riverman

Don't let the boats keep you away. Yes you will see some. This time of year most of them will be out there to fish as well. Most of the local boaters are still courteous and give plenty of room to others fishing. As for the boaters going gigging that after dark so they probably wont affect you anyhow. Just my two cents Riverman

As both a smallmouth fisher and a gigger I must admit Im a little confused by this. I have caught more 18" plus smallies over the past couple of years on the current than I ever have. Yes bass do get stuck sometimes. Most giggers that I know do not kill bass on purpose. I am all for more patrolling and checking during gigging season. Please don't start a band wagon to end gigging all together. Most of us on the water at night are ethical law abiding people. Thanks

I am in the process of putting a trolling motor on my 17'52" flat bottom. I have narrowed my choices down to either a 70# Minn Kota Edge or the 70# Minn Kota Maxxum. I have read good and bad about both. Do any of you have any experience with either of these motors. Also under dumb question of the day can someone explain the difference between a variable speed and a 5 speed motor Much Thanks Matthew

Paint Rock down through Boat'n Hole, and then on to the Winona cabins has got to be one of my favorite stretch's of river to fish. I have always caught a lot of fish throwing a panther martin. Seems like ones with a solid orange blade, or anything with hair around the hooks works best.

We are asking $24,000

I am Selling my 09 Tracker Targa 18 combo due to lack of use. It is 18' long with a 150 Mercury Opti Max. 55lb Minn Kota trolling motor. Tow pole for skiing and tubing. Everything works great I just don't have time to use it. Pictures are available as soon as I figure out how to minimize them. e-mail if interested mkeathley@hotmail.com

Russ, We are coming down tonight to Lanagan to put in at the public access by Shady Beach. If you are in the area we will be cooking fish around 9-9:30pm (I hope) Hope to see you tonight Matthew

GloryDaze, PA= Public Access. We have put in there in the past to gig, that is what were hoping for this weekend. It looks like we will be chest deep in corn and beans instead. Like they say "Make hay when the sunshines."

I am looking at coming down on Thursday or Friday to the PA at Lanagan and was wondering how the water is looking. Is it back in its banks? Clearing up? Thanks for any info Riverman

We have a 2nd grade boy in our community that went to the doctor today with a persistant headache this morning, after an MRI they discovered a Large tumor at the back of his brain. They plan on doing surgery Thursday morning. The boys name is Remington. Thanks OAF members Matthew (riverman)

present and accounted for

2006 Blazer SS 1856 with 2007 Evinrude E-Tec 90 Horse Jet. 2006 Rivercraft tandom axle trailor. 72 lb thrust Minn Kota 36 in Trolling motor 24 V. Boat runs great, use mostly as gigging boat. Selling to get family lake boat. Asking $13, 500. Email for pictures-mkeathley@hotmail.com

Gigged from the public access at Ginger Blue up to the bridge Thursday night. I don't know if it was the warmer weather or what but that whole stretch was stacked full of quality smallmouth. By the way non of them were harmed by our boat. We did kill a mess of really nice hogs and yellow suckers. Matthew

Has anyone been out since all the rain came through? Did the Elk get up or dingy? Just wondering Matthew

I haven't had the chance to get to the Current yet this year but as a native of VB I can tell you that anything close to the Big Spring has been gigged hard. You might look at going to Cataract Landing below Big Spring. I believe you turn on "Z" highway to get there. Its the road that will take you to the Big Spring Lodge Restaurant. you will think you have missed the turn off because this place is in the middle of nowhere. Yu will go until you run out of state maintained road and it turns to gravel. There is a killer hill you will have to go over and the road is not far on the other side of it. All told it is about 10-15 miles from the spring. Like I said its a little out of the way but there are usually more fish down there this time of year than there are around some of the more popular launch sites. Good Luck Riverman

My boys have a long weekend from school and we are wanting to spend some time on the Elk starting on Thursday afternoon. I am having trouble contacting or finding any place that is open. Anyone out there have any suggestions? Thanks in advance Matthew

I have owned both types of boat and both will get the job done. I am currently running an 1856 Blazer SS with a 90 E-Tec. I personally like the Blazer a little more than the Legend. They seem to sit lighter in the water. I hve done business with a couple different dealers, one in Van Buren The other at Ernies. I had nothing but trouble and headaches in VB, Dave Martin at Ernies will treat you right. Google "jet doctor" and check out the possibilities. In the end be happy with the boat you choose, take care of it and they will last you for years.

