ollie

I wouldn't call it an extravaganza! Yes, we will probably meet up this year after Thanksgiving like normal. Last year I came down with Covid at the time, and some other family stuff was going on. With the rain we just got it might make it more interesting this year.

The Mill pond is fishable and they used to stock it, but I know they haven't stocked that in a long time and I think last year it was drained if I remember correctly. Above that first bridge on the pond is private property and I'm pretty sure you will get into trouble trying to fish up there. I was told that before at least.

Graphic Pic, count me in. Those things don't bother me when I see them. Although that is a very nasty cut indeed. Glad you are alright and hopefully on the mend and getting better. You might lose some feeling there if you haven't already. That will definitely take some time to heal. You cleaned it up pretty well though I will give you that.

I was going to start a new thread, but no one has posted anything on here since last year! I ended up going down there on Friday for the C&R this year and caught plenty of fish. I was in the fishing mood all last week! I was worn out from traveling the day before so I didn't get down there until around 9. Stayed until 1 and caught over 30 fish easily. Probably caught 15 out of one hole and then I found out later Buzz caught a bunch out of that same hole. I think he said he ended up with over 100 for the day. Didn't really seem to matter on color a whole lot either. I started out fishing a ginger colored jig and then switched over to olive at some point. Saw lots of fish getting caught as well by others. I didn't realize they were doing construction on the bottom campground either. They had that closed up, but you could still fish around there. They just didn't stock anything down there this year from what I could tell.

Well. well. It was a trip for the books for sure. The drive down there on Sunday sucked really bad, I won't lie. Heavy rain and lightning all around us as I was driving. Surprised we didn't see a tornado drop down in front of us on the way down there! So, Sunday and Monday sucked as far as the weather goes, but Tuesday it warmed up a little and by the time Wednesday rolled around we were good to go with the fishing. I tried a little fishing from the shore on Tuesday, but didn't catch a thing. Although the local guy down there told me that was a good spot to fish, and he caught several the day before of course. I wasn't so sure of his advice, but he somewhat seemed to know what he was talking about. Wednesday morning got up real early since we had to drive almost an hour to the dock form where we were. Got there on time and we headed out at daybreak to the first fishing spot. We pulled up on a flat about 8-9' in depth and started throwing big old pencil poppers in white and red. Guide had one on right away and passed the rod to the guy I was with. The other guy I was with had never really been fishing before, so I think the guide wanted to make sure he got one reeled in. Didn't matter though since the very next fish was caught by the new guy! It never fails, the new guy either catches the first fish, biggest fish, or the most when going out with me. It is just the way the karma works with me and fishing. So now 2 pretty nice stripers have hit the boat, and I don't have one yet. That changed pretty quickly when I started to actually fish the popper right and started to burn that speed back to the boat. They liked the lure moving super-fast for that top water bite I found out. First fish on for me and it was double with the other guy in the boat. Both fish and the other ones we had caught so far were all in the 20" + range so it was looking like a good day. Then it hit, my biggest of the day and biggest striper for me. 28" to the tape and about 10 pounds. That fish was heading out to deep water and making that drag sing I little. Great feeling to have! Caught another one right after that one and it went about 25" to the tape. So now we are reeling in and going elsewhere since the school had moved on. We spent a LOT of time chasing fish and not actually catching any. When we did find them, it was fast and furious for about 5-10 minutes and then it was over with. Back out chasing again. I think we spent the last hour basically sight seeing since the guide wasn't finding any fish on the sonar. Good time though and I would probably do it again at some point. Oh yeah, forgot to mention, later in the day we went back out to the shoreline by the cabin and caught some more fish. The local guy was spot on his advice. Threw out as far as you can and reel back in as fast as you can! I found out just about anything with a spinner blade will work in that instance.

I thought he was on the board of SDC or something like that. I guess I was wrong on that.

and poof! just like that it isn't going to happen anytime soon. I figured it was a 50/50 chance but thought it might actually happen. Very doubtful now that SDC is expanding and if I remember Bicknell is on that board as well.

Buzz and I went down to the creek yesterday and did a little fishing. We paddled up and came back down on a stretch that we both had fished before and knew about where they should be this time of year. Started out a little slow for me, but Buzz had already caught one before I even put in! He's sneaky like that. Top water was king for the day. We both caught the majority of our fish on top. I was throwing a fluke as well and caught a couple of nice ones on that. Buzz was throwing a spinner bait and I think a soft craw at times for some of his fish. Ended up catching several yesterday and even saw an eagle to boot. Bonus on that one for sure. When we started out the water was actually clear of leaves, and you could throw the top water without any problems. About 2-3 hours later after the wind kicked up and the creek was covered in leaves. No pics from me, and of course I had a really nice Largemouth that did a tail walk out of the water and threw the lure. That one got the heart going. Almost all of the fish were largemouth and they were hugging the wood or close by it on the laydowns. That might have been the last creek trip of the year for bass. Hard to tell this time of the year. I was a little doubtful when I got down there to begin with, but the day turned around and produced. Won't be many days like this again this year.

