect fish scale, tissue or spine samples to check fish identification and to refuse any questionable fish affidavit submitted. The affidavit must be submitted within 30 days of the date the fish is caught.
In addition to rod and line records, an Unrestricted Division includes the heaviest of those species taken by other legal means (bow and arrow, gig, spear, trotline, jugline, bank line, etc.) TYING or EXCEEDING the weight of existing rod and line records.
- There is no category for the Lower Mt Fork River. And, its not a lake. The program is for Lakes, not Rivers, not streams, not ponds, just lakes. As I stated above, I chatted with The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Lake Record Program Manager that is in charge of the whole thing. The lady I chatted with said, no records can be entered if they are from a river, and the fish are hatchery or commercial put-and-take fishery at the LMF. She was to the point and said absolutely not. I told her the story of the record fish and she checked out the webpage stating the record, while I was on the phone with her. Again, she said no way that's possible. So, please, if you catch a 7+ lb fish, don't take it up to the gas station to have it weighed thinking you have the new record. The lady said, after the fish was weighed at the gas station, the whole process stopped right there. It went no further than that. She said nice fish, yes, but not a record. She said, "Anyone can say anything they want on the internet". If you are still leery about this topic, call Main Office - Call (405) 521-3851 and ask for the Record Dept. for fishing records, and she will clear it up for you.
There is not a record for the Lower Mt Fork River, for the exception of the "State" Brown Trout Record.
I also read peeps complaining about the restrooms not being up to date and crumby. Your in the wilderness in the boondocks in Oklahoma! This is not Texas. No offence Okies. I will say this though, it is the only place in OK that I have used a park bathroom, so I don't know about other parks in OK. Just put toilet paper down on seat and you will be fine. There is a restaurant and a Information Center in the park that has nicer bathrooms. FYI
Soon, Crystal Rivers Hatcheries will resume stocking again. I hear next week possibly!
You can catch more of what I am doing as I hop species of fish on a monthly basis as the season change, on my Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/texasoklahomafishingguideAnd again, I only have weekdays here and there available. Book a trip through my website or Call or Text for availability to set up a guide trip to the Lower Mt. Fork River in Beavers Bend State Park located in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. All contact info below in links.
