RSBreth

Love your website. Even though I'm a canoe guy, I still recognize that those boats are pretty cool. I put a link on my website.

Wow, I missed this topic somehow. I have in-laws who live in Beaver Cove (between the two Cliftys'- east of Point 5) so I have had some fun chasing Stripers with the fly gear over the years. I tend to make it down at the worst time of year these days, but during warmer weather it isn't unusual to find some kind of action in the top dozen feet of water right at twilight, before the sun comes up. I mostly use my custom 9-weight I built on a All Star Austin blank. Mostly known for Bass rods, I know, but I got a deal, and it's a great heavy-duty rod for throwing a 9-weight full-sink or intermediate line when using big Clousers. I sometimes use an 8-weight for fish near the surface with a floating line and long leader, but it doesn't get used as much as the 9. I've caught some real nice ones on the 8-weight and Medalist reel, but what can you break on a Medalist? I have a Scientific Anglers system 2 reel on the 9-weight rod, and it's held up nicely on the average "schoolie"- about 6- to 8-pounds. They can still almost spool you. Awesome fish. That reel (the 8/9 model) weighs about the same as the reel you're looking at, a tad over 8-ounces. I don't notice it when I'm casting, in fact, you can go too light, and have the weight of the line and rod make you're grip work harder, and wind up with almost constant tendinitis like I have. It sounds counter-intuitive, but a slightly heaver reel makes it easier for my casting style, maybe it's like a counter-weight, I don't know.

For the smaller streams around here, ANY john is a barge to float by yourself. This is my opinion from having been in Coleman crawdads, the 12' Tracker "Tadpole", and I don't know how many others that we've tried to get down the twisty little Finley. Pain in the you know what. The main advantage to them is the ability to stand and fish, but it comes with a serious compromise in ability to maneuver. The solo canoe and kayak are becoming more and more popular among us solo fisherman down here for a good reason. The safety thing- I guess if you've been in older aluminum canoes it makes ALL canoes or kayaks seem tippy as h#@$, but modern designs are fantastic. All that being said, I wouldn't mind going on an overnight float with someone willing to float a keg! I'll paddle along in my canoe and watch from a safe distance, though.

I know it's hard to get pictures by yourself, but holding the Bass with the lower jaw hyper-extended like in a couple of the pictures can break their jaw. Sorry to mention that first off, but there it is. Is that management tip #1? Anyway, the more cover you can add in various depths will help young fish make it to big fish. Christmass trees, whatever. I don't manage anything besides an occasional hangover, but I know some landowners that have some good ponds. They go to the experts, not us fishing fools. Click links below. Pond Management MDC Pond stocking MDC Pond management

Senko type baits are known for this. For all types of fishing I carry a long reach side cutter pliers and just clip the hook as close as I can instead of wiggling it around and tearing an even bigger hole in the poor bugger trying to get it out. You totally gave up the Senkos' Gavin? Dang, I couldn't do it. It would be like giving up Clouser Minnows.

Marlin? One more I can't scratch off my "life list" thanks to you getting there first. I envy you.

According to the powers that be, Bull Creek itself isn't worth a separate topic. ->Bull Creek?<-- click here. But anyway, the best easy access is Round Mountain Road, or AA, both off of 65 highway. AA is now hard to access due to people partying and trashing the area which led to landowners blocking off the parking areas on the west side of Bull Creek. To access that spot you first have to go the the other one, down Round Mountain Road. First travel down 65 to just past Ozark Shooters and turn left on 176, going towards Walnut Shade. After only a half a mile or so the first left on a hazardous turn is Round Mountain Road. Follow it down to the low water bridge over Bull Creek after several twisty miles. To get to AA, go over that low water bridge and follow that road past an abandoned gravel dredging operation on your left, then for a mile or so until it climbs up a bluff bank overlooking Bull Creek, and it's the first left again. The last time I went down it (last Fall) it's kind of a 4-wheel drive type road- pretty rough. There are a couple of turn outs right by that bluff pool. If you try to cross at AA it's a low water crossing that will stick you if you aren't in something with 4-wheel drive and some height. If I want to wade upstream from there I do the drive down to Round Mountain and drive around. The best water is actually downstream from the low water slab on Round Mountain anyway. It's a beautiful little Ozark Smallmouth stream.

