Feathers and Fins

Me with my dad, and people still wonder why I like hunting He was home on leave from Southeast Asia and took me wabbit hunting.

Jeb, I will NOT fish the river this time of year just because of the way other people are up there, I dont know what it is about this time of year and people up river and the lack of respect. Furthest I go is Monte Ne and that sometimes is pushing it I have to have very good reports to even go there. I watched a lot of things today near 12 bridge that were flat out dangerous and illegal and wouldnt be suprisd to hear on the news someone died or was hurt today. Boats pulling tubes and skiers within 100 ft of docks and between boats and zig-zagging on the main lake making people have to make emergency turns to avoid a collison and the wourse I saw was a jet skier pulling 3 on a tube at speed under 12 bridge cutting in front of 2 cruiser, I thought a death was about to happen... Was on the lake in that area from noon untill 7:30 and never saw a patrol boat of any kind. I think the boats staying off Beaver on weekends till September.

Went out with my best friend for fathers day, Boat City USA but we did manage 8 LMB from 3 to 5 pounds 4 crappie 1 white and 6 walleye. All fish came on points with a mudline. The fish were from 8 to 15FOW directly under the edge of the shaded side of the mudline. Funny thing is we never were more than 5 minutes from 12 bridge ramp. Bait today was Flicker Shad trolled for sweeping the points.. Start off in 8 feet let out 150 feet and troll till you hit 25FOW and then make a hard turn across the point so the baits would sweep through it.... All other presentation didnt work they, my guess is boat shy.

Launched at 2pm yesterday on a fresh report of walleye and ran down to Rocky Branch. Trolled the Points for nothing untill 5pm when I ran back up lake. Finally found walleye and stripers closer to the Prairie Creek Area. 22 FOW was the Walleye zone. I proceeded to catch 19 Walleye when the stripers showed up and had to play with them as well, managed to pull two of the 20lb jobs off a bait school they were destroying. For the walleye I was pulling Flicker Shad and Rapala rs-9's ticking the bottom. The stipers were caught on Keitechs in White. I got some nice shots from my structure scan for a buddy who has been wanting to see on in action.

Lets see 4 hours to littlerock or an hour and a half to the GIANT Basspro in springfield......hmmmmmm.... I think im going to HLS and Cabelas.

When they are on top-water like that I love throwing Pop'Rs or a splash bubble set-up like bird watcher was talking about. For Surface fish get one of the clear plastic Bobbers you can fill with water to add weight to it... Instead of adding water add shotgun shell shot you want to tie about 3 to 5 ft of leader behind it and then use a White fly streamer. Cast it out past the boiling fish and reel fast twitching the rod to create a spalsh. Very deadly set-up for surface fish. But the best possible is live bait hands down no exceptions.

Yes I have but not any more, I am normally ticking the bottom and want to see every tick on the tod tip. That much line out isnt a big deal, if i need something diffrent i use leadcore to keep the direct ticking. The other thing I hate about them is I have lost fish that decide to jump and the weight helps them have the leverage to do it.

I troll flicker shad and rapala rs 7 8 9 with 10lb flouro carbon..... Flicker shad 2 3/4 inch at 125ft of line out trolled at 2.5mph will get them down to 22ft same with the rapala 7 and 8 same line out will get the 9 down to 25 to 27 ft.

By who's statandards? I have heard big browns from Taney and Walleye and Crappie so Im curious to where that comes from. Is it from MDC or just a fishing club?

Well I guess Carp are a gamefish as well seeing how they are on the IGFA list http://www.igfa.org/Records/World-Records-Fish-List.aspx?LC=ATR

OTF most those States that have the stamps do so because it is to fund the (STOCKING PROGRAM) much like here in Mo and AR, there is a legitimate cost in stocking the fish ( hatchery, feed, etc) I could see that on fish they have to stock to maintain but not on naturally reproducing species. The most popular fish in the US is the Largemouth Bass, Then the Walleye last i checked < but that was from articles a few years back> I doubt its changed though. Smallmouth was way down on the list, Bluegill, catfish and crappie were ahead of it. The list was by USFW and USAG based on numbers of people fishing for them and moneys spent and time spent. I ll see if i can find the report.

Thats cool I thouhgt maybe you had got lucky enough to see it in one of your trips. I go to Lake Atlanta each winter hoping to catch a picture of them getting some of the stocker trout.

I have a friend in Cali and we keep in touch. For the last month he and Ihave been trying out a new idea we discussed awhile back. It is a version of drop shotting. Fors sake of example this is the rig we came up with. Take two 3/0 hooks and tie on 12 inches of line With a long sewing needle ( or similar tool ) insert it in the end of the worm and bring it out dead center, do it on the other end as well. You should now have a hook coming out each end of the worm and the line comming out the middle. Next is tie a droper loop 2 ft on the main fishing line and tie both hook lines to it. Pull it tight so it forms a solid knot on the main line. Finally using the needle again pull the tag end of the main line through the center of the worm till the knot touches the worm. Put your drop shot weight on the bottom and have at it. So far his best beats mine 8.9 to 4.2 stupid fl strains.

