Ham

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.

I'm going to be using 4 and 6 pound Silver Thread and/or BPS Xcel. I think any decent line will do. The problem I had with Tectan is a seemingly inability to withstand abrasion. Part of the problem is the extremely thin diameter of Tectan. Since there is so little diameter to begin with any tiny nick leaves you vunerable. You could go up to an 8 pound Tectan and have the diameter of 4 lb anybody else and probably have a lot less "bad" spools, but then you're paying 3 times as much for a line of that same diameter. You might want to try P-Line CX Premium. It is fluro coated, but still pretty supple. Alledgedly, fluro is very weak when heated so be sure to wet you knots before tightening it down.

KT's did a lot better than the Mexican resturant across the street, but you'll have to get you BBQ somewhere else for awhile. I heard from the Bro in Law of the owner than they will be rebuilding so don't give up on them.

I don't think we will be getting one. I think they decided to give mine to an illegal alien or someone who never paid taxes in the first place. We have two kids and pay a ton of taxes, but I think there is an income ceiling and we make too much money to "deserve" any of it back. We'll see, but it ain't gonna make me or break me either way. I think I would buy a bow mount hand control TM for the trout boat I'll be buying soon.

I have a book that mentions dividing the fly size by 3. I use 4,5, and 6 most of the time.

Is there any further word on the whereabouts of those people originally listed as "missing"?

I fished the other day when the sunrise temp was 13. I started fishing at 18 degrees and I think the high for the day was 25. I wore breathables with fllece wader pants under my jeans. Truly I say to you that the only thing that got cold was my hands. And Yeah, I caught trout. I don't figure I'm gonna fish single digit weather so I have no need for neo's.

I'm worried about Steve Dally and his family. Mountain River Fly Shop is very close to businesses I have heard were heavily damaged. Steve had mentioned they were in the process of moving, but I would still guess they moved nearby.

Hey John, I think the word you were looking for is Crazier not better. Actually, my days to fish are limited by my work and home responsibilities so when I have a chance to go, I'm really motivated to go. If I had known it was going to gust to 40, I probably would have stayed home. That wind was crazy bad. Zebra midges and Y2K's.

Bugs were tryiong to hatch yesterday inbetween 40 mph gusts. I had two trout eat my indicator so I put on a Madame X and got one to eat it. I got a total of 12 to hand and 3 LDS. The wind never managed to knock me over and I wasn't killed by a tree top along the walk in trail soooo I'll call that a good day.

I really enjoy nymphing, BUT I'll be actively watching for signs of a hatch/fish high in the water column from now on.

I'm glad you had good weather to fish in while I was stuck at work. Was there any hatch at all? I think you helped me on the Norfork Thursday. I hooked my first couple of trout (cutts) on dry flies and have a much better understanding of what the dry fly fuss is all about. GREAT TAKES! Sometime, I'll see you at a shop or the sowbug or something and pick your brain about a basic selection of dry flys and sizes I need to carry. I had very few drys with me Thursday since I was not expecting a hatch and since number wise nymphing is gonna bring more fish to hand. I think the flies I had with me were the wrong size and I waited too long to get started, but I'll do better next time.

Hey Larry Speaking of Spring,Do you have any ideas about when I couold look for a white bass/walleye/ striper run up the main river arm. I expect White Bass run to be triggered my current flow, but I'll have to wait and see.