Devan S.

Rod is a Bass Pro rod from the "Musky" section. 7'6" Heavy Power, Fast Action. Rated for 2-10oz. Reel is Ambassador C3 6500 Line is PP depth hunter 20lb. I've hung up 2x and both times I wrapped line around a cleat and managed to pull it free without breaking line. Really should get a knocker but so far I've managed. Hooks are whatever comes with the Captain Macks umbrella rigs. Rigs are 3oz. 4 arm, 9 baits each jig is 3/4oz. This is something I'm just making due with at this point. Its a lot of weight and the rod seems to be handling it. Its just a stiff rod and braid. Part of me thinks the correct way would be for me to switch to a line counter reel and use a mono to gain some shock absorption but the other part of me thinks that I should literally winch them in and never let them get a chance to use the weight of the rig to try and sling the hook.

Put in at Ventris this morning with the intent of running south looking for Striper. My boat has not been running correctly at WOT. It cuts out and sputters. I change my fuel line/bulb assembly last week so this was a test run. Right off the bat there was gulls diving mid-lake right off the boat ramp. I trolled through with an umbrella rig. During my first turn around my boat died like it was starved of fuel. I hoped it was the fuel line being pinched in the assembly between the boat and motor.. After pumping the bulb it re-started and ran fine all day but I did waste about 2 hours trolling worthless areas before I felt comfortable taking off and going farther. Eventually I made a WOT run between Horseshoe Bend Marina to 12 bridge without cutting out so looks like that was the issue. I did find a bunch of bait and stripers pushed up against a steeper bluff/large chunk bank from the wind. My first pass with an umbrella rig on the inside channel roll off yielded a 6lb striper and a small what looked to be white bass. I made 12-14 passes total without another bite. These are the first fish I have landed on an umbrella rig as the previous 3 or 4 hookups pulled off. I was beginning to think I needed a different rod to keep them buttoned. There was a lot of boats running but very little fishing taking place. WT 46 between Ventris and Horseshoe bend Marine.

I'm thinking in Oregon the Metoluis but I may not make it there in 2023....it maybe my 2024 trip, time will tell. Even then at 29 miles long and reasonable access its easy to break it down fairly fast once I get boots on the ground. The problem with Idaho is that it looks like almost every major system has them according to Idaho fish and game and everything out there seems to be a half day+ travel to get too. Again not completely conducive to 1-3 days. The Saint Joe River shows to have year round resident fish as well as migratory fish but its got 140 miles of river to explore not including every tributary that likely has some fish. The Clearwater and its forks offer hundreds more miles. I'm just trying to narrow it down a bit.

2023: UT/WY cutt slams. 4 states off my Western Native Trout Challenge(UT/WY/ID/MT) 2 new Arkansas Master Angler Species

I am hoping someone can provide some less known locations for Bull trout specifically ID or OR. I know the normal "broad" locations/drainages. I am hoping someone can narrow it down a bit more for me. Planning on going west again in 2023/24 and Bull trout in ID or OR is needed for my Western native challenge. There isn't a lot of information out there. While I may ultimately go for a full week for only Bulls in 2024, 2023 will be just a 1-3 day adventure along with other plans. Hoping to just tip the odds a few % in my favor. PM preferred.

Here is the update right at the finish line. I may get a trip or 2 in between now and the clock striking midnight but I've accepted my fate at this point. Here is my updated list: Gila Trout Apache Trout NM trout slam 1 level of Arizona trout challenge Both Levels complete 2 more Arkansas Master Anglers-Wasn't even close although I picked up 2 in Nebraska and 1 in NM. 1 trout park lunker(not RR)-Never stood a chance. Was a stretch goal anyways. I've got a couple more want-to's on the list but I'm not sure how travel will work out.- Travel worked out and was able to get Nebraska trout slam and Colorado for my western natives challenge. I really got farther than expected with completed NM, AZ, and Nebraska trout slams. I really figured I would come up short in AZ. I really thought I might stumble into an Arkansas Master Angler but they are very much about finding a higher percentage location and spending the time. I did get reasonably close with Walleye and Trout. Trout park lunker was a pipe dream that hasn't materialized yet. Just don't have time to commit.

The worst problem I've found is the amount of gear the rocks eats. Jerkbaits....lost a bunch. Jig/minnow....don't bounce them on the bottom. Add in its colder than heck and re-tying 40 or 50 times becomes a chore.

I've been to LD 13-3 times last year and skunked each time for sauger. Its highly intriguing to me. Will probably go back a couple times and may venture over to Ozark as well.

I put in at Ventris. Late start....we likely passed each other somewhere between. I pulled umbrella rig for striper. Stayed close as I thought my boat was acting up. Had one solid hook up but it came loose. More boats out when I pulled out about 2:30. Then headed for the tailwaters.

Man if that doesn't look like a good time.....then....well.

