raise the motor

Sounds like you may have put your Uncle onto something he will really enjoy. And you have lots to teach him. Should be lots of fun. And he already has the tippet! LOL Joe

Ham we will give it our best shot. The weather keeps lots of fishermen at home, but the same conditions can make for great fishing. I hope the big Browns celebrate the new year by eating everything in sight. Joe

Weather permitting, I will be fishing the White January 1 in the Cotter to Rim Shoals section. We got our first river boat (a Supreme 2000) on January 1, 2014, picking it up in Rockford, IL and pulling it down to Oakland. We will start year two with the boat on the White. This will be my fourth time fishing the Cotter/Rim Shoal section and we learn something each time out. The first two times the fish were stocker size up to 10 or 11 inches max. Last time out we caught Rainbows and Browns up to 16 inches. We will be looking for one of those 20 inch Browns that show up in so many pictures. Hope to see some of you out there on New Years Day. Joe

Jim, I grew up and spent the first 20 plus years of my life in Leopold, MO. A small immigrant community of farmers about 30 miles west of Cape Girardeau. The town was settled in 1856 by German-Dutch Catholic families. A great place to grow up with hard working, honest people. There were no nearby lakes and only one small fishable creek. All the farmers had ponds stocked with bass and bluegill. So pond fishing was our best option. The nearest lake was then Duck Creek Lake in the Mingo Wildlife Refuge. A great bass lake at one time, but it was overtaken by moss and lillies. For years bass fisherman would use a lure called Moss King. It was a large, leaf shaped wooden spoon lure. It was about the size of a maple leaf, oblong, with a rubber skirt and a single upturned hook in back. It was fished on top, and into the moss openings, in topwater fashion. The bass would nail it, take it down and get tangled in moss. With heavy line you would hold on tight, boat over and pull up both the bass and a shovel load of moss. The lake was a very good crappie and catfish lake. We never had a boat to fish, but I had a cousin who caught bass up to 9 pounds there. One unusual fish of choice was the grinnel (Bowfin), We would catch them in the drainage ditches at Mingo Wildlife with cut bait or shrimp. The ditches were full of tree stumps so you had to horse the fish in before it wrapped your line on a tree. Any angler who has caught one knows the grinnel can fight. When one was hooked it took a stiff rod, a stout reel, and strong line to pull them in. Most people consider the Bowfin junk fish, but if properly cared for they are quite good to eat. They have a hard mouth so the hook must be set with authority. I remember one trip when I lost the first few fish when the hook came loose. With the next fish I was determined to drive it in. The fish made a run and I set the hook with all my strength. Well, I set the hook, but also yanked the fish plum out of the water, over my head, and onto the bank behind me. The 2 pounder did not have a chance. Took it a little easier after than. After getting married and moving away I fished very little. My wife, who also grew up fishing. loves to fish as well. We have built a home on Bull Shoals and fish there and in the White River when down from Carbondale, Illinois. After I retire we will have many more chances to fish. I look forward to learning the lake and river and fooling lots of fish. If you are inclined to write, it would be very interesting to hear more of your fishing history and the history of the lakes. I am sure not everyone was pleased to sell their farms to the government for Table Rock Lake. I, like 5ites, would love to hear some stories of the area before the lake and how the lake changed things. One of my favorite books is Life in the Leatherwoods by John Quicy Wolf. This is a must reed for anyone interested in White River history. Mr Wolf was a gifted writer and his stories will leave you in stitches laughing. If you want a book you cannot put down, give it a try. It is good to hear from you and it would be great to hear more of your 90 years in God's Country. The times have changed so much and persons my age (66) love to remember the days of coal oil lamps, popcorn and pinochle evenings, and horse and wagon travel. Joe

When last down in November I noticed every rock at the shoreline had mussels attached on Mountain Creek (off Gulley Spring Creek northeast of Oakland). I will look more closely next week to see if they resemble the Zebra.

