Wayne SW/MO

I didn't spend much time there this winter, but its still a great source for information on how to fish flows for Smallies. Its also a good source of information on water craft for small flows. I also miss the off topic, the vast majority managed to seperate social opinions from fishing.

I assume you're referring to the upper end, but it wouldn't be a problem on the lower section.

Brian a lot of people put in on the NW side of the Orla bridge, I believe its MODOT land. Its a nice float from there to B. I've heard that people who float through Empire get a lot of intimidation from the employees, but I've never personally tried, so I can't attest to the truth of the tales.

I'm booked for the first weekend in June, but that's about it. Ollie is wanting to do something, maybe this would work for him too.

I hear you Sam and I'm not dismissing the pollution angle, but it all, or the bulk of it, has to pass through TR, and its suppose to be improving. If you look at BS and think about what is missing, or added, its timber, a stable water level during the spawn, and decent flows frmom the tribs, and whats added has been another predator fish. I don't see how nest builders like Bass and Crappie can spawn very often when the water flucuates as much as it has the last few years. As far as fish going up stream with thier backs out of the water, it only means they want to spawn. I can remember when they would run up the Little Pomme a few hundred yards from the mouth and stack up in in pools a foot deep. If you really wanted to catch fish you'd hit the shoals above the Fairfield bridge on the big Pomme, where they would have enough flow to spawn and where the bulk returned. Tax you mention shoals above Swan, but there are only 2 that I know of and the best is at the mouth of Silver, which hasn't had a good flow in awhile, and thats probably why the fish of late have been of good size.

I fear that as a society and as members of humanity we aren't as prepared to shake the bounds of family, church and community as some think we are.

I haven't caught any Spots on the Gasconade, Osage Fork, or the Niangua. I've fished a lot of the O Fork to the confluence, but only the upper of the G'nade and Niangua. The Niangua has a small population of Largemouths all through it, or so it seems. I caught a hybrid on the lower part of Bryant last spring, but no Spots. Personally my belief is that lower spring flows coupled with low water levels gives Spots the extra warmth they need to flourish if they can make it to the area. I would think that they possibly move in the winter when cold water is actually warm water, then when summer comes there is not enough cold water to drive them back.

I don't believe I said that was the reason Sam, only that it could have some effect, along with poor spawns, and yes maybe some pollution. However, of the lakes that seem to have a fair population of Whites, here and in Oklahoma, all that I know of have a reasonable size flow feeding them for spawning. Shad, the principal prey of Whites, also need a good flow, so I'm putting my money on poor spawning. I might add that when BS was really an outstanding White fishery, in the mid 50's, it had a good flow coming in, something it generally lacks now.

Don I've done some fishing from a pontoon, in fact I also have one still, but with even a slight threat of wind it stays home, which is 99% of the time. The fact that you sit high is a double edged sword, you can see well and sit comfortably, but the wind will ruin your day if it comes up, even on a river. BrianK don't overlook using a high quality Duct tape (from an HVAC shop)applied under heat from a hair dryer and rolled to exhaust any air while setting it firmly.

CC I believe every bit of it, and I'm sure much hasn't been discovered. On the surface however the indications were that Joe Public would benefit even if he didn't own a White River bottom cotton farm in SE Arkansas or live within the grid fed by the generators, that and the fact that the land was virtually worthless carried much of the argument that it was good for everybody.

Glad too here it wasn't More serious Terry. On the same note I saw a program very recently that involved using stem cells to reprogram the Pancreas to alleviate type 1, it was aimed at a younger group, if I remember right.

You got me hook line an sinker. I have to believe, based on years of fishing for them that a lack of spawn is a big reason, but food competition could play into it. I would think that the millions of Walleye's put in BS would have to have some effect.

Well I might call it something else, but I'll behave. Kayaks do provide a stable platform, and unlike a float tube, offer storage and mobility. I think how and where you would use one would determine whether a sit in or a sit on top would be best.

At least the Dogwoods are fighting threw it.

Things like this rub me hard. The people spent millions to control flood waters in SE Arkansas, and as a bonus got a power producing dam. There was never any mention of fees for recreation, in fact one of the selling points was the vast area of water recreation available for free. It would seem that with pressures put on families today to find affordable recreation, in lieu of letting kids fend among their peers, charging for use of something already bought and paid for makes no sense.

I believe there's also a campground towards Cassville.

I suppose I have to ask how that would diminish the numbers of Whites. Whites have long been known for driving Shad to the surface, basically forcing them against the sky. I can't see the population of Topwater minnows in the creeks as having much of an affect. Possibly seining is picking up large numbers of small Whites. The Whites lost a major spawning ground when TR shut the gates.

I would say yes, because without it you probably won't be able to upgrade or add detailed maps of new areas. I believe one of the companies that maps TR is working on a 1' map now, at least thats what I've heard. There are places to save a lot of money on units, when you decide.

The problem with many SOT's on Ozark streams is the position of the scuppers. They can catch on rocks if they're not recessed. The Tarpon and the Malibu Pro Explorer are 2 that do have recessed scuppers. I would think SOT's would be the better craft on the Eleven Point because they're warmer on cold water, and much easier for amateurs to recover after a spill.

Yes I have one, and the mapping program. My opinion of it is too ugly to describe on here. I could never get it to keep track of distance covered, then the DVD's wouldn't load completely, while attempting to load new maps I lost all the maps, except for the default map. Bottom line is that it tells me where I'm at on a river, but for about $300, I don't need the information that bad. I'll sell it. My wife and I have 2 Street pilots by Garmin, and if I get another handheld it will most likely be a Garmin.

Why do you say this Brian?

Al its obvious that your percentage of MAA fish caught per trip in the winter is extremely high in comparison to other months, what do you attribute this too?

I hope the Sycamores survive, mine lost some leaves a few years back when a cold spell hit earlier than this, and they never recovered the leaves.

Its not the water levels in the lakes, but the creeks that affect the spawn. The whites need a good scattering of the eggs to both aerate them and to diminish the chance of predator fish eating them. The Ozark streams haven't had normal flows in years and there lies the problem. Even the flow over Powersite isn't consistent, and its probably to cold for spawning when it does flow. I would like to see Wipers put in, but you'll probably have to homestead at the Pothole, in the spring, if they do.

I live very close to Swan, and not that far from Beaver, and while I'm not a biologist I thinks its obvious why the Whites have gone south. I can only remember one year in the last 5 or 6 where there was a flow enabling a decent spawn. Whites don't nest, they scatter and there has been either too little water for hatching or so much that the eggs were lost to silt in the lake. When they enter a creek, say Swan, in the evening and begin the spawn, among predator fish, which is natural, and before they can hatch the eggs are carried by high water into the lake, the eggs die. At least thats my take, no water, no fry.