Made the trip down to the lower Mountain Fork River in the Ouachita
Mts. in SE Oklahoma yesterday. Given my past fishing experiences in
OK, I went ready to hate it. Man, was I wrong and I learned some
things: Get Some Wading Cleats, Always carry a net, Always carry a
camera, and Big Fish like Big Files.

Got there late - it's a long drive. Went by the Fly Shop at Beaver's
Bend - they said there were a lot of small browns up close to the dam,
and that I should be able to catch a few and enjoy the scenery along
"Spillway Creek".

Started up closer to the dam, and it reminded me of a "trout park",
complete with corn, bobbers, and slobs in lawnchairs. Turned around
and headed promptly down-river.

Got in the water, took immediate notice that the rocks were slick as
greased owl crap.

Started fishing about 10:30am - caught a two 8-10" browns on
cracklebacks fished dry. Tied on everything else dry but the kitchen
sink. Had a few fish show interest, but no takers.

Switch to wet. About 1:00, was a half-mile or so downriver fishing
around some rocks - threw a streamer with a multilcolor tail and let
it bounce down and around. Had a big hit and took a nice fat 'bow.
Probably went about 16", but was thick as a brick. Tried the same
tactic there and downwater for the next half-hour - no more fish.

About 2:00, I had switched to another streamer - this time something
that looked like an olive wooly bugger with a long green fur tail.
Compared to the stuff I usually fish, it was like throwing a
Volkswagen. Fished a swing drift pattern and as soon as it hit the
end a gentle take.

I thought at first it was a small brown, but it turned out to be the
biggest rainbow I've ever netted. Easily 22", maybe 24" - I don't
carry a scale or ruler. What a fight! It was only about 15' from
me, but it took what seemed like forever to bring to hand. My hands
shook and I had goose bumps for about an hour afterward.

I'll never forget the first time I really saw the fish - about midway
through when I had him closer to me before he made a big, splashy run.
Absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. I wish I had Wolfgang's
vocabulary, because I haven't sufficient flow of speech to describe
the experience.

I didn't have a net, so I had virtually no way of controlling the fish
when I brought it to hand. It wasn't quite played out, and as soon as
I extracted the hook it was gone. I had a camera, and did manage a
few "fighting shots" before his hit. After that, well, I had my hands
full.

I'll post them, along with some "river pics" if anybody would like to
see them.

It was a fantastic trip, and I didn't even get to fish what I heard
was the prettiest part of the river. I'll go back several times
between now and the fall.

I'm happy to say I was wrong about the Lower Mountain Fork. Once away
from the trout-parkers, it ranks among the best fishing experiences
I've ever had.