Merry Christmas Jim! You have been blessed to live in the Springfield area all these years. I was born in sotheast Missouri, moved away, and will be retiring to Oakland, Arkansas soon. The Ozarks is indeed a beautiful expression of the handiwork of God. Are you able to fish often? I am curious about the fishing in the opening days at Table Rock. Where I grew up they built a small lake of around 300 acres. When it first opened you could catch a 1 pound bass on every cast. It took a while for them to wise up. Was there a similar period at Table Rock or Stockton? Joe

Average high temperature for the last week in January for last two years in Branson was 51. Average low was 27 for 2013 and 2014. Lowest single reading for the two years was 9. Historic average high is 48 and low is 27. Phil, I like the idea. Compared to the number of OAF trout fishermen the jigfest group is small. Holding a similar gathering at Lilley's may increase the number. Wives may want to join in the fishing, shopping, or see a show. I will make the case to my wife (she will want to fish). If she is good with it I'm in. Joe

Great job Brett. I love the aireal shots of the White. If you have more I would love to see them. You have a talent for video. Joe

Nice going guys. It sounds like the Corps made it a game of chess to find water to fish. Ham you must have been back-to-back solid for some time to catch 60 trout iin around 3 hours. A nice way to cap off the trip. Little Red you seem to have the number on the Browns. Nice to wear out a lure rather than leaving it in the box for a couple of years. Catching that many fish makes the cost of the lure a bargain. Time to get some more. One thing I am curious about. Do you catch larger trout with a good flow compared to munimum flow? In the little fishing I have done that seems to be the case. Ham's comment about the good bite as the generation surge is falling is interesting. Is it possible the trout sense the slower water and cram in as much food as possible before the fall? It sounds like a fun gathering again this year. I'll have to join you some time. I plan to start 2015 on the White come January 1. Joe

What weight banana is that? Too funny. Thanks for the laugh.

Glad you're back Mike. I know that if there are fish around, you will find a way to catch them. We will be down in a couple of weeks to fish at our place on Gulley Spring/Mountain Creek. I'll be watching for your reports. Do you think there may be an early evening walleye bite up close to the banks soon? Joe

This Forum has been very beneficial to a once-in-a-while fisherman who looks forward to renewing a fishing hobby I enjoyed so much in my teen years. A number of talented anglers give of their time and share their experience to help fellow anglers enjoy success in fishing. Only casual observation is needed to notice those who are willing to, and do, help and encourage others. In athletics, and in life in general, the most skilled are oft the most complimentary and supportive of others. Sadly, the reverse is sometimes true. Joe

Yes Ham, your PM gave me the info I need to make and attach a chain. I will get one ready. With clear water, I assume I can watch for structure while scouting a section (at least shallow sections). I have a depth finder that may provide some useful information on structure. I assume the wood and rocks on the bluff side above Rim Shoals holds lots of fish. We may try it with jigs to see if we can cover it without too many snags. It will be fun learning the river. Thanks, Joe

Thanks for the suggestions Ham and Trigg. The White Hole area sounds interesting. I thought that Rim Shoal or the Buffalo area may have less fishing pressure, and less embarassing if my boat navigation is awkward. I have never drifted on a flat bottom river boat and understand they turn and drift differently than a boat with a keel. I do not have a drag chain and may find it difficult to maintain straight drifts. Another consideration would be the amount of wood and structure in the river that would cause us to hang up on a power ball drift or on working a jig. Not knowing the river, areas that are mostly garvel would be better than areas with lots of possible snag ups. Thanks, Joe

I will be down the first of next month for some trout fishing on the White River. It will be my first chance to use my Supreme 2000 river boat. I would like some suggestions on where to fish. We will be drift fishing areas where we catch fish (down and back). I want to be careful navigating any shoals until I learn to handle the boat better. I don't mind fishing and releasing in a C&R area, as long as that is not a problem if we keep fish we catch elsewhere. We will be fishing jigs and bouncing some power bait. We will take a few trout home. I will be trying out circle hooks for power bait to minimize fish damage for released fish. I have been considering the Buffalo area or perhaps Rim Shoals above the C&R. Any suggestions? Joe

