Devan S.

yep just need one from the group(there's 8 total categories black bass, crappie, bream, perch, catfish, trout, temperate bass, and miscellaneous). Weight is the only qualifier. Here is the entire listing and qualifying weights: https://www.agfc.com/en/fishing/masterangler/ I really think a fair number of them could be caught in the Ark. portion of TR or Beaver which are both close to me. However some of them likely become easier if your willing to travel a bit(trout in the white below bull/catfish on either the Arkansas river or Mississippi).

It is a border lake and I will likely catch several of my fish in other categories in the Arkansas portion just purely based on hours spent there. With the Bream though I have never targeted them that direction....I always go the other direction toward the main lake. I'm sure they are there but never have heard about people targeting them specifically in the river sections on TR. I'm gonna try because its quicker and easier but like to explore and have a place with a higher probability of success as a backup.

Quillback I may take you up on the BV lakes. Swepco is one I had not thought of. Right now I am trying to focus my efforts on locations where I could theoretically stumble into multiple species and Swepco certainly seems to fit the bill. There used to be some good bass fishing and catfishing to be had. Maybe I can turn it into a 3 species trip with a tub of worms and dropshot. I don't know how likely 8lb bass and 12lb cats are considering the pressure it gets but it might be worth trying a couple times and see what happens. Bob Kidd has come up in my Crappie search a couple times. My biggest problem is prime crappie falls right into all my other fish I like better so I just am not willing to give up ones for another....yet.

One of my fishing goals is to catch an Arkansas Master Angler fish in each category. Frankly I've got a good idea of locations to catch a fish in every category but the Bream and Crappie. Crappie I have some ideas but nothing that is going to be simple or without ALOT of trial and error(crappie need to be 2.5lbs). Bream I am all but lost on. I have good ideas in Missouri but just don't have the same knowledge base in Arkansas. I'm not asking for a honey holes but general directions would be appreciated. For example, if I was going to do this in Missouri. I would start in May on Table Rock and fish long runout points dropshotting crawlers. I've thought about doing it on Beaver but I am not sure if the Gills setup like they do there with the striper. Here is the list and size required for Bream I realize none of this is going to be simple or easy. Its going to take time and multiple attempts probably over years but I for the most part have all the other categories nailed down to what I think the best method is. I'm not afraid to drive if there is something that gives me a good chance but I don't want to be driving to chase 1 fish in southern Arkansas on a 10,000 acre lake. However the closer to SWMO the better. The good news is once I catch them you will probably never see me there again. I can go fill the boat with Gills on Table Rock in May through June with little competition in a much shorter drive. Right now here is my low confidence plan for Bream: The little nook outlet on blue springs appears to have quiet the population of what looks to be gills so try there or just float lower Kings river(warmouth) or the Beaver Town to Holiday island section and hope for the best. Outside that maybe stumble into something at either Big bass lake in Eureka or Lake Leatherwood.

I see the income disparity as huge as well but I really think its a train running downhill that's going to crash. Stock market has been on an absolute ride for a decade and many millionaires made with next to zero borrowing rate. That alone makes it a lot easier to fund a lifestyle. Add in that incomes can change in a heartbeat with a downturn and the mid-level fluff gets let go and you have a recipe that could be catastrophic. If these people aren't sitting on massive piles of cash(not funds in the market) then they wont be funding their lifestyle long. I firmly believe the next crash when, not if, it happens will likely be like nothing ever seen before. Those with those salaries now....but living on peanuts are likely the ones that will be okay and come out as the 1% on the other side.

Just took a stroll through a very busy roaring river. I assume all the trout parks will be normal if not busier than normal.

How do you like the piscifun stuff? Price is killer. I've been using a cheap 5/6 weight from wally world for white and been thinking of upgrading to piscifun stuff.

@Quillback I tried sending you a PM but it says unable to receive. I assume your inbox if full.

Seen a couple caught. I've been catching them here and there since December. See lots of eyes night fishing when I use my head lamp.

Launched at Houseman on the 26th approximately 5pm. Immediately went upstream and every single downstream boat said bite was tough. Searched and searched without a sniff until about 8:30pm and packed up and headed downstream. Fished until about 12 am downstream without a sniff. Made a call....going with confidence in a spot and presentation/bait. Let me tell you at 12am the tailwater is an empty place. Its just you, the fish, and lots of tail slapping beavers. Between 1:30-2am the switch was tripped....clouds broke up. Big bright moon and everything came together. 1st fish was a shorty but confirmed my confidence. 2nd fish was a shorty my co-angler caught. Double confirmation. 3rd fish was 23" Brown Trout my co-angler caught. 6.3lbs. Made a slight adjustment in location and the race was on. Figured I finished the night with something along the lines of 10 fish- kept a limit. . Co-angler did not have the same tools as I had and it mattered last night. After my limit was secured, we switched gear but the fog was starting to dim the lights shined from above. He finished with 2 keepers and maybe 5 fish total. Although the 6.3lb brown made up for the lack of numbers. About 4am I caught my personal best brown and inched even closer to my personal goal. 24" and 6.1 lbs. Just barely got beat on big fish of the night by a shorter fatter fish. Loaded the boat about 6am today in pea soup fog after a very long slow boat ride back to the ramp. Tired, sleepy, back achy but will do it all again very soon.

