Feathers and Fins

They aint far enough up river

Thanks to Nick for a tip I ran up the river today, 39 crappie 27 were bucks and im still trying to figure out how a 4 inch crappie eats a #9 Flicker Shad, what the hell was he thinking? 8 walleye 5 Shorts but 3 came home for oil bath and spa they were very shallow 6fow to 12 fow on flats and biting the #6 and 7 flicker shad in pearl white and what I caught the bass on see below. 4 stripers if you can call them that at that size 9 LMB 2.5 to 6lb Picked them up trying a new jig to me the Rapala Jigging rap. Ive been seeing these for a while and bought some they have real nice erratic action. Bass were 8 to 15 fow on little pockets on the flats ( why there ) ? Thanks Nick for the tip, it paid off, unfortunately wife saw walleye and called dibs.... Jason want to try taking that from her lol.

Jerry I have had the pleasure of reading that and many other stories. That first tournament had so much worry and so much intimidation reading some of the old stories. Its so hard to believe it all started here. And now look at it and what its done. She still intimidates people and still gives pros fits all these years later. I wish the BASS Museum was here it rightfully should be.

So Mr Bass when he did the first one here was trying to humble a lot of ego's lol ( I read that into it ) It is very tough and will make anyone a better fisherman you really have to be tuned in to the fish more than what you want to do. I know she has made me much better at that.

Trophy; this is my reasoning, mind you I never fish Beaver lol. Yesterday I would have been probing for the backs for big gals in super skinny water where the creeks dump in. They are there already I have been catching some really nice fish in them. Today is going to be cloudy and slight breeze which makes my smallmouth spidey since kick in and I know there is a limit of 3 to 4 pounders available in the Rocky Branch area possibly a kicker 5lb as well. Get my limit then run upriver to cull. Tomorrow is suppose to be relatively calm but I know the upriver area will have flow and picking big blacks off of breaks and points will be likely, yes the pressure up river will be there with Crappie and Whites and everyone including myself chasing them but hey these are suppose to be the best fishermen around they should be able to handle pressure. Sunday's forecast is a typical Ozark day and with a little bit of everything even a front coming in and the islands have always been good to me on days like that, Get my limit and then run up river and look for the cull fish. I honestly believe the key on beaver is to get your limit then use the river to Cull for the bigger blacks. I know its local knowledge and not a tournament angler who doesn't get to fish her all the time im basing it off of but 5 fish over 4 days that go 2.5 pounds average is 50lbs throw in a few kickers and 54 to 60 is possible. I just don't think people who dont fish her all the time can put a consistent 4 day pattern together. They overlook the most valuable Bass in the lake for a win in the Smallies.

Beaver is not a southern shallow water lake where the fish hold a steady pattern. 16 today could be 8 tomorrow on her. Today I would have been in the very back of creeks, tomorrow I would be in Rocky Branch area working over the bigger smallies, Saturday I would be up river looking to pea gravel area and Sunday with a front coming in I would be on chunck rock banks and transitions around islands. Just my two cents.

What can I say, I don't want to see Grand Lake Battleships on Beaver, heck the wake they create alone should be enough for ACE to say they would be breaking the law violating responsibility for wake that causes damage to property. Beaver just is not a lake they should be on.

Not to my knowledge thank god.

welcome

54.6

Kyle I am not sure if you knew this or not but CC issue has been brought up before on its navigable status. http://ag.arkansas.gov/opinions/docs/97-047.html Precedence: issues are there to show it is, such as its numerous listing in fishing reports and paddling guides. So long as you were below high water it would appear you were legal IMO and im not a lawyer. Now as to anyone harassing a hunter or fisherman that is a clear violation of law. There is no way I would allow an armed conflict to not be reported if I were involved and would have made an immediate report to LEO, I am curious if you did that?

Ever been to Bayou Meto on opening day of duck season? I have never seen a fishing tourney that could scare me, Meto on opener does.

Mamoo, there is a little delay but only from a distance, if you are in the boat you wont notice it much but it does happen.

