RSBreth

Exactly right. If you hear something directly - report it. MDC Greene County contact numbers.

When you fish the Smallmouth rivers of SWMO a 5-pound Bass is a real possibility. If you want to just "catch fish" then it's not a big deal, but if you want to be serious, plan accordingly.

You must be a better fisherman than I am then. I've never been able to land a 5 pound Smallmouth quickly on light line.,

Big Game is horrible on spinning reels. Been there, done that.

The "sporting advantage" theory is really a strange idea to me - so it's better to play a fish to exhaustion to prove you're a better angler with lighter line rather than get it in and on it's way quickly? I'm not telling you how I think you should fish, but saying the methods that allow fish to be landed quickly and released (pictures or not) is not something we should strive for is odd to me. I almost forgot - the running on plane with a 3-ounce weight on the end of the line is an awesome idea. I'll put that one in there with the other reasons not to use mono.

They never get in my way, and I fish a couple of spots where I get out and portage the whole kit upstream, in two trips. Not a problem at all, you don't have to "cram" them in there, either - they fit just fine.

See - that's the trade-offf: Either you learn to tie a leader back on when you break off or you have to do the whole spooling the right way - line spray goop, letting the line troll itself twist free downstream, etc. I'd rather take the few seconds to re-tie a leader than screw with all that stuff. If I was really smart like Al I'd just tie direct and skip the leader I guess.

Well, maybe in the Guide, but in the Pack I can carry 4 or 5 7' rods easily. I have the seatback off to show how the rods sit on either side. Not to rub anyone's nose in it - but the Packs stock cane seat is a better set up for longer rods.

They should be moving around. Thanks for the report.

If I had to go back to mono on spinning gear I'd stab someone in the eye. I don't know who - but someone, I'd be so mad. MOSmallies - all you have to learn how to do is tie on a leader, and you've broken on through to the dark side.

I like Sufix and Spiderwire Stealth for braid. Power Pro is O.K. but not my favorite.

I haven't seen any of this further upstream near me on either the James Or Finley. Curious.

Yeah - if you read those threads you'll see I'm not a fan of having the rod tips sticking out like that - you're just asking for broken rods. Although I have a Pack and not a Guide 119 I have some tips for you to try out. #1 How about paddling it around stock first, then start modifying it? You may be trying to fix some things that aren't broken. #2 An anchor "system" is about the last thing I worry about when fishing our Ozark rivers. The places where an anchor would be really helpful to fish are usually places you shouldn't anchor anyway, and I have learned the key to really catching fish is the mobility you have - not sitting in one spot like I'm baitfishing. #3 The more "stuff" you clamp, glue, or screw to your boat the harder you make it to paddle or portage. Simple (and easily removable) is usually better. #4 A kayak paddle is great for making fast time, but sucks for maneuvering while fishing. A single paddle is tops for that, but carrying both is a pain. I rarely use the double-blade, even when paddling upstream, but I do have arms like Thor. You'll find what works for you. Congratulations on the new boat, I'll probably pick one up at that price - how can you beat it?

Gavin is right - fish on or near the bottom - I like small scented plastics, tiny deep diving cranks or 1/8-ounce finesse jigs. Basically the same stuff you'd use for Bass just scaled down.

Nope.

Hell, I fish it out of my solo canoe - but I'm experienced and wear my PFD.

Sounds more like not getting a good enough hook set. Mono?

That's great - glad you caught some. Smallies are harder to get in the park, too. I like another good legal fisherman out there - helps with keeping an eye out for the poachers.

No HP restrictions - just use common sense please. Also remember no Black Bass may be kept until May 22nd.

If Smallies are the goal you'd do better waiting until a little warmer water and hitting the James, rent a canoe and float dowstream from Hootentown. I say this from also fishing Fellows off and on for years and catching very few Smallmouth.

All I want is the current regulations enforced on the Trophy Areas, that would help with raising more big fish, becuase I think I've been here long enough to see floods and drought and other issues have the effect of better or worse year classes of Bass in the rivers I fish most, all of that evens out after time if the human factor can be curbed. I love the small walk and wade creeks (or upper part of bigger rivers) and the bigger rivers, too. I personally know two people who think if you aren't fishing from a Bass Boat on a big lake like Table Rock it isn't real Bass fishing - whatever the hell that means - even if you can catch bigger Bass from time to time.. Good for us - like Chief said - it's the whole Ozark river fishing experience I enjoy, and if they don't get it, they don't fish with me. And they don't get to. So I guess I'll say it's both numbers and some bigger fish. If it was like Lake Erie, with 5-pounders on every trip, I'd probably get spoiled.

... are still considered the Finley River, and no Black Bass may be kept until the 26th of May, 2012. Just a reminder - as I had to remind several people trying to string up Bass at the Park in Ozark this past week. I may need to see if MDC can post it again - they used to have some signage up at the ramp. Probably wouldn't matter - poachers are gonna poach, signage or not.

I use straight-tailed finesse worms and curl-tail worms, but not too often as I also tend to fish faster, and when I do want a slower presentation a mostly use wacky rigged Senko type plastics or finesse jigs. I do know a 4" Powerbait worm Texas rigged with a 1/16 or 1/8 ounce bullet weight will catch Bass when almost nothing else will. I don't use any special rod - just a good medium power fast action rod for worms - but I also use the superline/leader setup so I have plenty of hooksetting power. I used to use basically the same 7' spinning rod when the only choice was 8-pound mono and had no problem getting the hook in them. 25-feet deep under a dock on a long cast at Table Rock maybe, but not on the river.

Random drunken folks on the river and at the access, folks who can't walk but can tube, and random gunfire - isn't the James wonderful?

That's right - there's some places up there that are bigger than they look on a map.