tjulianc

I think I may have to get one of those CGI Wilderness chairs. Another option for a seat back on a bench canoe seat is one of these: You can find them for sale at the the boundary waters catalog. http://www.boundarywaterscatalog.com

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You don't have to use the back ferrying technique in rapids only. I use it for when I am hung up across the river, and maybe a little down stream from my lure. It keeps your canoe/kayak still facing down stream, and gets you to your lure at the same time.

I've never been there, although I've considered it, but the Kings river has an access point on MO hwy 86. That is really close to where the Kings enters Table Rock, so I don't know if there is much current there or not this time of year, but I'd imagine Table Rock is still backed up. Maybe somebody else can chime in on that suggestion.

Doesn't Pflueger make the BPS baitcasting reels? You can save a bit of money by just buying the Pflueger reel, instead of the marked up BPS reel. Or get a better reel for just a little more money, I would get the Pflueger Cetina over the BPS Extreme, and its only $10 more, currently. That extra 10 dollars gets you 3 more bearings, and the Centrifugal Braking System, which is much nicer than the magnetic braking system in the Extreme.

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Hoglaw, Have you looked into the Warbonnet Blackbird hammock? Their double layer 1.7 oz hammock can hold up to 400 lbs, and has a built in no-see-um mosquito netting. They are extra, but they also have a tarp designed just for this hammock. I think the hammock and fly will run you in the 300+ dollar range. My buddy has one, and loves it. I don't know how well it will sleep two, but its worth looking in to. It will keep you off the gravel bars, which can be extra nice if floating rivers that are a bit more rugged like the Mulberry. It takes the same amount of time to set up his hammock as it does my tent. He has never had a problem finding trees to hang in either. Also a hammock takes up a lot less room in the canoe than does a tent and sleeping pads. http://warbonnetoutdoors.com/blackbirds.php

I've always thought that there has got to be a zone in this tailwater where there are some big lunker bass. A place where the water is always a bit more temperate during the summer and winter, plus lots of stocker trout to feed on. Especially since its a short tailwater, so there is a shorter transitional zone. But there are other places close by where I can go and I know where the bass are so its kind of hard to waste a day or two experimenting with bass fishing in known trout water. Its definitely cool you got one though.

Do you think there are a lot of bass moving up in the tailwater with all the hot weather, or is this just an anomaly?

Whats the best way of cleaning them to get the most bones out?

Big Bite Lures has come out with a new lure called a War Mouth. That might be something to try out in that situation.

P.J.'s Finesse lures is based here in Fayetteville, AR. http://www.ejigs.com/ They make the best finesse bass jigs that I have found for smallmouth bass. Also War Eagle Spinnerbaits are based in AR, and Norman Lures was, but I don't know if they still are. Ardent makes reels in MO. And Falcon makes rods in OK. I love my Ardent, Falcon combo.

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Draft has to do with the volume of water that is being displaced and the weight of the object. The boat has to displace the same weight of water that is weighs. So a 45 lb canoe has to displace 45 lbs of water or 5.4 gallons of water. So if it is longer and/or wider it will float higher, because no matter what it still has to displace 45 lbs of water. That is why river jons are long wide and flat, to give them more area of water displacement. Hull design can help or hurt this, and a vee shaped hull would be worse than a shallow arch shaped hull, since the V would be a little deeper and catch rocks. The Tarpon appears to have a V shape in the bow and stern, which would be a disadvantage to draft, and concentrate wear and tear on one spot of the hull. My Vagabond is a shallow arch design and doesn't have a Vee shape, although the entry line in the bow is rather sharp.

Lets compare a tarpon 14 to a vagabond. The Tarpon is 14' long, 28" wide and weighs 68 lbs, the Vagabond is 14'6" long, 29.75" wide and weighs 45 lbs. So the Vagabond is longer, wider and 23 lbs lighter. Physics dictate that the Vagabond will displace less water, and will float in shallower water. Your Tarpon weighs one pound less than my 17 foot long, 36" wide Spirit II. I bet it is a bear to car top by yourself. Also doesn't loading up a SOT with a lot of gear on the deck make it top heavy and therefore tippy? When I load up my canoe with ice chests, dry bags, camping gear, and my chair, it actually gets more stable because I can load everything down on the hull and give it a lower center of gravity.

I've done well with a Zoom finesse worm -texas rigged-, tube jigs, and baby brush hogs; all in green pumpkin or watermelon. You'll probably end up catching lots of sunfish, but its fun. If your fly fishing, I reckon its hard to beat a wooly bugger or some type of crawfish pattern, but I haven't done much fly fishing. What I like about that section, is that it is well shaded, at least it was before the floods and I suspect it still is. Also the Marble Store Conocco has a good fishing section, not to mention one of the best selections of fried foods on the planet. Good luck to ya.

I've only fished the Hwy 23 access on War Eagle, and its ok wading, not great. I've caught a few chunky kentuckies there, but there are smallies in there too. I fish the Marble access of the Kings more often and if you don't mind getting wet you can go pretty far down this time of year. You might give them both a try as they aren't very far apart. Make sure you have your fishing license if going to the War Eagle access on hwy 23, that is part of a state park and I've been checked twice out there, and I've never been checked on the Kings and I fish there much more often.

I've caught a lot of little smallies down in there with a finesse worm. If you wade down river a couple hundred yards you get to another shoal, and I've caught bigger fish down there, but you'll have to wade about waist deep to get there. You might also try out War Eagle, there is access at the 412 bridge on the north side, and at the 23 bridge on the west side.

I got my canoe from Appomattox and they did an excellent job communicating and with shipping. Another place to consider is Austin Canoe and Kayak. When you are ready to buy, I'd give both of them a call and see which one will cut you the best deal.

You could alway rig a trolling motor on it if you want to scoot up a river. The NuCanoe isn't for me, but for some people it would be just what they want. Not a fast boat, but stable, and easy to fish out of. As far as Mohawk canoes go, they still maintain a presence in Fort Smith. If your interested you should email Dave Thomas and he would send you information on them, and probably let you demo one if you were willing to go down there. dthomas@mohawkcanoes.com.

Goggle-eyed, A Vagabond seems like it might be a little small for you, but I have one and love mine. They are hard to find used, but there is one for sale on Craigslist, and it won't last long, I wouldn't think: http://springfield.craigslist.org/boa/2454245963.html

This looks like a good deal on a wide fishing kayak that would support a heavy person. http://springfield.craigslist.org/boa/2422117902.html

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I do basically the same thing, except I keep my fish in gallon ziplocks, and just pick up an extra bag of ice on the way home from fishing, and keep them in the ice chest. I agree, its a lot easier cleaning them the next day after a full days fishing.

Do most of ya'll like to tie the line directly to the lure or use a snap or clip?