Ham

Carried another load o crap to Bluff property. I threw my Coosa in the back of the truck after I unloaded and headed back to Baxter county to grab rods etc. everything takes more time then I wanted, but I eventually got on the water a few minutes after 1:30. I knew they were turning on the water btw 4 and 5 PM. I had my wife meet me at the confluence at 17:30 I paddled from QP down into Ling Hole before makkng my first cast. Unusual amount of restraint for me, but I knew I had to manage my time well. I csught several really nice fish at the beginning of the catch and release. Lost what I believe was s pretty nice Brown. Barbless. Dropped down into the pool with McClellands and things got really interesting. The numbers were not off the charts, but the size was. I hooked and after a lengthy fight landed the biggest Rainbow I have ever caught. Alone with no net and an active desire to not injure The she beast. I didn't want to put her on rocks or in my yak. It was large enough I tried to grab her above her tail and get my phone out. She found s second when and shook free and shook the hook too. Kept catching until a boat worked its way up from below. Time to move down anyway. Next spot down I caught several more XL bows and then got a beast Cuttie. Fought hard. I got a photo eventually. Eased along and caught another big bow and another big Cutt. Dropped below Otter Creek and caught nice Cutts on back to back casts. WTH? Kept an eye on the clock, worked my way along. Caught a 13 inch Brown. Caught a 10 inch Bonneville Cutt. Got to my takeout at 5:29. I got 40 trout to hand. Lost 10 others I had hooked. Tremendous short trip.

I do know when a mean mouth will show up. Every freaking time you go fishing. As far as I know, I've caught exactly one of them from Lake Whitney in Texas. I've caught more than a few smallies from BSL, but none of the, look like the critters you catch.

That's great man! Now I just need to decide if I want you to be a panfish guide at BV or a mean mouth guide at Big M.

I have a few years minimum before I am in the market to upgrade my existing boat or replace my beloved Bass Cat, but I will be watching for practical reviews of the Ulterra and Ultrex.

Barring some time of healthcare issue, that's never going to happen to me. Not for ANY reason I have any control over.

I had some tail grabbers last time out.

Alas, the one I have has a brownish back over silver. I'm pretty sure it isn't one of the smaller sizes.

Current River

Has anyone ever told you that you have a mean streak?

I can't imagine not fishing at least 3 times a month (and 3 times a week is better). I hope you get more fishing time this year.

I love braid on spinning, but the added casting distance that I get with Nanofil makes the difficulties worth it to me. YMMV.

I think I have one of those Excalibur Shad R's in a baitfish pattern if you're interested, Lol.

Well KJ, we share some similarities. I fish for everything. As a result, I have catfish stuff, crappie stuff, salt water stuff, white bass stuff, all kinds of fly rod stuff, walleye stuff, jig pole stuff, lure manufacturing stuff, and BASS stuff. part of my problem is having a pathological desire to never be short of something I need to catch fish. i have a canoe, kayaks, trout boat, and a Bass Cat. So I tend to have some duplication rather than having to resort every time I'm going to use a different water craft. I need to sell some stuff.

Well KJ, we share some similarities. I fish for everything. As a result, I have catfish stuff, crappie stuff, salt water stuff, white bass stuff, all kinds of fly rod stuff, walleye stuff, jig pole stuff, lure manufacturing stuff, and BASS stuff. part of my problem is having a pathological desire to never be short of something I need to catch fish. i have a canoe, kayaks, trout boat, and a Bass Cat. So I tend to have some duplication rather than having to resort every time I'm going to use a different water craft. I need to sell some stuff.

You'll catch some fish for sure, but I don't have much to offer. Water temps never got below 40 degrees. So they will still bite, but I would not expect the big numbers for March/April/May/June. Ive been busy on rivers. I "guided" my daughter, my son, and a friend of their's on the White yesterday. We didn't knock it out the park, but everybody caught fish. A mix of fly rods and Zig Jigs.

You did a great job at the helm and we were smart enough to allow plenty of time to cross back to our launch area. If you remember, that was a lousy bite. Bluebird BS. We went extreme finesse to get the few bites we could. I think we Carolina rigged that roadbed before we left for the day and caught a few. Much easier to launch were you want to fish at Toldeo Bend than at Big Sam. I suggest we stick to Toledo Bend and shoot for getting you a 10 pounder in 2018.

The exodus from Baxter County to Marion County has begun. I am moving my fishing gear. Tons of memories flash to my mind as I move stuff I'm not actively use anymore, but the overwhelming thought is good grief why do I have so much stuff. So much stuff. I hope to use this as an opportunity to organize, use what I have before I buy more, share with friends, and sell off some stuff. I mean I'm not as bad as Super Dave, but gee whiz.

Plenty of places at BSL to look for them. From the dam to Diamond City, all the main lake stuff is likely smallie territory.

The worst waves I've ever personally been in were on Sam Rayburn. Springtime trip I took with cajunangler in his Cajun Ricky Green Fisjing Machine. He did a great job getting us back across the lake safely, but I did not enjoy a minute of it at all and hope never to have to deal with those kinds of waves ever again. I have a hard time guessing how big the waves were from trough to peak. 6-8 foot would not be an exaggeration. The boat was disappear down in the trough and there would be a wall of water on all sides of the boat much higher than my head. Pretty creepy.

I've fished multiple BASS and FLW events. Everybody out runs the Nitros.

Lol, you don't want to experience August in Louisiana then

You getting mauled by a bear comes to mind.

Don't know the "hole" story. Weather may have been an issue as well. If I had water coming in like that, I would get the boat moving forward to reduce water coming in and give pumps time to work and then try to affect repairs on the fly. sucks for them though

I think they are still really slow boats