Jocko

Wow, nice job. For me the casting is easy. Most get off about halfway in but I've been using cheap crappie setups. Whatever she was using, she got the better of a fish smart enough to get some size in clear, moving, stump infested water. Unrelated but has anyone ever caught a fish here that doesn't have crawfish antenna sticking out of the stomach?.lol

I reread your post and have to think we were somewhere near each other on Sat. I saw lots of partying...no big deal but have to assume by your comments we saw something similar and without warning....lol. We didn' socialize much other than the guys right next to us on the end of camp furthest from the road. Were you the guys on the other end Russ called the KC boys? Loved the House band, never been able to take my eyes off my kids for more than a minute and just know they were safe or not destroying something. Glad to hear you guys tore them up too, you would think the fish would be scared to death. On Saturday there was more inflatable surface area to the river than water, just glad the partiers, fisherman and families all had fun.

Sorry for the late followup. I made a major mistake and didn't consult with Russ directly this time. I setup the float for Sat. and It was like Mardi Gras on the water. OK if that is what you are in for or expect but I had two canoes filled with wife and kids, Russ's setup and hospitality more than made up for my lack of planning as usual. Sunday was much quieter. I will never again go without letting Russ tell me what suits my expectations, he won't steer you wrong. He may be humble about it, but it all honesty Russ's band practices with Greasy Chicken DInner were the highlight and the fishing, floating and camping secondary. I am not a big musician by any means but it was a great time and all 4 kids (5 - 7 -13 -15) had a blast as the older ones enjoyed the music and the younger ones ran around with the other kids their age. Just an awesome time. Didn't get much fishing in during the float Saturday but Sunday I set the minnow trap and fished exactly 1 brush pile for a couple of hours in the middle of the day simply because the action never stopped. Didn't even get to the back side of the stump. I must have caught 15 Goggle eye, 6 Kentucky or Largemouth (didn't pay attention) but several were around 2.5 to 3 lbs and 3 Smallies one about 3 lbs, and missed way more than I caught due to the huge bait, small hook and noodle rod I was using. I would figh them half way in and still get a bite the next cast. Maybe they were competing with the voracity of the Goggle eye, never seen it that hot. Litterally every cast from one small spot, floaters would ask how the fishing was and I would say watch this.....catch one before they passed me and they would park their canoe. I'm not talking about the little 6 inch smallies either, all were good fish. The whole time my 7 yr old boy was near me spraying the floaters passing by with his supersoaker. Didn't have to chase him or anything...just awesome. The goggle eye were in open water and had wounds on their fins, I also saw some dish sized potholes so I think they may have just come off the nest. Everything caught on about 4 inch shiners, but they were biting tubes as well. It seemed I would put a new minnow on and the goggle eye would kill it immediately, but the bass would still hit the dead minnow hard. I have been fishing these rivers and Shoal Creek off and on for 25 years and never seen a stump not cool off after pulling a good fish out of it. Especially in low clear water. Not sure what it was as it stormed hard the night before or maybe it was just the first time I got toreally fish a hole wading in a while. There is no other thing I have taken my family to where every single member had fun and wanted to go back. Hope it wasn't too winded but wanted to thank everyone for turing me on to Hog Heaven a few years ago. Good luck guys and thanks again. Jerel

I was there that weekend at HH as well. Crazy. Nice story

Heading out today with the wife and kids. I don't usually get much serious fishing time in but I will let you guys know when I get back.

We got run out wade fishing about 20+ years ago below 71 bridge by a farmer and we had several crappie baskets full of cans that weren't ours. My understanding at that time was the landowners own the land but not the water flowing through it. Sounds like others here are far more up to date

Was just checking to see how the fishing was...wow. Hoping to be down there soon.

Just wanted to thank everyone especially Russ and Cal. They were really patient with us and went above and beyond. It was an awesome trip and Hog Heaven has some nice canoes and Kayaks, I really want to get rid of my Pelican and get a Jackson now. With all the kids I probably only got in a couple hours of fishing but there are a lot more fish in there than I expected. My first 5 cast netted 4 smallmouth, probably caught 40+ each, not many real big ones yet but a lot of fun. Here's a pic of my littlest one just loving the trip, BTW she didn't ride in the Kayak like that on the float these were snapped during a break. Thanks Again

Thank You, I am doing it now

Thanks in advance guys, I am new here and this is a huge request. We (wade fished) Big sugar years ago and Shoal Creek/Bluehole in Joplin for many generations of family. My father is older (72)(once a limbline trotline master)and we have a group, several small children (3,5,11,12,14) and 5 adults and are wanting to do a float on Big sugar or Elk or wherever you recommend. My dad lost his wife and brother in the last couple years and his surviving brother said, "He wants to to go to Shoal Creek or Big Sugar one more time before he dies." Maybe with your help and his stubbornness we can make it a few more times. Our original trips were to "Big Jacks"? More recently were to Camp Tilden just me and the Wife and floated some of the same water. It was great but a lot of dragging the canoe, the fish (and crawdads) in Big Sugar were smaller or my memory was grander 20 years ago, however fishing isn't our main concern, clear water, a safe float trip and if at all possible accommodations for older and younger folks with A/C (close motels or family lodges would be ideal but not a necessity. We have access to many tents too) Not trying to greenhorn it as my dad is the toughest and most stubborn guy and ran trotlines and limblines on Shoal creek nightly after working at Atlas for decades but I fear a trip to SHoal Creek will disappoint him as to the state of fishing. We want to make this trip doable, he is not in great health and this will be the first camp outing for the little ones, but down on that creek might be cooler than I think. BTW we are in the Parsons, KS area near Joplin and planing the trip sometime during 7/26/10---7/28/10 Thanks again guys, as taught, we will take out more than we leave and release everything larger than a red tailed chub or 12" long crawdad