LittleRedFisherman

Sounds like a plan to me, i'm ready to chase some big browns again in the White!! I've got to order some more 1/16 oz from Richard, I tend to use them a lot, I even use them on flyrods for Smallies...

I starting using zig jigs last year, loving them so far, but I havent' used them on White River yet, but have had good luck with them on the Eleven Point in the trout area. I have thought about trying that crossfire rod they sell, think they have a very fast tip? Plan on trying them out on the White river this winter! Here's a pretty neat video of the creator of the Zig Jig, fishing with Wildman Wilson from AGFC. Catching some nice Browns to! http://www.agfc.com/resources/Pages/ResourcesVideoPlayer.aspx?Title=Zig Jiggin for Trout

Well said Greasy, I think I was about that age as well, catfishing in a pond. I to am forever grateful!

Yeah, I've tried that with my 4 year old, but he likes to cast and reel I like Daddy, so I just tie him a beetle spin on his little zebco. My boy already expects to release the fish, we do put a bluegill in the livewell sometimes so he can show it off...lol. I haven't taken him smallie fishing yet, he's getting close to trying it, so far keeping him on the "safer" water. I forgot to note, that Ethan (in this pic) is a 3rd grader, he's already killed 3 deer, over the past few years. Outdoors instead of video games, I love it!!

Got a call today from my good friend Jody, an invite to go with them to our favorite stretch on the EP here in AR. I dreadfully declined because of things I needed to get done around the farm. Turns out they had a great afternoon of fishing, his son Ethan in this pic was elated over this Dandy of a Smallie they caught and released. I suck really bad for not going today.... My friends are kinda new to bass fishing, but they are finding there nitch quick, and Ethan absolutely loves it. Love seeing kids that are introduced to the outdoors, and taught the right ways.

Same thing has happened here over the years, we saw a small covey of quail this spring on the farm, and we were more excited than seeing a 10 point buck or a 5 pound Smallmouth. Many of the fence rows have been tore down, and even the rabbits are suffering. We try to keep them on our own farm if the landlord will allow on there's as well, I personally like them for a wind break as much as habitat. I still have my beagles, and hunt rabbits, but it's not like it used to be, but some of the fence rows we've kept are the sought out places to rabbit hunt. Predators are to blame here as well. Coyotes are thick, and so are the redtail hawks, they are protected, but there's to many of them here IMO, when running a combine, we try to purposely harvest the field from the middle out, to herd the rabbits towards the fence lines. One time I didn't to that, they the hawks had a field day on about 5 rabbits, they didn't stand a chance. As far as the smallmouth and gigging issue, I haven't witnessed the things some of you have, but I've seen the pics and know that it happens. I admire the passion of folks like Smalliebigs and others to bring attention to the problems. I've seen guys take advantage of snagging here on my home river for Flathead during the winter season, as a limbliner, which is a far bigger "tradition" here for catching flathead, than snagging ever will be, I'd like to see the snagging shut down personally. Snagging was opened up on the St Francis here for the first time just a few years ago, it's not a tradition like the gigging is, so I'm not saying i'm for banning gigging. But when a few guys were keeping 20 instead of there 2 per day, out of the same wintering hole, it was brought to the attention of our local agent, he staked out the hole, had sound and video equipment, and nailed those guys! That's the best thing I reckon we can do to report acts like this is when you see it, report it, and take pics and vids if possible in the age of smartphones.

A big one is a "Dandy" In my book! Although to me, all smallmouth are Dandies, just some are Dandier than others....

Absolute Sweetness, Great Editing, Those LastTwo From 3.40 On Were Pigs, Congrats!!

I'd try the jigs that Phil is talking about, having never fished Taney till last year, I watched some of Phils youtube stuff on fishing Jigs, my wife and I caught fish on jigs on our anniversary, can't beat that!! If you happen to catch a lot of fish and wanna mix it up, I caught several browns on a white 1/16jig, nothing huge but was cool to catch some browns!! I now have an arsenal of zig jigs i'm hoping to try out there in a couple weeks. Hoping to talk my wife into staying at Lillys...

