Feathers and Fins

Jeb run up into Montne and look at the massive number of shad in the back. These are small 1 to 2'' shad. I think you are right and we wont have the kill off. I fully expect within 3 to 4 weeks to see a topwater bite of the insane preportion if we continue with this weather pattern.

Here is an example where the law needs to be changed. Lake Elmdale in Sprindale Arkansas is a lake i use to hunt for ducks. The last few year due to the cities of Springdale and Cave springs anexing into their cities it is now illegal to hunt it from the land. You can still hunt the lake but only from a boat and you must not get out of the boat onto land. This is a AGFC lake! Here is where laws need to be made about water rights and Buffer Zones. My personal beleif is that on flowing waters that the land may well be part of the property for property line discriptions the Land and Water below the High Water Line should be PUBLIC access. It would be so simple to do that. For lakes not on private property but under the control of the State, County or Fed there should be a buffer zone of 50yrds from the high water mark. This zone would allow for shore access to all. As populations increase and people purchtase land we will all find less and less areas available to enjoy the outdoors if something is not done. I have seen this happen in both California and Florida on the beaches. Condos and homes go up and the average Joe's loose the ability to go to them as they become "private property" I respect landowners rights but no-one should be able to buy and make private what should be the property of the public. Buffer Zones are a must.

Good Post JD, As a member of a farming family though I do not do it myself I understand and have witnessed many things you talk about. Grandpas farm's are spread across the county in SEAR and its not uncommon for us to catch people trying to sneak in and hunt them. Year ago Gramps would allow it if they asked permission but now he will not tolerate it and will prosecute. To even hunt the property now friends must be with a family member. Gramps got tired of the trash and gates left open letting livestock out and people destroying the rice levee's. Combined with liability law suits he just wont allow it. Farmers have it tougher then people think and tresspassers make it even worse.

Now your making me think of evil things to do this weekend... If the weather is nice I might have to head up that way, you are welcome along 200 silo's is all i would be putting out this early in the year and i can do it in about 20 minutes or so.

Cougar Paws, They are made for roofer's and will stick to dang near anything. I can walk up to an 10/12 pitch roof with no problem.

Could have been.. I had that happen last year and went chasing only to find guys running dogs for rabbits... I got a great lesson in rabbit hunting from those guys though. Pretty neat watching them run the dogs using tracking antenna's. Got a couple rabbits as well. You might know one of them his name is James runs a red ford ranger and 6 dogs?

I appreciate it Chris, I dont know why I chase the dam things after this many years. I guess its just a bad habit i cant break... Mud, lack of sleep, access and so on is getting to me though im not as young as i was.. The hardest part is access, honestly farmers are getting tired of people trashing the land and i cant blame them. Shame to as they are good people and good hearted and people took advantage of it.

Chris, Not meaning to sound a way but those numbers are transition flocks and normally un-huntable. I look for 5,000 on up for numbers to hunt. The reason is simple those large flocks are stationary birds that can be located going to roost at night, after you locate the roost the next morning you follow them to the feeder field. Normaly they will use it till about 10am then go back to the roost for water. When they do there might be a few hundred left in the field, I go bust them out { NEVER SHOOTING THEM ) then set-up for the afternoon shoot. Thats a game plan that produces good shooting. The other option is to catch them in the afternoon in a field. They will leave just before dark to go to roost and ill go check the field. What im looking for ; Example 40acre field with green sprouts all over it but a patch thats been eaten of not more than 5% of the field combined with no poop that is more than 2 days old.. If those conditions are there then the next morning will be insane. The key being the poop not being older than 2 days old. Its pretty easy when you can get those numbers and conditions. Only hard part is getting permission some times.

Ya the Schell flock ive tried for in the past and they are pretty much annoying. They go from Schell to a field just north of the Old Town Access and i havent been able to get permission for it. If they fly south its impossible to pattern them they hit a diffrent field each day. I have had limited success on them when they head South West on some fields around Lamar I have access to. That flock is just flat out unpredictable! Now when the return migration starts there are a few places i know where to get them, im hoping they start the push north soon but I doubt it as it looks like snow is on the way this weekend.

If you start seeing White Geese "Mary" let me know. Season is still open on them and I like killing them.

Most people from my experiance have no clue how to load a boat to begin with. I see way to many people put the trailer way to far in the water and then struggle getting the boat centered or have to back down and up numberous times to do it. Most trailers if designed for the boat simply need to be far enough in the water for the guide boards to be just in the water and then drive the boat up on it and they will center the boat lock the front down and drive on up the ramp and lock the back down.

Chris I lived in Pineville for some time and the county has some of the best waterfowling I have ever seen anywhere. But the kicker is it has to freeze for two straight days to happen... When it does Little Sugar creek is insane as is the elk between Noel and Cowskin. I have seen tens of thousands of birds using both in those conditions. Limits are a 5 minute deal. But without the freeze it seems like a baren waisteland. Looks like you got into a few birds though.

