ollie

tclubbs2, I have never fly fished on Shoal, but I have fished at the Lime Kiln access and at four or five other ones close by. I have only had good fishing in two or three other spots and they weren't close by Lime Kiln. I like upper Shoal a whole lot better than the lower section.

Pack-Rat is where I bought my Pam 100. Nice people and good service. ONly bad problem about testing boats there is the little pond. Still, it's better than nothing I suppose.

I don't think the best fishing has happened yet either. My report from earlier was also the smaller males that he was encountering. After these rains things should really heat up!

Yeah my boss went on Wed. and said he caught a bunch too. Most where small, but he said a couple were nice mixed in. Said he lost a real nice over the side of the boat on a head shake. Oh yea, he fished downstream from 10 bridge.

Here in Neosho the sirens sounded and I think I heard the neighbor say here son had called and said one touched down south of town, but I never heard anything else so I don't really know how reliable that info was. My house and family are ok and so is everyone else I know in town, so I'm not to sure if that may have just been strong winds she was talking about.

I got out yesterday for a couple of hours and went on down to the Capps. Weather was nothing less than spectacular, but the fishing wasn't as good. Water is REALLY low. Wouldn't surprise me if they started draining the mill pond anytime soon. There is soooo much moss in the pond it is choking out anything in there. I did manage to catch two greenies and about 5 g-eyes. I talked to someone today at work that said his freind caught about a dozen down there last weekend. If he did then they were small. I was fishing to a pod that the biggest one I saw was only around 8". Nothing I would brag about.I also have a sneaking suspicion my bosses friend probably kept all of them too.

If you want to catch more g-eyes, just go fishing with me! lol Ask Wayne, he'll tell ya who's the king of g-eyes! lol

Yes, they do stock up until like March or April, but I couldn't tell you right at the moment if they have stocked recently.

Wow, I don't check this thread for a day or so and all you guys don't play nice! I don't think banning gigging is the answer either and I don't think anyone here is advocating that option. Although it is banned in other states. I don't know the answer either, but I like Al's suggestion of monorting a certain stream to see if it really is a problem. I was in QC for many years and the only way to fully understand a problem is to set parameters and evaluate the true facts and go from there. Stay consistant, monitor the facts and draw a conclusion from the facts, but set fair and reasonable parameters.

See guys, now we are getting somewhere. Now we are hearing the pros and cons of river fishing. Personally, I could care less if gigging was illigal, but I know that isn't the real solution to the problem. I too think there is some bad apples mixed in the bunch that gives way to problems on our streams. Maybe we should have a statewide length limit on smallies? ( bigger than 12" ) I know several streams around here still have the 12" length and I rarely see them get any bigger than that in those streams. It is sad when you see average joes taking little fish or more fish than they should. Sometimes there are kids along that think Dad is doing ok by taking those sub-legal or over limit fish and that is when it is really a sad thing to see. They will most generally grow up thinking it is ok to do this. My Dad still keeps everything that is legal to keep and fillets them out. That was the way he was taught. I use to be that way until I realized that a trophy stringer of smallies hurt the future of the streams I fish. Times have changed since I was even a boy and at the rate our fisherys are going I sometimes wonder if my grandkids will be able to enjoy what I have. Oh yeah, this is about gigging smallies. I say protect them more like we do our trout waters.

Ouch! That was colder than the temps outside. You know you are just jealous! Was it olive or black I caught that bruiser on.............

Yeah, just think of a bugger on a jighead and you get the picture.

As far as I know it is a jig. Olive color in body and tail with hackle tied in the body. I have tied this jig for many years now and it does work.

You would be surprised at what places I know of around here, born and raised here. I also have an idea where you might be talking about. Now if you tell me your catching browns down at Big Spring Park...... then we need to have a talk! lol

MoCarp, I didn't know you work at the terminal. Daisy, Brass Eagle, or the state VA records dept.? Or is there others out there now? Oh yea, the feed mill by the tracks? Just curious, we might need to hook-up sometime!

Well Leonard, if the local enforcement can keep-up with those who are seining the creek, then we will be ok. With such low water right now Hickory is nothing more than a trickle. No where for them to hide Have you ever fished from the park down to Shoal Creek? I have and I'm still not sure you are allowed to unless you ask permission. Where Hickory creek dumps into Shoal is mainly private property. I see you pasted it from the website, but I am still not sure how acurate that is. I do know MDC doesn't own that land anywhere. It is a coop between the city of Neosho, the Federal Hatchery and MDC.

Yes, we need to make aware of the problems our native smallies face. I hope this forum is really being seen by those at MDC. I really do.

Give me a shout when you decide to make it this way and maybe I can hook-up with you.

I have to agree with SKMO on the part of us sportsman being the eyes and glad to see those guys get a ticket! See, I don't have a problem with people who gig leagally, but those who take no matter what should be condemned. I also realize that our county agents are spread thin, so what else can we do? Lets hear some more thoughts. Like Wayne said, "this is our native stream fish" and we need to protect them as best as we can.

When I was younger my Dad and Mom would take us down to Taney and we would fish all day long. We would go up to the cable if they were generating and if not we would go to the lower end. For the longest time my biggest bass came out of Taney below Rockaway too. When your 10-12 a five pounder is pretty good size!

Like most other regions I think we area waiting for some rain to bring up the water levels.

I had a Guide at one time and they are bomb-proof, but with that comes weight. Two people ok, one, no good. If your wanting something more solo go the lighter route. If you know someone will be along with you go for a longer 14' tandem. Good luck.

The water is very low right now at both places. Hickory is but a trickle and Capps is almost the same. Monett is closet to Capps and I'm not sure if they have stocked yet, as of two weeks ago they hadn't. There is a Motel 8 in Monett which is about 6 miles from Capps I think. If you stay in Neosho, it's about 15-20 miles to Capps and there is plenty of lodging here too.

I for one would like to see tougher smallie regs. Any comments?

Oh, just pick-up the spinning rod and throw some jigs, you know ya want to!