Ham

How did she know what to get you ?

Was there any mention of techniques used to catch their fish?

I don't know the politics of it and I'm not sure of the causes of it BUT I'm pretty sure there is a problem. All the rugulars mentioned more fishermen and less fish. Apparently fishing has been very slow this year. Even if they close the fishing on the upper Norfork, the White river is right there. Generation is a blessing and a curse. It is nice having a secod option when they begin generating on the river you're trying to fish.

I fished TR on Thursday and Friday with my buddy Johnny Mitchell. Johnny lives in Nixa, Mo now. We fished up the James river arm. We started early and stayed late both days. We caught 27 bass Thursday (3 "keepers"-16 inch smallie, 16 inch spot, and a 15 1/2 inch largemouth). What a beeotch Table Rock is though. Lots of boats on every decent looking spot on a crappy weather Thursday and Friday. Conditions were fairly tough Friday. Not a fair weather fisherman day and there were still lots of boats out. crap. The 20-30 MPH winds made the lake fish small, but there still seems to be a lot of "intelligent" fishing pressure. Friday we caught about 20 bass, but only had one beat up largemouth that would have kept. We caught fish as shallow as 3 foot and as deep as 20 foot. We junk fished. I think we caught fish on 4 different crankbaits, 3 different topwaters, swimbaits, finesse worms, and jigs. We did not drop shot ans we did not carolina rig. I did not bring my drop shot stuff, but that would have worked in select areas I'm sure. I like to KNOW the spots before I drag out the DS rod as I don't see it as a search technique at all. It is a milk a fish out of a known SPOT for me. The fish were beautiful and I was thankful for everyone we caught. I spent hours fishing beautiful stuff and going fishless though. Table Rock is considered a Premier fishery ???

Well I'm back. I'm happy and bummed out all at the same time. Thanks to the help I received here and BRF and on the water I was pretty successful. I guess I caught between 15-20 nice sized trout. Mainly Rainbows. I landed one 12 inch Brown and a very fat 15 inch Brookie. I did not get my cut throat though. I lost a large Brown and a LARGE rainbow. I was stunned by the number of visible DEAD brown trout. I could see 7 from one spot. I was told by the folks around me that caught large Brown trout feet away from me that the Browns were very sluggish compared to he Rainbows. I don't know if that is a water quality issue or lamprey or being caught 1/2 dozen times or the rigors of spawning or what. I saw several fish in the process of dying come tumbling down Dry Creek from the limited access area. I was using size 18 mymphs (brown seemed better than olive) on 6x tippet. I used my 5 weight rod. I enjoyed watching my indicator, but I bet I could have caught fish w/o it. I did not catch any fish on a WB fished down and across even though with the conditions I had, it should have worked. I only fished Wednesday at Norfork. The fish were awesome, but I can see that I was part of the problem. I was befriended by the regulars that are there every year. I'd like to be part of that crew, but jeez I have met the enemy and we are them. I'll join the chorus for closed October through Feb or at least barbless artifical lures only above the new boat ramp. Could there be some habitat improvement projects to give the trout more holding areas ? Could something be down to revitalize the gravel? Quarry campground was nice. Weather was great for fishing. There were a fair number of guys fishing, but everyone was very nice. My Brookie was a beautiful surprize and made up for the large Brown I lost.

Lots of good line out there. Least expensive is Bass Pro Shops Excel. I've been using the 4 lb and 6 lb of late.NO problems with it trout fishing on the Spring river. I have used Silver Thread AN40 and Super Silver Thread for years in 6 lb to 20 lb. I got it inexpensively and it has worked well. I have no need to change. I currently am trying out some CX Premium on my crappie jig poles. I'm liking it so far, but early on. McCoy Mean Green is good stuff too, but their 6 lb is probably a 10 lb line marked as 6 lb. Tectan is high dollar and the thinnest line going, but it is an open water line. It CAN NOT hadnle the abrasion from rocks in the 4.9 lb size. If I'm gonna buy thicker line, I don't buy Tectan - I buy something cheaper.

Wow that's a bummer. I might ought to consider the White River, but I've gotten a good scare there once before when I got caught by generation. Long story. Hey Snagged I sure do appreciate the intell. I might plan a stop at Blue Ribbon on the way up for some flies and advice. I'm all packed and ready to go. I think I'll be able to skip town around 1000 -1100. My truck knows the way. Hmmm this might be the year I fish Taneycomo instead. When you say eels, I guess you mean lamprey (probably chestnut lamprey). I've only caught one fish with a lamprey attached in my life. Do folks C & R lamprey ?

