countryred

I used to make my own. I would use a larger blade, for a 1/2 oz., and put in on a 3/8 oz. It would slow crawl along just right.

1. 5/16 oz Eakins jig with a double tailed grub trailer. 2. texas rigged 4" tube bait, 4/0 HP hook, 5/16 oz weight 3. 3/8 oz double willowleaf spinnerbait 4. 3" grub rigged on an 1/8 oz head 5.Bagley killer b1

Thanks for the report John. Sounds like you had a great time. Did you catch any pickerel on that stretch?

Its a dandy. that's for sure. I am with Al, seems like 20" max,....But its been so long since I have caught a good smallmouth, I really don't know. I love the colorization of that fish.

I know a lot of the local guys throw tubes, chomper grubs, and flukes there too.

Looks like you had a fun trip!!!! I never would have thought to throw a spinnerbait in that water,,..its something I will keep in mind.

That's a nice float from Alley to Eminence. Last time I was down there 6/23/13 , I got bit on a 4" Gulp finesse worm rigged texas style with an 1/8 weight on 8 lb floro. The fish seemed to be hunkered down around and under the wood. Lots of traffic that day. But I am still learning to fish that type of water. Good luck , its an awesome place.

Prayers sent that way.

There should be enough evidence to at the very least search his freezer. Betting that if he disregards 1 rule, he violates more. They could put a tail on him and when he heads to the river , watch his every move.

Ouch !!!!! Were those tracker jackers?

Pool 24 is the best of the pools up here. There are smallies showing up more now there and some good ones too. I think during the flood times many got washed there from the salt.

Twain is a good lake at times. Right now is really good with the falling water stacking the fish up on the points. Tons for crappie, size comes and goes. Better crappie at caught off the big trees along the creek channels. The salt has everything in it, gars carp, cats dogfish, sunfish, crappie, whites, and you will catch a little of everything. And those giant big headed carp that jump in your boat. 5 years ago it was an awesome place to catch nice smallies. After the floods its changed. It hurt the small mouth population. Its 60/40 smallies in the bass department, depending on the area. But it is coming back , slowly. I have seen all different boats, jet, air boats, etc. We would canoe most of the time. Or walk in , but 99 percent is private property and better have permission from the well armed locals. Let me know the general area of your friends farm, it could be a good place for you to start. There are MDC access areas. Most of our trips we fished from one take out, There are plenty of riffles to drag through, even in a canoe. Late summer and early fall are good times to try it. If they are generating, fish the lake. The river is better, the lower and clearer it gets. It doesnt get a ton of pressure, like some of the ozark streams, but it can't handle it either. With flood control, its hard for them to spawn, yo yoing water levels, etc..1 in 5 is a good spawn year. If you do go, please let them go. Poachers raped it a few years ago.

Some really good rules up there. Most of my knowledge has been on the Salt, above or below Mark Twain. Its a stain water fishery. The smallmouths really like the current and rocks, and mid-stream wood and the largies, well....they love the wood just out of the current. The riffles seem to hold a lot of smaller smallies but sometimes the bigger ones like the lower part of the biggest pools, just above the riffles. Up here we can use bubba baits, flashy spinnerbaits, big tubes on flip sticks, etc.......its taking some time adjusting to the jacks fork for me. The very best way to eliminate water is to tie on your favorite baits and cover water.

very cool pics, I like all the snakes!!!

They were spooky. We fished up by ebb and flow spring and bluff view. We caught a fair number of little ones, but canoe after canoe going through the best areas had them spooked. A texas riggged 4 " grn pumkin worm was the only thing that worked.

I caught a few smaller smallmouths and some goggle eyes on texas rigged 4" power worms, green pumpkin. There were a ton of canoes floating down from Buck hollow. Tried sight fishing some nice fish only to find out they were red horses!

My wife and I are heading down to Mountain View this weekend to work on our new property and do a little shore fishing around the Buck Hollow and Bluff View areas. Not taking alot of equipment, spinning poles loaded with 8 lb. floro for shakey heads, drop shoting and texas rigs. I am guessing that the smallies have already spawned and staying near the deep holes.

Prayers sent that way!

A football jig is hard to beat. Looks like whatever throwing is working good! Thats a dandy northern fish.....

Looks great! Keep them coming.

That's up about 18' or so. The two rivers area where the Jacks fork and Current meet looked crazy too. Our woods is only about 4 miles from Buck. Going down in a couple weeks, hope its back to normal and clear by then.

Just saw it on the news. Thoughts and prayers sent that way.

Ha Ha Ha,...you are like me. No matter what schedule I work, it always rains when I am off. Or on sunny days, I am mowing. But really, anyone who can retire, should. My best fishing buddy waited a few years to retire. He had all kinds of plans made, Okeechobee in January, Kentucky Lake in June. He retired in January of that year , felt bad in March, diagnosed with leukemia in May. Did the chemo, radiation, bone marrow battle for a year and a half. before he past away. He only got in a few local days on the water. I will say that God was smiling on us those days,. The fish bit well and were on our spots even after a cold front. I still wish we could have had a few more of those. So to all those Retirees , I say live it up, Catch a bunch for us!! Just send pics and give us a few tips when we do get to go.

Great question. I keep a shotgun close to the bed,..and ammo hid, but closer. Can load and be ready inside 6 seconds. Wife keeps her pistol close, and loaded clips closer, but also hid. Its a tough balance between ready and leaving it out where young hands can get them.

A minnow trap baited with bacon, tied to a tree in 10' of water, chunk rock and wood helps...Make sure you label it with your name, etc...to keep the game warden happy.