Devan S.

I've been looking forward to my yearly westward trout trip for months at this point. Plan was to fish the southern Sierra's, finish off my California Heritage trout challenge, and finish off my Western Native Challenge for all states except Alaska. I had not done the amount of research I normally do but knew we had plenty of time to pivot if we would need it with few targets and all being reasonably close together. Little Kern Goldens, Kern River Rainbows, and California Golden Trout. Landed in Vegas about 1 am Saturday 8/26. Caught a few hours of sleep then burning a trail across the desert to the mountains. Original plan was straight for the California Golden Trout but we decided at last minute to pivot and work West to East. Up into the mountains we went higher and higher along the mainstem of the Kern river. Dropped in right away at first trailhead to good fishing for Little Kern Goldens. What they lack in size, they make up for in color. A very short hike to find fish. That fish turned out to be my big fish of the trip. We all 3 caught more fish than we cared to count in just a couple hours of fishing. Also got our first wet muddy boots in the meadows. Fishing mostly in a burn scar and many, many trees we thought could fall anytime in the wind. We decided not to sleep here and head down a curvy road to town.

Checked off North Dakota and South Dakota last week on family vacation. Outside Oklahoma and Alaska/Hawaii I'm now complete with everything west of Missouri. South Dakota there is a lot of options in the black hills. North Dakota was in Camels Hump Lake just outside Theodore Roosevelt NP. Really the only shot in ND is stocked fish.

I got pulled into the social media hype. Been seeing lots of big cats caught at the Lock and Dam on facebook so I headed down Saturday. Water is big-150k cfs. Main river is ripping but generation was non-existent. I wandered down the generator side trying to get as close as I could to where the current and slack water met. I got there.....setup on the big concrete rip rap. Fished big bluegills never had a bite, lost some tackle. Such is my life and the Arkansas River Tailwaters. Lots of people out fishing but I did not see anyone catch.

@rps I'd sure be interested in what you know about this bend. Upstream from Beaver but downstream from cow patty. Its a long deep section but I never see anyone really fishing that area.

I've thought of heading there or way back in Indian where it splits. Of course with the predicted water, I may just set out in front of the dam and hope for a big blue to be in the area sucking up whatever gets pulled his way.

Man what a fish....I really think I am setting myself up for failure. I will say the comment about baits right above bottom is tough. Lots of water in the dam area that is 60+ feet deep.

I just don't know of a spot in the dam area of Beaver that I have enough confidence in to sit still in(now that dam site day use is only day). I have a lot of spots I would drop jugs and drift though.....so that is what I am operating like....except I am pulling them slowly. One thing for sure....its pretty at dusk.

Been catfishing the last 2 nights in the dam area. Friday I was shore bound at the dam day use area setup about 1 hour before dark. Park ranger ran everyone out about 30 minutes after dark. Apparently day use really means day use only now. Put livers under balloons and let them drift along the rip rap 6-8ft. down. Last night I fished from hour before dark until 11pm. Started out around the island on the big hump in the middle of the lake. Started up wind and let the balloons drift over the hump about 8ft down. Once it got dark the wind settled, and I put the trolling motor on slow and drug the balloons along the drop and then along the island staying in between 30 and 20ft. of water along the bank @ .3 to .5 mph. I had one good bite in the cut along the island but it didn't fully commit enough to stay hooked. Today I went and got some bream and put them in the stock tank so I have live bait ready. I have no idea what I am doing here but I am determined to catch a good catfish on rod and reel but I am just not a set and wait type person. If anyone has better methods or tips let me know. I'm primarily stuck towards the dam area because its a long ride home late at night.

3" due east of the Eagle Rock Bridge. Lower Roaring river is up and muddy. Park was not ripping...yet. There was some flow in dry hollow just hasn't come way up yet.

