Devan S.

Way back when the browning air stream rod was mentioned I bought one for a crappie rod. I kept telling myself I needed to buy another because I liked it so much. Now that I've committed to buying one I can't seem to find them. Google shows up nothing promising. I'm planning on visiting Johnny World on Saturday to look. Any other obscure tackle store that might have one? What about something that is close in function in the same price range?

This is exactly the tips I am looking for. I've been worried I was doing something wrong.....appears is similar to jerkbait for bass just depends on the fish more or less but you all seem to be working it like a jerkbait not a crank bait. I've never ventured above fall creek but I'm basically duplicating the areas below fall creek(bluff and along the banks). Sounds like I need to suck it up and venture up on past and explore.

I tend to try it with generation when its more difficult to use a jig without up sizing. I honestly have been fishing with more pause and that may be the problem. I don't expect to have high numbers but I would have thought up to now I would have lucked into something more than 1 although it was a nice 21" rainbow.

When you throw jerkbaits are you working them like a jerkbait or are you slowly reeling them? I've tried 2 times to dedicate to just using a jerkbait and my results are very limited. I've only caught one fish. I've had a couple follows back to the boat but nothing that would commit. I'm also assuming in the deeper section of the upper lake(between 65 and fall creek) your using countdowns to get extra depth? I know with jigs you want them way down in the water column is the thought the same with jerkbaits or will the bait pull those larger trout in?

I'll second the silicone ring. I wear mine 100% of the time and wife wears hers probably 75%. Haven't had anything happen when it made a difference but lots of people have ring incidents. I find the silicone much more comfortable working, hunting, and fishing.

I much prefer braid for trolling if only for the feel(love metered braid). I know that bait is working and can tell if I have trash on my bait and can adjust. Can also tell if I am ticking bottom well before I get really hung up. Are you guys dropping your drag way down low when your pulling cranks with braid? I like to set mine tight enough a bump from a crappie would release line but sometimes I worry that hurts me when your targeting something like walleye or whites.

Good to hear the report. Cats in the wild are really one of the coolest animals. I call for coyotes quite a bit in early fall and through spring. Only called in a cat once after hundreds of stands. They are sneaky and you wont see them until they are right there. Ive trapped quite a bit but something about a cat in action looking for a meal is quite the sight. We called this cat within 5 feet of the call(electronic foxpro) less that 10 yards from us. It set down and just looked at the call. Set there about 5 minutes watching before it decided something wasn't right and sneaked off. Really cool experience.

We had a great time up there. Yes the bugs are big and bad but I didn't think they were as bad as I expected. We stayed our day at Lake Itasca and thought the bugs were worse there than at Lake of the Woods. Caught all our walleye nothing huge a couple over 20 inches(jigs/minnows). Caught loads of 13-17" small mouth(Ned rig, grubs, jerk baits, spinner baits) Several northerns(grubs, jerkbaits, spinner baits). Had 2 decent opportunities on musky using large ploppers. Also pretty sure I could eat shore lunch for every meal.

Thanks for all the heads up. I feel like between the standard bass stuff I have(grubs, jerk baits, jigs, soft plastic) and the torpedos and mepps I picked up I feel fairly set. Hopefully a good time will be had and if nothing else it will be nice to relax for a few days.

Thanks MoCarp. I've got an assortment of mepps coming, have some jigs and torpedos. I'll have to pick up some leaders.

I'm spending a few days on Lake of the Woods and Lake Itasca area over July 4th. I was able to work out a deal with my wife 4 days of fishing/camping/hiking in exchange for 4 days of Mall of America. Due to the Mall of America and other detours, I'm limited on tackle choices/rod and reel choices. I'm also set up primarily for Crappie/Catfish/Bass/River fishing here in the Ozarks. I have 2 days of guided fishing at Lake of the Woods. They will handle tackle ect. but will have time to bank/canoe fish. Targeting walleye, pike, muskie, and smallmouth. What lures would you all recommend? Think as if I have nothing right now looking at medium/medium heavy spinning and bait casting rods/reels. Also any other places that are must see along the way? Hopefully this trip goes well and convinces the wife into multiple trips that way.

You might drop this on the table rock forum. There is a number of people that target walleye up that way. RPS has a ton of information on the Table Rock forum and he does spend quite a bit of time that direction(He will give very detailed reports on locations, fishing styles, ect.). Trolling and crawler harness will both present good opportunity. I catch quite a few on jerk baits right at dark or just after dark. I'm sure you could also use a spoon I just don't like fishing that way.

I've never been past Lilley's in my boat. At this level, I presume you stay in the middle and on plane to get to the cable. Any hazards one should know about to get that far up?

There is boulders at the end of the parking lot. Right now its probably not an issue but take the water down another 2-3 foot and it could be. There has been a number of rigs in the parking lot on the weekends when I go by so there is definitely people launching there successfully.

Went up to the cable last night. Got there about 7 and pulled out about 9(never fished anywhere else). Fished directly below the cable. Used Mcstick, Rogue, and smaller countdowns. Countdown was the ticket by far. Caught 3 crappie, one keeper bass, several bluegill, and had about 10-15 hook ups with trout but couldn't land them. Anyone else have trouble keeping trout hooked up on jerk baits like that? I had 2 good hits on the big rouge in the heavier current that came unbuttoned after just a few seconds.

