LittleRedFisherman

3 Casting rods (2 curados 1 citica) 2 falcon bucoos, 1 st Croix premier probably 10 spinning rods, 3 bass setups with fluegers and TFO's, the rest walmart specials and light trout rigs 2 TFO professional series flyrods 4 and 5 wt, with cheaper reels Tackle bag that weighs 30 pounds probably.lol. yes, got 3 megabass's, one a +1 model Old war eagle boat for big water and hunting 50 ETEC Supreme River Jon with a 25 jet Coosa Kayak Igloo cooler Smallmouth decal on my truck Strike king sunglasses Yes, as of Christmas, my wife bought me a trout fishing vest Gopro, yes I love to make videos.., also made a mount for my Kayak... Won't get into Duck hunting Wife that goes with me at times fishing, but also makes light of the money I've spent over the years. Like FnF said earlier, true OA elite is a fellow that helps others to enjoy this sport, and the place that we all love!!

I've upgraded some of my fishing stuff in the last couple of years, i'm really big on a quality rod these days. I never realized the sensitivity in some of the better rods. I've never spent 200 bucks on one, but recently spent 120 on a St. Croix, awesome rod, love falcons to. I've got two spinning combos, and both of them are the TFO rods that was on sale at Reeds, the Siusaki let everybody in on back in the winter, pretty good rods, not as sensitive as my St Croix or Falcon bucoos, but nice. As far as a spinning reels, I have never looked farther than a flueger president, there may be better ones out there, but it's the best 50 bucks I can spend for fishing. Never used micro guides, but supposedly they can increase casting accuracy, and lighten the weight of the rod some. They look good, I might consider trying them!

That pretty much sums it up, theres many ledges that can't be passed even with jets. The stretch I fished had ledges up and downstream, only had about 2 miles I could fish, and some of that wasn't smallie water. It's a diverse river, right down where I caught those smallies, there was an old fellew catching some nice catfish.

Caught Some PrettyGood SmallMouth On The Spring River Today. Tried A New Spot, I will Be Back!!

I thought they were probably a gimmick, but I tried one last year and wound up buying another one, catch rate went up. No problems so far, but I havn't banged them off a rock yet either...

I'm there with ya, I've traded in a lot of hunting time in the winter for fishing even, but I've always said, I like to hunt, but I love to fish!!

Was wondering how the water is looking for fishing from the Van Buren area to Doniphan since the rains. Going to have a chance to go fishing this week, and noticed the Current is falling faster than the EP, so thinking it may be clearing up faster, the EP is still murky where I like to fish in Arkansas. Thanks in advance!!

Lol, yeah I was waiting for someone to mention that.. The guy that taught me how do do this, used to have a net that would net a 100 pounder if needed, we did net a 72 one time. I do like Carp for bait, but my favorite that we used to use is what we call riceslicks, or a green sunfish..lol. Flathead love them, but they do tend to die easy, those goldfish hold up tho. This bait was to small, we usually use fish almost big enough to eat, that usually gets you a 20 plus pounder or 4. Glad ya'll liked the video, it was fun all the way around. I didn't however video us cleaning fish for hours...lol

I know this isn't really an Ozarks river, but thought I post this video anyways. I've been bass fishing a lot the past few years, but this is my raising right here, what I have done since I was big enough to be on a river. As far as catching catfish, you would have to look hard to find a river better than the Mississippi. Although I prefer to eat fish out of the St. Francis, I like to get a head start on my "fish fry stash" in the ole Muddy. This was like the first time for my partners to be on this river, I think my friend Jody's little boy Ethan is ready to go back! Took the gopro on this trip as usual lately, so I put this together, hope you enjoy!

I've got a good start on an OA fish fry! Ran lines, the river crested at Caruthersville Mo last night, pretty muddy. Tried to run lines near channel seams, that's where the flathead will be in big water. I set one out in some current to try to catch a big Blue, but actually caught the biggest (10.5 pound) flathead out there.. I was after flathead anyways!!

Had A Big Night On The Mighty Mississippi!

The first bass I ever caught on an aritificial lure was on the Humpback. I had that same lure for 20 years, it was scarred from use in the "Mayo Ditch" that runs though the farm here, it was full of little spots. Tacklebox got stolen about 7 years ago, and the humpback was in there....

