RSBreth

I have paddled and portaged UPSTREAM from Galena to HL Kerr and floated back in a day - fishing the good spots and skipping the dink holes - it isn't so much the distance or time but the fisherman or paddler as it were. I consider a half- day paddle (not "float") HL Kerr upstream to where Crane dumps in, and back. Maybe closer to a "leave at dawn and be back by mid-afternoon" but still - not a big deal. But for the novice, yeah - the distance is probably too much regardless, and you're right the lower James just hasn't been on fire this year. Disclaimer: Paddling the solo canoe makes for faster times up or downstream, so I'd imagine my results are far from normal since I don't have to worry about shuttles or any of that stuff. I forget that sometimes. I can launch at dark-thirty if I want to, and don't have to wait for a pick up.

I sometimes catch a Smallie or Rockie that almost rattles from all the 'dads in their belly. Another thing - You think Green Pumpkin with Yellow and Orange accents would be a pretty good jig color?

I'd like to make this, too - but I think I have to work that weekend.

Well, Spinnerbait, Crankbait, Jerkbait, Wakebait fisherman. I did stop and use a wacky rigged Senko while stretching my legs a few times, or throw a finesse jig at a really choice spot, but otherwise it's run-and-gun if the fish are on it.

There's a bunch of weighted flies like that but a weighted wooly in different colors is sometimes all you need. I like Clouser Minnows, but there are tons of new flies out there - just depends on if you want to order them or try to get the local places to carry them. Feather-craft warmwater flies

For a float from Hootentown to Galena to take three days you'd have to take out a few times and drive back to Springfield for the night or something. Not to rain on your camping trip, but I've paddled from Hootentown to Galena in one day, fishing the good spots and skipping the rest. Now, it makes for a long day, but still, camping three days in that stetch means really slowing down and spending more time camping than floating and fishing. Maybe that's what you want, I don't know.

Everyone does an awesome job cleaning up - If I wasn't on call for my work I would have done this year again.

There's a couple of spots along that stretch that will get skinny if we don't get any rain, but the only real obstacle is the drop around the "island" just above the highway M bridge right before the confluence with the Finley. Depending on water levels the drop (stay on the right) flips inexperienced paddlers. Not a big deal, but something to watch for.

Letting them go makes me happy for both you and the fish! Nice Smallie.

I don't know about that brand but I would say the since you have a 5-weight jumping up to a 7-weight makes a lot of sense.

You can also use one of the super glues to hold the plastic on the hook better - but be careful and don't wind up with a Jerkshad glued to your forearm.

No ramp. That's the issue - people portagin up over the low dam there. You'd have to drive over there to really understand how the parking and whole situation is.

I quit cold turkey eons ago - best health decision I ever made. Hope everything else goes your way - being laid up when there's fishing to do sucks, I know, I've been there too.

I also use superlines with a fluoro leader - usually 12 lb or heavier unless I'm fishing Table Rock or Beaver away from heavy cover. I like an EWG hook and 4/0 is about as small as you want to go. Action can be anything from working so fast is skitters across the surface to barely twitching it as it drifts in current. Using superlines I don't have to worry much about hooksets - but I do a sweep set basically. I like all kinds of Fluke style baits, a couple that I'm never without are the realistic looking PowerBait Jerkshad for when the fish are picky, and the 4" Bass Pro "Shadee Shad" which is a Bass Assassin clone. The smaller 4" is amazing in the river and smaller creeks, and sometimes the fish want a smaller profile. Don't be afraid to try any color you can get, either. Sometimes Smallmouths and Spots will nail a bubble-gum or pink or chartreuse bait when nothing else works. I use lead flytying wire or solder to add weight to my hooks, weight closer to the head gives a spiralling fall, where weight centered at the bend will give it more of a 'glide". Another thing about having a rod ready with a EWG hook like that is that you can switch to other baits easily. Unless I'm wading with only one rod I almost always have one rod ready for a fluke. If the fluke isn't doing it I can slap on a senko, a floating worm, or put a tube on there. Great setup.

That an O.K. section for fishing but the past few years of high water have washed away several of the best downed tree and changed it a little. It's an easy float and fish - everyone's pace is different but it won't take you all day even if you really slowpoke it along.

I used to throw a buzzer a lot, but I don't as much anymore. I do "wake" my spinnerbaits every time I try them and if they hit that I'll try the buzzer - sometimes it works better, sometimes not. There are those days that Buzzbaits just rule, and in that case I use the ones you can build from Lurepartsonline.com - although I did have a batch of blades that were really quiet from them like Al said. The last batch was really loud, so go figure. For kids or just creek fishing I really like the Terminator Tiny-T buzzbaits - small but work great. The Tiny-T spinnerbaits need extra weight to keep them from rolling but the Buzzbaits run great right out of the package.

I fish my favorite 6-weight on the Finley at least once a week, even if it's just to pester some little Bass at the park. I like mid-size poppers for Bass - for panfish I like hoppers and cricket patterns. As for technique - just cast near some kind of cover. Anything that breaks the current is good. I can't help with the store-bought flies, but I still get most of my tying materials from Backcountry there in Springberg.

That access where Hunter Creek dumps in does get pounded on weekends - I like to hit on weekdays if I can, too.

And to further clarify - the Ozark Mill lake at the Ozark City Park is still considered the river, not an "impoundment", so Ozark river Black Bass regs still apply. No Black Bass may be kept in the closed season. Like every one stated - we tend to frown on keeping Smallmouth from the streams. You'll learn.

I'm another one in the "nope" camp. Every time I've been with someone using one I've outfished them with a different crank, or a different lure. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE cranks for river smallies - but I use other cranks versus the "crayfish cranks".

Any of those would get fast - if we get some rain.

I usually tell people that float is about a half-day if you fish and don't hurry. Putting in at 6 p.m.? Yep - gonna have to paddle hard and still wind up in the dark. At least nothing went really wrong.

Definitely "safe" but low like the data shows. You might have to drag a few riffles.

Linden is O.K. - but there are far bigger fish in greater numbers than there and not too far away. I'm not saying it isn't a good thing if you can fish there unmolested - just that it's not the "Holy Grail" by any stretch. But if this is true - fish on.