Ham

There is a take out below Barclay. I think it is Rendevous?

I'll check through my stuff. I may have a couple of used ones that I would be willing to sell you.

Hey Al: I hae combined some neoprene socks (I have the 2 mm variety) with a pair of the Keens felt bottom sandals. I've been pretty satisfied so far. The "quicksand" gravel requires a cleanout, but with the quick clip on the sandals it isn't too bad.

Sounds like you had the baits and tackle all figured out. The upper river is beautiful and has fish, but I really think the fishing gets better when the river has a little less gradient. I love the Buffalo.

There is no perfect wading boot/shoe/sandal, BUT there are a lot of options. High dollar and low dollar. Like all Simms (via Keens) products, you pay more up front for a product that performs well and lasts a long time. I have the Keens felt soled sandal. I got them the first year they came out. I had non felt Keens before the Simms version. Keens were the first to really protect the toes, but a lot of companies have solen I mean modified that idea. The felt keeps you upright when non felt won't. I've seen it first hand. How much is not falling hard on wet rock worth to you? I do get gravel under my foot and that isn't any fun at all, but it can be quickly removed with the quick clip release. Tevas are great too, but just don't protect the toes enough. If you plan on wade fishing, you need better. I've used my wading boots as well and in addition to the extra weight WHEN (not if) I get in some really loose gravel and go over the top, gravel guards have not prevented some fine stuff getting in my boot and it is a lot harder to get a wading boot on and off. I will be trying neoprene socks with my Simms felt sandals next time out. I think that will get the job done well for me.

People need to be responsible for themselves and those under their care. I do not believe that most first timers have a clue about how to paddle or control the boat. Should the boat rental places attempt to educate. I kind of think so. The mid to lower river would be a much safer place for first timers, but bad stuff happens to folks with experience as well. I hated reading about he loss of that child's life. Just bums me out.

Several lakes in Alabama produce huge spots and massive LMB. I don't know if they have samllies also though.

For better or worse, MDC has better data to base their decisions on rather than random anecdotal events and your "feelings". We really need to leave fisheries decisions to the biologist and not our emotions. If it would be better for the lake(s) to close the fisheries during some segment of the spring, then MDC should make that call. I really believe that the bass spawn is quite drawn out. There will be another wave in May and even a few in June. Success rates for the late spawners will drop off later in the year as active predators increase and the fry have less time to grow before cold weather sets in for the year. I did some checking online. TWPD site shows the stocking numbers for Toledo Bend. You can check other lakes numbers also. No other state is as good at growing lots and lots of fish as Texas. Toledo Bend got the following 2000: 321,974 2001: 508,505 2002: 740,373 2003: 961,015 2004: 492,536 2005 849,436 2006: NONE (this might be an error or the data was lost) and 2007: 502,918 so they put a bunch of bass in there but never a million in any of the last few years from Texas only. NOW Louisiana may have stocked some also BUT I could not find their numbers and given their stocking policy (which you can find at the LWF site) I would bet a lot of fish have been going to restore hurricaine damaged fisheries and not TB. Also private groups may have been doing some stocking. From what I have read, you get about 5% of the fry reaching adult size. That's right 5 per hundred. IMO, The stockings are not done to supplement the natural population BUT RATHER to increase the amount of Florida bass. Everybody wants to catch that big ole toad and FLA bass just get bigger. TB grows plenty of its on fish. Maybe that's part of why they dropped the minimum length limit on spotted bass (which are not stock at all by anybody in TB) in an effort to reduce the overall numbers of spots in TB. I think Fla bass in TR would not work to well since Fla bass get so turned off by cooler water. They seem to semi shut down. TR has tons of pressure. Guide boats are certainly part of that number. I'm really not sure why so many people fish TR since it is so unrewarding most of the time. Tell me again how TR got the rep as being one of America's "BEST" bass lakes.

Cool. There are still a few trout in the Norfork. As an ignorant newcomer, I'm happy that I have nothing to re-learn. I'll just learn it for the first time this summer.

I have not heard that. Maybe Larry will chime in as he is usually well aware of all the info.

