LittleRedFisherman

Gods Country for sure, wanting to float that myself someday! Great report!

Ozark Trout Fisher, yeah it's really a recreational river for many in this region, in the summer when it gets dry, it runs pretty clear. Not like it does up there of course, but just the right color for some great fishing. Up around what is called SugarBush, there is more Smallies up that way. I have walleye fished this river before, it's a great river for walleye down here as well. I have to say however, I went up to Van Buren this winter and fished one day for some Smallies, and the water up there is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, unbelievably clear!!

My go to lure on those waters is a marabou jig. I do anything from jig them back to the boat, and sling them with my TFO. Also still a big fan of a Rebel Craw.

I watched this video a while ago from the AGFC website, it's a show they do that airs on a Little Rock station. Thought I'd post it, as it give a different perpective of the Current River here in Arkansas as it enters the Delta. Also shows there's still Smallmouth this far down, as well as a few tactics to catch them. Here's a link to the video, you will have to select it from the list, for some reason the link messes up. Just select the second vid down that mentions the Current from 8/4/12.. http://www.agfc.com/resources/Pages/ResourcesVideos.aspx

That's great, nice Brown! That looks like the same area I had good luck with a 1/8oz white jig last Saturday catching all Browns. None of them came close to that, but one was around 16in. Loved it there, can't wait to come back!!

Wow, those front markings really do look the same.

Phil, fished from 530 this morning till 730 before we left to head home. One thing that was different the other day, I was using a white 1/8oz jig and caught all browns. This morning was catching nothing on the white, then went to a skulpin/ginger jig and caught a couple rainbows before I had to leave. It's a beautiful place there, and look forward to fishing every time we come to Branson from now on, was impressed with Taney, and your place as well, top notch!! Took a little while to get used to the big boats, on the Little Red and White, most everybody has to run Supreme/Shawnee's like mine.... I I'm gonna try the jig technique on those rivers as well in the future! Seems that the fish caught doing that were more quality, especially the browns!!

As promised, had to post an update on my first trip to Taney today. We didn't get out as early as I'd liked, as we had to take care of some stuff this morning, so we didn't get out on the water till around 9. As we were loading up to head on the water, I saw one group with at least 5 limits of fish, so I was like wow this should be good. I was since told that this morning was fast action, but the bite really slowed when the sun got up good. I tried different tactics, as I really wanted to catch some on my 5wt flyrod, but wasn't having any luck. I did everything from trying micro jigs under an indicator, as well as trout magnets, and stripping wollybuggers. Talked to several that were flyfishing and they to where having a slow bite, granted at this time is was around 11. So I went back to some stuff I saw on Phils "impressive youtube channel" that I had watched before, and started working an 1/8 oz white jig along the bluff banks. If I got my bearing correct, we worked the bluff above fall creek, and the one below. Anyhow, that's where my luck changed, caught several ( all brown trout) right in front of several flyfisherman. That seemed to do the trick, missed several fish till I learned the feel of the technique. Basically jigged it back to the boat like Phil has demonstrated on his video's.. Thanks for putting that stuff on there to help a Taney rookie catch some fish!! Planning on being on the water at 530 tommorrow morning!!

Great report Phil! My wife and I are here in Branson for the weekend, got our boat docked at your place, and hitting the Lake in the morning. I'm wanting to flyfish for sure, but also I've watched some your youtube stuff on the jigging the bluff bank. I'm definetly gonna try that tommorrow. Curious what line and setup you use to jig with. I've spooled on some low vis green 4lb line on a 6 foot light action spinning rod, that works great in the White and Little Red rivers in Ar where I fish alot. But noticed while docking the boat, that the water here is unbelievably clear, beautiful but I bet hard to fish, I can understand why the chop on the water is so important. Thanks and hope to see you on the water tommorrow! Bret.

Great report!! Would love to do that some day. Possibly the finest river in the Ozarks!!

Wow, that is awesome. What a buildup for me, as I'm about to experience Tanyeycomo for the first time this coming weekend!! Fantastic fish Phil.!!!

Thanks Brian, I will have to try that. I lost my tackle back in the spring going down the interstate, so I need to restock on flies, all I have is some midges and caddis's. Last weekend on Spring River I actually was fishing trout magnets with the flyrod, works really well. I've got two 9 footer, 4wt and 5wt. If there generating any, probably will try some drift fishing, my wife will like that tactic, but nothing like catching them on the fly!! A sticker would be awesome, planning on guying some of the OA Teeshirts while we are there!! I'll be in a white Supreme with a red stripe and merc Jet.....

