Phil Lilley

There was a guy from town fishing off the dock yesterday am and doing extremely well using yellow power bait. Nothing big though- they must have just stocked some small rainbows. If you run into him, he think he's one of Johnny Cash's kids JC didn't know about. Sings in town and has a CD- gave us a signed copy. Nice guy and we hope him well. At least he's not another Elvis impersonator... we've topped our quota on those in Branson.

Blogs are back up, thanks to my nerd buddy Jim Turner. Thanks Jim!!

I've been doing that tolk for may be 10 years now. The first time I was nervious as the dicken's, wrote up a monolog of sorts and even started to read the thing ... I'm NOT a good reader. I quickly gathered myself and winged it. Been wingin' it ever since. Tuesday I started to write an outline- that quickly ceased cause it didn't make any sense. I chance way too many rabbits to stay to an outline. I really don't have a clue what I'm going to say until I'm standing there in front of everyone. But it works I guess. I did feel like I left out alot but I talked the whole 2 hours so I must have covered alot. Questions are aways good. I can answer them with alittle more details. Steff said we had a few over 100. Most in the room raised their hands when asked if they had NEVER fished Taneycomo. That's cool. We'll have some new comers try us here in the next few months hopefully. Had a bunch of guys from Ozark FFF there. I was honored. Nice to see Mike and Dennis.... and many other friends.

Brian- email me the spreadsheet and I'll see what I can do with it. Not sure what though- I'm on the way to Florida and may not have the programs on my lap top to do the job. lilley at lilleyslanding.com

http://ozarkanglers.com/taneycomo/taney_2007.php

Brian- this is all they sent me but if there's more it'd be on the MDC site. Copy and paste anything you want to or post a link... This is great news for the NFWR!!

I emailed Matt for an explanation. I've been told what it is but I can't remember it well enough to be clear.

Dave Mayers Camping, trout fishing, canoeing, the 19 miles of river from Montauk State Park to Akers Ferry has it all. Visitors have the choice of three areas to visit. Montauk State Park Rainbow trout are stocked daily in the 2.3 miles of water within Montauk State Park. If you don't mind the company of other anglers, this is the place to catch trout. The state park here also offers lodging, and restaurant facilities. See the Trout Fishing section of this publication for more information. Blue Ribbon Trout Area The 9.0 miles from the state park downstream to the Cedargrove bridge is managed for large size brown trout on a put-grow-and-take basis. Trout must be at least 18" to keep and the daily limit is one. See Trout Fishing Section for more information. Brown trout, 8-10", are stocked each spring but do not reach legal size until at least two or three years later. Anglers in 2008 can expect to find more brown trout over 18 inches but fewer in the11 to 15 inch size range. Density of 18 inch and larger brown trout in fall of 2007 averaged 47 per mile and is up 42% from 2006. Warm summer temperatures in 2007 were probably responsible for low survival of fish stocked in late spring. Anglers wanting to catch rainbow trout should concentrate in the upper two miles of the Blue Ribbon Area from Montauk Trout Park boundary downstream to Baptist Access. Rainbow trout here make up about 25% of the trout population with the vast majority of them 11 - 15” long. These fish are the result of stocked trout moving out of the Trout Park. Downstream of Baptist Access the rainbows make up less than 10% of the trout population. White Ribbon Trout Area The 9.0 miles from the Cedargrove bridge to Akers Ferry are managed with rainbow trout on a put-and-take basis. This section has no minimum length limit and four fish per day limit. See Trout Fishing Section for more information. Rainbows, 10-12" are stocked once a month and twice a month from March through June. During the months of July and August, and when river levels are low, trout stocking is limited to the cooler section from Welch Spring downstream to Akers Ferry. Fishing in the White Ribbon Area is less crowded than in the trout park and the stream can be easily waded or floated in a canoe.