It may be a crappy report or a good one when I get back, but I'll post one nonetheless.

I'm hoping to get into them when I go down to Texoma next month. They are a blast to catch!

I had heard it was fairly shallow and a lot of timber I thought. I have hooked onto a couple of wipers down on Grand while fishing for whites and man they can fight hard! That is what I am looking for down there. I know I am going to keep an eye out for gulls as well.

Headed over to Texoma to visit with family that will be coming up from southern Texas. Going to stay at a VRBO on the lake or I should say a block away from the lake. Either way access will be easy enough. I hear the striper bit is pretty good in the fall down there but have no idea where to begin other than where we will be. I will probably bring the yak along so I can go out when the wife wants to hit the flea market booths. Anyone fish Texoma before? If so how would you describe it? Might actually hire a guide this time around. I have never used a guide before and never thought I really needed one until now. Only because the lake is pretty good sized from what I remember when I did see it several years back. We are staying over by Juniper Point if that helps. Thanks

I tie hair jigs all the time and never use a whip finisher. Was shown something different that works for me.

I will add something to this. Most of my better days catching browns have been on nasty, rainy, snowing, sleeting days or very overcast days! I have caught them on sunny days, but not as much by far.

Sounds like a good time although I wouldn't have expected it to be that crowded. Kind of glad I didn't go now. I wouldn't have liked having to huff it a country mile just to get there! lol Sounds like it was more of a people watching adventure than anything else. Of course, free food brings out the masses.

There seems to be some confusion here. The Ruger works just fine. It is the High Standard Double Nine that won't extract shells.

So, here's the deal. I inherited a Ruger Mark III that has been barely shot. I don't want the gun and am debating on what to do with it. I could trade it in for a different 22 or another gun that I might want more. I already have a 22 revolver my mom gave me a few years back. I don't want to get rid of it simple because it was my grandfathers before he died, and it was passed down. Mind you, the gun is difficult in that it doesn't want to extract shells. Either way, I will keep that gun. I have LOTS of ammo for the 22 as well. As in well over 3000 rounds that was basically inherited as well. Again though, that ammo won't extract from the cylinder of the revolver so if I don't get another 22 I will have to sell all that ammo. I am thinking about getting a shotgun since I don't have one anymore. Oh, the decisions to make! lol I like 22s, but I rarely ever hunt with one so I'm not sure I really need another one. The shotgun could be used as home defense or hunting if I go that route. If I decide to sell the ammo, I will put it on here first.

I am in the boat of, I want to go and every year I find an excuse not to go. I'm sure I would enjoy it though. Love me some good squirrel cooked right. Mom used to fry it up and smoother it in gravy. Tasted like good fried chicken to this youngster at that age!

Talked with a guy who hunted at Talbot conservation area and said it was a mad house on opening day. Said they got there about a couple hours early and by sunup they had a dozen people only like 25 yards away from them and people kept coming into the field. Doesn't sound like a lot of fun to me. At least where they were at.

Yep, had them before and it definitely felt like chiggers. I thought that was what it was, but no, it was those mites. I have only encounter them once or twice, but not sure which is worse, the mites or the chiggers. I didn't have it spread like you did, but they sure itched!

tjm, although Arkansas is about the same in price, there is no comparison when it comes to the facilities and how they are maintained. Like I said earlier, if OK would actually DO something about the conditions of their ramps, restrooms, etc. I probably wouldn't mind it so much.

If you fish or hunt in Oklahoma, after July the prices went up quite a bit. I am seriously considering not getting one next year. Out of state fishing went up to $81 dollars and a single day went up to $26. Hunting for deer alone will set you back around $500 or something crazy like that. I know a lot of other states charge a fortune for out of state use, but I never considered Oklahoma to be that great when it came to some of their facilities. As it is already, if you want to use some of their state parks you have to pay an additional $10 a day just to park there and use them. I personally don't see where any of that money is being used for improvement. I am on a couple of websites that I see many people who live in Oklahoma bashing them because they aren't doing any maintenance like they should be. Twin Bridges for one isn't any better than it was before they implemented the higher cost. If I knew for sure the improvements were being made and my money was going to help that I might consider buying another one, but I just don't see that happening right now. Done with the rant. Off my soapbox now.

Well, that is reassuring to know!

Great pics and story to go along with it. I have always wondered though, is Deckers really all that uptight with fly fishing purist? I only ask because I have heard stories. I am a jig fisherman for trout, but the first time I rolled up to Mclellan's on the Northfork below the dam I got some evil stink eye from the fly fisherman! lol Then even more when I started catching fish. lol Although I never experienced it when I was out there fishing the Roaring Fork over by Glenwood Springs.

AGFC plans Lake Wilhelmina renovation • Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Apparently they are draining the lake and said there would be no restrictions on size or creel limits. I guess better than the other alternative which would probably see them die anyways.