UnCivE

Before the kid was born in Nov 2010, I was pre-fishing Friday night, and all day Saturday for a Tourney on Sunday... plus an hour or so shore fishing at lunch time 3 days a week or so. All in all, probably 20+ hours a week. Now, being a 30 year old engineering student/Dad, I'm lucky to get out 10 hours total a week, usually after the kid and wife go to bed or if my mom wants some grandma time. Can't complain though. If the worst thing that ever happens to me is less than optimal fishing time, I'll be a happy camper.

Eh... I'm still working on this issue. Been married like 9 years and have a 20 month old little girl. Before the baby, I'd spend probably 15-20 hours a week on the water. . . Now, wife works shift work (12's) and only has a couple days off a week. A lot of times, she's working nights and days and sleeps virtually all the time she's off. Basically, till the kid gets old enough, I'm doing my best to fish when both sleep (wife and daughter) or plan for grandma to have her for a day on the weekend every once in awhile. I fish 2-3 times a week for 3-4 hours at a time. It's rough, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

Good to hear.. I was in Florida all week and haven't fished the Gasconade in nearly 2 weeks (I know shocking)... How is the water level? You just targeting pools or was the water high enough you are still hunting for fish?

Well, depends on which model you're talking about. If you are talking about the tunnel hull kayak, it's a pretty stable kayak with decent storage and a super comfy seat. If you're talking about the models with a "round" bottom, I'd suggest skipping them... they aren't real stable and they track poorly. I suspect many of the people dogging the Ascends have never actually paddled one.. the 12 foot sit in model is a great kayak, the 10 ft sit in (with the comfy seat and tunnel hull) is a good kayak. Try to get a paddle in one... personally, if I was deadset on a 10 footer, I'd probably look at Jackson.

Also, the float from Riddle Bridge to 28 is VERY scenic. Probably one of my favorite stretches on the river for fishin and sightseein'. Weekday only for me though. Also, I wouldn't leave my truck at Riddle Bridge for any period of time.

I've parked at HWY 28 and floated many times, as well as done the upstream thing... It's a little rough, probably gonna have to carry your stuff a ways if you don't have 4X4 and plenty of clearance (I do, and I still carry my stuff). The stretch from 28 to Jerome is great as long as you avoid the weekend... it's packed with boaters and floaters on weekends.

I fished near Richland Sunday and had one of my best days this year, my wife's first time smallie fishin' too..

I was out yesterday and the fishing was great. . . if you can find some deepwater with current. Very concentrated.

Your experience mirrors mine. I've seen em rarely, but when I do, they've always struck me as professional and courteous. I had one stop me this spring in full cammies, hanging out in the woods at the entrance to a remote river access (on my way out). He checked my boat for smallies and sent me on my way. I'd feel much better paying more money for a fishing license to fund the MDC..... hell in other states the cost is way more than ours here.

I'd probably take the advice above to find another spring fed stream. In fact, I may just do that myself.

I fished a ways upstream of Hwy 28 to BP today and the water is low and the fishing is slow. I tried about everything, but shaky head tubes seemed to produce better than anything. Water is low enough that I had to drag my kayak a bit today. I tried crankin, I tried spinning, I tried buzzin', even Senko's were striking out today. I'd suggest finding deep holes with current and dragging a tube along the bottom. I picked up 5 smallies and a largemouth in about 4 hours doing this, no rock bass. Like I said, slow fishing.

I've watched many take that first paddle trip and it never gets old. Have fun buddy.

As a guy who made a long run as a full-time professional musician (10 years), I can definitely understand number 8 up there... I promised myself I'd never ruin another passion by trying to make a living at it.

Same thing with me the other day. They had a big ol' diesel ram sitting at the bottom of the ramp blocking access, blarin music. I basically said, you don't have to move your truck, but I'll need a hand carrying my kayak.... They were actually pretty good about it for once. . .

There's a group of folks at that boat ramp seemingly all the time. Last time I fished there, was a group of marines throwing firecrackers in the river. . .

The people at Springfield are Big Cedar salesman, and I've been asked twice. I just pretend like I'm deaf.

Fish musta read this post... lost about 5 senkos today.

Honestly, I've had senkos last multiple trips , not unusual to use the same worm for 10 fish. I usually will take off the bait and rotate it or slightly offset the hook from the previous spot to get some "fresh" plastic on it. It seems to work well enough for me. I don't fish the 6-7 dollar a bag senkos either, I usually buy the 2-3 dollar a bag knockoffs.

Senkos are pretty heavy for plastics... I throw 4" weightless senkos pretty easy with my baitcasters on a 7 ft rod, 6" senkos fly a LONG way. I can throw weightless worms of other varieties, but it can get a little rough in the wind. I think if you give em a shot you'll see they've got some weight built in.

Wow, some real solid info. I appreciate that! I'm gonna take my 12 ft kayak with me. I don't like the idea of wade fishing when you're not the top of the food chain. Again, appreciate it.

So, I've managed to get into a week long vacation to Cape San Blas Florida during the last week of June. I'm pretty comfortable fishing bass of any variety, and crappie... catfish...etc... but I've never wet my line in saltwater. Anybody know anything about wade/kayak fishing saltwater down there? Is my gear gonna be severe underkill (7ft med - med/hvy rods with baitcasters)? I figure I'm gonna be rinsing and cleaning baitcasters everyday, but I don't mind that, I'm pretty good at it. I'm CNR only so I only really wanna hook some nice fish and release them while retaining all my digits.

I'm havin luck on weightless 4-6" senkos in watermelon/red flake (depending on how picky they are) and weightless 4" tubes in both watermelon and crawdad colors. I haven't had a day this year where a weightless senko wouldn't pick up some fish.

No doubt, they are some beautiful boats too.

Looks awesome. If I'd have found that deal I'd jumped all over it too. Can't beat it. Those FS10's have the same "tunnel hull" that the fs12's do so they're pretty darn stable. My dad's got one. I made an anchor trolley from some 1/4" rope, a couple 2 dollar pulleys attached to eyelets with carabiners and a d-ring in the middle to run the anchor line through, works a charm. Now you just need to put a fresh coat of fish slime on it!

Also, got me thinkin... I let my Dad try my FS12 last year, and he went up and bought a FS12 and a FS10 for his wife. . . they ended up taking like 25 percent off (after some heavy badgering knowing my Dad) for something cosmetic... he basically walked into the "warehouse" and picked out the ugliest kayak they had and negotiated the price down. I got 10 percent off mine, but I only asked one time. I'm not much for negotations. Anyway, if you feel like it, you could probably get a deal on a "scratch an dent" kayak outta the warehouse. Just a thought. . .