Lookout Hole

Water Conditions:  No Generation

Layout:  Gravel, sand, bed rock and ledge rock bottom.  Gravel on the north bank to the middle as well as the top end.  Sand around the island.  Bed rock in the channel and ledge rock up to the bluff bank with downed timber on the bank.  Depth runs from the shallow side on the north to ten feet in the channel.  At the bottom of the hole, there's a gravel bar that extends from the north bank at a 45 degree angle downstream from in front of the second white house on that north bank.

What to look for:  Trout will midge this area at times especially along the shallow bank.  Along the bluff bank, look for trout taking terrestrials in July through September, and forage fish all year.  The gravel holds midge larva, sow bugs and other aquatic life.  Midge hatches occur generally in the evenings here.  Look for rainbows taking emergers and drys along the shallow bank and on gravel bar in front of the second white house.  Rainbows will also take nymphs in the gravel areas and around sunken tree structure on the bottom in the channel.  Rainbows cruise this area at mid-depth looking for both nymphs on the bottom and emergers and drys on the surface.

How to:  Fly Fishing...... 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, near the island and work the middle and north, gravel side using #12 to #16 size emergers, red or black.  Cast at rising trout- or anywhere- and strip fast and very short, stopping every 5 strips.  You will see the strike most of the time.  If the fly is worked slower and drops deeper, the strike may be subtle.  Lift the rod sharply but gently if using light tippet.  Use beaded nymphs under a strike indicator... squirrel tail, hares ear, pheasant tail, sow bugs, from #10 to #16.  Ideally, fish in choppy water- where the surface is broken- just a riffle or white caps, anything is better than a glass surface.  Set the fly 4 to 5 feet deep.  After the cast, let the fly settle, but look for a strike as it does.  Wait a few seconds then twitch the float, moving the fly a bit.  A strike may be hard, taking the float all the way under or it may be subtle, just barely moving the float.  Set the hook hard and fast.  Helpful Hint:  Keep an eye on the slack in the line.  When setting the hook you need all the slack out or you won't get a good hook set.  Strip woolys and streamers 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.  Against the bluff bank is good for browns.  They tend to cruise this bank looking for small forage fish and bugs dropping out of the trees.  Look for a very aggressive strike.  Cast terrestrials along the bluff bank in the summer months.... hoppers, humpies, ants, elk hair caddis, cicadas and adams.
           Spin Fishing......  Use 2- or 4-pound, green line.  Throw jigs either with or without a strike indicator.  With a float, use 1/80th or 1/100th oz. jigs in ginger, olive, brown, black, black/yellow, white, pink or gray.  Why all the colors.... trout change their eating habits sometimes on an hourly basis.  You have to be prepared for anything.  Work the jig and float just like the strike indicator and fly-- look for choppy water or just fish the water that's there.  Use the same techniques and set the hook the same way.  When throwing a jig straight, use either a 1/32 or 1/16 oz. and the same colors.  Work the jig up and down like crappie fishing, letting the jig drop as long as possible.  Trout tend to strike the jig as it falls and you may or may not feel the strike.  That's what makes jig fishing a challenge-- a finesse style that takes a lot of touch.  Helpful Hint:  If the fish are striking short and you're missing a lot of hits, pinch off the marabou tail making it shorter.  Small, in-line spinners like Mepps, Rooster Tails and Panther Martins worked close to the surface in choppy water will draw a strike.  Spoons like Cleos, Buoyants and Super Dupers worked slowly or with a jerky action can be good.  Also small to medium sized  crank baits worked irratically close to the surface are good.

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

Worse Conditions:  Bright sun and no wind.
 
 
 

Copyright:  Dec. 1999  Lilleys' Landing Resort, LLE, Branson, Missouri
Phil Lilley, Jim Turner