1st I'd probably never do a skin mount. 2nd Even the best reproductions are only close and rarely are the colors matched that well. 3rd highly dependent on species. To me Walleye, Bass, ect just don't make as good a visual mount as trout. There is also a lot of crap paint jobs too. That being said the situation and story dictates more than just the fish size. I have 1 mount of the fish in my picture. A trout a bit over 24" caught well below the park in RR. Fish was colored up pretty and I was camping with all my friends. That same fish caught in Taney or RR in the park I wouldn't mount. I'd much rather have a really good picture if I was fishing with someone and could get one.

Not lost per se....yet. However below Beaver Dam in the special reg. section its much darker than Taney and the cross over point I mark by a larger sycamore mentally. Obviously fog banks cause lots of disorientation especially if you cant see the treeline. I'm always afraid that they will blow the horn and I wont have time to get back and find the spot in the fog so I always go elsewhere in that case. I know I could get close with GPS on my phone but in a rush I'm not sure I could get the couple hundred yard run back, check my phone, and get across prior to "too much" water.

Your making it a hard decision if I should hook the boat and chase big fish or stay below and fish trout.

Wading or walking the bank depending on location. Water is low so plenty of area to get around.

Been fishing consistently 2-3 times a week. I'm only fishing the first hour or 2 of the morning unless its cloudy/nasty like this weekend then I might go a bit longer. Not a lot to report. I haven't found a bunch of small browns like I expected to run into at some point. I fear that they were dumped and nearly immediately harvested. The water is low and areas around Bertrand/Parker is prime pickings for both birds and bait fisherman. I've been seeing a lot of birds lately picking off fish. I'm consistently picking up a keeper walleye here and there and usually a couple shorts. In the restricted area I'm catching some better rainbows. Outside the restricted area I have struggled. Lots of lost fish or fish that are short striking. With the jerkbait in shallow water I can often see them grab it and run with it but they are instantly gone when I set the hook. I caught 1 brown all weekend a 17-18" fish but that's been it for the better part of 2-3 weeks now. I'm seeing a lot of browns and seeing some nice ones caught.....I guess there just doing their thing and not interested in my offerings. I am ready for some cold and weather to push out the less committed crew.

When I was there it was clearly marked coming down river in the first public section. As I recall a large cable across creek and signs all along it. The middle section wasn't marked and the lower section going up wasn't marked but frankly both of those accesses are more difficult for even the adjacent landowners to get too.

Breakfast, mid morning snack, lunch, post lunch snack, dinner, before bed snack approved.

There is really only 1 BBQ joint in Cassville(BBQ station). There is a food truck that sells BBQ but I don't know the name or location.

I'd fish Eagle Rock, Holiday Island, Viney Creek(area), Big M, or Owl Creek. I'd avoid Houseman/Beaver. Not because they aren't useable I just wouldn't go there looking to bass fish. The last time I was at Houseman the lake level was 912. Its now just below 910. The shoals above and below houseman were getting pretty shallow and narrow. Last time I went through Beaver, Bulter creek was just a puddle.

I cant help with the stay portion. Obviously fast food is what it is. Cassville has BBQ station, Geraldis, Mon-Fri Whitley's serves lunch specials, EL Mariachi, Sunrise. If your looking for fast but would rather skip the normal options Kwik T's in town has good gas station food for a really fair price, and King Cash Saver has decent deli options normally. The Rib will be open again sometime in the near future. Its also not Cassville proper but Crose Cafe in Exeter is an option too. Eagle Rock/Golden has Taqueria Carlito, Pirate Bar, Office Pub and Steakhouse, The local bar and grill, Depot Dine, and state-line BBQ. Shell Knob has Steak Inn if they are open(in season). Eureka Springs has lots of options with varying off season hours. I wont recommend anyplace over the other but all have reviews on google so it really depends on what your in the mood for.

Air stream.....and when you find them buy more than 1.

Colorado We only had a bit over 1 day left and 2 proposed targets. On the way to our main target was an opportunity that we couldn't pass up. The problem is....this hike is highly popular and right on the interstate. Those were minor problems for a couple big guys coming from the Ozarks. The real problem is the elevation and elevation gain in the first mile. We were rushed....we hiked way too fast and stopped at the first sign of water. If we would have tried to press on much more we would have really fought darkness. We got it done though. These are as close to the real deal as I think you can get(genetically and in the right drainage). In fact, Colorado says they are now naturally reproducing in this stream. Unfortunately due to their limited range, they currently do not count for the Western Native Trout Challenge. Deep in ski country is a series of alpine lakes said to have Colorado Cutthroat. Again a very popular hike, so we started at daylight. It was cold and we weren't really prepared considering this leg was more of a whim. We saw a bunch of goats way up high....and before long we were getting close to the same elevation. @Prifish snagged a fish in a plunge pool under this waterfall. A small CO Cutt....close but didn't feel right. So we went to the first lake. Shallow, only saw 1 fish. The wind started to howl. Did I mention cold? Maybe we should go up higher to next lake....so we did. Very pretty but is there fish? Of Course. These count for our Western Native Challenge. Purely based on vibrant colors I might have 2 taxidermy bills from this trip. @Prifish caught a textbook looking CO Cutthroat. I caught a couple more and back down we went. A lot of driving but we managed to get it all done. All in probably one of our better trips.....good size, pretty fish, nice views. 10/10 would do it again....maybe.

