JohnF52

I still prefer the foot control by cable models. Simple and nearly failure free.

I try to stay within a couple of miles; smaller boat and motor.

Did you catch a big catfish on a flicker minnow? How big and what species? Thanks.

Might have been one of those "big catfish by the dam". Lol.

Common carp are not native to the USA, and as such, are an invasive species. They are overpopulated in the white river and its lakes.

That skiing through the trees looks like skiing in Beaver in 1964-65. I remember it well.

In my experience, most catfish restaurants have their filets cut very thin, so you end up with half fried batter on your plate. Profit margin is higher when selling corn meal and grease.

If someone is actively jugging every day, they either have a very large and poor family, or they are selling fish, likely to some independent restaurant. I suspect the selling.

Most of the BOC fishermen say release anything over about 10 pounds to spawn again. A 10 pound catfish is several years old.

Isn't guiding for hire a little like commercial fishing in that they fish for hire? I know they do not use nets and catch hundreds of pounds, but does it harm the fishery, or are there too few of them for that?

It is unconventional, but I don't filet catfish. I think the flavor is much better when skinned and cut into 3/4 inch thick steaks along the backbone, and deep fried with corn meal batter. The smaller ones under 8 pounds are much better eating. When they hit near 15 or 20, a strong taste prevails. Better to release the big ones to fight again. To me, catfish steaks are nearly as good as crappie, but to each his own tastes. My cleaning method is time consuming, but personally worth it. Beaver lake catfish should in general be cleaner and better tasting than those from the Arkansas River, in my opinion.

Have all been channel catfish? Any blues or flatheads?

Any advice? I notice some of you guys catch them frequently on crankbaits.

I think there will eventually be enough stripers in the TW to effectively make trout stocking too costly.

Sequoyah is open sunrise to sunset, although on slow days sometimes the office attendant will be in and out. Nominal fees, I think six dollars to boat and fish, four if you are a veteran.

I hope it clears rapidly. Lake Sequoyah looked about as muddy as it gets yesterday. Maybe some of it settles out there.

Got three inches in the headwaters this afternoon. White River at Elkins is nearly bank full. Hope the fresh water helps the fishing in the upper lake.

+2 BTW, I have not observed any wake boats or skiiers this year on two day trips to the Arkansas River at Ozark.

Ary you guys getting any hull numbers to turn over to LE?

Someone posted not too long ago that they had looked extensively on their high end sonar and come to the conclusion that Lake Fayetteville contains few catchable sized fish. Based on that, I have not been there this year.

I quit buying passes. You get a ticket sometimes with it hanging on the mirror. I launch at non pay ramps this year, like Beavorama and 12 Bridge. Never had a problem there, except one time a guy was trying out a boat at 12 Bridge and left his trailer backed into the water for a half hour, blocking one rside of the ramp.

I said limit it to 50 hp above 412 Bridge, not 50 mph. There are not any wake boats below 50 hp.

We need to go out with video in mind and only pretend to fish. Turn the videos of idiots over to LE. Personally, I would like to see a 50 hp limit on the lake above 412 Bridge. Lots of little boats in that water. Wakers don't need to use that part of the lake.

Up about a foot this morning at Elkins with strong current. Should reach 45 bridge late today.

No legitimate income, no vote should be the law.