Cool, thanks, Bill. I never really got a handle on what when down that time. Now I know. More info is always good. I know what you mean about the Kentuckies, I've had days where I had 14-inch "Spots" all day long, and you can't weigh those in, even though they may be 2- 2-1/2 pounds each or even better on some of the more "football" looking ones. Such is life on the 'Rock.

The "I don't like this or that type of firearm but mine are O.K. " is the type of thinking that divides all gun owners, much to the liking of people who really want to take away that right. Only by standing together will gun control be held back. There are no "reasonable restrictions" that will satisfy gun banners, only total confiscation. You can't be trusted, you know. Only the government is responsible enough, and knows what's best for you. The other point is the 2nd Amendment has absolutely nothing to do with hunting. It says the right of us folks "the people", to keep and bear "Arms". Short for armaments. As in military. I think we had just thrown of the yoke of an imperial government by force of arms, both with a cobbled together army and also a militia armed with their personal "Arms." The founding fathers thought it was important. It's the second amendment of the constitution, the first is the right of free speech. It's a shame people will barter it (and other freedoms) away so easy now. This topic always devolve into this type of debate, and I'll probably regret putting my two cents in here, but geez. Shouldn't we be fishing right now?

Dam, I hate hearing that. Been there, Good luck.

I've been in plenty of Trackers, a couple of G3s', a few Lunds, and one Xpress. I wound up getting a Lowe, imagine that. It was a great deal and way better than the Trackers. Higher horsepower rating for the size of boat, too. Most 17-foot boats aluminums are only rated for a 75-hp, but my Lowe is rated for a 115, although it only has a 90 right now.

From the background in the second picture I know exactly where that picture was taken. Keep up the reports this year, it's always good to hear about other people here on the Finley.

I really wanted to fish the "co-angler" (amateur non-boater) side of this, but ironically if I take the time off work to fish it I won't be able to afford to, if that makes any sense. So I'll be fishing the BFL event in April instead. Bummer. I wonder if the stick or the crank or the jig will be the winner? The last time Bassmaster had a spring event here on the Rock didn't Greg Hackney win it with a shaky head finesse worm in Cow and Little Cow Creeks? Should be interesting.

Fish both Table Rock and Beaver more this year. Finish my Smallmouth Bass book. Take my little boy fishing on his 3rd birthday. The only new things I've bought are a couple of spinnerbaits and flyting material. I need a good cheap new baitcasting rig for shallow cranks, but I'm a little strapped right now.

If it's anything like the Finley up here by me the water temps are hovering below 50-degrees. Slow fishing in that area during cold water.

It's hard to find decent shore access on a couple of our local lakes, the best thing is to gather up all your spare change and buy a cheap canoe or john boat. Canoe is better if you like moving water (like the Finley). Then you can usually get away from most people, although waterborne morons aren't uncommon in this area. Springfield Lake is a pretty good little lake when you can paddle around and fish it instead of being stuck on shore.

I'll agree with what most have said- not very many huge Smallies around here in the rivers, but plenty of good sized ones. I catch some real toad Largemouths out of the James and Finley every year, but Largemouths are like that - a little slack water and food out of the way of most "serious" Bass anglers= big fish. Big Spots? Not as likely as even the Smallmouths, as Spots just don't get as long very fast.

When I "tune" a bait, I cast it out beside the boat and watch it for a minute or two- minimum. Use your watch, or just do it while drinking some coffee or hot chocolate. If it hasn't sank or floated up after half a cup it'll work- maybe. If you just look at it for 10 seconds and think "hey, it's alright"-you're probably wrong. Even a "perfect" Lucky Craft tends to rise up after 30 seconds or so. People always say they are just great right out of the box, but they need a little tuning just like any other lure. This process is a huge P.I.T.A.-(Pain In The A#%) but this is the reason why some people nail them on this type of lure and others are just hit and miss. When you want it to work it's magic in 40-something degree water, the details make all the difference.