I'm trying to catch up with some guys that I know that are there now. If it is like fishing at Roaring river, I'll only be there Wednesday. If I catch severeal BIG browns Wednesday, I'll probably roam as well.

Hey Guys, I'm finally making it happen. I'm heading up in search of a LARGE brown trout. I plan on fishing 10-25-06 and depending on how things go maybe changing to smallmouth on other rivers or even Table Rock after that. Is there much of a chance I'll find a tent camping spot there at the park next to the dam on Lake Norfork or should I consider another spot. I plan on fly fishing with a six weight. Does McClellands have a fly shop ? How much of a ZOO is the Norfork tailwater going to be during the week ?

Well CWF I'd guess then you wouldn't be happy at Lil Mo. Lower Mt Fork, Roaring River, Bennett Springs/Niangua, Taneycomo, or the Spring river. Heck you might not even be happy on the White River or the Norfork since sometimes the fishing is pretty close to easy there too.

$75 bucks seems high unless you play golf or run a boat with a big motor or fill up an SUV or ... If you can afford it and want to have an easy and successful trip, why not ?

Yak fishing is wonderful and horrible all at once. Opens up tons of new water, but you can't fish as well. Harder to detect strikes. Harder to get good hooksets. Any water safe enough to use an anchor probably is slow enough that you don't need an anchor. Just don't do it. Stick the boat in an eddy or on a gravel bar or wedge on a rock or wood. I often use the yak as a water Taxi and fish from foot in prime spots.

Is it possible to fish with spinning gear or baitcasting when they generate, and switch to fly fishing after generation stops. My very limited experience on the White River an the Lil Mo has been that once they start generation, it doesn't stop for HOURS.

pretty darn warm. Too hot to have fun fishing during the middle of the day. I'd still go if I wasn't mired in an endless number of days at work.

With the only difference being, that I didn't spook the shad on purpose. I didn't feel bad at all about fishing for the schoolies though.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here an assume that not a lot of folks C&R the Flatheads they catch. I just wish they would practice selective harvest.

Why would they stock the KR ? There are PLENTY of them ole brown fish in there. They should stock water instead. It is often in short supply on the KR.

I haven't been there and I haven't done that, but I would not have "automatically" known it was illegal. I have seen trout dart up to my feet on the White River, but I never thought to fish for them. My "big" boat has spooked a school of shad through the mouth of a run out and bass started schooling on them, I immediately attempted to catch as many of the bass as I could. Same thing or not ?

I've got to learn how to catch a carp or two.

I've got XM and I love it. I was hoping for an XM SIrrus merger, but my hopes are fading. I wish I had the NFL games, but XM has tons of other sports. I have the Dog bone shaped Boom Box and it the antenae for it is better than the one for my truck. I have first generation gear so the gear might have improved. I've had a lot of fun with my kids sharing the rock and roll I grew up with while in the car with them. Fred, Lucy, Flight 26, Ethel, and Fungus 53 get the most play in my car.

I'll do that trip one of these days. I'm planning on 2 nights on the river. I like the idea of October. Heck, my experience with Wayne is that he fishes SSSSSSSSSLLLLLLOOOOOWWWWWWWWWW, but maybe that's when he forgets the coffee.

Everytime I have been to RR, I get there late, I have to sign my kids up and fight getting gear ready, dodge the crowds carrying dead trout on stringers, AND STILL the fishing is great. The trout are numerous and LARGE. I'm using light gear so they pull like all get out. The staff at the lodge has been able to point me in the right direction. I spend a little money on gear there and catch trout like somebody that does it more often than I do. I really want to get by Tim's shop. I did buy some stuff over the phone from them. I have not used fly fishing gear at RR yet. Everytime I go, I see someone get hooked by a fly fisherman's back cast. I'd rather avoid that. One of these days I'll have to go with Wayne and we can fish the C&R area. I turn all my trout loose anyway.

Yeah me too. I wish I had known about the OAF last year.

Bobber, I'm ready to move north TODAY!. I'm just trying to do right by my children. They are both doing exceptionally well at a good school here in Minden. I have been looking at lots of listings on the internet. I'm come close to finding what I think I want a couple of times. I want to make one more move in my life so I want it to be the right place.

I've done the Spring river during the summer binge drinking period and I will not be back. I will not be on the Spring river between Dam 3 and Many Islands on any month between May and September. Below Many Islands. It is a different river. The Ozark Hellbender is doomed if it depends on the Spring river for its survival. The bad behavior demonstrated every weekend from May through September can not be overstated. I'm amazed there isn't a drowning every weekend. Enforcement of existing laws could make a difference.