I have an 1856 blazer with an 08' 90 horse E-Tec. With a family of 6 and a full cooler I have no problems getting up the river. I no longer live on the Current river but spend several days each summer in the Van Buren area. The horse power limit is a bit of a pain but you can find plenty of water to get on. I would recommend Ernies sales and service near Elligton. you can find them at jet doctor.net. Dave has always done me right. thats just my 2 cents worth. Happy Hunting Matthew

Frank, The only difference between a jet and a prop is response time. Without the lower unit below the boat to act as a rudder a jet is a little slower. I use my 90/65 E-Tec to troll and have no problems. As for removing any obstruction generally simply triming the motor and using your hand to clean the grate will do. On the occanion you suck something into the impeller and it becomes lodged it is a simple matter of removing 8 bolts from the jet boot pulling the boot off and removing whatever is stuck. The last thing is I don't think you will have to worry about creating to much turbulance. You may notice a little at the point ou turn around but within a few yards that should be settled. Good luck on getting set up Matthew

One very popular plastic being used on the middle current is a product from Arkie called a crawl-n-fry. The most popular color seems to be watermelon fished on either a 1/16 oz or 1/8 oz jig head. Depending upon the time of year you can throw above an eddy and let it roll into the feeding zone or fish it near natural structure like a carolina rig. I have seen and caught fish in places where you would not expect to find them with this set-up.

Went to River Ranch Monday night. Killed a mess of fish but man was it windy. There were times we were having to throttle going down stream just to have forward progress. The water was decent considering how high it was just a few weeks ago. It's hard to say how deep we could see since we had white caps rolling up river. All in all not a bad way to end gigging season. Fresh fish, bread, onion, Cold Ice Tea Good Friends and a Gravel Bar Priceless Matthew

If I may comment from the perspective of the gigger in this matter. I hear what you are saying and understand being upset about bass being killed illegaly. However, not all of us who gig are poachers. As to the MDC regulating this, I have gigged some of the most visable water on the Elk river, current river, james river, spring river, and various arms of local lakes and never been checked. Most agents are not concerned with possession limits on suckers. If the local agent knows of giggers who like to kill game fish I have seen them set up in the middle of no where waiting for the boat to pass by. In all fairness this does not happen very often. As for dwindleing smallmouth numbers go out on the river some night and you will see how healthy the smallmouth population is. If I may, yes the equipment used today is better than it was 15, 20, 30... years ago but then so are flyrods, fishing poles and most of the lures used today. I will be gigging the the Big Sac at Capplinger Mills tonight and I can guarantee you that there will not be any game fish taken from my boat. the guys I gig with don't do that. Anyway save the bass for C&R, eat the suckers. There better. Riverman

Russ Great pics. The river still looks pretty clean. was it murkey or muddy further out just wondering. Matthew

Terry, I'm afraid I can't be much help to you. I only get to the Elk Two or three times a year and then it's only to gig. We always put in at Noel and go up. I think most of the outfitters are closed this time of year. I would love to pull the lights off my boat and put on the trolling motor and give it a try some time. Right now I would just like to be able to walk to my boat without busting my butt on the ice. Happy Fishing Riverman aka Matthew

We were able to make the trip last night to Noel and was it ever worth the two hour drive. We got on the water just after six and by eight we were back at the truck with 60-70 fish. The river was in the best condition I've seen in two or three years. I don't know the name of the holes on the Elk. The one just above town where the river runs next to the highway stacked full of the biggest smallies I think I have ever seen. By the way no bass were injured by our gigs last night. Riverman