Wrench, both times I was with my family. They watched the gear while I went for the truck. We then lived 150 miles away from the river so we sometimes only drove one car. The hills aren't bad because what goes up must come down. Since both the start and finish are at river level, the only net elevation gain is the fall of the river between the two spots. Biking in the CR hills is nice, but some of the roads are narrow. The downhill to Round Springs is a long steep grade. It makes up for the Jacks Fork hill. You get lots of rest on the downhills and can coast up much of the next hill. We always went floating early in October when most of the river was abandoned. We once were on the river for nine days between Cedar Grove and Powder Mill Ferry (Owls Bend). We saw only two boats in the nine days. The wild horse herd on the river is a sight when they show up. We once came up on the herd crossing the river and a foal was very curious and wanted to stay in the river and watch us pass. The mare sounded a command and the foal left immediately. The herd appeared to be healthy, but very unkept main and coats. I haven't seen the herd for a while and am not sure they have not been captured or removed. Joe

That is iteresting, because I have done similar self shuttles. Twice on the Current River I have shuttled from take out to put in. On one occasion I floated (with my bike in the canoe) from Round Spring to Two Rivers, then biked back. On another I ran from Round Spring back to Pulltite to my vehicle. Both were enjoyable and interesting, though that hill north from Round Spring was a bear. If the distance is not too far it is an option. If you like biking and running, all the better. Joe

Wow looks like a very good day on the LR. Do you recognize the section they were fishing? I assume you have experienced the run of Browns as well. Thanks for posting. Joe

I have a 1997 Ranger Cherokee 207 (17ft) that has been a good boat at a fraction of the cost of a new boat and trailer. I paid $7,800 for it four years ago when it had only a few hours of use. The deep V works very well on wind driven lakes. An Evinrude 115 will push it at 40MPH plus with ease. The only mechanical problems I have had is the fuel gage and the rectifier. The only problem with the layout is that the rod boxes are short. They work ok for up to 6 ft. rods, but are small or others. The boxes are on both sides and are open in the front for the rod tip to extend under the front deck. I keep my longer rods on the deck. The casing decks are roomy. Some units have dual consoles. Mine has a single console. There are two live wells/boxes, two rod boxes, storage under the front deck, two small dry stroage boxes in the back and a cooler below the floor on the lower deck. Also storage under the console seats and in a center console. Most have the Ranger Trail trailers. The factory gel coat finish on the aluminum is great. My boat still looks like new has has very few noticable chips or nicks. The finish has held up very well. The side paint features are emblems and show signs of flaking around the edges. The 2 stroke uses lots of gas, but has given me few problems. Joe

Phil, the 40% appears to come off any of the available prints when you go to the cart. I selected three, which were all discounted in the cart, then decided on the one I wanted. Joe

Great deal. It was difficult, but I decided on "take off". I can't wait to see it in full size. Thanks Al Joe

Although I will never fish the affected waters, I do not want to see them ruined for those who do, or for those who depend on the resource for a living. This fascination with gold is absurd. The fishery is the true gold. I sent the stock email on the contact website. Thanks for keeping us informed. Joe

Hi Lex I'm not in the area and I don't have the skills needed to fish tournaments so I can't help. You may get a better response if you post in the forum thread for the lake you would like to fish. I wanted to post because I saw you got no responses yet. The OAF members are very nice and I am sure you will find someone who needs a partner. Don't be discouraged. Good Luck Joe

Very good numbers for minimum flow. Were the results better than expected? Joe

An audio would be great. Like lots of others, I am a long ways removed from SWMO, but enjoy the forum and fishing in the Ozarks when down (will retire there full time soon). Thanks Phil for an excellent forum. Have you read Rocky McElveen's book Wild Men, Wild Alaska? I've read some of your posts about Alaska fishing and thought you may have met Rocky. Interesting book and a concept (adventure and risk creates soul-searching). Not sure I would want to risk a plane crash for the opportunity, however. Joe