Phil Lilley

Traffic was thru the roof all last week till Saturday. The only thing I can think of is this tournament on Table Rock. Heck, alot of the big guns may have been checking us out. Day Number of visits Pages Hits Bandwidth 01 Nov 2008 1686 22115 179818 1.41 GB 02 Nov 2008 2754 48024 337665 2.84 GB 03 Nov 2008 3768 50460 433419 3.21 GB 04 Nov 2008 3947 42876 377712 2.99 GB 05 Nov 2008 4063 39480 353454 2.43 GB 06 Nov 2008 4674 42660 386580 2.74 GB 07 Nov 2008 4162 64020 371154 3.65 GB 08 Nov 2008 1873 19546 135265 1.45 GB 09 Nov 2008 1416 11030 96846 759.87 MB 10 Nov 2008 1939 16498 149913 1.27 GB 11 Nov 2008 1873 15244 130872 977.86 MB 12 Nov 2008 1891 15153 129367 978.62 MB Our biggest day before last week was in April during the floods - 11 Apr 2008 3986 49527 405426 3.32 GB Interesting.....

Bumping this up and moving it so that it may get some attention.

I was recently watching the weather channel to prepare for my guide trip on the White River the next day. I noted that I would be starting the day in freezing temperatures. I was about to work through the change of seasons and I needed to prepare for it. The change had come rather suddenly and I was still dressing to fish in warm conditions. My choice of foot wear for warm weather is boat sandals. They are comfortable, dry quickly and afford secure footing on the wet decks of boats. They are not very warm. With the cold weather coming, I switched to a pair of L. L. Bean gumshoes. They are waterproof and warm. They also provide sure footing in the boat. I wear a pair of heavy wool socks with them. My warm weather slacks and shirts are lightweight and designed for the tropics. I only wear long pants and long sleeved shirts. This is to afford me full sun protection. I am very fair skinned due to my Scots Irish heritage and I burn easily. As the weather cools, I switch to jeans or if it is very cold to pile pants. In lieu of the tropical shirts I wear fleece jackets. I have several of them in different weights and try to match them to the weather. The colder it is the thicker the pile I choose. Pile is not wind proof, however. I wear my waders and a rain jacket on windy days to break the wind and stay toasty warm. In the summer, I generally wear silk weight boxer shorts. They are cool and non-chafing. When the weather shifts, I switch over to poly propylene long under wear. They are warm and wick moisture away from my body. If you are dry, you are more comfortable. It was also time to put away my panama hat. The sun protection afforded by it and the soft comfort is without peer. I have another straw with a chin strap that I wear on windy days and a light weight rain hat for stormy summer days. Now as the seasons change, I once again turn to my beloved cowboy hat. There is something about it that looks and feels right. I have been fishing in it for twenty five years and it is starting look its age. It has a broad brim to protect me from the sun and since it is beaver felt it keeps me warm in cool weather. I added a rattle snake band years ago as a bit of whimsy. I throw a fleece hat with a short bill and ear flaps into my wading bag for bitterly cold days. It will fit under the hood on my rain jacket and easily fits into a jacket pocket. I also carry a wax cotton baseball hat for rainy conditions. It repels the rain and it also fits under the hood of my rain jacket. I wear sun gloves in the summer to protect my hands from the harmful rays of the sun. They are not very warm. Now is when I switch over to fingerless wool gloves. They allow me to tie knots and rig fly rods without removing them. Wool has the ability to keep you warm even when wet. I generally carry an extra pair in my vest. When it is a bit colder, I switch over to full pile gloves with a wind proof shell. I find these particularly handy for long runs up river in my boat. My waders of choice during warm weather are waist highs. The water is generally lower during the summer and these are much cooler as your torso is not covered by the waders. In cold weather, I switch over to chest waders. They cover more of your body and you can wade deeper. The ones I use have hand warmer pockets which are a welcome feature on bitterly cold days. I use wader boots that are one full size larger, in the winter. These allow me to wear two pair of socks. I use one pair in my regular size and another one a size larger. I switch over my rain jacket from the light weight one I wear in warm weather. My cold weather one is a lot heavier and has fleece lined hand warmer pockets. It is also a little longer to cover more of my torso. In addition to changing up my clothing, I also throw several packages of chemical hand warmers into my wader bag. I pull my big stainless thermos out of the cupboard and fill it with hot coffee every morning before I leave the house. Nothing can make a big difference on a cold day like a cup of hot coffee. Take note of the changing seasons. If you prepare for it, you will be more comfortable. John Berry (870) 435-2169 berrybrothers@infodash.com www.berrybrothersguides.com

