kevthebassman

You're livin the dream Al. I spent my day today in a factory, didn't see the outside world from 11 am to 9 pm. Envy don't even begin to describe what I'm feelin. Keep the stories coming partner, I'll just live vicariously through your fish!

By God Al you're right. You made me go actually look at a map of the place. I didn't visit the boat ramp, but I was on the Big River for half my day. From looking at it driving over the bridge at 21 I'd have thought it would have been, well, a little bigger. I need to find myself a little honey hole somewhere. Some fellow on another forum was supposed to send me Chuck Tryon's 200 smallmouth adventures book, but it never materialized. I can never seem to find it at the library. I hear there are some good places in there, but lots of the access information is getting out-of-date.

So my brother and I went down to the Mineral fork last Sunday, it was kind of a rainy, cool day, but we stayed mostly dry. The fishing was less than stellar, however. We started off at dawn at Washington State Park, fished about a hundred yards on either side of the parking lot, caught a couple dinky smallmouth and a goggle eye, all on weighted black wooly buggers. The water was fairly murky and we weren't having much luck so we moved on up the road to Kingston access. At Kingston, the water was much clearer, but the fishing was no better. I caught a couple more dinks on a crawfish pattern fly. Saw lots of dinky fish, and only one that was probably a 18-20 incher that I fished right over and almost stepped on as he was hiding under a log. I really want to like this stretch of river, but I've never had much luck fishing there, be it with fly or spin tackle. It's fairly close to home, and pretty easy to wade. Does anybody get down there often that can tell me what's up with that water? Maybe someone can chime in with a better place in that area or even closer to home where a guy can wade for smallmouth?

That's what I'd call a job well done sir. I remember your first post on this, when it was still under construction. I was impressed then, and still am. Not only with the craftsmanship, but with the fact that you managed to build a boat inside your house without being served divorce papers.

I'm just glad that the great unwashed masses are now glued to the TV set watching men in tight pants chase a ball around. A guy can get out on the river and have a little elbow room this time of year. It's nice to be able to wade without being run down by drunks in jet boats, rafts, and canoes.

Guy I work with did one up to Canada. He said the fishing was so ridiculous that by about day 4 they were almost tired of pulling walleye and pike out of the water one right after the other. I think they caught a Musky or two as well. He said the mosquitos were insane, the trick to it was to stay drunk enough that you didn't notice you were being eaten alive. It sounded like a blast to me.

Gotcha buddy, PM inbound.

I'm down, I've got a truck with a hitch and an 8 ft bed. Work's pretty crazy lately, you're not one of those fishermen who shun the water once deer season starts, are you? May be mid-September to October before I get a chance to sneak away.

Dangit smalliebigs, now you've got me going out to my truck to find my atlas at 1 in the morning. The wife thinks I'm crazy, if she only knew!

I've been using an el-cheapo air mattress from Target for three years now, zero problems. But then, I take special care when selecting my campsites, and always go for the down-stream edge of gravel bars, where the sand gets washed to. Much more comfortable on the feet (and face!) when stumbling around half drunk. I also put down a heavy tarp before I put my tent down, and then a sort of half blanket, half tarp contraption inside the tent, then the air mattress. I can buy ten $30 air mattresses for the price of some of these latest and greatest sleeping pads. Yes, it's bigger and bulkier, and at some point it's going to crap out on me, but they're cheap and very comfortable.

Tell you what Larry, next time I'm thinking of heading down to fish, I will look you up on here. Probably will be waiting for the worst of the heat to break though before I make another trip. Check back come September.

My favorite too!

The wife and I managed to get out and do a little fishing and camping the other week. We had planned on having another couple with us and thus another vehicle, so we could float from Scott's Ford to Riverview, but plans changed so we put in at Riverview Saturday and paddled and fished our way up a little ways past Indian Springs, camped on a gravel bar, then floated and fished our way back down. Much fun was had and even a few fish caught too! Here are the pics.

Lake of the Ozarks is too crazy for me. Completely unenjoyable between Memorial Day and Labor Day. I don't care to fight the crowds of drunken yahoos, both on and off the water. It's nice when the water is too cold to swim though.

And pray the airline doesn't lose your baggage!

I think I'd like to see him match his success on some blue ribbon water, outside the park. I won't hold my breath waiting though.

I must have 10 pairs of them, every last one of them were cheap or free. They're nice to have around but I can't keep a nice pair, always breaking or losing them. I treat 'em like sunglasses, buy cheap and stack deep.

Well only one way to get better at boat making, and that's practice practice practice. Things like that are just this side of a work of art, in my opinion. And I didn't know there were any other Unnerstalls, not a name you hear very often, which is why I assumed you were a relation.

Bueller?

Somebody drives a silver Oldsmobile minivan with Ozark Anglers.com and Lilley's Landing bumper stickers. I parked next you at the Schnucks today, farted around hoping I'd see who it was so I could introduce myself. Had the wife and kid with me otherwise I'd have just waited you out! So c'mon, fess up whoever you are!

Hats off to you Dave for a good looking boat so far! It's looking awesome! You wouldn't happen to be related to the Unnerstalls who own that construction business out in Pacific, would you? My aunt Mary has worked there for many years.

You'll need some sort of shock leader for those toothy critters.

Hotspots come and go. In 5 years Cardiac Hill might be the hotspot again, and people will be writing Dear Current letters on the forum telling the river that things just aren't working out anymore!

I had heard about that. I've read a couple of his books, truly a loss for the sport of fly fishing.

For what it's worth, I tried out a popper this last weekend and got no takers. Black bead head wooly bugger is what I caught all my fish on. I was using a level leader of 12 pound mono, just cheaper for when you lose it in the bushes and pond fish don't care about a delicate presentation.