Old Boat Ramp

Panoramic View of the Rocking Chair Hole

Water Conditions:  No Generation to one unit, up to one foot up........

Layout:  This area is wide and fairly shallow with gravel, bed rock and chunk rock bottom.  The Big Hole is at the top which narrows into a wide chute with chunk rocks making the water funnel a little fast through.  On the north side, the bank has trees overhanging but isn't very deep.  The deepest spot in at the top where a narrow channel is formed by water moving through, but it's only 4 to 5 feet deep.  There are pockets of water that will run 3 to 4 feet deep throughout the whole area down to the Stump Hole.
 

What to look for:   Rainbows and some small browns cruise all through this area.  They hold in the deeper pockets during bright days and look for food as it washes by.  Look for trout actively feeding on the surface or rooting in the moss and gravel bottom.

How to:   Fly Fishing.....Fish the upper end of this area the same way you would the stretch just above the Big Hole.....  Use medium to light tippet, 5x to 7x (4.5 to 2.5 pound), and long leader- 12 to 14 feet.  Size of tippet depends on light and water clarity.  Very light tippet is needed if there's no wind and the sun is bright.  Start at the top of the shallow area and work down.  Use #12 to #16 size emergers, red or black.  Cast at a 45 degree angle downstream and either strip fast and very short, stopping every 5 strips or let the fly swing in the current.  You will see the strike most of the time, depending  how high the fly stays in the current.  Lift the rod sharply but gently f using light tippet.  Drift beaded nymphs- squirrel tail, hares ear, pheasant tail, sow bugs from a 45 degree cast swinging downstream.   Strip very slowly if at all.  Hold when directly downstream for a few seconds.  Strikes will be generally hard so hold rod to absorb the hit.  Use an indicator and fish them 3 to 5 feet deep and drift them either on the flats or in the deeper channel.  Use a small indicator so as not to spook fish in such shallow water.  Strip woolies through this area in windy weather or rain.  Use 4x to 6x tippet and a long leader.  Good colors are gray, olive, brown and black in sizes #8's to #14.  Cast across to downstream- 45 degrees best and try all kinds of strips- fast, slow, long and short.
           Spin Fishing......  Use 2-pound line, green and small lures. Jigs in small sizes- 1/32 to 1/64 casted straight without a float and worked back medium.  Good colors are ginger, olive, brown, black, black/yellow, white, pink or gray.  Small, in-line spinners like Mepps and Panther Martins worked close to the surface in choppy water will draw a strike.  Also small crank baits worked irraticly close to the surface are good.
 

Best Conditions:  Low light and a slight to medium wind.

Worse Conditions:  Bright sun and no wind.
 
 

Copyright:  2003  Lilleys' Landing Resort, BIMS, Branson, Missouri
Phil Lilley, Jim Turner