Thanks Phil, I will defenity post a report... If you saw any of my Smallmouth fishing last winter, you know I love to post stuff...lol Looking forward to trying out tanycomo. Been coming to Branson for years, but never fished here yet. After talking it over tonight, leaning on Bringing my boat and renting one of your stalls. May want to fish two to three times while we are there. I've watched some of your youtube stuff, "which is better than some fishing shows on right now", I see you like maribou jigs, I do as well, but usually fish them with a flyrod for smallmouth, thought about trying that for some trout. My wife isn't as experienced fishing as I, so the tight line bait fishing will work great for her, probably try several different tactics while i'm there. I loved your video on the dry fly fishing, that would be awesome if they are hitting dry's. Other wise gonna try the flyrod out some on whatever there hitting on when we get there. Thanks Bret.

Heading to Branson this coming weekend, and leaving the kids with there grandparents. So my wife and I are planning to do some fishing while we are there. Don't want to drag the supreme all around Branson, so planning on just renting a boat at Lilly's. Wondering what the best methods for trout fishing are right now. I flyfish as well as spin fish for them. so will be prepared to try both. Looking for some advice to get a game plan on catching some trout. Thanks in advance!!

Sweet Video!! Really enjoyed it!

Awesome Vids there Smalliebigs!! When I get a chance to start going again regularly this fall, we need to hook up on some smallies!! I did do some flyfishing on the Spring river the past couple weekends that i got off, but those trout just aren't like a smallmouth!! I am really wanting to try the Black River up your way, in the process now of looking for a canoe!!

That's a monster Brian!! I have got to hook up with you sometime on try some trout on that river!! Fantastic fish!!

Been really wanting to go Smallmouth fishing, it's been awhile. So while playing on the computer I watched this video I made back in Febuary, which really got me the fever to go. It got me to wondering if some of you out there have any video's you made fishing the beautiful Ozarks for some bronzebacks. I love seeing things like this from others. Here's a link to one I made several month's ago, love this one because it has my Dad in it catching smallies, special memories for sure!!

Cody, where I'm at we have 30 feet wells, with a static water table from around 8 feet, so I know ours aur shallow...lol. I'm still alive.. We have county water now, but I can still make better sweet tea out of that same well we used to use for our house, which is now just to water the yard. Biggest problem we have now with our ground water is it's high in iron.

Many used to routinely go to Ravenden Springs and collect water for drinking. My grandfather always did when we were traveling to Hardy. He would get like 5 gallon of it, and drink on it for a week or so while farming. He loved the stuff and never made him sick. I've drank gallons of it as well as a kid. Never made me sick, but without being to graphic, it changed the color of stuff when going to the bathroom..(black as coal). Don't know what was in that water to do that, my grandfather said it had healthy minerals in it.

Here we go. Lol. Need a new phone!

Here's some pics!

Finally got to hit the spring river this morning with the flyrods. Went to the hatchery and fished out in the main channel for awhile. I was wanting to find marks flyshop and try some of those Y2K,s he makes, but settled on wollybuggers and trout. magnets. Basically got to break in my new 5wt on about a dozen rainbows, didn't even throw the 4WT. Beautiful day on a beautiful river!!

Here on the farm, we have snakes all the time in our yard, as well as one that got in the house once, it was a rat snake. With a 3 year old that likes to play outside, if I see a poisionous snake, it's dead within my sight. When it comes to protecting family, not taking a chance of my little boy getting bit. Pretty much take the same stance as Al on if it's in my domain. I actually like having rat snakes (chicken snakes), around the farm, they are very benefical actually to have around. Here in the St. Francis river "bottoms" in the Delta, cottonmouth's are more than common. Definetly don't play around with them, if memory serves I believe i've read that they are 3 times as poisonous as a copperhead.

Interesting topic, I would have to agree with the general consensus here, but the one time that I really like to flyfish for Smallies is in the Winter. This winter I would catch the water a little cloudy, and do a drift with the boat, and outcaught my friend usually who was using conventional tackle more times than not. Of couse the cloudy water was my friend with the flyrod on those days. This time of year with the clear low water, give me a gitzit and my spinning rod anyday when I head to the Eleven Point here in Arkansas.