Gavin

Tail nipping usually means they are interested but something is off... Change color, size, retrieve until they start crushing it. Strip set.

Look for sales at Sierra Trading Post, Campmor, REI, etc..there should be plenty of them available in the next month or two. Get a 3-4 season tent with aluminum poles.

Dr. Strangelove voting devices...gotta love it!

I saw a couple nice fish down near Parker a couple weeks ago...but the fish counts are much lower than what you find several miles upstream. The brush was thick, water was low, and mid-day fishing was SLOW when we were down there a couple weeks ago...I have no desire to fish there until Fall. Rent a canoe and camp on the river if you want to access the middle reach. Have fun.

If you want to trout fish near Onandaga...take Possum Hollow Road over to Blue Spring Creek...maybe a 10-15 minute drive.

Its not like my single days....cant get 100+ days fishing anymore. Still get some time. Youngest is 3...oldest 5...two trips a month has been working lately. Day Trip, and one that is too far to drive at night...some 3-5 day fall, and winter annuals that are always on the calendar.

Very cool! Cant wait for the full report.

Nice Report. Looks like a fantastic time!

Good for them...didnt end with some jackwagon killing a 50-100 year old fish with an arrow throught its head.

Nothing wrong with counting...I do it for a living and I dont do it when I'm on vacation... I do look at my watch and my map and guestimate some metrics. Fish per mile/hour is good indicator when stream fishing for bass. Less than 3...slow....5 about average...7-10 good..more than that..outstanding! If fishing for stupid stocker rainbows up those estimates.

Thanks Mitch...I rooted around in the basement and I had a 6 pack of #6 short shank KVD Mustad Ultra Points in the stash. Put a pair on in place of those #8 Owner jackwagon hooks. The plug is walking better than ever in the pool. Cant wait to get it on the water again...Will trade you a jig or several next time your changing out stock LC hooks;>)!

What is your favorite replacement hook Mitch? I've never had an issue with stock Lucky Craft Hooks...they are forged...and sharp enough. The one's on this plug look like unforged tinned or stainless saltwater hooks.

Depends on were you fish, how long you fish, and if the fish are cooperating. I'm sure that its possible to catch a hundred a day...but I'm not a counter, and I dont understand the counter mentallity. Why care about numbers of un-memorable fish? If their on the prod...swing for the fences and go for a big one.

Size 8 Owner Treble.

Thats cool! Dont worry about those trout, park fisherman take em out faster than the eagles ever could. At least the eagles only take what they can eat.

Ha! At least you got out of baseball jail.

Great report, Al glad you got out. Mitch that Gunfish 95 is a good bait. Its a just a bit skinnier than the Sammy 100 with less body roll but more side to side. Pretty easy to get it move close to 180 arc with its side to side motion, while the Sammy moves in a 90-120 degree. The Cultiva Zip n' Ziggy has become a favorite..Sammy 85 size, but it walks allot better..Cheap hooks though, had a 15" largemouth bend one out on the hit, and a 16-17" smallie bend one out after a 45 second battle..My drag was set right, so that should not happen.

I agree with JD, Chief, and F&F. There are plenty of taxes to fund enforcement but the powers that be choose to spend the money on something else.

Water was fine, no dragging but we scraped gravel a few times. Smallies were in a typical summer pattern...moderate current with rock, wood, or both.

Went down to Boiling Springs CG on the Gasconade on Thursday Afternoon...Really hot setting camp, but my friends Larry, Mike, and Marc arrived just after. Nice evening under the stars around my battery opperated lantern in lieu of campfire...The temp fell fast after 7pm...and it got down right chilly on Thursday night. Should have brought the sleeping bag, but two beach towels made do. We had considered floating the 14 miles from Riddle Bridge back to camp on the G. Nade..but the concensus was to do a shorter 11 mile float back to camp by putting in on the Big Piney. Got a good start. Hit the water by 7:30am...Had a 14" smallie, and a 14" Largemouth on a walk the dog plug before we left sight of the put in...Mike landed an 18" largemouth on a baby brush hog soon. Topwater bite died around ten, but the fluke fishing was pretty good till noon or so...then it slowed to one or three a mile on a jig & chunk before it flat out died around 4pm. Wicked hot, but frequent swims made it pretty comfy. Made it back to camp around 5:30pm..Mike and Marc loaded up and sampled the BBQ at the Elbows Inn before heading home. They said it was good BBQ but the bar was very smokey. Larry & me had cold fried chicken and some smoked ribs for dinner...followed by a few watery beers. Larry and me had our camp broken down by 7:30 and drove over to a nearby wade creek. We had some fun topwater action on the way upstream, nothing spectacular landed...but I did lose a really nice one on a new topwater plug....hook bent straight...need to change those out..tried a few more new baits on the way down...but the tried and true curly tail grubs worked the best. Off the water by 11am and headed home. Fun fishing in spite of the heat.

Went down to Boiling Springs CG on the Gasconade on Thursday Afternoon...Really hot setting camp, but my friends Larry, Mike, and Marc arrived just after. Nice evening under the stars around my battery opperated lantern in lieu of campfire...The temp fell fast after 7pm...and it got down right chilly on Thursday night. Should have brought the sleeping bag, but two beach towels made do. We had considered floating the 14 miles from Riddle Bridge back to camp on the G. Nade..but the concensus was to do a shorter 11 mile float back to camp by putting in on the Big Piney. Got a good start. Hit the water by 7:30am...Had a 14" smallie, and a 14" Largemouth on a walk the dog plug before we left sight of the put in...Mike landed an 18" largemouth on a baby brush hog soon. Topwater bite died around ten, but the fluke fishing was pretty good till noon or so...then it slowed to one or three a mile on a jig & chunk before it flat out died around 4pm. Wicked hot, but frequent swims made it pretty comfy. Made it back to camp around 5:30pm..Mike and Marc loaded up and sampled the BBQ at the Elbows Inn before heading home. They said it was good BBQ but the bar was very smokey. Larry & me had cold fried chicken and some smoked ribs for dinner...followed by a few watery beers. Larry and me had our camp broken down by 7:30 and drove over to a nearby wade creek. We had some fun topwater action on the way upstream, nothing spectacular landed...but I did lose a really nice one on a new topwater plug....hook bent straight...need to change those out..tried a few more new baits on the way down...but the tried and true curly tail grubs worked the best. Off the water by 11am and headed home. Fun fishing in spite of the heat.

Guess you could stay inside and dream about fishing...Or bring lots of water and go anyway.

Thats awesome!

Tim, I'd look in the saltwater bins at the fly shop..Montana Fly Company used to carry the Coffey Sparkleminnow...not sure if they still do. Best bet is to tie your own, or find a shop, or a friend to tie for you.

It would be pretty cool to have a self-sustaining cutthroat population on the Norfork. I'm sure they will reproduce, but the outlook for sustainability isnt good given all the harvest pressure on that tailwater.