ollie

Haven't fished Shoal for a long time. Probably 2 years at least. Buzz and I where going to fish Elk today but wen we got up this morning it was lightning and raining outside. That was around 5:30 this morning and it didn't look too good I thought. Good for us it moved pretty fast through the area. We called each other and decided to fish Shoal instead since we wouldn't get on the water until later in the morning. It's only like 10-15 minutes for each of us to get to. I got held up by a train, but we still got on the water by 8:00. Buzz struck first with a nice little largemouth and then just few minutes later I opened my account! Fat little largemouth at 13". Stayed about the same until the whopper plopper struck twice in row and then some! Before you know it I had like 5 or 6 and was killing Buzz on the number count. The water flow was just about right, little to fast for me, but the creeks all now have a good flow! So we are floating and fishing and then the wind comes back up it starts looking like it could get really bad outside. Buzz starts throwing a war eagle spinner bait and starts catching some fish! All of a sudden he passes me on the count during that front that was moving in. I ended up catching 2 largemouth back to back casts that were 14" and 15". Buzz caught a couple of nice ones as well when the wind picked up! It was weird in a way like it happened, but that is fishing! I ended up with 12 total in about 5 hours and Buzz caught 14 I think. Not a huge numbers day ,but it was enjoyable none the least. We encountered a little rain as well and that actually felt pretty good! Very humid in between the rains and clouds today. Most were largemouth that were caught today and the only smallies we caught were kind of small really. Largemouths came mostly from downed wood on the banks and weed lines. Buzz took a pic of where we were. lol

Yea, I bit the bullet on that license this year and forked over the cash for one. Glad I did now. From Neosho I can be on Grand within 20-30 minutes easy. Went three times when the whites were running and slayed them. Been to a couple of crappie docks as well and did fine. Tons of good catfish in there as well. If you want to stay in this area without spending the dough for that OK license then Shoal does have them in there, but like Chief said I don't think as many, although I did see someone last year haul out 2 five pound plus flat heads out of there. Now I think about that was first thing in the morning and he was checking limb lines from the night before. Go below Noel on that stretch of Elk and there are plenty.

I agree it can be a circus but it almost is automatic that they will catch one at least. If you are looking just to catch any fish then a local creek with some crawdads and worms will do.

If you hold off until the 17th of this month RR has free fishing days for kids with activities and all.

Well, I think we all knew it would happen eventually. Powers that be weren't going to stand by and not get a cut of wealth for themselves. Shameful at the very least. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/epa-clears-path-for-proposed-copper-and-gold-mine-near-alaskas-bristol-bay/ar-AAF7rw8?ocid=spartandhp

I love RR, but in the last few years it hasn't been a fraction of what it used to be IMO. Still a beautiful place to go though and I always hit it up on the C&R first day.

I use to fish with Wayne on here before he died, R.I.P. and he used to live in Oregon and told me many stories of fishing the river. Told me basically what you reported, that there were more smallies in there than you could shack a stick at! He said you basically had to have a pontoon or similar water craft to float and the wind was brutal. Very isolated as well. Great report.

Ok, I read about sharkbites accident but just saw this and I'm thinking what is going on? https://newstalkkzrg.com/2019/07/15/explosion-on-table-rock-lake/?fbclid=IwAR2voURQ8wozVnOIQNNY3JvajUvKojcaNGcI47gP0NOiyPlbKeZkgtT4tuk

Hahaha, my dad was huge into the fishing facts magazine and he swore by nightcrawlers . Wouldn't buy any lures at all. Anytime my uncle would join us to fish my uncle ALWAYS out fished my dad using artificial lures. Not to say a worm won't catch a big fish because I know it will, but when using worms of any kind you normally get the smaller fish first. It wasn't even a contest, my uncle also caught the bigger fish on lures as well. Around curves in the river are a pretty good bet along with fast water when they are really feeding good. Laydowns along the banks are good too. I have to admit though, I have fished really deep areas that look great and not had success as well. That is probably me, but Buzz on here will agree with me on that one. lol

Little late to this thread but picked me up a Ruger Ranch in 5.56 about a month or two ago and I love the thing! Bought a Vortex 2x7x32 scope and I am grouping several shots in the bulls eye without any problems at 100 yards. I mainly got the rifle to knock down hogs and varmint on my property in the sticks. I'm sure it will do a number on the dillos though as well! I traded in a Hi-point 9mm carbine for it and that gun took many dillos down on the farm without any problems too.

I had one of those pond prowlers as well when I was younger. Got a great deal on one and pulled the trigger. I floated Indian Creek, Elk, and Shoal with that thing. It was a tank and tough as nails. I decided to sell it one day when we came around a corner and there was a tree in the middle of the stream. The current pushed us into the tree before we had any time to try and maneuver that beast. Lucky I only lost a couple of things. Almost lost my rod but had line out and was able to get it back off the bottom of the stream. It was kind of surreal in a way. We bailed on the boat when it started tipping over and made it to the shore where in about 30 seconds later the boat went under the tree underwater and came back up on the other side. After that I sold the thing.

Team Catfish Fiber Nuggets. Tried some the other week and it is a weird mixture for sure. Looks like powdered sugar on the outside and dry to the touch. When it gets wet though, look out, it is slimy as all get out! Stays on the hook great too.

Yep, that is a good float when the water is like this. Once it goes down though the water gets real skinny in areas.

Watched the video last night. I found it pretty boring actually, but you can clearly see he is out there trying to snag the bass on beds. What a d-bag.

I'm at work right now and can't watch the video, but when I get home I definitely will watch it. So many people knew he was cheating, but also most of them knew if they called him out it would make them out to be liars. This guy is a real POS!

Wow, what an article. I have only heard of the guy and never followed him so I didn't have a clue until I read this! All because he had a reputation for big bass he was getting a free pass and everyone believed him. PT Barnum was right.

I think you guys nailed it. Limited access that was available before that isn't now. My uncle lived in Walnut Shade over by Branson and was a huge coon hunter. He would cover miles in one evening and have to cross multiple land owners land and never had a problem. Bet that isn't even possible now.

Never touch or move a fawn. The mother will always come back for her unless something happens to the mother.

For a stove I use a Trangia. https://trangia.se/en/selecting-the-right-trangia-stove/ Great little stove for cooking outside.

I went down to Bernice to see my buddy on Sunday night and I must say, that has to be one of the worst floods I have ever seen on Grand Lake. I know it has been up this high before, but I personally have never witnessed it. Twin Bridges and Bernice State Parks were so under water and the bridge at Bernice had water pushing onto the road! Debris was getting onto the bridge as well. Not sure if any ramps are open. If more rains happen tonight and tomorrow I have no idea what level that will put the lake at.

I saw the Mac County guy out Saturday. Can't think of his name to save my life but he has looked at my license more than once in the past! lol I will say around here they get out and do their job.

A post with no real facts to know what really is going on with the picture. If they are legally in their rights then more power to them. I personally am a C&R guy, but don't get mad if someone is in their legal right to keep them.

Here in SW MO we got hammered. All the rivers and creeks are raging and where I live the sirens kept going off around 1:30 in the morning. So yea, I didn't sleep much last night.

It will be interesting to see where they can even launch from!

No google-eye there. I have seen them darker, but that doesn't quite look like one.