Derek did you take that picture in your avatar?

Psst Smallie I lived in Mo and I still very much care about. It is impossible to get a MO LIFETIME without living there. Guess what I still get surveys from MDC because of that license so my opinion DOES matter to them and this guy living in rogers arkansas filling out those surveys affects you so you may want ot think of others outside mo baecaus.------------> Yes those bums will and their voice grows louder every year with all the celbs they have joining them. You had better hope for a strong sportsmens voice and that voice is only strong in numbers.

Dont go there OTF.... I said before I lived in CA and they got the Anglers to think the (Ocean Enhancement Stamp ) was a good idea. Started off at $1.00 now its 5.14 then when they got away with that one cam a host of new fees that were included with a license before. Resident Sport Fishing $44.85 Ocean Enhancement Validation $5.14 Second Rod Validation $13.78 Abalone Report Card $21.34 Spiny Lobster Report Card $9.21 TOTAL $94.32 When I left Cali in 1988 My fishing License cost me $32.00... And they did it to huniting licenses as well... YOU DO NOT want to give the State the foot in the door to start doing that ever or you will quickly find fishing is out of your budget. Look what Mo did to the Snow Goose, The idea behind the conservation order was to kill as many as possible and to for years it was free. Now look at the cost for it. There is NO REASON to have put a cost on that at all yet here we have it... Raise the license fee a reasonable amount, but never start allowing for add-ons for what is already included in it. I still shake my head at familu living in Cali paying more than a Non-Resident license in most states to fish their howm state.

Mic, I have used many rods over my life for bait casting, From live bait to plastics. The most sinsitive rod in the world is a well trained forefinger. I am not joking if you take the time to train your finger you will feel more long before a rod detects it. When running a baitcaster I keep my left forefinger on the line before the spool and will detect the slightest bump or twitch and after awhile you will know a stick from rock from fish. I learned it Live Baitfishing but was able to do it for plastics. I use St Croix rods but have used Customs and so many other and found it true on all rods I have used, that the Finger is mightier than the Rod.

100$ a year. Well I would be giving you the big F as well and I hold a lifetime license! Why is a smallmouth more important than any other fish or game? IT AINT. We get you like smallies so do I and never have kept one. But really a 100.00 license will run off people and despite some opinion ( you know what they say about opinions right ) less people involved in the outdoors is bad. It will give the anti's a much louder voice and take away money from the very resource you wish to protect and preserve.

Ok so she caught the first fish then some gill. I think just leave the lady alone she is catching fish just fine lol.

Thanks Derek that is good and bad news my poor wallet!!! I just hope they stock a good supply of striper and walleye gear.

Really could care less about what the "pro's" have to say about the lake they are here for 1 week out of the year fishing. Seriously how can you rate or give an opinion on a Lake you fish for a week and for one species. I think many of us could write on the lakes around here we fish ( and do each day we post ) and those views and perspectives makes me want to fish them and experiance them far more than what any tournament angler only here for a short time has to say. When I hear about a lake I want to hear it from people who have a passion for it and talk about not only its good points but even its bad points so I understand the lake. I want to hear about the other species on it.. Think about this I have caught Gar on a fly on Beaver and Stripers and Walleye, but I also hunt deer on its islands and waterfowl on it as well. There is so much more to a lake then one species and one week. I want to know the heart of the lake and all its limbs from people who care about it because its home.

What he said

Ya ok and he has to sleep at night..... So I would suggest taking her out a few times to someplace no way she would catch a fish... Let her think how borring and stupid fishing is and then she will no longer want to go.... If she has been before and enjoys it the suggestion would be then to introduce her to fishing for what you like while using the slip bobber method so there is potential she catches fish ahs fun and then wants to learn better ways.. IF it is yoru mission to fish alone, Catfishing + Stink Bait = No women

Sadly I must go to BP tomorrow in Springfield I need to restock on rapalas and my job is 2 blocks from it, please pray for me lol. Ok though I had the ultimate way to keep people from my block when I lived in FL. As some of you know I had a Reptile Business and when I saw them comming I would take my Big King Cobra in the front yard and get her to Hood up... Nothing like a 15FT King Cobra standing full hood at 5ft to scare people off. It was also great for when the house next to me was for sale to keep people from buying it i didnt think looked like good neighbors. Ended up getting a Jamaican moving in that was the best BBQer I ever met and his wife was a 5star pastry chef ( she really was ) Best neighbors in the world and after the Hurricanes were the first to get to everyones house and check on them.

WERNT ME I TRIED THOUGH !!!!!!!!!!!! I tried the spots you gave me but they were infested by a major tuber hatch, so i went back up the river where i felt safe.... I still was shocked to catch the hybrids and to see the pure volume of shad. Come on over to beaver this weekend and I will take you out and show you some of my spots.