I just want to see it clearly spelled out. I do my best to obey all the laws and do not want to end up getting a citation or arrested because the law enforcement doesnt know the law and then have to spend the time and money to prove i was in the right. This is not some major law needing changing or political Bill, just people wanting clarification on the law. You would think MDC could get togeather with the states AG and get it right. After that its simple as sending a letter to each LEO Office for the commander to go over with the troops. Then everyone is one the same page i would hope.

Bry, I have fished Dale Hollow and to be honest it looks so much like Beaver ,TR and BS that I swore they just transplanted it to Tenn to give them a taste of the Ozarks. I caught my first Musky on it and the Walls are some of the best ive eaten. Clarity ( fished it in June both times i went ) was very nice. I was impressed with the amount of shad balls i kept seeing on the graph. Now i will point out a differance I saw that has been talked about here already. Both times i went Mr Green Jeans checked us. I had the chance to speak with him on one occasion a bit and found out he was not the only one on the lake and later that day we met his counterpart. They seem to have more enforcement then we do and that might well be the key to that lakes fish producing. Dindt get the stripers i was after but ill take a musky any day as a conculation prize.

Cant speak for that specific boat, but I have a 2011 TRACKER Pro Team 190 TX with a 90hp dfi and it handles big water in rough conditions just fine with two guys loaded with fishing and hunting gear at the same time. The one your talking about I looked at but went with the larger boat to handle the amount of gear I use for hunting.

This is what im curious about... If say Cheif were to pursue this and it did go to trial with Elder v Delcour appearing at least to be the case law. A judge im guessing would need to abide by that ruling. If that was to be the finding of the court then he and or for that matter anyone could take that ruling and show it to the LEO's if they get called to this area and specifically persons area and show it to any LEO that came to talke with them. Leo could then tell the Property owner of the ruling and after being advised if the property owner did it again could he not be arrested for harassment? Just curious as it seems as those this property owner appears on face value to be a potential threat to people on the creek. I have concerns that if this and other stories get out then those who have a CCP might look at this person as a threat to life and use deadly force if they encounter the person. The DA's wording tend to lead me to believe they know this person to be a threat. Just seems there is alot more ot this story then what we know.

Heh just an ole fishermens Knoy, but I did put a bimini twist on yesterday.

Way to go Amigo, I know how lucky you are My wife loves to hunt with me as well and nothing is better than having your best friend and spouse to share the time with. It was great finding this forum and being able to enjoy the stories of this season, all who participated made me smile each day it was nice to have a place where people who are so close to each other can share hunts of places we know and see.

AMEN in SPADES!!! That is what i love to see and do. CS, I thought you were done with this lol... If it has nothing to do with its catching ability then why wouldnt you allow it after all if its just another bait/lure/rig the fish still has to bite it dont they? So if it has nothing to do with it and its legal you seem only upset it allows for for multiple presentation! But if everyone is throwing it then all the participants are legal and equal and that is not disputable. A tournament should only insure all participants have an equal chance and if all can use it then all are equal. Pssstttt RPS 2 more honkers removed from the Lake

Cullin: I am just taking a few minutes here with some of your post to answer questions you asked and ask you a few. Then I have a date with some stripers and Geese. The people you speak of already think they own the lake and it is their lake and no one should be able to play on it except them and they even don’t like the neighbors on it. So they won’t care. Are you so worried about this type of person and what they think you would be willing to stop fishing altogether? The fish still has to strike the single bait! Do you increase odds? Certainly! But as I found out yesterday it does not out fish other baits and it has limitations. So if it has limitations and it does not out fish other baits why are you so opposed to it? True but yesterday the A-rig was out fished by a CD. Same place, same time, same depth, same conditions yet the “ greatest bait ever to come out” LOST hands down to the old CD. It is what it is call it a lure a rig whatever it’s just another tool… But you said it best ITS LEGAL! That in and of itself should say it all! This sounds when reading it you are more concerned about people out fishing you that are “ could haves “ Kinda like saying they are not that good but this bait made them that good. If that is the case and again we will go back to: and it is legal, then why not tie one on yourself? If the tournament you are in allows it and you fear being out fished by a lesser angler why not even the odds by fishing it yourself? Sounds on face as ego! An there are other pro’s who don’t seem concerned about it. Now you yourself admit this will probably not be the tournament winner but think it will play a role! If this is the case then it is more evidence that it is just another tool in the angler’s tool box, and not the great thing and 1 lure beat all and thus no reason for a ban on it. By your own admissions above why are you so against it where legal? And like you the sport and lures/ rigs of the sport advance and get better! Why are you so against advancement if you yourself advance as time goes on? This is certainly NOT TRUE. Refer to above regarding yesterdays fishing. Please also beware I did it Trolling so as no angler manipulation could be made to make one lure more or less effective than the other. See post http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/index.php?showtopic=31843&hl=alabama&fromsearch=1 So the questions: 1. If this rig has obvious limitations doesn’t it make it just another tool in the box? 2. If legal 3 or 5 hook or whatever the state allows then any angler has as much of a chance as anyone else still keeping the playing field even correct? 3. If both the above two answers are yes then why should it be banned from tournaments? If it is purely that it has 5 baits on it that’s fine and we will agree to disagree if its legal in the state but if its because it gives “Have nots” a chance then that is ego and I will urge you to look at yourself as to why you fish. I do not want or wish to seem harsh in that but I did tournament fish for years and seen that type of ego and was guilty of it myself at times. I had forgotten fishing was supposed to be fun and enjoyable and the object was to have fun. Tournaments bring out the worse in people as does most competition on things we love. I quit tournament fishing not because I wasn’t good but because I loved fishing and was starting to hate who I was becoming and hating what I loved. But most I was getting to where I didn’t want to teach others about it and help others get involved in it. I watched good men turn into evil people who would cut off other anglers and cuss out people all in the name of Winning and that is not what its about. Thank You for your time.

