Ham

They are an incredible fish. Nothing you read can really prepare you for when they power off. Add high current to the equation, and you get a broken rod. Or at least I did. They are a real hoot.

IF I was not working this weekend, I would say screw renting a boat why don't you guys let me take you fishing. Unfortunately, I have to work. Still call me or text me for last minutes updates on fishing. You can rent boats right there at the State Park if you want the upper end. Rim Shoals if you want mid river. Riley's Station if you want lower. Rose's Trout dock if you want Norfork. I have no experience with ever renting a boat. Just some observations of where boats are available that would be handy for easy access to fish.

Most of us really aren't up to the long hours you put in day after day during the 10 month farming season. I'm glad to see you took advantage of a small window of opportunity. Good for you guys.

A stable family where Mom and Dad consider raising children to be a full time job that requires their full time attention is just not the norm anymore.

SMH for Bob. I think he's really funny, but I'd never let him mix a drink for me.

1) Breakdown of nuclear family. Less people are taught how to behave. 2) people turned there back on God/organized religion. again, I think people know when they are behaving badly, they just don't care. 3) narcissism and the resulting me first attitudes. People no longer want to do the right thing because its the right thing. Golden Rule has been forgotten.

wow. Kinda makes me want to look at other fishing rods instead SO was this a St Croix plant or a Falcon plant. Astro turf reviews?

I'll look over the models that come out and see if I can find a good topwater option.

a quick follow up note, The main reason I got the Korkers as previously stated was to comply with Missouri law. I swapped out the rubber for the studded rubber soles and really do think it is MUCH better than the rubber alone. They likely are really close to being as good as felt. There are some rocks and/or some situations that you just cant handle in any foot gear. I hung in there in some high current on pretty tough footing though. Now I'm wondering why I bought that other pair of boots.

Can you get drift boats under McKee Bridge?

Looked like you guys were having a busy weekend Justin. I hope it was lucrative and not everyone was crazy.

I'll take whichever one you want me to have. What weight fly rod is required to sling that thing?

First of all, Dang nice fish Marty. I'm probably the worst numbers guy on OA, but A few quality fish can replace a big number of fish being caught . The quality of the experience can replace catching big numbers as well. I love seeing new places and catching "new" species. I just flat of love to fish.

I saw a 3 inch banded craw that was a mustard tan with prominent black bands across it. He evaded capture or I would have a picture for you, but I have other pictures of banded craw. I'll text you. Not legal where I was.

I honestly think you would do better with a crawfish pattern.

Maybe so Curtis. I would love to see what they would have thought about a jerkbait

I'm impressed by them! Freaking Giants and often in high current areas. Thanks Marty! I saw some of what you were after. I saw a pod of about 7 of them. Ran my jig down, but I think they saw my yak and were DONE. Maybe next time.

Did a long float with part time fishing yesterday. I basically was a shuttle bro for my wife and a friend of hers. They occasionally stopped and let me catch up with them. We floated from Hammond Camp to Patrick Bridge. Water looked a little stained from rain the night before, but no problems. I took two spinning rods with 6 lb nano/ 6 lb leader. I was committed to Zig jig and a small soft plastic. I could have brought the kitchen sink, but there was no need. Warm water part of the float I caught Ozark Bass and Smallmouth bass. It was easy. I saw bass on beds. Tried to leave them alone. If you don't want to catch bedding smallies. Stay home. hit the cooler water and went Zig Jig only. Fish definitely showed a preference from Brown/Orange over Triple Olive. A little harder to pattern this trip. I was pretty dialed in last time out, but they were more scattered this time around. They all came out of fishy looking spots though. I did catch my first NFOW Brown. About 15 inches. I caught four more massive Rainbows. 2 over 20 and 2 more over 18. Beasts. Very angry. Pulled me and the yak around. I catch a lot of trout out of the White River, most of the Rainbows over 20 inches I have caught have come from NFOW in the handful of trips I have made there. It would be astonishing to look at the analytics on that. I ended up with 40 fish. Close to a 50:50 split trout vs everything else. I saw a couple more species that I wanted to catch, but missed out on. Maybe next time. Serious troutheads need to give Justin at Sunburst a call and make this deal happen. Not a huge numbers deal, but these fish are big and pretty and as close to natural spawn as you're going to find around here. Campgrounds were full, but the water was not crowded. I'll try to make another trip there in the fall.

Man, when you're that close, you need to give me a call. I for sure know that spot.

You're my hero. I want to be you when I grow up. Oops, too late. I want to be you if I live long enough to retire.

You can float starting in March (some years) thru November (most years). Lots less young, drunk, and stupids on the water in the off season. Just sayin

They were in the mid lake area last weekend, but who knows.

The trick is to get your mileage down to 5000 and your fish numbers above 5000. This is doable once I'm retired. 1000 off the bank is totally doable. 10 fish a trip on average and make 100 trips (many of them can be short trips). You won't always be bank bound. You could easily acquire a canoe or smallish boat. It would open up whole new worlds of fish to you. BUT right now you are focused on new life species and not numbers. I want BOTH.

Spend the extra $150 and get the Pescador at Academy. It is a true rotomolded boat with a proven hull. Stored properly and treated half decently that boat will last 10 years or more (I've got a version of that boat that's 13 years old). Only $15 bucks extra a year to have a sure thing instead of a $400 roll of the dice.

I was completely ignorant of this. Thank You. It would not likely be something that ever cam into play with me, but Thanks.