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I have found the same over the past year. My son is mildly autistic and loves to fish. His disability hampers his ability to feel what is happening at the hook. He can not set a hook because he doesn't feel or see the Smallmouth take it when fishing slow. If he uses a beetle spin,curly tail grub or fluke and the fish are hitting he has no problems. He also wants to use what everyone else is using. I read an article about circle hooks and plastics in saltwater. I started experimenting last fall with circle hooks and plastics. I had a tough time to start with because I was trying to set the hook. I learned quickly all that is needed is a bit of pressure and the hook sets itself. I started letting my some use the same rigs this spring and he is one happy kid. He yelled "I am back to my old self" when we did the Kings for a week this spring. He out fished his uncle on several days that week it really has made him a better fisherman. Circle hooks work it just takes a bit of rethinking on hook sets. My hookups have been gone through the roof. My sons have gone to the moon. Gut hooks are pretty much a thing of the past. The pliers I use are from bass pro. Boone Pliers As far as rigging it can be tricky and there is a bit of trial and error.

Parakeets or Finches? Both have worked well for me. Rottweiler is a bit of overkill.

I had/have one. I never use it. I found it to difficult to control and fish in moving water. They are just to high & wide for me. Using oars makes it tough, they always seem to be in the way. I thought it would be a really good platform for the river but after 5 or 6 trips I went back to my canoe and kayak they were much easier. Things you take for granted in a canoe or kayak just don't happen on pontoons. I thought it would be like a drift boat but I was wrong. I spent way to much time trying to control the boat and not fishing. They don't go upstream well at all way to much drag. Most of the rivers we float the rocks are just under the surface when you are drifting and fishing and a pontoon catches a rock you will spin quickly. You cant just drop your rod and give a quick stroke of the paddle to right yourself. For me it was just not fun fishing. Hope that helps

Those kids need to get themselves a couple of Otterhounds to patrol the pond. Here otter otter

Nothing is going to hack it against man the ultimate predator. (well maybe the Snakehead & asian carp) We are very good at destroying ecosystems while trying to solve a single issue. I am by no means a tree hugger nor do I believe in the kill em all let god sort it out crowd. There has to be a balance. As humans we tend to make knee jerk reactions to every problem and go all the way to the right or all the way to the left on trying to solve them. In most cases we don't spend enough time thinking about the best solutions to problems just the quickest solution. The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone 15 years ago have has had a huge impact on the park. Unforeseen good has come from it as well as a better understanding of how ecosystems work. Below is an excerpt from the full story which is on on the National Geographic website with pictures. Hunters who were worried the wolves would take the Elk populations down have found the wolves have had little impact. Since the wolves kill the weak & Sick animals first they have actually made the Elk herds stronger. Thinning the herd by natural selection seems to be a good thing. It has also done wonders for the plant & water life in the park. Because the wolves patrol the water sources for prey, the prey have shy ed away from the easy pickings on the riverside. The riversides have begun to come back which in turn helps the fish populations have cover etc. What intrigues me about the process is that a lot the outcomes to the ecosystem were or seem to be unforeseen to the scientist. Which leads me to believe we really know very little in the grand scheme of things. Even the folks who are supposed to understand seem to be surprised at the effects on the whole ecosystem. Good reading. The Wolf Effect Where elk fear predation, an ecosystem returns It seemed obvious. Because wolves prey on elk, and elk feed on plants, the wolves' reintroduction to Yellowstone National Park in 1995 should have led to a decline in elk numbers. That would then explain why some plants elk eat are suddenly thriving. But when Robert Beschta and William Ripple of Oregon State University began to study plant recovery in the park, they found a different twist. "What we're actually seeing is that the size of the elk population hasn't changed significantly," Beschta says, "and isn't the biggest factor" in the revival of certain plants—plants that impact the health of the entire ecosystem from bugs to birds to mammals. Instead, it seems that fear of predation, not elk numbers, is driving floral recovery—by changing the ungulates' behavior. In some areas where wolves now prowl, "elk no longer hang out at streamside, browsing," Beschta says. "They're more cautious and spend less time where there's a high risk of predation. In those areas, river-loving woody plants like young cottonwoods and willows, once overbrowsed by elk, are taller than they've been in decades. Some are going gangbusters." This suggests, Beschta says, that the extermination of wolves from the park nearly a century ago—creating an Eden for wild ungulates—may have led to the long-term decline of certain plant species. And while wolf reintroduction wasn't done to improve forest health, putting wolves back in the ecosystem may prove key to the survival of riverside plant communities, which in turn strengthen stream banks and provide shade and wildlife habitat. "How often do you get to connect wolves with warblers?" asks National Park Service biologist Doug Smith, who has headed up the wolf reintroductions. "Here you can: Wolves are, indirectly, helping to bring back nesting habitat for songbirds. As the willows recover, beavers create new aquatic habitats around which life just skyrockets." To regulate the ecosystem and maintain biodiversity, Smith says Yellowstone needs its top dog to keep the elk on their toes. Beschta agrees. "It's one thing for us to put wolves back into Yellowstone because we took them out," he says. "It's another to put them back because the ecosystem requires it." Without wolves in the park today to scare the elk off overbrowsing, "the clock would be running out on remaining cottonwoods," he warns. "They'd eventually disappear. Probably aspens too. Bringing the wolves back has been an incredible plus." Further research should tell whether climate and fire history are also affecting floral revival, but some scientists believe they've already found the key—and not just to the Yellowstone ecosystem. "Wolves seem to have an inordinate impact here, and I'm sure the same is true of top predators that have been lost elsewhere," says Beschta. "Perhaps now we can start to appreciate just how important a role these kinds of carnivores play." —Jennifer S. Holland

