Ham

Hey that's cool Larry. I wasn't looking to cash in just trying to avoid getting myself in a jam helping out. I thought the hooks looked a little "tested" also.

I'll keep my eyes open for them in the tackle shops I stumble through. How much are you willing to pay for them if I find any? I'd rather not buy a dozen rainbow trout rogues for you @ $6.00 each and find out you don't want them for $6 each. Worse case scenario is have some painted up for you. Some of the companies will run a batch for you, but they typically want you to buy quite a few (like 144 or so). PM me with size or model information. I might have some contacts.

Before moving up here, I tried a lot of the frogs on the market. For me, I'll fish Spro Bronze eye frogs > 90% of the time and Snag Proof Bobby's Perfect frog the rest of the time. I will only fish them on braid (50-65 lb). I love a frog bite, but watch what you're doing because snakes, owls, herons, and (where present) gators will attack them as well. I need to try the Bronze eye Jr's on the creeks come mid summer.

Nice fish.

Flatheads have the reputation of being the best tasting of the catfish and taste good even when large. I would err on the side of caution and selectively harvest the smaller flatheads (< 10 lbs) and let the bigger fish go to reproduce and thrill someone else. I've caught a few flatheads while bass fishing, but have not chosen to kill any that I have caught. I tend to keep the smaller channels and blues for eating. Again, I prefer to keep the smaller fish becuase I believe they taste better.

Awesome fishing. You da man.

You need to tweak your poll by adding Yes and No options to the questions. I think it will let you edit it. Yes, I've used furled leaders. They offer some advantages. I would suggest you get ones that have the steel ring to tie to OR tie a knot to keep the 3 part loop intact. I has a untimely failure with a home made one a friend gave me which cost me a clouser minnow and a BIG White bass. Other than the start up cost, I didn't have any complaints.

Hey Wrench : I don't know for sure, but I would bet it would take at least 18 pounds.

Try going just a tiny bit further south to Bull Shoals sometime. Very similar views with a LOT less boat traffic.

You da man Larry. I fished Monday. I got held up a LONG time by the fog and the fact that I foolishly choose to launch down lake from where I wanted to fish. I got a few bass on sticks and a lot of whites ona jig. I played with the white for about an hour before getting back to business. I trailer down lake to meet up with a friend and we caught a LOT of crappie down lake.

I don't understand why there will have to be physical changes made to the dams that will cost money AND I certainly don't understand why they have t compensate the power company for running minimum flow. BUT yes, its pork and no, I'm not for spending that money at this time. The White river is already world class. I'm not sure it being a little better is going to draw in ANY additional people to fish this area.

I got a look at a Topwater the other day it looked like a real nice boat, but again it is a fairly simple design and most of those style boats are gonna be a workable machine for most fishermen. I need more time in one before I would be able to say what changes I would make it I had a magic wand. I'm am sold on my jet though. I didn't know I would enjoy one as much as I have but even that is a compromise. I never have to worry about ruining a prop, but there are differences in sterring. Prop motors are easier to steer and act as a keel for the boat. Again, LOTS AND LOTS of used boats out there. I guess if I had my choice I'd have about three boats. A smaller boat with a 10 HP for the Buffalo. A 48 inch with a propr for high flow. I 48 inch with a jet for low flow. Heck, I'd like a drift boat too. None of that is gonna happen though. I'm keeping what I have.

I'd tend to blame that bait more than that hook. Were you dead sticking it? This time of year dead sticking is a great way to get a bite, BUT it's tough to tell exactly when the fish getsthe bait and they will often swallow it. Other than a circle hook, lots of them will be gut hooked regardless of hook used. I fish those 3 inch senko style baits on a circle hook. I fish the 4 inch and 5 inch tex posed with a hook very much like the G lock or I wacky rig them. Good Luck with the fly rod. I need to use mine more this year also.

You're right Bill. Everybody loses fish and you weigh in what you way in. I would have had more if I hadn't lost my big one, but other guys might have lost too big ones so...shut up already. BUT I'm gonna call BS a little bit. I remember you citing the need for TR to be a healthy fishery for the sake of the local economy well those FLW and BASS tournies bring in a TON of money to the area. I've had those big tournys come to my home water and I know how annoying it is to have all your spots wrapped up and a lot of fish get sore mouthed. Tons of boat traffic and the fish feel the pressure to be sire. They'll be done in a little while and the fishing can get back almost to normal. They money they leave behind will help a lot of folks out plus the free publicity ain't bad either. Still, I'm glad they are up there rather than down here.

I tend to like St Croix rods. I have several Premiers that I think are nice rods. Certainly good enough for creek fishin. I have several Avids which are nice rods as most are in that price range. I was interested in the Mojo series UNTIL I picked one up. They felt REALLY tip heavy. More so than most rods. I know a reel on it would have changed that a bit. I know balancing can be done, but gosh shouldn't the folks at St Croix done that before they released them? I think I'll stick with what I've got for now. I've never fished a Triumph, but what I've heard is they are Premiers made overseas so the production cost is lower.

Try to swing by Blue Ribbon Flyshop and pick up a free map that shows you the roads to the different access points. They have some ideas about what has been working lately as well. Quarry Park immediately below the dam on Lake Norfork is a little more centrally located than Bull Shoals State Park. You might could contact Rim Shoals and ask them if any primitive camping oppurtunities exist in that immediate area. Smallies can certainly be caught in the creeks right now as you've shown us, but the fishing is slow compared to other times of the year. I'm not sure how long you'll be staying, but if it was me, I'd probably focus on trout for this trip.

LC Pointer 100's, LC Flash Minnows, Spro Mc Stik, Daiwa TD Minnow I've got too many.

Thanks OG.

Man, you sure are willing to drive to catch fish. Good for you. Best of luck this weekend. Are you going to stick to the flyrod or are you going to use baitcasting / spinning gear as well?

My map of the East section of Bull Shoals shows the area above the Hwy 160 bridge on the Theodosia arm "Closed to all activity from 11/1 to 3//31". That's really the time I would be MOST interested in fishing that area. I would appreciate additional information about this. Who set those regs in the first place? Why are those regs in use? Is that notation on my map accurate ? Thanks for any and all help on this.

I've used Elken Lures as well. Good stuff and good prices. Email him and describe exactly how your fishig etc and he can make very experienced suggestions. He has an extensive amount of stuff available. Steve is a good guy too.

I like em all. Anything over 16 inches is really nice. A smallie over 18 is big. Any smallie over 20 you'll want to commit to memory, take pictures, and call your friends.

I love how government works. They spend money to stock em and then pay us to catch them. I'm half serious. I know they want to see how the fish survived and how they have spread out. I have read that catfish are struggling in the Buffalo, but catfish seem to be doing fine and dandy in Crooked Creek. I wonder what the difference is?

If i remember right and heard it correctly, they caught several very large fish and one monster brown.

It is mostly moonscape at low water right now. I hope it helps. It ought to make things more interesting navigation wise at high flow.