Tuesday there was still fairly large areas of ice in the eagle rock area of table rock. Yesterday when I went across the main lake at Eagle Rock looked very clear. The little cove right next to the 86 bridge still had ice about half way back. I would wager to bet by Saturday anything still ice covered would be a very narrow protected coves.

I just went to google maps and used the measure feature. The circles are just points I dropped to approximate the channel.

I'm not familiar with the area but took the regular map and spit balled 8 to 14. 20 miles +/- a couple.

Fished a busy Parker bottoms Saturday for a short time. Managed a couple small rainbows and couple small browns. Buddy caught a nice 17" rainbow and I stuck this nice brown in the same spot. Didn't get a good length but weighed 3.5lbs on my scales.

Ice has not moved much at Eagle Rock today. I'm sure its melting but its A LOT thicker than I thought. Water is wet at Beaver town upstream. Up Kings- Sweetwater was frozen solid and the area just off the bluffs was 3-5" thick. We couldn't bust through with 10-15lb rocks thrown on it. Running river at Romp hole but frozen at a minimum to the state line.

I'd certainly rather get on a plane and go do it then do it here.

Rolled over the Eagle Rock Bridge today. Broken ice all around from the swimming area down to the submerged island/point across from RR. Upstream looked solid frozen. Past the mouth of RR looked wet. 3 hours later and a lot more wet than frozen. That sun is working it over good.

I agree its small comparatively but the SPP release said they were 641MW short. TRL at 10am was only running 130MW giving another 70MW which is 10% of the shortage right there. BS was 340 so they were 50 MW short as well. I'm sure there is some level of explanation(maybe maintenance). Just seems like over 14 states.....maybe there was 641 MW not utilized? Added: looks like at 7am were back to level 3 and neither project TRL or BS is running capacity. Hopefully at the 8am updates they will be.

I assume SPP gets some(if not all) of its power from SPA which controls generation on the white river chain. Found it interesting that they are NOT running full generation today during that late morning to mid-afternoon time.

I figured that was at least part of the case. Looks like they are doing rolling blackouts across TX/OK right now. Surely its at a point that its really peak capacity if they are willing to go to blackouts in the middle of the weather like it is. Does bring up some good points about electrification and a path forward for the future.

I do remember them......as I recall it was very dry at the time and I don't remember any cases of ice or snow of significance with it. Maybe flurries? I don't recall talk of natural gas delivery issues and/or electrical co-ops being at peak usage and asking users to be cautious about power usage either during that times. Saw on FB this evening the Southwest Power Pool is declaring an energy emergency alert and asking all utility members to conserve energy for the next 48 hours. Don't get me wrong its cold and the wind sucks but seems like a lot of extra going on beyond the bring your pets indoors, check your neighbors, have an emergency kit, and don't expose skin that you normally get when it gets cold from the news.

I am seeing all sorts of news online about high demand on electric systems and electrical co-ops asking users to be selective about power usage and to cut down. Natural gas limitations from CU in Springfield related to freezing wells in OK, TX, ect. Switched on the propane peak shaving air systems for the first time ever. Seems like a lot is being made about this but I have to think this isn't the first time its ever gotten this cold for this long. I'm a pup by most regards but I remember in the 90s having to ride around in the winter and chop ice with my dad for the cattle. Something I haven't had to do in 7+ years. I actually still have a 2ft diameter hole in my spring fed pond the cattle have managed to keep open themselves. Don't get me wrong, I was out this morning pre-daylight checking ponds and feeding cows spent most of the day yesterday prepping outside, I know its cold and the wind is brutal but is it really that cold out or has the last 10 years or so of "mild" winters really made us forget about winter?

Anyone know the weight on that boat? I really like this idea for 2 guys and fishing or longer float trips vs. a canoe.

I admittedly half heartedly watched the game. My passion for the popular sports just isn't there anymore. I took a lot more pleasure in the half dozen people on my facebook that 100% swore off NFL football 2 years ago due to the kneeling. They were complaining and posting every 5 minutes about the refs and how KC was getting screwed. C'mon Karen.....you mean to tell me your support of the KC Chiefs yesterday was stronger than your support for the military 2 years ago?

He was wrong at the moment he said Covid numbers continue to rise. New daily cases have been dropping dramatically for at least a couple weeks.