Wayne SW/MO

It may be a good time for the locals to fish, at least as to crowds. We went into Branson last night to eat and it was all but deserted. We'll see I guess.

I wouldn't give a look of disapproval and I agree they should be taken. I do hate to see the 20+ fish taken, but I can't complain there either, except to the MDC.

For those who want a float without a big crowd, the King has that possibility even in the summer. It drops early it seems and dragging becomes a necessity, lowering crowds.

Do you fish areas known for surfacing, when they are surfacing or is there some other technique?

You can get a map from Bass Pro Shops, if you want one early. You'll want the East Table Rock map and you'll be on the Long Creek arm. I would venture that you'll see reports of Smallies and Spots taken on points with deep cranks, Carolina rigs and jigs and on chunk rock banks early and late. Watermelon/Red is always a good color on the Rock for plastics. There will be some Largemouth around wood in the coves. The time you're here is a time that can be susceptible to the weather, so adjustments might be in order.

It can be productive. There's also some fishing above Ozark for Smallies.

Beaver and Bob's tackle are the only two I've seen.

This might be of interest to some. Missouri Strains There are some others on the MDC site, but since the new look was adopted I've had problems pulling up information and this is an example.

What The Trout Said by Datus C. Proper is an excellent read

While I have spent decades reading magazines, I believe in todays cyber world there is much more pertinent information on the net, at least for our area. The archives here are an endless source of information. Ozark Anglers Other forums; Fly fish Ark-MO Ozark Chronicles

The unknown is the key I suppose. Fishing line, unless IFGA certified, is almost always stronger than the advertised breaking point. The problem that worries me is that they are said to do this to compensate for some variations in diameter on occasion. I'm not sure its worth the gamble, except for emergencies or the heavier sections of a leader. Given the cost of flyfishing, I don't know that I want take a chance on the quality of the final link.

Interesting, I've never seen one there............................yet.

I might point out that there is some heavy equipment and whistles on the North bank of the Pothole. They've trimmed a lot of the trees on the West end, But I don't know what the plan is for the rest. Maybe Empire is going to improve the access.

There was a fair run in Swan last Spring, but they came in one day and the creek blew out the next.

I've used cat food and I think its better, but we did better with Carp.

If you're going to fish TR then in my opinion it depends on whether you're a runner or not. I'm not, preferring to put in to an area and fish it. If you don't run long distances, a jet could offer a lot of advantages, on Taney, upper BS and it wouldn't hurt you on TR.

Crane isn't a place you fish for numbers or size, but a place you fish for the challenge and the solitude.

Leonard there are a couple of areas open on it, one above and one below Crane. Crane is on hiway 13 north of Galena. As for your questions, much of it runs through private land and it dumps into the James. Size?? Its susceptible to rainfall and drought, which we haven't had a lot of. While it doesn't look like RR, it is similar in size, below the dams. if you've been downstream from the Whistle bridge below the old dam, it wouldn't be too different in my mind. It is true that the Trout are wild and that it hasn't been stocked in many years. the fish are genetically tied to the original McCloud strain that was stock by railroad. Its tough tree lined pocket water, but can be fun fishing, just don't expect a lot of size.

I keep threatening, but just don't seem to get around to it. My past experience has been that an oily fish is probably the most consistent bait. There is a White River basin Crawdad that is large, thats for sure, but the name escapes me at the minute..

I would be interested. Are you thinking an overnight, or a one day?

June, clouds and a good flow can spell Hybrids on top.

PD there's very little flow, as a matter of fact you can walk to the rockpile and you see the bottom of the Powersite dam when there's no generation. I'm not an expert on the Eye's, so do you think they will come up on a minimum flow, or will they wait for a generation flow?

I've eyed them also. One problem I see is that I try to be prepared to go dry and take advantage of midging going on at Taney. I don't know how that would work with that thing floating above them when they are looking up. Here's some info from 3M concerning flotation, etc.

If you'll want to abbreviate it, you might consider drawing for one hour in the C&R section, both fish, you pick one to measure.

You can improve fish being frozen by freezing them in water. My son sticks them in milk containers, and sets them in the freezer.