Paddlefish

I was talking with a warden with the OK Wildlife Dept and he was telling me about a major die-off of Paddlefish last Spring. Apparently, GRDA openend the flood gates on Grand just when the fish we're returning from the Spring run's up the Neosho & Spring rivers and a lot of Bills we're pulled through the gates. He said they estimated around 100 to 150,000 fish we're lost through the gates. GRDA said it was just bad timing...... Maybe that's why there are all the restrictions on harvesting spoonbill this Spring??

Remembered to post everything but the price for the Alumaweld Jet.. $3,800.

1993 16ft. Alumaweld jet boat, 50/35 Johnson Jet Outboard, Motorguide 12V 43lb trolling motor, Lowrance X25 locator, Livewell/Center seat, Rod Lockers, Good tires & new spare, Guest onboard charger, Custom fit cover, Tagged good until 2010. On plane, this boat will draft 4” of water. My e-mail is skinny_rivers@msn.com or you can call my cell 571-271-8634 The boat can be seen in either Miami or Adair, OK.

Motorguide Great White trolling motor. Bow Mount. 24V. Hand/tiller control. 67lb thrust. $165.

I've been catching all the whites on a Rattle Trap with a blue back. Location is mostly confined to wind-blown banks facing South. It's gotta be a bank that's a certain depth, deep water nearby, etc... or there's no fish to speak of. We do occasionally catch a spot or LMB mixed in with the Whites.

Fished the Duck Creek again yesterday. Wind was horrible. Trolling batt's lasted about 4hrs. Total fish caught was 5 really big Whites and one LMB. Got back to the ramp, loaded the boat and noticed a lot of water draining out the back? I figured it was just draining both livewells. I tought surely I didn't leave the plug out...... 30min's later after the boat was drained I put the plug back in. After 30yr's of fishing with a boat, you think I could remember to put the plug in BEFORE I launch the boat.

Fished from the back of Duck Creek to the main lake today. Total catch was 16 Whites, 8 Spots, 4 Largies and one drum. Caught everything except one fish on Rattle Traps. All but one of the whites we're really nice keepers. Really couldn't nail down any pattern, we caught whites and spots on wind blown main lake points & shorelines and even in the back of some calmer coves. But, in the back of Duck near the bridge, the shad we're thick but no fish to be caught? Wind was a factor today, the trollin batt's gave out around 3pm. Unfortunately, the fishin was still hot!! Can't decide weather to crawl back into my tree stand next week or try for another trip on Grand.....

I stopped by Riverview Park on my way through Miami on Sunday. There was plenty of (dry) bank area to snag from in the small park area just above the bridge. Riverview Park still had water on both sides of the dam, but there we're several guy's standing on the wall on the West side and a few on the bank on the lower end on the East side. There we're also four boats anchored just below the dam. We watched a few guy's pull in some small (30lb) males in the smaller park above the bridge, but they said it was pretty slow day over-all.

Just got back from fishin Taney. We fished Sunday & Monday and planned on fishing Tuesday, but then the rain started so we packed up & headed home. We mainly fished from Lilly's up to Fall Creek, tossing spinner's in the morning & drifting egg's in the afternoon. We managed to catch our limit each day, but it took most of the day b/t the four of us. The river was really moving, I guess they had several gate's open to get ready for the rain. It seem like it only took about 30-45mins to drift from Fall Creek back down to Lilly's. River had a heavy stain by the time we left around mid-morning on Tuesday. Fishin from the docks looked pretty tough. We had to use a lot of small egg sinkers to keep the bait's on the bottom. Also had to change egg's often to keep the scent in the water. Colors that seem to work best we're either orange, pink or red. Just as long as they we're bright and had to be bouncing along the bottom. Looks like it may be a day or two b/f the water (clarity) is back to normal.

When you buy your license, on-line or at the bait-shop, don't forget to get your permit. It's free, but's it's also req'd. Also, Miami is not charging people to snag at Riverview any longer. The state has picked up the tab for that. Good luck & make sure your barbless!!

Wow, 16oz sinker. I'll need to glue some guides on a telephone pole and see if I can find a reel to fit the pole. That's a lot of weight! It did look like a big weight on the video, but I didn't realize it was that big. Doesn't look like my surf-rod that I use for snaggin from the bank will work. I'll have to see a about getting a shorter & much stiffer rod to handle that kinda drag.... Thanks for the tips!

I was watching the video's on Ivan Martins website and it looks like they we're snaggin Spoonbill in the middle of the lake? I was curious if anyone (other than Ivan's guides) has ever tried this? Is it done by drifting or trolling along channels? or over flats? Do you use the same rig as you would from the bank? i.e. surf ring with hook and 3-4 oz sinkers? Not sure I'm ever gonna try this, but I was just curious how it was done?

Looks like my Fathers Day present this year will be having the weekend to myself. I've got about a gillion different things I'd like to do, but I'm really looking to float a local stream/river for some smallies. I'm considering a section of the Elk or one of the local tribs, but I've never fished that area of MO. Can anyone suggest a section that's good for smallies & goggle's? I'd like to also mention that I'm strictly C&R and I'm not looking to wipe-out anyone's favorite section or honey-holes. I'd just like to narrow down my search for a good smallie river and hopefully avoid the bikini hatch if possible. Also, I'm looking for anyone that might be interested in a float over that weekend? Someone that know's the area and could work out a shuttle. Thanks in advance!