I'm kicking around hosting a casting clinic early next year or in the spring. If I can find a place inside big enough and cheap enough, I'll do it early. If not, it will have to be in the spring. I will, though, have a CCI or a MCI or both as instructors. I should know something within a few weeks.

You know guys... MDC reads this forum and topics just like this one. But all the crap that goes on- all the personal stuff- all the exaggerations and mud throwing discredits anything anyone has to say here. What you type means something. I'm really getting tired of it- and what erks me the most- you all aren't even using your real names. I think everyone would use alittle restraint if that wasn't the case.... add some accountability to the mix. If you really want to be heard on these new regs, speak intelligently and quit the other stuff.

Guess I should clarify- this is an attempt to create more income for OzarkAnglers, #1 to help cover expenses and #2 to help promote it. If you all find great deals on travel, we all win.

Here's a bit on youtube that gives this service credibility. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78_Rc06s2g4

Boy that's some clear water!

Signed up with this group today. I've looked it over and like what I see. All I ask is that you add this site to your travel selection of sites.... expedia and such.... and compare rates. Take a look at some of the packages. If you're flexible and can plan last minute trips, there's some incredible packages here. Seven Day Cruises, if you leave this weekend, for $149. Chris, the guy I signed up with, did say there are fuel surcharges and fees added to each cruise but still there are some great deals. I booked a flight this evening on my own site for my son's return from Boston for Christmas. Cool stuff! Get a commission on my own travel.

Gotta jump in here. I'm not going to micromanage this forum BUT the rules clearly state that members are to respect each other. Unfortunately, I see more and more rude and personal comments by the same people, old and new alike. Some are clearly instigators and others react. I think there's been some good points brought up in this thread, good ideas for the most part. But I would suggest do the research, give references to what you're saying and quit the personal stuff.

Free parking at Bass Pro's dock at the Landing. Food at Cooper Creek and our place. Candy bars and drinks at Scotty's. May be more- not sure.

Today?!?!? I knew I should have went fishing!!! DD- call me next time you go and have room.

Sorry about that Kelly. That's terrible no one helped. The waders who make that judgement... "should have gotten out when you had the chance" don't reallize the lake can go from 705 to 703 within 10-15 minutes and with wind and other distractions, getting caught up there is pretty easy. How did you guys do? Sorry I didn't get together with you guys while you were here. My mistake.

I see a very strange thing happening at least on Taney. Yes the water is warm (around 60) and I'm know the DO levels are low, which is normal for this time of year. But most of the rainbows we've caught the last 2 days have fought very well. Actually I was surprised how much some of the 15 inchers fought- making 2 or 3 runs, taking up to 2 minutes to land. Didn't have any problems releasing fish either- all swam away fine. We are fishing 1.5-2.5 miles below the dam. Maybe that makes a big difference... not sure. Saw Duane guiding yesterday in that area and he said they'd had a great day. Maybe he can speak to how his fish fought. But all in all, I thought our fishing was good Saturday and Sunday. I am disappointed not to see more 15-inch-plus rainbows after a summer with running water all the time. But after such an odd year, I'm not complaining.

