Phil Lilley

Thanks, Tony. The big ones haven't been cooperating lately- but they're out there! Largemouth and white bass... interesting. Last winter we caught a lot of crappie down at the Landing. Will have to go down there and see if they're there again this winter.

Great video- thanks. I only shot one little clip all day. I posted it on youtube- the link it on the other thread.

I moved this to general fishing to get more exposure. Check your calendars and see if you can come.

That email was meant for Mr. Billethead... When I saw the request, I hooted! Just imagine if all our wives joined the forum and chimed in on what we do- or what we're REALLY like in our REAL world. I for one thinks it would be pretty cool! I think I put a smiley face in the email... thought you all would get a kick out of it. Welcome to the forum. It's a better place now, for sure, right Mr. Billethead?

Wicked party... I'll probably skip that seminar.

I've been invited to go. I think I will.

Off MNRC's site: The Missouri Natural Resources Conference (MNRC) is an annual meeting organized and sponsored by the Missouri Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, The Missouri Chapter of the Society of American Foresters, Missouri Chapter of the Wildlife Society and the Show-Me Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society. This unique blend of disciplines, represented by the four societies, promotes wise use and management of Missouri’s natural resources. Each year the conference hosts approximately 1,000 established and aspiring natural resource professionals who meet to exchange information and ideas and encourage continued cooperation among resource professionals, agencies, and other natural resource stakeholders. Cooperating agencies are the Missouri Department of Conservation; University of Missouri, School of Natural Resources; Missouri Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit; U.S. Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service. http://mnrc.org/ Conference is February 5-7, 2014 at Tan-Tar-A on Lake of the Ozarks.

Edit: Mr. Babler is going on vacation (imagine that) and will be gone that weekend. So I've added Steve Dickey, another guide on Taneycomo and good friend. Hopefully he's not going anywhere in January!

Don't hold me to this but it will be close: Friday talk - 8 p.m. Saturday dinner - 6:30 p.m.

For locals... Come and join in on the talk on Friday evening, fishing anytime during the weekend and for the dinner on Saturday night. I'll just ask that you RSVP the evening activities so that we have plenty of food and room for everyone.

I was expecting the road heading out of the valley to be ice, as it was in the morning and with the rain I thought it'd be really slick. My 2-wheel truck would be sliding all over... But it was clear to my surprise. Could have stayed much later. Next time!!

How was the smoked salmon?

Revised - December 27th I propose a OAF Trout Fishing Weekend this January for all OAF members. Your Hosts: Lilleys' Landing Resort & Marina. Dates: The weekend of January 10-11, 2014 Lodging - 35% off. 2- night minimum. At the Marina - stalls free and 50% off on all boat rental, not including gas. Activities would include a talk on Friday evening with Phil Lilley and Steve Dickey on trout fishing PLUS a dinner hosted by the Lilley's on Saturday evening. Send me a PM or email if you're interested. lilleyslandingresort @ gmail.com

Wind... I see the wind. Here's the only video I shot yesterday.

Got out with John Johnson and his son-in-law this morning. No generation, cloudy and wind out of the NW. Boated to just above the narrows and started fishing a red #16 zebra midge under a float 24 to 36 inches and caught fish. They shut off so went to a 100th ounce brown/orange head jig and float, 48 inches deep and they bit good. After a bit they shut off again- we bounced back and forth from midge to jig and did pretty well. Not sure what made them go off and on like that but- it's fishing. I broke off a very nice rainbow on my anchor rope- I was in a jon boat and was using the anchor to keep me from being blown all over the place. Health caught a nice brown. A few other rainbows in the 14-15 inch range but mostly small rainbows.

No way... no worries.

As reported, we put in at Rim Shoals yesterday at 9 am and floated down to the mouth of the Buffalo River and Riley's Lodge. Kyle said they were running a good amount of water and we had no issues floating over all shoals including the Buffalo Shoals which they said was the "hairiest". We did have to pick the best spots and watch for larger rocks and wood structures. A little wind mid day blowing up river and rain/snow off and on all day. We all threw either jigs or stick baits and tried to stay in the deepest side of the river. I'm used to Taneycomo and fished deeper water so casting and working what I considered shallow water - 3-4 feet - would seem fruitless but it wasn't. There were trout holding all through these areas to my surprise. I used mostly an 1/8th ounce jig but did throw a 3/32nd ounce every once in a while - especially when I felt like an 1/8th ounce was too big. Didn't seem to matter though. Colors- white was the biggest producer but I did throw a sculpin/ginger and an olive/sculpin and caught fish. Trout seemed to be holding in groups. We'd all have fish on in various stretches and then nothing for a while. But most of the time we were catching fish all the way down the river. There was one stretch that we all were catching nothing but brown trout which was fun. Most of the trout were on the small side- 10 to 12 inches with some 8's and 9's mixed in. I think our biggest rainbow was 14 inches and largest brown was may be 19 inches. I'd never fished this stretch except for fishing just the Rim Shoals area a few times, once with John Berry. I was impressed how many trout were in this river although I was very surprised we didn't see more 15-inch-plus fish. Kyle did a great job handling his big jon and Cody manned the trolling motor all day. No one fell in and everyone caught fish. I wish I could have stayed longer at the lodge but was scared of the icy roads, especially the road getting out of the river valley but to my surprise all the ice had melted off from morning to evening yesterday. No problems at all getting home. Looking forward to the next OAF fishing trip.

Saw a group of 2-300 mallards on the White River yesterday at the mouth of the Buffalo River. Also a big group of canadas. Not many on the float down though. Thought of you, DD.

Leaving here at 5 am. Be in Cotter at 7 am. The only phone number I didn't see is Gotmuddy. I think I have everyone else's. Going to bed.

I'll bring the buns... don't go back to the store.

Not sure about the 3 pm meeting with the smoker... is it at the lodge? Can someone else put it on?

If there's any deviation from the plan, we have everyone's cell phone, or should be this evening. We can call and make adjustments- meeting times and places. Fog may be the biggest issue for sure. I'll bring a jacket or more if necessary and I have plenty of warm clothes.

It doesn't sound like you'll need my boat so I won't bring it. I'd rather fish 3 or even 4 to a boat... more fun and fellowship. And if we fish out of 2 boats, we can stay close together.

Suggestion: Hoglaw's boat - Hog and Phil put in at Cotter and boat up to White Hole and pickup whoever can make it there by 8:30 am (Quillback, LittleRed, Gotmuddy). Meet Ham there with his boat. Put Ham's boat in there and float to Cotter (shuttle him back up to get his trailer at the end of the day). Gotmuddy, LittleRed and Quillback jump in with us. We'll have 2 boats to float and fish all day. Quillback, if you can't get there till noon, we can arrange a time to meet you at an access, say Wildcat? Someone who knows the river can speak to where we'd be about noon. Can do lunch at that time. Edit: I can meet at 7 am at the ramp... be at White Hole at 7:30? Whatever time works for everybody. We can fish around the access and wait for anyone who can't make it will 8-9 am.