Hey guys,

So I am very new to this whole fly fishing thing, in fact I have only caught 3 or 4 small sunfish on the San Marcos river down the steet from my house... but I am already addicted (all it took was one).

I am already planning a fly fishing trip for my fiance and I. I want to fish a small trout stream. I only live 30 minutes from the Guadalupe, but I want to make a trip out of it, so I was thinking about going up to the Lower Mountain Fork River at Beavers Bend Park in OK.

Any of you guys been up there and if so what were yalls experiences? I understand that it is pretty crowded on weekends (like any place I guess), but is that all year long or just during the summer? We are planning on going up there to canoe, hike, mountain bike, and of course fish. Would October be any less crowded?

Any advice on gear? Like I said I am super new to this so I know very very little about what to use in any situation especially this one, but it is worth the adventure in my opinion.

Thanks for yalls input!

Once school starts back up, the weekend crowds will be much more tolerable. You should be able to find campsites within the park grounds upon arrival. If you want to get a cabin - you'll need to make a reservation in advance.

Have fun, it's a great place to visit. Hard to believe it's 3 hours from Dallas. Yes - october would be less crowded and much more comfortable than it is now.

JR

October is a great fishing month over there. Standards for that river are midges, woolly buggers, and egg patterns. In October the trout will start spawning.

I fish a 5wt. Although you could fish lighter, to start we always throw prince nymphs, black midges in a 18-20, and egg patern attractor fly. Go in and talk to Sid at the park fly shop it's the only fly shop in the park, he can help you out just let him know what your trying to do and he can hook you up! Check the stocking schedule, I believe they just stocked. The sooner you can get up there the better, try fishing the first few holes below the stocking pipes! I'm going to try and make it up there Sunday-Monday!
Good Luck!

I woud hire fellow aggie flyfishing guide Robert Woodruff.

http://flyfishingfork.com/oklahoma.html

he guides up there and will be able to teach you the area and how to fish this water.

I fished a client of mine on the Lower Mountain Fork the first week of August and we had a fantastic time! Trout everywhere in Zone 1 and smallmouth like crazy near the powerhouse! Crowds weren't bad mid-week and once school starts back up, they won't be as bad on the weekend! Well worth heading up there and I hope you have a great trip!

I am thinking about going this weekend. I have never been. Is it fairly easy to just set a gps and get there and start fishing?

Mat - for a 1st timer, I would recommend stopping by one of the fly shops to get some help with the regs for the stream. You'll need an OK license. Sid's fly shop is in the middle of the park and he is very helpful.

A 2nd place you might want to look at, is the Little Missouri at Murfesboro, Ark. about 60-70 miles north-east of Texarkana, Tx.-Ark. Trout, smallmouths and the world famous diamond mine to go diamond hunting at.

If you do go up to Beaver's Bend, take chocolatelabs' advice. Rob is a great guide and is a true expert on the area and on fly fishing tactics generally. Worth every penny.

You may want to watch some of youtubes video of Carey Thorn or consider inquiring about some pointers http//:www.texasoklahomafishingguide.com.

+1 but I may be biased. You will learn quite a bit about bugs and catch some fish. Either way, a guide will shorten the learning curve immensely, and you can draw on the knowledge each time you go after that.