Man awesome Blog, I thoroughly enjoyed reading that! Those were some healthy smallmouth for sure. I got into flyfishing for smallmouth myself a few years ago, an 18 incher on a 4wt is heaven on earth for me!! Congrats on a great trip!

See quite a bit of deer along the St. Francis Levee, theres turkeys over there now, but they just started showing up in the past 5 years, they say it doesn't take long for them to populate fast. They got everything they need behind that levee!

I have come to love making fishing/hunting videos, but don't have time to do either for awhile. Going to be in the fields for awhile, although looks like there's going to be a gap between corn and cotton, so may chase some smallies a time to two then... Anyhow, thought I'd share this, some might find it interesting, just a short video I took while harvesting Corn yesterday. Great start to the harvest so far, ready to get it all in, then time to chase some winter trout and smallies!!

Ditto on the Zig Jig, i'm a huge fan. Fished taney last year for the first time, used zig jigs and was well pleased. Even caught several brown trout on the white jigs. 4 pound green trilene is what I was using. If you wanna try some 2 pound, the Trout Magnet people in Searcy AR make a line called SOS Line. It's very good line in my book, they claim the 2 pound line has a 4 pound break strength. I've had good luck with it, Phil might sell it there at his shop! Good luck!

Yeah, about 10 years ago they dug out a 5 mile drift that had developed south of the bridge, and cleaned it out north of it a ways, which needed to be done. There's still plenty of timber in the river south of the bridge, there it's basically still in the old channel. I fish what is called the Arkansas Ditch, although it's not the original channel, it's full of flatheads, lots of trees have toppled in over the past 20 years, good habitat!

It a super fishery for sure. Catfish is another species it's full of to, got friends that go over there and wear them out. Your grandfather was nearly my neighbor, i'm just across the river from Kennett, i'm over there almost daily. I bet he knew about the ST. Francis river flatheads as well....

Mitch, I thought of you last week when I put in at Hardy Beach on the Spring river. Isn't that close to where you had the spill?

Live bait is all I use when I try to catch a mess of Flathead. Green sunfish are the best bait ever with Goldfish a close second. Use them some for Crappie, but never had for bass, other than catching bass while crappie fishing.. It's good to start them youngins out on worms, did that for awhile with my boy, but now he likes to cast and retrieve like daddy now.

I haven't compared a bunch a different reels, but when I decided to to the baitcaster route, many sang the praises shimano. I now have 2 Curado's, and one Citica and absolutely love them. I got mine on Ebay and ran a little cheaper than they do at the stores. There I could get the Curado's for around 130, and the Citica's around 100$. They cast great, and I can even cast pretty light stuff with them, of course I also paired them with some pretty good rods which helps.

That's what i'm talking about, love the attitude!! Good think you were wearing specs it looks like!

Great post as always Al, I could almost see what I was reading! Those big ones that get away make for better stories later usually, would of loved to see you land that possible 22 incher tho, wow that would of been a dandy!

I'm hoping to get some fishing in this fall, but because of work will probably be late Nov. before I can fish much. I also have learned to love the jerkbaits. My go to bait this past year for bigger fish is a 5 inch senko. However, i'd love to catch that 4 pound smallie your talking about on topwater!

Cooked 150 PoundsOf Fish FriDay For The Local Cotton Gin. Salt And Little Pepper In The Proper Proportions Mixed In Yellow corn Meal. Prefer Peanut OilBut Used Rice Oil On This Fry, Turned Out Really Good.

He Loves To Bring Um in

Smallmouth just has to be my favorite hands down to catch.. However, as far as the best freshwater fight I've had, it would have to Bowfin or Grinnel as some call them. Nothing but a big fin, with lots of muscle.

As a boy, a black and silver jointed rapala. Now a 5 inch senko..