I drove over the Neosho today near Miami and it was high & muddy, I'm sure Spring River is in the same condition. I'd say the top end of Grand is pretty muddy? You might be ok from about Shangri-La down to the dam.

I assume your referring to "Low-Water" dam. That's as far as you can travel up-river from any of the ramps below the Hudson Dam. Yes, the whites are stacked up behind that rock wall, but there is also a lot of fishermen stacked up there as well. You also have to contend with the snaggers slingin 5oz singer & hooks across the river from the bank and boats. Not that I'm complainin b/c I used to do that myself once in a while. But, the whites are still in the river and all you really need is some moving water and you can simply tie-off one of the many brush-piles along the bank or just drift the shore-line, which is what we do, and you'll catch a boat load. There is a free ramp just of Rte. 412 or there's a pay launch ay Maize landing, which is nice b/c they are out of the current and also have a dock which is nice when your launchin by yourself. Good luck!

Is Ketchum cove on Duck Creek? I pass over that bridge & ramp on the way to Grove every weekend.

Fished the Grand River system (below Lake Hudson) and caught 29 really nice Whitie's and one 12" smallie!! I didn't even know there we're smallies in the Grand River system, but I guess moving water = smallies? Biggest white bass went about 2.5lbs, everything caught on Road Runners with curly tail grubs. Looks like a fish fry this Sunday....

Yes, there is a ramp on the East side of the river, just below the bridge. It's a bit shallow, you may have to put your tailpipes under water to get your boat off the trailer...

Fished the stretch just above the Hwy 10 bridge yesterday and caught 30 whites b/t my father and I. Everything caught on Rooster Tails with a white or chartruse grub tail. Since the jet is down for repairs, we had to take my bass boat so we we're limited on how far up we could go. We did manage to make it past the first low spot, just past the first bend. Unfortunatly, my alum prop has no paint left on it.... But, good company and great day to be on the river!!

What's the access like in the lower Illinois? Can I use my bassboat or will a shallow draft jet work better? Also, is there public access (ramps) in the area?

Since all of my fishing right now is on the East coast, my fishing experience has been limited to very small flows to large rivers, i.e. Potomac & Susquehanna. But, I own a 17' Jet, two canoes and two Yaks and 90% of my fishing is out of the Kayaks. I've got a Wilderness Tarpon 120 and a Loon 111. I can fit 3 fully rigged rods, plus tackle, lunch, dry bag, Etc.. in either one. In fact, I've done 3 day camp trips using the Loon. IMO, Pros of using kayaks is access to small shallow flows where jet's can't get to, It's a one man craft, your not dependent on the skill level of a partner in a canoe. I can also carry everything in my Yak that I carry in a canoe. It's much easier to launch a kayak than a 14-17' canoe and it's a heck of a lot easier to handle a kayak with a double paddle in a yak as opposed to one person in a canoe with one paddle. You can paddle up stream much easier than in a canoe and wind is seldom a factor. Some of the negative points are that you are closer to the water and that makes it harder to see underwater structure or bedding fish if your into that. Your butt will get much flatter, since your basically limited to one sitting position and a lot of weight is on your tail bone. Also, much to the dismay of new Yak users, recreational Kayaks will not handle white water any better than a canoe. In fact, you are more likley to take on water in a class II/III rapid than you will in a canoe. I would not recommend using a rec kayak on anything more than a class III rapid. Now, there are also pros & cons to using a Sit-on-Top as opposed to a Sit-in Kayak. I prefer a SOT because it's so much easier to exit/enter the boat than a Sit-in. You have better access to gear, since everything is on top of the yak. You actually draw less water than you would in a sit-in kayak. If you take a roller over the bow, the water will exit the boat through scupper holes, negative side to this is your butt will stay wet. In the winter time, I'm wearing waders and it's a lot easier getting in the SOT with those massive wader boots. One last commet on yaks, if your looking for a boat that will negotiate tight corners and respond quickly to paddle strokes, go with a 8-10' boat. If your looking for speed and better tracking, go with at least a 11ft. yak or better.

Thanks for the info, I'll leave the bass boat at home. I watched the In fisherman episode several times now where Gord Phizer does a segment on fishing the White River. I've seen the boats they use and it makes sense due to the varying depths in the river. In some scene's, you can actually see the river bottom. So, looks like I'll be trailoring my John to the river this winter.

I'd like to try my luck on the White this Fall. I've fished Taneycomo for the last 20 yrs and know the river well enough to know where I can run a bass boat or Toon. My question for the White is, can I run a 18 alum V-hull with a 150hp o/b on this river? or do I need something lighter, i.e. 14-16' flat bottom with a small o/b?

I may be interested, PM or e-mail me and we can talk.

That's right, I've been active on Riversmallies for almost 5 years now and will continue to post and visit the site to the very end. But, that's not my only reason for joining this site. I currently live in Northern VA and have become an avid river smallmouth angler. But, I grew up in NE Okla (Miami) and will be moving back to the area just as soon as I can sell my small farm here in VA. I've fished for Whities on Spring River during the Spring run and spent many day's in May snaggin spoonbill on the Neosho. I've even been "noodlin" for cat's on Grand Lake much to the dismay of people here in the NE. Anyway, I'm looking forward to our move back to NE Okla and hope to get a chance to meet up with some fellow Ozarkanglers. Kenny.