Spent most the day playing with this ALABAMA RIG CRAZY.. ( see report on it on other thread ) But when we passed by Horshoe Bend there were about 400 honkers sitting on it.. We left the Bows at home but did have the guns, we felt the drift and tease approach would be best to kill some resident geese. This process is very difficult and should only be tried by experianced sick twisted minded people... You stop the boat about 100 ft off shore, You then pick up any white bag you have with you prefferably one that says WONDER BREAD on it. Then you start pulling the contents out of it ( for legality I highly suggest white packing peanuts ) You then stand on the bow of the boat and shake the bag around a little. ( You should see many head pop up and start eyeing you) when this occurs start pulling peanuts out of said bag and cast them to the water. You will have to have your gun handy for self defence at this point as what was 400 geese on shore will turn into 400 geese bum rushing you. When this happens shooting is coincidered self defence and permisable. Keep in mind looking for necklaces and bracelets is permissable at this point but do not be to greedy lol. 4 less stupid geese on Beaver Lake... But I did have a regret. Not 5 minutes after we picked them up a single Richardson's came in and we had to pass him up. Ive been wanting one of the baby's for a long time and seldom see them around here and here on was. Fortunately there is still tomorrow if my stomach stops hurting.

Ok so I spent most the day trying this undersized Umbrella rig out and comparring it to other baits. I set up for trolling the area was from Montne to Hickory Creek. We Ran two of them off the side of the boat at 30ft down, We put out 2 CD30's off the back of the boat. A-rig = 1 LMB 3 pnds 2 stripers 12lbs class CD 30'S = 5 stripers 12 to 18 lbs 6 lmb 3 to 4 lbs average and 2 Hybrids bout 7 lbs My slept at a holiday inn expert opinion on this bait is simple... Its just another tool in the chest and not the end all be all. It also took more effort to deploy and properly run... This was on trolling We also cast the blasted thing. It is far more difficult to cast then any other conventional bait and it likes to grab far more moss then other baits. I also found you had to be extremely careful with a second person in the boat its dangerous. Now on a possitive side I was able to convince two stripers who followed it to strike after doing figure 8'S with it... This bait has potential for Musky and Striper on the surface which is a possitive. I did loose 2 of them to the christmas tree ornament isle... NO WAY you want to run it in Beavers timber which seriously limits its ability. Also casting it to the Rock banks will cost you a rig in a heartbeat. Expensive yes, catches fish Yes, fun to cast NO, Good in Timber NO, Good on rock walls NO, good for troliing YES good for open water YES. This should be a good tool for fishing and with some more refinement great for crappie and Walleye.

I’VE been following this topic and smiling a lot, just a bunch of guys wanting to have fun it appears. Allow me if you will to throw in an idea. Years back a guy put on a tournament in Cali I was involved in. The tournament idea was simple, Fly Fishing Only, Biggest fish Won, Tournament went all summer. The main rule was simple You had to take a picture of the Fish laying above that day’s News Paper with a yard stick under the fish. It was an honor system tournament. Entry fee was if I remember 20.00 winners per species entered in take all. He had a category for Trout, Bass, Bluegill, Crappie, Striper and Carp. Open to Boat, Float Tube and shore fishing. All areas waters open. Tourney went from the first day of summer to the last day of summer. Not sure if you guys would go for it but just got the feeling this sounds more like a bragging rights and fun tourney and I remember that one being a blast.. Lord I wish we had the net back then to tease each other.

Take it to court and get the press involved.. Press involved with the High Courts ruling will make the local DA look horrible. A judge presented with the high court ruling will be forced it would appear to side with you.. IMO

So a crank bait with a rattle is just like one without one? A soft plast without scent added is just like one with scent added? A jig with a rattle is just like one without it? You see your arguements can be made about any bait if you get techincal enough. ALL have thier place in fishing and use's. This one is no diffrent. People are making way to much out of it. Dam man ive used them for years for stripers and they called them Umbrella rigs back then.. And I have had many days where the single bait outfished it on the same boat same troll same place same everything. People are really making to much out of this. A tourney was won with it, everyone wants the hottest new bait, everyone is throwing it vs the old stand by and fish are being caught because people are throwing it. Try throwing it under a dock, in a lillypad or grass flat then tell me its the best bait. This thing has limitation. You really want to make a tournament truly a tournament. THEN. Remove culling from the rules, Catch a fish and put it in the live well you must keep it! That will do more for the resource then banning any one lure.