John Ackerson The Eleven Point River is one of the most scenic and diverse fishing streams in the state. Special regulations on shadow bass (goggle-eye) (8 inch minimum length limit) and smallmouth bass (15 inch minimum length limit) has protected important sizes of these fish. These regulations are for the 50 miles of river from the Thomasville Access to the Arkansas state line. Daily limits are 1 for smallmouth bass (6 total for black basses combined) and 15 for shadow bass. Gigging (Sept. 15th through Jan. 31st) of suckers is a favorite tradition but is prohibited in the 5.5 mile section of the Blue Ribbon Trout Area. The 17 miles from Thomasville to Greer Spring offer excellent fishing for warm-water species. Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and shadow bass are the most sought after species in this section. As part of the U.S. Forest Service's Scenic River program, access to this area is limited to Thomasville, Cane Bluff, and Greer so plan on bringing a canoe to help get to the better fishing spots. According to the 2007 surveys, approximately 28% of shadow bass and 6% of smallmouth bass are legal sized. Float early spring when water levels are higher, or plan on dragging over shoals in summer months. On days when bass are not biting, a good population of longear sunfish will shorten the time between bites. Greer Spring instantly transforms the river into a coldwater fishery, and the next 5.5 miles downstream to Turner Mill Accesses is home to some large rainbow trout. This area is designated as a Blue Ribbon Trout Area. Special regulations include an 18 inch minimum length limit, one fish per day, no gigging, and flies and artificial lures only. Synthetic eggs and soft plastic lures are specifically prohibited. In 2007, we stocked this area with 5,500 rainbow trout in July and numbers were still high in our September sample (1,100/mile). This estimate is not as comparable to last year (120/mile) due to the new stocking season but still a promising direction for this fishery. This is another great section for catching smallmouth bass (9% legal sized) and shadow bass, make sure to use the approved artificial baits. Public access is limited to Highway 19 crossing at Greer and U.S. Forest Service gravel roads to Turner Mill North and Turner Mill South. If launching a boat, don’t use the Turner Mill South Access due to excessive gravel deposits. The next 14 miles from the Turner Mill accesses downstream to Highway 160 at Riverton is managed as a put-and-take rainbow trout fishery (White Ribbon Trout Area). From March to December, 16,000 10-12 inch rainbow trout were stocked. Statewide regulations of four fish per day and no size limit apply. Access is provided at Turner Mill North, Turner Mill South, Whitten and Highway 160. The 13.5 miles from Highway 160 downstream to the Arkansas state line offer great fishing for smallmouth bass and shadow bass. Smallmouth bass population density in 2007 was about 300 fish/mile with 7% of these being legal sized (15 inches or greater). Numbers of larger smallmouth is on the rise as we continue to see the effect of the smallmouth bass regulation. Smallmouth numbers will vary throughout the river. Look for smallmouth in cover provided by rocks, bluffs, or rootwads with plenty of water current. Shadow bass density in 2007 increased to 680 fish/mile with approximately 21% being legal sized (8 inches or greater). Shadow bass can be found in rootwads and submerged vegetation in the tail end of riffles where the current begins to slow or pools with adequate water flow. Chain pickerel are becoming popular on this section of river. Best fishing is in the spring in backwaters and around structure before the aquatic vegetation becomes too thick. On slow fishing days try live bait or spinnerbaits to enjoy a fierce fight from a hungry pickerel. A few walleye can be found in the deepest pools. The minimum length for walleye and sauger is 18 inches and the daily limit is 4 fish. Over four hundred walleye have been tagged with angler reward tags since 2004. Sending a tag back to the address on the tag will yield a $10, $50 or $100 reward for aiding us with valuable catch information. Wade fishing on the Eleven Point is possible; however, the deep pools can make it difficult getting from shoal to shoal. A leisurely float in a canoe or jon boat will help make fishing on this scenic river more enjoyable. The Eleven Point River is always floatable downstream from Greer Spring but expect some dragging if floating downstream of Thomasville Access in the late summer months. Best bet in 2007: Rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, shadow bass (goggle-eye), and chain pickerel.