I'm actually working on a "getting started reloading" article for my blog, but I'm not anywhere close to finishing it, so here goes: I think the .38 Special revolver cartridge is the easiest one to learn reloading. Lots of available bullets, some nice guns to shoot it in, and accurate, too. So since you have one, that's where I'd start. You could get one of the "Lee-Loaders" like I did when I was a teenager, but they are really slow, and if you take a shine to the whole process you'll outgrow it in a month. Lee-Loader So I'd get an inexpensive bench mounted press, like a Lee or RCBS basic single stage presses.> RCBS Partner Press<> Lee Basic Press< These take standards threaded dies for both rifle and pistol die sets. If you start with the .38, I like the Hornady New Demension Die sets because you don't have to lube the cases like you do for old steel dies, make reloading much quicker.> .38/.357 Die set< Just make sure your empty cases are clean and trimmed to length, and you can load. Other companies carbide dies are good, too, but I like these best. You'll have to get the correct shell holder for the press, and you'll have to get a new shell holder and die set for each caliber, you'll learn that. You'll need a seperate priming tool, a powder measure, a deburring tool, some way to trim your cases- (trim die and file or power trimmer) and a good micrometer. Somewhere where you can pay attention and be undisturbed while working to mount that press. The reloading process is pretty simple. Any good manual will walk you through it. I bought a few books and still buy some more for general reference, but after the "internets" came about you can look up data for almost any load online from the powder manufacturers. You can buy kits for any popular caliber, but the main thing you need Is a good book like the Lyman pistol and revolver handbook, maybe the library carries this so you can check it out before you buy anything.> Lyman Handbook< It sounds more complicated than it is.

I hope everyone around all the Lakes (and on dryer ground) can pull through. It looks like today and tomorrow will be the coldest, then warming up through the weekend, which will help. My in-laws live on Beaver Cove (between the two Cliftys') and have had a hell of a time. Lot's of trees down on all the gravel roads they drive to get out, and their generator went buggy, too. They'll be all right, my wife's step-dad is really handy and good at cobbling stuff together MacGyver style. They do have lot's of bottled water, a gas grill for cooking, and plenty of wood for the fireplace, too. Pumps off for water if the generators down so he has had to go down to the lake and haul up 5 gallon buckets of "flushin' water". That would be the worse, I think. Too bad about Starkeys, I always fuel up there, and they are always super nice to me.

flyfshn- several people replied to your post about starting reloading in the reloading section. If you want to be more specific over there, I'm sure there are plenty of reloaders on here that would be glad to help, instead of hijacking this thread. But yeah, you can save money on handgun ammo, mostly if you cast your own bullets. Buying factory bullets are more expensive, but you can still make some great ammo. Kind of like flytying, you can customize stuff as much as you want. Rifle ammo is the same, but at say .30-30 velocities gas checked cast bullets work great for deer. And so on.....

I kind of feel like the poor cousin still stuck with the OT Pack but I really haven't had any issues with it. I didn't move the seat down or forward, and aside from the bad camo job, haven't modified it. I use longer rods than Al does, so I need the room up front, too. Of course eventually I'll paddle the Wenonah, or another bigger, better solo and then have a large balance on the credit card. After looking at the header picture on my blog, I realize I do look like a big guy in a tiny boat.

I reload everything I shoot, (well, except rimfire and non-toxic waterfowl shotshells) so I mostly watch the price and availability of primers. But I have noticed people "stocking up". Stimulating the economy and everything, it's a good thing.

Just be ready no matter which pump you get, when you fire that sucker to pattern it, 3" 12 gauge turkey loads in a relatively light pump gun=ouch! I use what's called a "sissy bag" behind the recoil pad in front of my shoulder. ->Sissy Bag<- The Caldwell Lead Sled does the same thing, but much more expensive.

I like superlines, and I use FireLine on my spinning reels almost exclusively. I almost always use a mono or fluoro leader, but not because the stuff isn't tough enough. I've noticed scissors and clippers that will make short work of mono sometimes don't quite "cut it" for clipping through superlines. So I don't think most break offs are from sharp rocks or whatever, but from the knot cutting into itself. I use 40-pound test or heavier for spinnerbaits around heavy cover- dock lines, rip-rap, trees- and have never had it sawed through or really damaged at all by dragging over or through the nasty stuff. Maybe the thinner stuff does, but I don't think so. Anyway, the Crystal isn't really clear enough for my tastes- so like I said, I use a leader- but some guys have no problem using the regular-colored superlines lines tied direct.