I forget the name. but the owner of Wilson Outdoors in Rector AR has a Supreme with a 25Merc. I heard he had it for sale, not sure if he still has it, but you could find his business number and holler at him. If I find it i'll message it to ya!

Yes, that is for sure, I actually use the key fob almost all the time, but with this handle, I am just going us the foot one as an on and off.

Same here lately, love that website!

Yeah, this boat came with this motor, as far as drift fishing the Little Red or White river tailwaters, it's great, I can control the boat from the seat back at the Motor. But as far as bass fishing the EP or Current, the electric steering tends to move it to far to the right or left, this way I can control the boat, turn the thrust on and off with my foot and cast at the same time while holding the boat in the right spot! I can also still used the remote control if needed with this attacted to it!

Added This To My Remote Trolling MoTer For Improved Control For BaSs Fishing In The Current!

Wow, that's a lot of rods, but I see where your coming from to get the best presentation from whatever kind of craft your running. What weight of rods do you usually use with your baitcasters? I really like the medium so far for most of what I'm using it for. I'm using ML on my spinning rods.

Thanks for the input guys, Joe makes perfect sense there really, your preaching to the choir, but guess we all get caught up in trying different things. Mitch, your thinking about what I am, I am wanting a medium action fast tip, and from there to 7 feet. I do fish out of the jet more, and those long rods are nice, but I have had them in my Coosa some this summer to. I carried 4 last time I took it to the Southfork, although you can ask GotMuddy about me hanging a senko on a tree as I made a turn. I decided not to use the upright rod holders after that...lol. A 5.5 rod like Al likes to use in a Solo would probably not have done that. Name brands get the best of us at times I guess, but I'm not going to by a 300 doller rod. I'll have to say that those falcon bucoos I got are the most sensitive and lightweight rod I"ve ever used, there worth the 90 bucks to me. Mitch, I do agree that a medium action rod IMO can be used for just about any presentation. I bought the medium heavy for a jigging/worm rod. But I find myself using the medium more for that, turned my MH into a spinnerbait rig. After nailing some smallies on some topwater recently, I'm wanting another rod mainly for that, I found myself tying to much, as I also am usually running the boat. The biggest advantage I've learned about the baitcasters is that I can be postioning the boat in the current, and cast at the same time. With my spinning gear, I always want to cast with two hands, just the only way I can be accurate. The same goes when running the kayak, I'm getting the bait out there more it seems, much more comfortably. Explain #3 action to me? you talking like extra fast tip?

Awesome, looks like a great time!!

Or bass in general for that matter. I have found a new love for baitcasters, I've decided I want one more casting rod to go with my arsenal, and just go with one spinning rod. I've got two Falcon bucoo's paired with a citica and a curado, which I have fell in love with. One is a medium action, the other a medium heavy. Both rods are incredibly sensitive, and I love them dearly. When I bought these, I almost decided to go with one falcon and a St. Croix premiere rod, as they are about the same price range. I don't wanna go over that price, so was wondering if any of you have compared these two rods. Common sense tells me to go with another Falcon sense I love them so much, but thinking about trying the St. Croix premiere, I guess just to have something different. I've heard there awesome, but Falcon is known for bang for your buck, was wondering if this premier rod would be the same?

I feel like high water and floods are the the cycle of a healthy river. Now there will be new habitat, new scoured out holes, new trees and brush. This is just a normal cycle of a river, the smallies will be just fine. Some feel the fishing is better after a big water even, I plan to find out next week!

I'm very much love to use soft plastics. My last trip to the Eleven Point last week I started out using senkos and tubes, and did catch a nice 15 incher right off, but my buddy who is somewhat of smallmouth rookie if you will, started throwing the rebel craw. He was nailing them right off the banks in the shade, before long, I had one tied on my spinning rod doing to same, so I actually have a new found respect for cranks in my tackle box for smallies.

Good stuff guys! It's interesting to hear the different accounts. Alot of Dad and Granddad's it sounds like played big roles, as it should be!! My dad got me started fishing for sure, he took me a lot dipping worms in ditches and ponds around here. The bass fishing part of has evolved over the years, and still evolving. If you told me 5 years ago I'd be fishing out of a kayak, i'd said you were crazy.....

Great post Scott, love seeing the young'uns catch some fish! Your right Mr. Kruger would be proud, think that's pretty much all he uses.