DaveMac

Sorry about the misspelling of "Desktops".

My son took this photo just downstream from Gunner Pool on Sylamore on a gorgeous day in May. I don't know about you guys, but I'm always looking for good images to use for desktops. Enjoy!

I'm assuming bobber that you mean the tree on the left side right at the start of the first shoal? We managed to avoid it with a technique I've honed over many years that some people refer to as "luck".

I floated/fished Erbie to Pruitt on Tuesday and Pruitt to Hasty on Wednesday. Spec. Tac. U. Lar. We fished big tube jigs in fast water over gravel and just killed the smallmouth (mostly 10-15 inchers). My son and I caught probably 20 each from Pruitt to Hasty on the second day. Amazing how fast the river recovers from the flood. Not sure where the fish go, but they're baaaack... Saw otters, mink, herons, water snakes - and of course terrific scenery. The water was just high enough to be interesting through the shoals and drop-dead clear. Fishing may slow down some this weekend due to front going through but should still be good. Oh, and use Buffalo River Canoes - they're service is AWESOME! DaveMac

People Eating Tasty Animals!

Bootleg Dead. The fatman still rocks!

I've also done business with Simontons. Fast personal service by e-mail with some great advice, great looking products and some of the proceeds go to charity. What more could you want?

OK, so I pulled the trigger on a Fishpond Ice Storm cooler. Ten bucks off with free shipping from Amazon!

Thanks Zack, I was looking for someone who had experience with the Fishpond and liked them enough to recommend.

Yeah, I had my eye on the Fishpond too, though it does have that elitist connotation that all FP stuff has. The Yeti looks great but it had better pour me the beer, light my campfire, clean my fish and pack out my trash for the price those things cost. I guess they're nice if your trip lasts a week and you need to keep the ice from melting. All I wanted to do was pack a few sandwiches, some drinks for the day and not have to lug something too heavy. Bungeeing the Coleman or Igloo looks like the best low cost option. Thanks for the replies.

OK forum members, lets hear what you think about coolers. Want one to stow in a canoe for day trip that won't open if we tip over, won't leak and maybe fits under a seat. Hard-sided or soft-sided? Brands (Polar Bear, Fishpond, Coleman, Igloo, others)? What do you guys use and like?

Thanks for the report. Hey thanks again also for the referral to Adventures. Linda set me up (mentioned your forum name at least) and was very nice.

I'm a little worried about the potential crowds, and, hey I always thought church kids didn't cast stones (or at least the first ones). I'll stick to my motto that says a day on a crowded smallmouth stream beats any day at the office!

Thanks, podum... I'll look forward to your report. To FishinCricket... Come to think of it, the way ttwoods describes it doesn't sound too bad. In between casts you may hear me yelling, "Show me your ti...! Uh, sorry honey, just saying hello to the nice drunk college girls...

Thanks for the warning! We're going on a Monday in an effort to make the best of it. May end up feeling like you but we'll see.

+1. Nothin' like farm-raised fried catfish!

Why limit yourself to crankbaits? I'd throw some tube jigs and heads in your box - toss those in the current and let 'em drift and bounce off the bottom. Of course, this approach also doesn't work worth a dang and no one uses it!

Thanks for your help, guys. I'm a Buffalo River vet and I can't wait to see some new scenery. Will let you know how it goes. Thanks, oneshot - I hadn't heard about adventures.

My family is staying at Riverwoods in early June - planning to canoe on a Monday. Looking for suggestions about which outfitters you recommend and what a good day trip might be. I'd like to do some fishing - some smallmouth, some trout - so starting above Bennett and finishing below seems good, but I've never floated this river before. I've contacted NRO and they start at their place below Bennett and go either 7 or 14 miles. Any details about this stretch would be welcome.

Terrific report. Love the pics. Beautiful river.

Seems like you're in pretty good shape according to advice given to me by the Simontons (makers of fine furled leaders!). Any longer and you may have trouble turning the buggers over.

Thanks for the report. I felt from your writing that I was along for the ride - except for the part where I had to jump out into the cold water!

Thanks for the report. Not bad considering it's still February, and as any good bumper sticker will tell you, your worst day of fishing beats the best day of just about everything else!

I'm assuming you will be wading and thus you'll need waders for either the White or Spring (cold water, boys!). Otherwise you'll be fishing from the bank. I'd recommend the Spring because it's for the most part easier to wade and you don't have to worry about changing water levels when the generators are running on the White. I know college kids don't have much money but if you want to do the White I'd seriously consider hiring a couple of guides (just google White river guides). You'll catch fish and learn a lot that way.

To all the guides who take the time to post... THANK YOU! I suspect that for every poster who criticizes, there are many more who appreciate the information but who don't post. Remember, if it weren't for guides, there would be no one to put nightcrawlers on my wife's hook!