Ham

I wish y'all had caught em better. I would have definitely drug tubes off of the primary and secondary points. At some point, I would have tried going into the newly flooded trees and slinging a spinnerbait. It was a little too early for top waters, but I would have likely thrown some just to do it.

I wouldn't try Ponca to anywhere in a jonboat. I'm interested in hearing other's views on that idea. The upper river is great, but I wouldn't start any fishing trip above Steele Creek and I think Kyle's would be a better starting point. Kyle's to Pruitt would be a good two day trip. Ponca to Pruitt is too long a trip to do without rushing IMO.

Still waiting on a post trip report from CARB.

IF you are anxious to use and abuse some of those crankbaits and SB's, you could try fishing them around the edges of flooded trees. Trees that are for the moment alive and have greens leaves on them. I wouldn't do it without a lure retriever and even that doesn't work all the time. SLOW roll the SB. You won't see your bites when you are slow rolling the outer trees. All three species of bass will be in the trees to some degree AND you miight get a walleye or two as well.

WHAT THA? I'm going to wait a litle while before I try QP.

I really had hoped we wouldn't see them open the flood gates again. I wonder if walleye are estalished in the lower Buffalo River yet.

Nope. Still got plenty around my house.

I'd want a little warmer water and a good look at it first BEFORE I tried to run it, but I bet that part would be OK at this water level.

Crossed over CC in Harrison and at Pyatt Thursday. It was still high and MUDDY at Pyatt, but it was closer to normal and only stained in Harrison. It won't necessarily be too long before it gets fishable, but it wasn't last Thursday. There are at least three spots on the Pyatt to Snow run that would be real sporty at the current level/CFS.

I have a Cabela's RLS on my 4 weight. I'm caught a few pretty decent trout on it and was very happy with drag system.I'm going to try to get two more reels today IF they still have them at the sale price, BUT a fly reel is going to last you years. You might want to get one of the other reels that guys know will do the job on the fish you mentioned.

They were in inflatable yaks. Really?

I'm all for people being responsible for their own actions, BUT an outfitter has a much better knowledge base and should know when people should be kept off the river for their own good. I'd bet most of them can read people and get a good guess at their paddling skillz. I floated Saturday. The people I floated with had paddled the upper section on Friday. It was at a moderate level and running clear for them on Friday. I took us further down river knowing that a rise was going to happen on the upper end AND I had looked at the water levels. We were on a pretty mild part of the river that I'm pretty sure I could handle with a much higher flow, but like I said before. I paddle to fish and if the fishing isn't going to be a viable option, I won't be there. Water was starting to rise and had a little stain, but was not muddy. We floated 10 miles in 5 hours with minimal paddling adn I whacked the smallmouth. I knew a rise was going to happen, but I was pretty sure it was going to happen after we got off the river. I would never do an overnight trip under those conditions, but I will plan a day trip ahead of a bulge.

I would be tthat the ramp at Bull Shoals Boat Dock would be usable. You likely could launch at Theodosia amybe even Pontiac. Oakland would be launching off a road which might work just depends. Buck Creek you would lauching off a road. Lead Hill might work. I haven't been there at elevated water levels. Some of the old hands at BSL should be able to answer this. The LMB will go shallow, but I have no idea how long it takes them to adjust. The SMB will stay with the old bank lines longer. The Spotted Bass do whatever it is theydo. Stay with baitfish until they are ready to spawn I guess.

Ignorance leads some to take ill advised chances. It would be interesting to know if they took the trip on their own or if an outfuitter put them on the river. I don't plan river trips when the water is so high that fishing will be unproductive. Helps keep me out of trouble.

Maimed to Hwy 14. Water temp around 60. Rainy. I've got an extra kayak when you head sown again. I was surprised how somebody were already holding in FAST water.

I floated yesterday and really whacked the smallmouth. I had a lot of chunky fish and one that was over 20 inches.

Should be a very productive spawn for our area lakes. I'm hopeful that the great fishing we have right now just got another boost for the future.

I'd starve to death if I had to feed myself with fish I caught on soft hackles.

Drinking the rapala koolaid I see. You really ought to try the no barb gamakatsu trebled. You might lose a fish every now and again, but you can release them easier and get more fishing done AND much easier and less painful to get out of yourself.

The Caddis coming off at Rim last Thursday seemed really white in color. I'm really inexperienced at dry fly fishing , but I'd guess it was a size 16 or so. I had three flies that were working. One got destroyed. One got broken off. One caught fish until I left. I can't easily acguire more.

How can you drag a WB around when there is a Caddis hatch on?

Hopefully, last night's rain helped win the battle for the fire fighters.

The Caddis hatch is NOT over or at least they were hatching yesterday. I had the best time fishing Caddis dry flies yesterday at Rim. The wind was howling, but that might have helped make trout less spooky. I only had a little while to fish and I almost didn't bother. Sure glad I went. Size 16 was what I used, but others may have worked. I was surprised at how large the trout were and how many of the fish were Browns. I was also surprised that I didn't catch a single Cutt. I have no idea how last night's rough weather will affect the water conditions and the fish. I learned a lot about dry fly fishing in a little while.

There's a reason latin is a dead language.

Bill certainly went above and beyond.