TR: Missouri River

Went up to Ponca State Park, about 25 miles NW of Sioux City, IA in
Nebraska on Friday. I was up there for the Nebraska Game and Parks
"Missouri River Outdoor Expo 2010." My club, the Cornhusker
Flyfishers were to demonstrate tying and casting in a joint effort
between the Cornhuskers and the Siouxland Flyfishers out of Sioux
City.
Got up there about 2:30, and after checking in and setting up the
tent, I went down to the expo area next to the river to check it out.
The tying and area was right next to the river and we had one of the
largest spots for the expo. Temp was in the mid-70's with a light
breeze. Pretty sweet.
Talked to the Game and Parks folks and asked about fishing. They
pointed out a slough where the expo folks were going to run the
kayaks. Wandered upstream to check it out.
Had my 9' 5wt Powell with a little shad fly on the end. Walked the
bank (where it wasn't a total marsh, water is higher than most folks
can remember) flicking the fly out to any brush or rock I could see in
the milky water. A couple of sunfish nailed the fly, but nothing of
any size.
Met up with a ranger who pointed out an abandoned beaver lodge about
100 yards back in the slough. He said that they had electrofished
around it a couple of days before and hit the motherload. Okay, think
I'll try it.
Mosied up to the beaver lodge and climbed out on top. Made for a
pretty nice casting platform. Prospecting around, found that between
two logs coming off the lodge was home for half the fish in the area.
I suspect it was the entrance to the lodge with a deep hole.
Smallies up to about 12", a big bunch of really nice black crappie,
bluegills and sunfish and even a little sauger. Spent about an hour
of constant catching.
It was time for dinner for the volunteers so left out, planning on
going back the next day.
Talked to one of our club members that evening, he and his son had
gone up to the next slough (about 50 yards from where I was) and his
son had pulled in over 60 largemouth on the day on poppers. Fish were
up to 23". Between them, they had over 100 bass.
Next day, Saturday, a front came in. Temp dropped into the mid 40's,
with a 20 mph wind and rain. Try tying flies in that kind of wx. Its
really hard to tie when you're shivering. Talked to a couple of folks
and the front had shut down the fish.
Sunday was brighter, temps rebounded into the 60s and the rain
stopped. Unfortunately the fish still had lockjaw. So packed up and
went home.
Its only a two-hour ride up to Ponca from home. Great facility and
good access to the river. Big campground with enough space for about
200 trailers and lots of primitive tenting area. Don't miss "Bob's
Bar" in Martinsburg, NE, about 7 miles from the campground on Hwy 9.
HUGE cheeseburgers (the patty extends about an inch and a half out of
the bun) one order of fries, onion rings or deep-fried mushrooms is
enough for 4 people. Hard to miss the place in a town with a
population of 103.
Frank Reid
(sorry to disapoint. other than freezing my ass off on Saturday,
didn't fall down once)