This is just great. Has anyone ever tried to explain catch and release to these critters? It ain't easy. To them a fish is a fish. Very frustrating. It makes it even harder being that their lineage is not local. They have no regard for the history of those who lived here before them. If they would just listen just a little they might start to get it. All they seem to want to do is play and eat, play and eat. Seems the attitude is all about what was given to them for free. Try telling them how hard their life could be if they went back to where they came from and you get nothing but a wink and another nibble of the fish they are eating. They appeal to the ladies and children who think they are so cute. None of the parties women, children or critters care about my fishing day or how hard I slave to go enjoy the river. No they just want for themselves. I will keep trying to explain it to them but I don't think it will work. Hasn't had an affect on those bugling Elk in Boxley Valley on the Buffalo. They just stare at me like I'm talking to a tree. The corn was not planted for them its for me. I just wish they would take my wants and needs into consideration. Critters are just plain hard to teach. Humor Fully Intended

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I would say getting to the mouth will be no problem. Getting upstream from the mouth is another issue. I think the pontoons will work against you. The width on mine makes it hard to paddle without oars even in flat water. It is hard enough getting across in a canoe or kayak paddling like a mad man with a trolling motor. The past few years we have had Miles at Riley Station outfitters just tow us across. He is straight across the White from the mouth of the Buffalo. He charges 10.00 which is well worth it in my humble opinion. If you still want to give it a try I would let Miles know what you are doing and that you may have to give him a call. Cell phone with AT&T work there. That is what we do since he does not know when we will arrive at the mouth. There has been so much water the past few years just getting across to the island was a crazy paddle your butt off situation. There is a cut through on the island straight across from the mouth of the Buffalo. Drag 25 feet put back in and you can see Miles put in/take out. 129 County Road 640 Mountain Home, AR 72653-7717 (870) 425-4221 Riley Station

I think it is a personal thing. I used to keep Smallmouth. I don't anymore because I don't have to have them as a food source. If I had to have them for food it would be different. I fish for the sport of it not the sustenance that it can bring. I have lots of other options for food. Smallmouth on the other hand can be few and far between. I have a brother in law who keeps his limit. He also eats everything he catches/shoots or traps. He grows his own veggies as well. It is a part of his way of life. I can't take issue with that. I also have a buddy who keeps everything he catches for one reason only. Bragging. He may eat some of it but for the most part it goes to waste. I don't hunt or fish with him for that reason. Other than that he is a great guy. My primary fishing is on rivers & streams. Smallmouth in the rivers grow even slower than those in the lakes. The folks at In fisherman showed a study on growth rates between Largemouth and Smallmouth. It takes a smallmouth about 6 years to get to 14in in the rivers and streams we fish. It takes 3 years for Spots/Kentucky & Largemouth to reach the same 14 in. Reservoir growth rates are faster but it is still 2 to 1. I tend to get a bit uptight when I see the fellas with fishing poles and an Ice chest full of dead fish and another chest full of beer cans at the end of the float. I have nothing against beer on the water mind you so long as it doesn't end in fish dumped next to the beer cans at the take out trash can. If you don't intend on eating them then toss em back. It is that simple for me. But I would say most folks on this site feel that way. It is a choice for me that I don't impose on others. Now I will be the 1st to step up to the plate and tell folks why I don't take Smallmouth from what I said above. I also ask them to think about the fight with the Smallmouth over the Kentucky of the same size from the same water. It doesn't take long for folks to realize Smallmouth are a special fish for the sportsman. When we river camp over several days we take noodles and catfish at night or as we get into a long pool. Toss the noodle out of the canoe and pick it up before you hit the next set of riffles. More often than not we have plenty of fish for dinner. JMHO Now off to get some nice 9 in Brownies for Dinner. I tried the 13 in variety but they hang over the edge of the plate. 9 X 9 glassware makes great brownies. I prefer mine with walnuts. No Carmel, No pecans, No chocolate swirly stuff. Just plain 9 in brownies with walnuts and 7in glass of milk.

There are only 2 or 3 folks on this board that I have disdain for. In the short time I have been here (what a whole week now) those folks just grate on my nerves. They catch bigger fish than I do, they read the water better than I do, they are just better fisherman than I am and they rub it in on top of it showing off all the pictures. Sheesh I just wish they would go elsewhere. (humor fully intended) See that is the thing about message boards. The words typed have no expression. They are just words who's meanings are taken to fit the readers demeanor at the time. I tend to get myself in trouble all the time on the boards because of the way I write. My dry bland sense of humor does not come across well in the typed word. Until you can meet someone face to face and read that persons disposition you really cant know what was on their mind when they were typing. There is not much on a message board that gets said/read that anyone should let ruin there day. I would like to meet everyone on this board to get a read of how they are in real life. I would venture to guess that 99.9 could get in the same boat and have a great day on the water and have stories to tell that would make you smile. I have learned a lot in my weeks reading. That is all I can ask for. I hope I can share some things that will help someone else. (like dont stand and pee out of your canoe when looking up river on a blind corner) Several bad things can happen.

I found the site while trying to pick my new boat. Kayak or Canoe? (all ready have both) Google is a very bad thing or so my wife says. I am in Hot Springs Arkansas. I have floated,fished & camped most of the Smallmouth rivers/streams in the state and a few in South Missouri & Eastern Oklahoma. Nothing better than than catching 25-30 9in Smallies and tossing them in a chest then cooking him up on the gravel bar (Humor Fully Intended) My sense of humor tends to get me in trouble on message boards. I have enjoyed all the topics I have read and the rants, well for me it makes for a healthy environment. Looking forward to learning from folks.