You could have zeroed.

I went again today. Better conditions but not better fishing. I used to think I halfway knew how to fish. I guess I know a lot less than I thought. I should have tried the Cranfield area. I couldn't have done much worse.

Launched down at Quarry. It was warm enough for shorts and Teva's, but the water wasn't warm enough for swimming. Main lake is near 60 and I saw water as warm as 68 back in the creeks. Water is so high that it makes it hard to fish the banks especially the banks I want to fish. I saw bass in beds in multiple creeks. I also saw fair numbers of fish cruising the shallow water. I did a lot of looking and some fishing. Bluebird skies did not help my catching. I did get a few bites though. Fish seem to be scattered which is not a real shock when you have an extra 28 foot of water. Weather is supposed to be bad tomorrow which should help the bite if you are crazy enough to be out there. Anybody else fishing Norfork?

Actually thyey have been running mush less than a full two UNLESS I have a chance to fish and then they run a full two. Right now they have less than a full one going on Norfork and a little while ago thay had NONE going at BSD. Of course, I am at work.

Watch the Baxter paper or have cash in hand and stop anywhere you see an obviously neglected boat and offer to buy it.

SWAG there will be too much water already and the potential for a MASSIVE rise while you are on the river. I wouldn't do it on a dare, but that's just me.

Hey Phil: I've driven across that bridge a time or two, but I did not notice a boat ramp. I have a G3 as well, but mine is a little bigger hat the one you guys were in so I'll definitely need some kind of ramp, Is there a boat ramp there or in that little area south of the bridge? Also how far is safe to ease it up the river above the bridge befoe you get into an area with a hard rocky bottom? I'm willing to idle with a motor trimmed up and watch my depth finder. I really don't want a broken lower unit and a prop rebuild.

I'm ok with folks getting there late. I'm ok with folks staying up and talking around their campfire. I start to get annoyed after midnight when some James Taylor wannabe is singing and beating on an acoustic tyring to get with whatever hippy chick is handy. I don't want the cops involved, but I would love the park ranger to shut em down or run em off.

Not a Bass Cat guy, but I sure wouldn't mind having a Pantera II. With the cost of a new boat/motor and gas being > 3 bucks a gallon most of the time, I'll stick with my G3. I'm staying off the lake at least until after the Bass Cat tourney. When the lake begins to fall, the debris should move towards shore and make the big water safer NOT SAFE but safer. I really hope what I've heard is correct. I've heard that there will be a very gradual draw down which should equal a GREAT spawn and good numbers of fish for the years to come. Woo Hoo sounds great to me !

You could yak, but I Seriously doubt you'll catch any smallmouth above the mouth of Crooked Creek. If you want to try the White for smallies go down to the section around Sylamore Creek. Give it time to drop and clear though.

Hey Terry. I spoke with someone who was there and photographed the two story log cabin hit the bridge. The house went down stream in much smaller pieces. It was pulverized rather than just had the roof sheared off. He said it was very surreal.

Not really CB. Just change the fish to Ozark Bass or Rock Bass. You might need to keep 4 instead of two, but I heard they are tasty. I'll do a personal taste test in April.

I take my children frequently. The fish are there. Lots of fish of all sizes. Some folks guide there and do move looking for the big ones only. I don't think it is necessary, but moght be the way to go if you are looking to get your youngin the fish of a lifetime in one trip. I do even use a sizes tippet. I use a short piece of 10 lb green mono. The fish don't seem to be tippet shy. I really suggest at less a #14 hook. The 16's and 18's get bitten, but it is really hard to land a fish of LARGE size in the bar fight conditions of DRC. Take a plastic bag to pick up the garbage of the slobs. It sets a good example for your children and the place needs some TLC. Take a camera. Take a net desined for bass. Leave that traditional trout net at home. It really is an unbelievable place.

Hey Phil: I'd be happy with one smallmouth over 18 inches a day on the lower Buffalo. I'm not sure how AGFC is gonna make those brown fish bite my lure, but I look forward to my next trip.

Dang it Al! I'll be down at Toledo Bend that weekend chasing those old green bass.