With the releases being lowered, it looks like the gauge at the dam is reading about 708. Could one fish from the bank along the upper end throwing jerkbaits or is the water still high enough to be in the bushes and a lost cause without a boat. Not talking about wading or anything along that line just more of less a scouting mission where one might hop between 5-6 different spots to fish for a bit and have a chance at a walleye or decent trout.

If hadn't spent the last week travelling for work and didn't have a list of chores that need done with the nice weather I would be all over this.

2/12- Set out specifically headed way up river to look for walleye. Found a flat and marked quite a bit of fish on the way up. Stopped to pull cranks nothing. Found a lay down in 14' of water. First time over hooked up. Knew instantly it was big, 7lb walleye(6.96 on my scale). Trolled back over the same lay down several times(said 2 times in a row no fish and we would leave) caught several short bass. Wife caught a 21.5" largemouth, 18" white, and 11.5 crappie. Went up to bridge caught nothing else. I set my goal for 2017 to fish for walleye specifically and try to break the 5lb mark. First time out and one goal has been accomplished. Still gonna work on catching them through the whole year. Also big thanks to RPS for sharing the information he has. I am trying to duplicate patterns and locations up the Kings and learning almost every time out. 2/18-Once again after the walleye, all the way to dollar hole, nothing. Caught a catfish and 2 crappie between sweetwater and dollar hole. Pretty discourage but marked lots of fish on flat in same area as the weekend before. One the way back noticed 8-10 boats trolling the flat where we marked fish in the morning. Cruise though and caught 8 big whites and several short bass. Also got checked by the game warden. Ironically the flat cleared out once he showed up and started checking boats. Trolled flicker shads in various colors targeting between 15' and 25' of water.

2/12- Set out specifically headed way up river to look for walleye. Found a flat and marked quite a bit of fish on the way up. Stopped to pull cranks nothing. Found a lay down in 14' of water. First time over hooked up. Knew instantly it was big, 7lb walleye(6.96 on my scale). Trolled back over the same lay down several times(said 2 times in a row no fish and we would leave) caught several short bass. Wife caught a 21.5" largemouth, 18" white, and 11.5 crappie. Went up to bridge caught nothing else. I set my goal for 2017 to fish for walleye specifically and try to break the 5lb mark. First time out and one goal has been accomplished. Still gonna work on catching them through the whole year. Also big thanks to RPS for sharing the information he has. I am trying to duplicate patterns and locations up the Kings and learning almost every time out. 2/18-Once again after the walleye, all the way to dollar hole, nothing. Caught a catfish and 2 crappie between sweetwater and dollar hole. Pretty discourage but marked lots of fish on flat in same area as the weekend before. One the way back noticed 8-10 boats trolling the flat where we marked fish in the morning. Cruise though and caught 8 big whites and several short bass. Also got checked by the game warden. Ironically the flat cleared out once he showed up and started checking boats. Trolled flicker shads in various colors targeting between 15' and 25' of water.

wareaglecamo...fished Grenada last October the same way. Showed up to fish on Saturday to 30+ MPH west to east wind....guide said we can if you want but I have an opening tomorrow. Held off a day only to be greeted with 25+MPH winds. DIdn't have anymore days to spend so said lets do it. Winds had switched a bit more southwest to northeast so went to Enid. Pushing minnows/jigs in 8' water with 8 rods and probably caught close to 100 fish in the 10-11.5" range. Had 16 keepers(12"+) guide said it was a terrible day. I can only imagine what a good day would have been. Have seriously considered buying 4-16' rods to try and push jigs in the Kings after the crappie move off the bank and see if it would work just don't have enough guts to spend the money and make it happen.

I agree with Wrench.....the cost of the animals far out weighs the very minimal risk(unless your agent is your neighbor). Another forum i frequent predator masters had a post about them catching people at night from the air looking for lights and following trucks. (not Missouri but another state). I wish the state would at a minimum let us call and use shotgun or rimfire....Fox and Cats are considerably tougher to call in the daytime than the night.

https://huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/regulations/general-hunting-regulations Artificial lights Artificial lights may be used to hunt: bullfrogs green frogs raccoons and other furbearing animals when treed with the aid of dogs Landowners and lessees may use artificial lights on their property, but while doing so may not be in possession of — or be in the company of someone who possesses — a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife. Artificial lights may not be used to search for, spot, illuminate, harass, or disturb other wildlife than the above. You may not possess night vision or thermal imagery equipment while carrying a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife.

Nothing better than getting out and predator hunting after deer season. I'm convinced if I could stomach eating coyotes, bobcats, fox, and coon I would never deer hunt again.

Get news Muddy. Do you know if a permit will be required for launch through the winter months?

I went over the bridge Saturday.....I don't remember off the top of my head how low it was. Anyone that drives over would be able to see and tell. My guess is that the majority of the flat there is out of the water or within a foot or so. I think its usually 5-6' deep there and covered with brush. There is a channel there a bit deeper so you might be able to get through in a bass boat. You use to be able to launch right under the bridge(east side) with a 4x4 and small boat. I think someone has now blocked that off of course depending on your boat size you could alway carry it down from the other(west) side. The closest real boat ramp would be Hickory Hollow Resort. They are about 3 miles down stream from the bridge. Next closest would likely be upstream at the Romp Hole Access on the river(Arkansas side), likely too low for usage there unless your willing to drag a canoe. After that, it may be a longer distance boat ride.