I have the standard motorguide wireless and love it. I don't know the last time I had the foot control out as most of the time the hand held is all I need. Its fun sitting on the back of the boat (actually on the big motor) and cruising around. When im trolling I use it with the big motor for supertight turns without ever having to move from the cockpit. I have been running a spider rig on the bow and two flat lines from the back of the boat and it makes it very simple. If I hook a striper off the back I can fight the fish from there and still have 100% control of the boat without having to run up to the front, several times I have put the striper in the boat and then had to run up front to land a couple crappie on the spider rig, NO WAY could you do it with anything but a remote control trolling motor.

52??? wow its dropped more than I thought it would. Were the shad catchable or were they still out deep?

Keep an eye on Beaver over the next 5 years to see if the size of its Smallies and Lmb's increase with the reduced length limit on Spots. If it does then there would be some argument for doing on TR. but right now with TR's size and make-up I don't know if it would be good. TR spots at least from those I have caught always seem to be nice healthy and chunky. Beavers do not have near the chunk to them that the Rocks do but it will be interesting to see if the reduced length makes a difference.

The word “Elite” has always bothered me, I wrote an article about 10 years ago about venomous reptile keepers as many times I heard people refer to them as “Elite” and that really did bother me and several people I knew as we felt we were no better or no worse than anyone else could be. The difference I always felt was not the word or sponsors TV or anything as silly as notoriety but how much time and effort the person put in to what they were doing. Reptile keeping was a love and passion and something many put a great deal of time in to learning and all the cost that goes with it. Cost is a limiting factor and one that prohibits many people both in fishing and reptile keeping. Venomous reptile keeping is expensive and like it Pro-fishing is expensive. The other similarity is the amount of time a person puts in to education. And like venomous reptile keeping being a good fisherman you have to has a lot of education. Education is not always book smart but hands on experience as well. Money and Education seem to be what makes others better than some or most, but I have always contended that neither will limit anyone if they have the passion and drive at it. But to call anyone “Elite” is laughable! It is a pedestal title and nothing else. I say that as I believe that if you take anyone who has a love and passion for something will put the time in to it to be the best. When it comes to fishing I know there are guys on the lakes the pros fish that would out fish the pro every day and twice on Sunday unless they are golfing in the morning. Be the best you can be and if you are a pro, remember how lucky and god blessed you are to be doing what millions wish they could be doing.

86 Bridge you say.... hmmmmmmmmmm, Think "Grumpy Old Men" and Think Limo.

So you ran out of gas.... Hmmmm

They complain about all the White River Chain, they are tough to fish and do not have the giant Floriduh strains in them. I love it when I here the name "Elite Series" I think they get to the point they think they should catch big bags everyday because of their status and then they run in to the White River Lakes and get the Humble Pie with a side of Crow. I think its good they get the humbling these lakes can give you. I have many great days but then one of the Gals decide to feed me the Pie and those days are very special as well and what keeps me coming back trying to figure them out. I understand the Pro-fishermen in BASS are after Bass and cannot turn to other species but that is the nature of the beast. I say BUCK UP BOOBY STOP YOUR WHINING AND PUT ON YOUR BIG BOY PANTS YOU ARE ON THE ROCK! If they are so "Elite" this is a lake that will show if they are or are not. But what is hilarious is they know how tough these lakes are and if it was me and knew I would be having to fish it I could promise I would be making connections with locals and guides and fish it during the (tournament season) to try and learn it. Hey let BASS and FLW have a season where they have to fish all the White River Chain I bet you would see a lot of "Elites" humbled.

My first thought would be PC for stripers till 9am and then hit the creek mouth if its flowing good for kitties, they seem to gravitate there with the first spring storm rains.

Ducks you say.... Ducks I can help you with that lol. No such thing as a Newbie question to me and there is a lot of good guys here who will help answer them. Just don't ask bout the Thong on the bow of a boat, its still a soar subject with one member lol.

Yes there are places to wade the area. If you pull up Google Earth and go to 2006 you will see a lot of nice places. No one is better than another IMO when I go up there for wading I just start at the bridges and start walking and enjoying the day, every so often I find a ton of them in one spot and none in another but its more about enjoying the walk to me.

Hard to say with these storms coming in. I would just start walking down river from the bridges and hitting points and inside turns.

Way to go, whats the water temp and clarity?