Since the high water in the spring, I have been concerned about the lack of what I would call good midging by our rainbows here. Most mornings, days and evenings when the water was either running slow or not at all, rainbows would be dimpling the water's surface all over the place- out in front of the resort, really all over. I hadn't seen that until this weekend. Fishing last evening around the narrows above Fall Creek, I pointed out to my buddy Ray how many dimples we were seeing- there's were dozens of rainbows feeding at any one time. Great site. The midges were really coming off thick most of the afternoon and the trout were responding to them in a big way. Good to see.

Orange Soft Hackles #16 and #18's $3.50 / dz This fly- another no name. #10. I only have 10 of these. $2.50 for all. #16 cream loop wing. 24 count. $4.00/dz This is an olive green body, the pic looks more like light green. #12. 18 count. $4.00 for all. This is a royal coachman. #12 and #10's. I have a bunch of each. $3.50/dz Parachute Adams, orange. #18. Only 12. $3.50 for all.

What you didn't like my sucker pics.......

Have to check that prop!!! Great advertising.... There's a reason Scotty's limit where their boats to some areas of the lake. We're not that smart.

Another nice evening today. Took Ray again up to the great wall and started stripping soft hackles, #18 black, and worked the mid to shallow side all the way down thru the narrows. Didn't leave the boat this time. When the wind would die, I'd switch to a scud or a zebra but never did as well as staying with the soft hackle. The wind would kick up and die- we'd do the best when it blew. Nothing huge but consistently in fish.

Could you tell if they were rainbows or browns?

First batch sold to Rusty. I found more natural beaded hare's ear. #8's. I have 24. $3.50/dz

Water off yesterday and today in the afternoon. Nice. Windy and cold today but I used it to my advantage. Boated up to the "great wall" about 4 yesterday and took the boat to the shallow side where rainbows were midging like crazy. The great wall- below Lookout- the wall is the block wall constructed this summer on one of the lakeside homes in Pointe Royal... can't miss it. Wind put a good shop on the surface- perfect for stripping soft hackles and that I did. Caught 8 very nice rainbows in short order. Had a couple over 16 inches. Fought hard too. Got dark and headed in. Today I took a couple of friends to the same spot but this time we got out about 2:30. Not as productive as yesterday so we went back down to the narrows and fished there. We fished soft hackles (black #16's)- short, fast strips were most affective. Wooley buggers in dark colors, #12's, I used an olive #10 pine squirrel and caught a couple, #16 black zebra under a float 6 inches did ok- was surprised it didn't do better under those circumstances. The soft hackle produced the most trout- all rainbows, most 12 inches with a couple about 15 inches. We fished almost the whole flat till dark. Good times! Did catch this on a #16 mink scud- this guy fought the hardest of 'em all.

We sell gas without ethanol. I bet most marinas sell it if they can get it.

How Many Dogs Does It Take To Change A Light Bulb? Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned out bulb? Border Collie: Just one. And then I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code. Dachshund: You know I can't reach that stupid lamp! Rottweiler: Make me. Boxer: Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark. Lab: Oh, me, me!!!!! Pleeeeeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can I? Pleeeeeeeeeze, please, please, please! German Shepherd: I'll change it as soon as I've led these people from the dark, check to make sure I haven't missed any, and make just one more perimeter patrol to see that no one has tried to take advantage of the situation. Jack Russell Terrier: I'll just pop it in while I'm bouncing off the walls and furniture. (how true)! Old English Sheep Dog: Light bulb? I'm sorry, but I don't see a light bulb! Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark. Chihuahua: Yo quiero Taco Bulb. Or "We don't need no stinking light bulb." Greyhound: It isn't moving. Who cares? Australian Shepherd: First, I'll put all the light bulbs in a little circle... Poodle: I'll just blow in the Border Collie's ear and he'll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.

Harvey Ragsdale and I are having Wapsi die up some pine squirrel skins - PURPLE!! Should be just the ticket for night fishing. They will come already cut. I can get crosscut pieces done too I'd imagine. $13.95 each. Can ship. Am taking pre orders right now. Should have first shipment in a couple of weeks if not sooner.