Blue Ribbon Trout Area: Rainbow trout have not been stocked into the North Fork since 1965 and since then the population is sustained by natural reproduction. With a good year class in 2006/2007, the rainbow trout population has maintained itself at a respectable 360 fish/mile. This is the fourth consecutive year that the population has remained over 320 fish/mile. Also, the number of fish longer than 15” and 18” is nearly double the values estimated in 2006. These values are the highest since 2003. Therefore, anglers have the potential for catching good numbers and quality-sized rainbows. Red Ribbon Trout Area: Brown trout are annually stocked in the lower portion of the river’s trout water. Their numbers continue to increase and are at their highest level (543 fish/mile) since 1998. Also, the number of fish greater than 18” continues to increase and has reached its highest level since 1998.

http://ozarkanglers.com/tr_2007.php

No real change in water generation from last week. Cold mornings mean generation for most of it. This am is was fairly hard. Good for the lake! Haven't had time to fish but I can bet on a few things. I'd love to be drifting below the dam using eggs flies and large san juan worms. I'd like to throw some jigs too... would try white, sculpin, black, olive and my favorite sculpin/peach and sculpin/orange. Probably an 1/8th oz with all the water they've been running. I've heard there's some nice rainbows below Lookout on the shallow side of the lake. Perfect for throwing jigs again but also good for a jig and float using a 1/50th oz pink jig. Babler would use a large micro jig. Could drift a large scud on the bottom too. Below Fall Creek, drift night crawlers or gulp eggs. Colors vary each day so have all 4 colors in the boat. When the water is off, try putting an egg on a jig hook and fish them under a float 4 feet deep. Also use a jig and float and use a black/olive 1/50 oz jig 4-5 feet deep. We did real well in the Short Creek area last week. And if you want to stay with artificial only, use an egg fly on the jig head instead of a gulp egg. That's what they did well on in the tournament on Saturday. Have fun! I just checked the weather forecast in Miami, FL next week... high 70's!!! I'll think of you guys... alittle. I'll also take pics and report back. Be good!

I'm really hating the internet right about now... at least programs like blogs and bulk mail managers. The blogs are locked up and I having a very hard time getting help. So forget the fishing reports on my blog for now. It's confused alot of people regardless. I'll be reporting on the forum as usual.

If you want to send flowers or anything to the Ducky family, here's the info St Johns Springfield room #5270 John and Tami Kashirsky

I would think so. They are a problem on other streams I understand. I'm surprised at the price for an otter. Other fur prices are way up this winter.

Permissions needed to be changed and we did that. Now there's an error in the database. It should be an easy thing to update a program but it's not. Problem is I have to wait on Invision for answers and that takes time.

I bet all of us have had trips like yours... leaving vital items behind on a trip. You get past the initial sinking feeling and grow a little bit (hopefully). Was nice talking to you Phillip. Croatia sounds like a wonderful place. I hope it all works out for you guys.

This guy needs more experience under his belt. May be next year.

We are praying for you guys. When you feel overwhelmed, fix your sight on a point and breath (Tami can help you on this). It'll all be over in short order and you'll be home with your new son in arms. Do me a favor- pm me with the hospital you'll be at please.

Great day of fishing. Mild, alittle tiny bit of wind and cloudy. Not a whole lot of boats either. Most every one said they caught alot of trout. Browns seemed to be hungry today too. 2 keepers weighed in and more stories about big browns chasing baits all day. John Hittler and Frank Dietl took first place with 9.40 lbs. with a 3.06, 20.5 inch brown $500 Zachary Slagle and Bill Slagle finished second with 9.12 pounds with a 3.40 lb, 21 inch brown which took biggest brown $320 Jeff Alley and Chris Huelsebusch had 6.98 lbs with a 1.88 lb rainbow which took largest rainbow $200 John Beam and Keith Topolski finished fourth with 6.72 lbs. $125 Big rainbow and brown- $120 each. Had 25 teams fish the event. 12 weighed in 6 or more pounds (8 trout) which is exceptional. There were some real good trout caught on an egg fly/jig head under a float in the Short Creek area. One of the browns took an egg fly. This surprised me. Someone said the browns were just hungry today!! Most other rainbows were caught on jigs. John Beam and Keith Topolski Chris Huelsebusch and Jeff Alley Zachary Slagle and Bill Slagle Frank Dietl and John Hittler

Some of the commentators on the bowl games were absolutely terrible. Funny at first but got really annoying.

Would someone like to write a brief description for me?

I sent in a trouble ticket on the error we were getting after posting an entry. They said I needed to install an update. I did what they asked and in trying to install the update, got errors again, this time shutting down the blog. I'm waiting on their response.

I'm trying to update the blog... but it's not cooperating. Sent a trouble ticket. Hopefully it'll be back up in 24 hours.