I am currently a size queen when it comes to fishing....no if and or buts about it. This logic speaks to me. I've spent thousands to go west and trout fish and will do again, and again, and likely again. Something about the scenery and exploration that adds to the costs but I cannot get the same here so west I will go. Have spent hundreds chasing a 2.5+ Crappie. I don't have the gear(live scope + PP brakes) nor the fishery in my backyard to make it a reality easily. The offset is that nearly every time I get really close and bring home a bunch of filets. Have considered spending $1k on White river brown trout but have not pulled the trigger. I need a better river rig to access other spots otherwise I wouldn't even consider. Have spent hundreds on river catfishing trips....again...its a location and confidence. I just don't trust my equipment in that bigger river scenario. Would probably not consider spending on walleye or striper. In backyard and feel like sufficient chance + equipment. If I was interested in bass....10/10 would spend. However I could care less about bass. Edit to add: I scanned through the article. The discussion about guides and O.H. Ivie, which is where I expected the whole article to go, was about 2 paragraphs of the entire article. After review, 90%+ of the article is more about private club membership and private personal lakes and effort to grow fish. Both expensive endeavors but have benefits beyond just the double digit bass.

When I headed out for work there was 1 person pulling in the parking lot at Eagle rock. Mega surprised with the forecast that it wasn't jammed up at 7am when I went by. I met 5 boats between ER and Cassville on my way in. Figured up river is a zoo....may go sneak around in the dark over the next couple weeks.

Man that goggle-eye gets me excited. Need to make a run over there someday.

I'd sure like to know what they define the upper white.

If your not interested in trout....I'd skip houseman. I would not skip out on Beaver town proper as a location to put in and fish or camp either.

I launched at Holiday Island.....trip was 75% about checking the boat out after sitting dormant for awhile. Worked up river past Beaver. Jig and minnow in the normal spots....nothing. Dropped a BB with Mcstick 110 in clown over the side and right away fish on....right spot, wrong species. Trolled back to Holiday Island. Oh well everything seems to be in functional order so I am ready.

Question-I know most of the time when discussing bottom bouncing crawler harness we are talking about the 1mph range. If I want to run a jerkbait behind a bottom bouncer do you run the faster trolling speeds or drop down to those slow speeds? Or do you just vary speeds to find out what works?

No coffee here. Just a backpacking air mattress+sleeping bag and and icemule soft cooler as my carry on and I'm good to go nearly anywhere in the world.

You guys have a lot of good ideas. I like them. I'm leaning towards everglades and potentially rent a canoe.....if I can find something there. Haven't done research yet. In 2025, I'll probably go back to pyramid but XNA to Miami can be pretty cheap. Deal is this is likely a 3-5 day trip later in the year. That means getting in/out has to be reasonably easy. I'm likely to burn a day travelling going/coming. Depending on location, rent a small SUV and sleep in car. Cheap cheap fun fun. Shore bound or value guides are a ++. Sounds like we may need a 2026 OA Havasu-fest? I plum forgot about Louisiana.

I know nothing about this but Garrison Dam tailrace has come up multiple times as a must hit spot for big walleyes. Apparent big trout as an incidental catch. Releases tend to be big water but there is abundant bank access no idea how good it is.

Videos on youtube occasionally show people catching them on docks so maybe it is DIY possible but I don't know. Never really looked into doing it DIY but have thought about a guide a time or 2.

Is there something here different than say Beaver and/or Arkansas river? I want one on the fly in either Beaver or NFOW but that is really local day trip type stuff.

For the last couple years I have taken a long weekend trip to Pyramid Lake. I enjoy this trip for many reasons: Chance at a giant Easy to get too-Proximity to airport plus other amenities Easy to DIY Tons of lodging options I'm trying to come up with some other options that are similarly DIY and have a small starter list but thought I would throw is out and see what others have. I'm really looking for things I cannot do locally unless its just miles better somewhere else: -Ice fishing-little more difficult due to equipment but rental houses and gear make it possible and I've done similar before. -Havasu red ear. Probably not a DIY but a guide trip I am guessing. If anyone has tips to make it DIY I'm all ears. -Everglades-Difficult to DIY need a canoe likely. A bit of danger. -Miami/South Florida canal fishing-Seems to be reasonable -Pike/Musky trips? -Oddball species that might be fun?

I'd add there's several miles at any water level of productive water at dam site through the scuba park.

I believe he passed away back in early 2023.

I don't overly care about snow one way or the other. The biggest downside of snow is the mud afterwards. It's only day 2 and I am 100% over it.