Day 2 We got hiked in shortly after daylight. This set of ponds are all side by side....we can easily talk loud and hear one another. All these ponds are small too, like the size of a normal yard. For example, here is the pond I broke the fish off in. It has a lot a vegetation even in the clear areas that really prevent you from working say a jig in it. In fact the more we considered it we were sure I broke off the same fish, back to back about 5 minutes apart. There's just almost no way this pond could support 2 or 3 fish that size. I hooked him under that tree both times. @Prifish plan was to essentially do the exact same thing but this time he was armed with a spinning rod, bigger line, and a jig. He dipped it in the exact same spot and sure enough. Just like that he has the bonus fish. This was a really nice fish and they haven't been stocked here in awhile(according to the stocking database). Logic tells me this is the same fish, however it didn't have either woolie I broke off in its mouth. We will never know at this point but if it is the same fish it makes for a cool story. I kept working the Cutt pond.....you can tell I was pressing and bummed out. Rubbing it in that he is stress free. Ultimately we never caught a single fish from that pond. There was probably 4-6 nice cutts constantly swimming around but they are wise. I knew the very first pond had some fish that weren't brooks. I couldn't get a good view but never saw the white fins. First cast with a jig and this joker hammered it. I still needed a brown so down to the river. @Prifish had found a pool that was easier to get to and work. Right away we checked off the brown and we were done. I would highly recommend this area. I wont publicly out it....but I have given enough information for anyone to do some research and arrive at a conclusion. I wont be driving 13 hours just to do this again but it would make a very nice middle point stop if driving to Wyoming. Originally we had planned if we finished early to try and do some hunting....maybe try to kick up some grouse, call for coyotes, or look for some prairie dogs. The more we talked we weren't sure we wanted to buy out of state hunting tags for maybe 1.5 days. Instead we formulated another plan and took off driving west first and then south. I'll give you a hint.

We're about 6 hours in and I've got 2 of my 4 fish and @Prifish has all but the Cutthroat. It didn't take long and he was done as he found one in a pool in the small stream. I knew Browns could be had in the stream fairly easily so Cutthroats was my focus. I hammered the Cutts in the pond all day and had 1 lazy half hearted take I missed. @Prifish was completely focus on the big fish I broke off in the other pond. We fished until dusk and walked back to the car. I gave it the old college try on the last creek crossing for my brown but they weren't having it. We formulated a plan for day 2 on the walk back. He would focus on the pond I broke the fish off in. I would focus on the cutthroat pond. If I hadn't caught a cutt by noon we would go where the Game and Fish told us to go.

I finally got to the first pond(there is 4) and could see fish swimming. Pond is maybe a quarter acre maybe 6ft. deep at the deepest....lots of moss and vegetation and clear as tap water. I can see fish. The ponds were rumored to hold Brooks and potentially Cutts. Good news is I could clearly see Brooks by the white fins. I tried dry's to no avail. Decided to strip an olive woolie where I could and immediately caught fish. Brookies are done. I was somewhat relived as they were rumored to be the most scarce. However as we would learn later....in this location there is a bunch of them and they are hungry. I caught 2 or 3 and moved onto the next pond. About that time, @Prifish shows up and he has checked off Browns and Brooks in the stream. I don't catch anything in the second pond I fished. I also noticed there is someone else fishing the 3rd pond(its a very small pond) so we move onto the 4th pond. The 4th pond has even more vegetation and I just wasn't able to fish it effectively. We are talking and I am just dipping a Woolie in the small holes in the vegetation and jigging it when I see a really big fish grab it and take off. It immediately took me into a bunch of moss and was just too much for my 3wt rod and finally broke the line. We didn't get a great look at this fish but it looked to be a large brown(4-5lbs). We were excited and I went back to jigging the holes in the vegetation when @Prifish sees another big fish come up in the same spot and grab my woolie. This time I was able to keep him somewhat out of the vegetation and he got a good look at a nice Tiger Trout before it broke me off. At this point, the other person comes over to check all the commotion out. He is fairly local and advises all the ponds could have cutts, brooks, and potentially tiger trout in them and that he cleared as much vegetation as he could off the ponds the day before and he was fishing for some cutts in the other pond he was at. We go check out the pond he is fishing and there is 5 or 6 cutts swimming in it and they have zero interest in anything the 3 of us threw at them. @Prifish went back to the stream to fish and I went back and started dipping a pink san juan worm in the holes in the second pond. Suddenly started catching really nice brookies. You can see how nasty the pond is in this picture.....but the fish are there and just working through the vegetation. This was the biggest and prettiest of them all but we caught several that had vibrant colors. This fish was just slightly over 14" which qualifies as a Nebraska Master Angler fish.