Ham

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.

G.Loomis rods are very nice, but I don't think you really need to get that high end a rod. Unless of course you just want one. Look at the specs on line weight and lure weight then find a rod with the length and handle design you are comfortable with. I'm sure than many rods not labled for the shakey head technique would work just fine. I would be looking for 8-12 lb and 1/8oz to 3/8oz. I think most rods you would drag a Hula jig with would also work a Shakey Head.

:goodjob I believe you. Not to nit pick too much, but I would not have named the creek. Told my friends in person yes, internet no.

Thanks guys. I think I'll try a 7 foot one. I was at the MH wall world on HWY 62. They had 2 of them. Matal reel seat I think. Glad to see that Tim carries them at his shop. I might try to get mine there next time I get to RR. I have no real need for this rod and I need to protect myself from the winter crazies in which I buy gear I don't need.

I looked at the EC yellow rods at the world of wally yesterday. They had the 7' 5~6. I have tried to see what other models they offer, but my first round of online looking was unsuccessful. Do any of you guys have an idea where I can find a full list of all those yellow EC fiberglass flyrods currently available?

What general section of the river were you guys fishing? FWIW, I think a 22 inch Brown is a pretty nice one. Lots of places a 22 inch Brown is a BIG one. On the White River system, I guess it takes a 30 incher to be considered "BIG". Looks like a good trip and I hope you enjoy your pursuit of a BIG trout.

Channel Catfish were a part of the Buffalo and the cold water of the White has messed them up. I seriously doubt a stocking will be much more than a band-aid that has to be re-applied from time to time. I would favor a minimum length of 10 inches on smallies and total C&R on smallies above 14 inches, BUT there is no point to changing regs until you enforce the regs that exist now. People basically follow the law if they want to do so. I know first hand that lots of other states have much larger average smallmouth. Our waters are plenty fertile and loaded with food. It might be the genetics of the smallies we have that keeps them small, but I expect ot has more to do with the keep and kill crowd. We have lots of small mouth, but I wish we had a lot more > 14 inch smallies.

YEAH MAN! We invaded Mountain Home 8-15-07. A beach head has been secured. I've caught lots of trout (all four species) snd lots of bass (all three species on Norfork) and River Smallies too. I've purchased flyrods for both my kids and have them catching trout with recklesss abandon on Dry Run Creek.