ollie

Just launch over at conner's bridge and go around. Your choices are far and few between! lol I know you don't want to launch up at devil's promenade so you really only have three to choose from if you are going up spring.

I saw a couple of reports where guys were catching the crappie up by the docks on spring the other day. Figured it wouldn't be too much longer for the whites to show up.

So Sunday I went down there to take a look and see if they stocked anything since MDC was in a stocking mood with all the trout streams. I was definitely surprised at what I saw. At the first bridge down from the mill there must have been 50+ trout all belly up on the bottom where it looks like they dumped them into the river. Pretty much all of them were in a 10 foot radius so they had to have died immediately when they hit the water or maybe they were dead already I don't know. I thought maybe shock at first, but you would think some of them would have scattered out before dying. I am going to have to ask the conservation department what happened on this one. Needless to say, I didn't catch anything down there so I headed back home early. Can't say I have ever seen that at Capps before.

Depends on water levels. When it is running less CFS you can wade in a lot of spots. Although it fishes better at higher levels. I actually only fished it a couple of times last year due to low water. I normally put in the yak to fish.

The only issue I see with the ramp under 10 bridge is that half the time no one can launch there worth a crap as well! Ask billethead, he knows what I'm talking about. They need to improve that ramp as well because it is so shallow there. Last year I sat there in my car and watched countless trucks trying to launch there and most gave up and went somewhere else. The only real good ramp on that end of the lake is over on the Neosho side at Conner Bridge. You could launch at Bee Creek, but that would be a longer haul to get up the Spring or Neosho at that point. There are a couple of pull off places on 10 going towards Grove, but those are pretty rough, and no one is there to watch your vehicle.

Those are the trips we live for! Great looking fish.

Yep, I saw this one coming last year. Just like the toll roads in the state, keep taking the money, but don't repair anything. Looks to be a statewide thing IMO. I used to always get a license, but I probably won't this year due to the cost and the fact they don't want to fix anything it seems like. When they first started collecting the extra $10 for certain state parks, they said it was because they needed the extra revenue to maintain those parks better. Look how that is working out. Off my soapbox now.

Good luck at Indian. I live 20 minutes from there and back before the internet and such a huge population explosion over in NWA came about you could count on some decent size smallies from there. It just hasn't fished the same since then. Yeah, you will catch fish in there but not like 10 years ago. It is a very small stream and the locals hit it hard. Even though the Elk gets hammered in the summer, you at least have a chance at a decent fish out of there. JMO

Sorry for your loss. It's tough I know. Hang in there

Love my chiefs, but watching them this year is painful. I have to admit, both of those roughing the passer calls against Texas was bogus. Although the refs were friendly to us, no team out there is probably going to win when the QB gets sacked 8 times. I thought all the games this weekend were pretty good. The snow games just came down to who could play better in the slop.

Here's a thought. Hit up 10K and then fish below the dam for trout. I believe they still stock below there.

Ah, see, I thought you were talking about a different place. My apologies on that. Since I see now where you are talking about, I don't have clue! Probably should have read your post more carefully. I have caught plenty of wipers and stripers but never have fished up there. Sorry about that.

Huh? What are you talking about? There are no wipers in either of those ponds up there. MDC has never stocked wipers in those ponds. Are you trolling?

Figured since the big day has come and gone, I would post my trip to Capps on Christmas Eve. I had the whole the day off (which rarely happens this time of year), so since it was a nasty rainy day with cloudy skies, I figured it might be a good day to fish down there. I must say, those are always the better days down there if you can make it. And this time I remembered my jig box! Actually, that was all I took down there this time around. Got down there around 9ish and changed into my waders and started walking. First hole didn't produce so I didn't hang around too long before I was headed somewhere else on the stream. Then the day got much better! Caught the first bow and things started looking up. Second fish of the day in the pic. Nice brown that went 19" to the tape. Made my day for sure and the year down there since those are hard to come by. I ended up catching 4 trout and 3 google eye in about 2 hours and then headed back home. It was a good start to Christmas and a nice present for me! 🙂 Was fishing my own tied jigs again in an olive and brown color.

I thought it was a good read. I use jerks on trout quite often and have been for a while now. Haven't achieved Doty level, but then again, who has?

I think the one I caught under the bridge was a stocker, but not a new one since I didn't have any other followers. If they have stocked, and I think they have, it was only a handful at both bridges and that would be about it. Poor Capps just doesn't fish like it used to. And yes, it has changed a lot this past year from what I can tell.

Did you see my note on your truck? At least I thought that was your truck (Silverado?). It is official then, I am this years winner! 😆

So., I got down there just a little before 9 and got myself ready to fish. Wasn't sure I wanted to on Saturday, but when I got up on Sunday, I saw overcast skies and the wind not really blowing too hard, so I convinced myself to go. I saw two trucks down at the lower end and I think one of them was trythis onemv, but wasn't sure so I hung around until a little after nine and then I went up to the upper end to fish. Started under the bridge and had one follow right away on the pin minnow I was throwing. I normally don't start out fishing cranks, but dummy me left all my jigs at home in the box I had sitting right on the table. Oh well, the Yozuri did me alright. I soon caught one under the bridge and I was thinking maybe they stocked it and I am going to tear it up! That was not the case. I threw out several more times and never even got a follow after that. Time to move on so I headed up to the mill dam. I really like fishing jigs up there, but I had to adapt with what I had. After switching retrieves and trying different ways to fish the pin minnow I struck another bow. And then another one. I had figured it out somewhat or at least for the moment I had. Ended up with a kicker Brown going around 15" for the morning. Stayed up there for a little while longer and didn't catch anymore so I decided to head on out. Thought about walking the lower end, but by now I was cold and not feeling it so I headed home. I ended up catching 3 all together with 2 of them being bows and the other one the brown. By far more than Buzz this year! lol After coming home I decided to hit Hickory since I knew they had stocked down there not long ago. Caught 2 right off the bat and the third one engulfed my hook so I had to do surgery. While doing that I ended up hooking myself on the sweats I was wearing now and had a hell of a time getting that undone. After that I just went on home. Oh yea, found a fly box on the upper end in the water. If you or someone you know lost a box of flies let me know and I will try to get it back to you. The contents of the box tells me though it probably wasn't anyone on here since the flies were pretty simple and looked more like the ones you would use at the trout park.

Oh, I have done well in the snow and cold too, but I'm afraid there will be clear skies tomorrow with the cold. Not quite the better combination to have.

It will be extremely cold in the morning tomorrow so if you decide to stay home that will be alright. I know Buzz told me he probably won't make it if it is super cold and now I am starting to debate the idea! No, I will be there for at least a little while until I can't handle it anymore! Just not going to be a prime day for it this year I'm afraid.

BTW, anyone can come to this. Just putting that out there for anyone who has thought about it before and was hesitant to make it. This Sunday at 9 in the morning at the lower end parking lot. We fish till at least noon and then meet back up to see who was the one slaying them this year. At least we hope someone slays them! lol

I think it will be tough this year. As in only one or two fish will win. We'll see though, it might be better than I think.

Why do I get this feeling it was just because? Probably because it will be true. Normally when someone around this state takes a mountain lion it is just because and normally their life is not in danger.

Glad to see they aren't lure shy yet! lol Glad you got into them.

Well, looks like this is somewhat expected now! Lol Although we missed last year, we will try this year. Same day, same time. See you on Capps the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Get there by 9 and we will meet this time at the lower access parking lot. Just more room to park and get things together down there. If you need more info give me a shout out.