Blue River Fly Fishing

Fly Fishing Heaven

Over the years Blue River has seen an ever growing number of fly fishers presenting their flies on the waters. With six miles of meandering, forking waters full of structure in the form of granite and limestone formations, fallen logs, and boulders, Blue River presents a challenge to the best of the best fly fishers.
Producing Flies
Probably most flyfishers will agree that the Wooly Booger rules on the Blue. However, many of the old standards produce quite well also. Standards such as the Hare’s Ear Nymph, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Zug Bugs, Olive Flashback Nymphs, and olive conehead mini leeches do quite well. Early in the season, egg flies do quite well. Fishing with dries is a little more difficult on Blue but Elk Hair Caddis and Griffits Gnats do quite well.
Cayuse Crawdad

Mustad 9672 Size 12
Brown Thread
Clump of Elk Hair 6 – 8 hairs
Mono line 3 inches
Barbell Eyes 7/64 oz.
Swiss Straw (Brown)
Dubbing light brown
Tie in thread cover shank and advance to hook bend. Tie in elk hair (do not stack hair). Tie in mono line. Tie in barbell eye using figure 8 pattern to secure eyes. Tie in Swiss Straw behind barbell eyes (nearest eye of hook). Now dub thread and advance thread to 1/8 inch of eye. Pull over Swiss Straw and tie in securely. Now wrap mono with first wrap behind barbell eyes. Use equal distance between palmer wraps. Tie in cut mono, cut excess Swiss Straw with the exception of making a small crawdad tail. Glue tie off point and glue barbell eye adequately. Now go fish
Overview
As Redbud’s begin to first blossom and the many colorful songbirds sing harmoniously at the sight of the rising morning sun, it’s a good indication that the pre-spawn within the wonderful community of game fish at Blue River in Oklahoma is about to begin.

During the spring, the music made by the river traveling over the granite and limestone outcrops becomes a xylophone of the rhythms of a river. The river’s music can bring both peace and excitement to the angler.
It seems that wherever you are on Blue River during the spring months, you can sense something exciting is about to happen. Excitement so measured by the quality of the experience…. it only happens in our fishing life on occasion; a rarity.
Blue River is almost an oddity in itself; a misplaced river of sorts. Located in southern Oklahoma, this meandering collage of waterfalls, riffles, pools, eddies and runs is something that looks like it belongs in Colorado. It’s about everything a fly fisher would dream of compacted in six miles of accessible water. The many braided branches and forks of Blue were created by the uplift of the Arbuckle Mountain systems millions of years past.
The majority of the water that meanders, sometimes gently – sometimes in a hurry, emanates from the prolific Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer. The water of Blue is crystal at most times.
The pre-spawn season at Blue can be a wonderful and exciting time for fly fishers and other anglers alike. Not just landing fish; but water blasting, sudden and surprising, exhilarating strikes that will leave fishing memories etched in the mind of the angler forever.
During the pre-spawn, spotted and smallmouth bass become almost singular in mind. Actually they have only two things on their agenda; eating and making love. It’s during this time they become extremely aggressive striking at almost anything the fly fisher can present. However this is not always true and we should always be reminded to watch the water to see what might be attracting the fish.
As far as the waters fly fishers should seek there is not such a thing as “bad’ water. Pre-spawn bass can be found in wide flat waters, riffles, eddies, and the many remote pools created by the forks and branches of the beautifully twisted path of unique river
”What flies to use” always comes to question. Top water! Fished early or late dries, foam poppers and hard body poppers will all bring excitement to the fly angler during the pre-spawn. Patterns such as Dave’s or Al’s Hoppers, frog patterns, foam beetles and grasshoppers all hold the promise to get absolutely blasted out of the surface film. Miss Prissy Poppers along with Round Dinny’s also will produce quite well.
At the same time and especially during the later summer months large Wooly Buggers, Clouser’s crayfish imitations, and the many variations among leech and minnow patterns can produce lifetimes of fly fishing memories.
Although Blue River is best known as a designated trout stream during cold water season; she should not be overlooked during the warm water season and particularly during the pre-spawn which occurs during April and May each year.
Blue River Campground
Currently at the Blue there is no charge for camping. Campsite availability is on a first come first serve basis; no reservations. The Blue offers primitive camping at it’s best. The beautiful and rustic setting is a campers dream.
Area 2
Area 2 is upstream from Hughes Crossing on the west side of the river. Including the parking area Area 2 offers 41 camping spots and the parking area is often used by RV owners. There is one primitive bath room facility at the north end of Area 2 and a bath room facility close to the parking area. There are seven larger falls within Area 2 and a number of ripples, pools, and eddies. From the north end of Area 2, anglers can take a trail that will lead to Desperado Springs and the south walk in trail of the south wildnerness Area.
Area 1
Area 1 runs downstream from Hughes Crossing and is one mile long. There are 29 campsites in Area 1 along with four parking spots. At the end of Area 1 is a large camping site that can be used for group camping. There are two primitive rest room facilities in Area 1. Area 1 consists of five large falls with a number of smaller ripples, forks, and branches. During season trout can be seen rising quite often in some of the slower pools above the heads of the smaller falls.
Area 3
Area 3 is across Hughes Crossing and has 4 campsites. There is a primitive rest room facility nearby. Area 3 is a more remote camping site and access to the river is by walk in.
Areas 5 & 6
There are two campsites at Area 5. Area 5 is located across from the south end of Area 1. Campsites are located on a bluff overlooking a beautiful falls. No primitive rest room facilities.
Area 6 is one large group area which can easily accomodate 15 to 20 tents. Primitive rest room located at Area 6.
Area 4
Area 4 is a remote campsite with two campsites. This area is for those wanting to get away from it all. Walk in access to the river. No primitive rest room facilities.