Devan S.

I started to write this same thing. Not to mention the thousands of anglers on every lake casting a line keeping those walleye vs. the very small population that spearfish and the fact they get to keep half the daily limit and they have to abide by a season.

I would like to see some of these seat ideas. I am planning on running the MR340 in July in my Buffalo canoe and a seat modification is in order. I know 340 miles over days non-stop is much different from a simple day float but I need somewhere as a starting point.

Interesting. Is there many small mouth caught down lake say a month or so after something like this? You would think with the amount of gate activity over the last 10 or so years coupled with the primary interest in trout on Taney that there would be some really good resident small mouth living down lake.

Are these fish resident fish? If no do they move up in an event like this? If so how far are they moving up from?

You are correct. I'm pretty sure one can go up the Kings past MO/AR sign at 915' but with no marker(to my knowledge) to determine where that line explicitly is then how do you determine how far you can go? Add in flood pool and I would certainly see where someone could get quite a ways past 915' and think they are covered. I know James River is covered as there is a defined point but I don't know that they are all that clear. What about Long Creek and major creeks on Bull Shoals?

It is also my understanding that it only cover impounded waters therefore going up the Kings River once you cross into Arkansas you would no longer be in impounded waters and therefore the permit does not apply in that area. Its not explicitly stated and is a somewhat grey area due to fluctuations with lake levels but could get someone in trouble chasing whites or walleyes. If this is wrong please correct me.

Planning on heading out Saturday looking for walleye. Does anyone know how far down lake the ice is on the kings arm? I know my last trip over the 86 bridge at Carr Lane there was ice as far as I could see but does it extend past Hickory Hollow or Jakie cove? Would I be better off heading toward Eagle Rock and up the white? Is there ice at Beaver town? I know there will be quite a bit melt between now and then but knowing where its at now would help decide later.

I had a similar problem that plagued me for months. I would go out one time and end up with 3-4 gallons. Go out the next time and it would only be wet. Couldn't figure it out for the longest time. Finally ripped everything out of the bilge and put the boat in the water and just sit in a cove. Nothing ever got wet. Started the boat and ran down the lake a ways check the bilge and it has water in it. Finally opened the bilge area and checked it while running and my transducer was spraying water up onto the cables and it was running down through the grommet in the top of the hull. Adjusted my transducer and haven't had a problem since.

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.