Buck

Hello All, I'm a regular poster in the migratory birds forum, but usually just a lurker in the fishing forums. However, I recently graduated from the university and bought a house here and have been fishing the river arm of beaver fairly regularly for bream, cats and gar. Has anyone been doing any catfishing with this high water? I've been running jugs up backwaters in the river arm of the lake, and doing okay, but the results are really sub par. If I catch a few good eater channels I call it a good day. I'm used to catching the snot out of them up at Table Rock, but I guess it's a completely different game here. I primarily use free floating jugs (labeled and checked every hour, I've never lost one) with cut bait, but have also experimented with hot dogs, liver, and prepared bait. Does anyone have any tips or pointers? I know Beaver isn't a great catfish lake, but I know I'm fishing great structure where there should be fish. The attached picture is from one of my better days on Table Rock.

We were at Schell Wednesday morning as well, drew 26. We only shot greenhead, so you didn't miss out on much. The birds would work and lock up, but then land just out of range past the decoys.

Never been to Simone's! May have to try it once the thaw comes, I like going to the sonic because the have a stall I can pull into with the boat.

I was out by four rivers Sunday buying a new boat and we decided to stop by unit 4 to see if we could break an ice hole, that was a no go. We got maybe a 20'x20' hole and decided it wasn't worth it and decided to hit the Sonic in El Dorado. I figured the south zone would be hot now, but we still are barely seeing numbers of birds. About to turn my mud motor into an ice motor if it doesn't thaw out soon.

Hunted the south zone opener at Taney and put in at Rockaway, by 4:30 there were already five boats there, which is more than I'd ever seen. It was a zoo and there were less than ten rounds of shots on the whole lake the whole time we were there. Won't be back there until we get a nice arctic blast. Four Rivers has been very slow as well recently.

Good looking haul! We got a two man teal limit at the duck park on the opener and got seven the next day in a different hole out there. Where'd you get that neat meat basket you have the teal in?

I've heard there's still teal and the gadwalls, widgeon and a few pintails have started to hit around mid Missouri. I'll be up in mid Missouri hunting at least Saturday and Sunday, maybe Monday if it's worth it. There's a small cold front coming through, but the low is still right around 50. I bet it'll be a zoo, but you gotta love opening day.

If it's an uncut keyhole D2 you could probably fetch about $40-$100 for it. I was talking to a game warden in Arkansas one time about cut downs and he said if you can blow a cut Olt properly you'll swear by it, and the people in the next hole over will swear at it.

Happy mail day for me! I inherited a P.S. Olt D2 that belonged to my grandpa, and while it did sound okay with the original tune, I wanted it to be louder for timber and river hunting in Arkansas. I've been blowing cutdowns for a couple of years now and decided to send it off to a legendary Arkansas hunter who cut it down for me. If you've hunted Eastern Arkansas timber much, you've probably seen people with these "black calls" around their neck that they swear by. This call sounds absolutely amazing now and barks exactly like a hen in the woods. Super excited to use the same call that my grandpa did to kill ducks this season! One more month!

A little off topic, but on the subject of Four Rivers, does anyone know if there's any huntable timber there? I'm originally from Arkansas and got spoiled on the green timber hunting there. I know Schell has a few holes but I haven't had the chance to make it out to Four Rivers yet.

Definitely a big body, ended up with about 65 pounds of meat from it when I was done processing.

With all the Razorback football games and school, I've been a little too busy to get out to my stand around Beaver Lake much. But last week I finally got the chance to get out there, and I capitalized on it. Got out there about 6:00 AM and had a little spike come in around 8:00 and decided to pass on him, and I'm glad I did. About 30 minutes later I heard some foot steps and looked over and saw a big, mature buck about 50 yards from my stand. I watched him eat acorns on the the trail, getting closer and closer to me. After a few minutes he was about 35 yards from me and broadside. I decided to take the shot, and watched him jump the string a little and got worried. The sound of him crashing a minute or so later was a great sound. I stayed up in my stand for a few minutes after I heard him crash, then got out, saw a huge blood trail (Rage Hypodermic China knockoffs), and then tracked him down about 50 yards from where I shot him. He was in a very, very steep holler about 130 yards from my truck. Being by myself, it took me almost four hours to haul him up and load him into my truck after I had him dressed out. I thought about quartering him on the spot so many times.... but didn't because I wanted to get him mounted. The whole time I was dragging him I was just thinking that duck season can't come soon enough. Dressed out and hooves cut off he weighed in at 170 and we estimated he was about four years old (though the rack doesn't reflect it, I feel a little robbed on that), take a look at that neck! I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to harvest this great, big, mature Ozark buck as my first deer with my bow. Ready to get onto some deer that are easier to drag though!

I messaged you! I knew they said boats are expensive but I didn't figure what I was getting into. I will probably shoot wrench a message as well, but I really hate being a bother to someone I haven't met and am hours away from.

I'll post pictures on Sunday when I'm with the motor. Thank you all for your help, I'm confident doing carb work but the lower unit is a whole nother story. I just want to get it up and running so I can get out there now that the lake is finally calming down!

I don't think I need a new lower unit, it runs and shifts fine in a barrel and on muffs, so I'm thinking I may have just shot one of the bearings down there. I took one of my other outboards into Mobile Marine Repair in Springdale and they were extremely knowledgeable, but also extremely expensive.

Hello all, I'm in need of a good outboard mechanic, I banged up my lower unit and now it won't run under load. Does anyone know of any good outboard mechanics between Fayetteville, AR and Springfield, MO that won't charge and a leg to do repairs? I'm a student so unfortunately I'm on a student budget. All it is is a 1997 Yamaha 25hp two stroke so I reckon it shouldn't be too hard to work on. Thanks in advance!

Awesome, thank you! With my classes that may be a little far for me, but I'll keep it in mind!

Hello all, I'm a student in Fayetteville who fishes above Beaver in the river quite a bit. The other day I was around Goshen and I banged up my lower unit and now it won't run under load. Does anyone know of any good outboard mechanics between here and Springfield, MO that won't charge and a leg to do repairs? All it is is a 1997 Yamaha 25hp two stroke. Thanks in advance!

I've experienced that thick fog on Taneycomo many times. I run a light bar on the front of my boat and stick next to the shore, but even with that its still hard to see 30' past the bow. Great reports though, BilletHead. You're a lucky man to have amazing spots and hunts like those.

I heard it had been real slow until last week, best I've heard of was 6 limits in the timber around Paragould. I'll be hunting SE Arkansas and NE Arkansas early next week and I'm really hoping this cold front will push some more birds down. Good job working with the conditions though, looks like a good hunt.

I was halfway thinking about going out tomorrow morning if it's not raining too bad, anyone else thinking about it? It's gotten colder so the birds should be a little more active. How many dekes do y'all usually use out there? I typically toss about about 2-3 doz and a mojo.

Long time lurker, first time poster. Went and hunted around Bull Creek area for the south zone opener and there wasn't a whole lot to be had out there, we heard less than 10 shots all morning. Saw maybe 15 birds that looked to be a mix of teal and gaddies, as well as that big flock of canadas that likes to hang in the area. It looks like it's shaping up to be a good season though. We have lots of water, now we just need a big cold front to come through and bring the birds down. Anyone else have any luck so far?