Fly fishing for trout on the Blue River

As I wound my way through twisted oak trees and rock formations down the trail, I could hear it in the distance, sounding a bit like rain—the siren song of the river. I reveled in the sensation of the warm sun on my face as I approached one of my favorite spots, watching the mist lift into the air as water crashed over the moss-covered rocks creating a series of waterfalls. There was not a fisherman in sight, but since it was late on a Friday afternoon, I suspected the easy access area right by the river had been hit hard over the course of the day.

Since I was wearing waders, I set my sights on an island in the middle of the river that was out of reach of the shore-bound fishermen. I carefully walked from rock to riverbed at the top of the falls, wading staff in hand in case of a slip. It almost felt like I was back in Colorado with the sights and scent of the river heavy in the air. I had rigged my flyrod with a red mop fly that I tied earlier in the day, and set my sights on the slow, deep water just past the turbulence created by the falls, suspecting that there would be trout out there waiting for a meal to drift by.

My first cast fell a bit short and did not produce any strikes, so I aimed my second cast further out into the river, enjoying the sensations of lifting the line back then shooting it forward 40 feet. It landed lightly on the water, and 3 seconds later my strike indicator shot below the surface.

I’d either snagged a rock in the current or I had a trout on. I raised my rod to set the hook, and immediately had my answer as the trout frantically swam out into the current and my 9-foot rod doubled over. I let the slack line slip out between my fingers so I could engage the drag on my fly reel, trying to keep leverage on the big rainbow. It shot out of the water like a missile, but I kept the pressure on and it was unable to throw the hook despite its acrobatic display. Slowly, carefully, I began to work the fish toward me, mindful to let it run and pull out more line when necessary, so as not to break the delicate tippet. It finally tired out, and I lifted my rod and floated it into my net. Such is the challenge and fun of fly fishing for trout!

The wilderness trout area of the Blue River is one of the best kept secrets in southern Oklahoma. 6.25 miles of river access which consists of beautiful woods, huge rock formations, winding trails, gorgeous waterfalls, challenging rapids, and long holes of water that at times look more like something in Colorado or Wyoming than Oklahoma. Stocked weekly from November-March with 60,000 rainbow trout per season, it is the only fishery in Oklahoma to come out of the Arbuckle Aquifer. For the fly fisherman, it offers the closest you will get to fishing for wild trout in our part of the world.

I learned to fly fish with my Dad during my childhood with an inexpensive fiberglass fly rod that probably came from K-mart. We primarily fished Chuckwa Creek around Carl Albert Park many years before there was even a park. No fancy waders for us, just cut off shorts and tennis shoes, battling water moccasins, snapping turtles, and other critters while pursuing small mouth bass and goggle eyes. Those experiences remain to this day as some of my fondest memories with my father. Fly fishing for me verses spin casting or bait fishing (both of which are a legal means to catch trout in the Blue), is a lot like bow hunting compared to rifle hunting. It’s harder to master, and you really must get into the trout’s world to become good at it. It’s more of a challenge, which is what initially attracted me to it after several years of using ultralight spinning gear which is also a lot of fun!

The Blue River can be fished from the bank, but if you’re serious about fly fishing I’d recommend waders, as it provides an opportunity to get out into the river and access areas that are prime spots for trout that shore anglers just can’t reach. Over the last couple of years I’ve taken several novice fly fishermen to the Blue who had tried to catch trout in the past without success. The old saying, “keep it simple” works best for the novice. There are plenty of more complicated techniques such as Euro-nymphing that can be more productive in the hands of an experienced fly fisher, but require a skill level and “feel” that would make it a frustrating way to start for the novice.

A plain mop fly, literally made from fibers off a mop or a car wash glove can be a great way to start. They can be suspended 3-4 feet below a strike indicator, which looks like a very small cork. When you see the indicator jerk or go under, lift the rod immediately as you will usually have a trout on the line. Good areas to fish are along the falls, or at the end of long holes. Trout like to “stack up” in these locations, and if you catch one keep fishing as there’s sure to me more in the same area.

Drifting your fly by a boulder in the middle of the river can also be deadly, as trout like to wait behind it out of the current and ambush food sources that drift by. Don’t be afraid to change the depth of the fly or the color. Sometimes minor changes like that can be the difference between putting trout in the creel or leaving empty handed! Flies such as wooly boogers, bead head nymphs, egg patterns and jigs can also be deadly using this approach. Every person I’ve taken to the Blue has caught fish using this technique, which was taught to me by an old timer I’d seen walking across the parking area one day several years ago with a trout on a stringer that looked two feet long!

Many fly fishers practice catch and release, but if you’d like some for the frying pan just remember the limit is 3 per day, and you must have your name and fishing license information attached to your stringer or creel. Speaking of catch and release, there’s a special section of river along State Highway 7 that’s been set up specifically for that.

It’s usually stocked with larger fish, and barbless hooks are a requirement. It’s a bit of a hike in there, but you can speed up the time on a bike if you are so inclined, and fish the other parts of the river on the way back in. That’s usually what I do, and it’s well worth it especially if you plan to fish until dark.

I’d recommend it as like most game fish, the trout become active the last 30 minutes of the day when various insect hatches take flight, especially right around the falls. Sometimes I’ll switch to a dry fly for some topwater action when I see fish rising. You will usually have the river to yourself during this time and can get out of there quickly with a bicycle and a good headlight. Many times, I discover my truck is the last vehicle left in the parking lot.

If you are new to the sport, I’d recommend contacting another fly fisher via the Facebook group “Blue River Fly Fishers.” This is an enthusiastic bunch, many of whom are willing to meet up with a novice to show them the ropes and rapids. You can also drop by Scottie’s One Stop store which can advise you on what flies to try and sell you an assortment of the hot patterns, many of which are tied by anglers who fish the Blue.

They also have a great assortment of spinners and baits for the non-fly fisherman, and one of the best burgers you’ll ever eat! (For further information about locations and regulations, see the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife website at: www.wildlifedepartment. com/fishing/ wheretofish/southeast/blueriver- pfha)