Phil Lilley

Duane would be weighing in on this one if he were within internet access right now... We talked about this before he left for AK. Duane would carry if he could. For me, I'm not sure. The issue is bears. Someone mentioned AK-possibly for bears... absolutely! Where Duane is heading, we see bears on a daily basis and most of the time they are within small arms fire range. Some within rock throwing distance. And sometime within spitting distance. From what I've read about killing bears with a hand gun- #1 you need a big gun and #2 you have to be lucky. There have been bears killed in AK that were found to have multiple old slug wound found in their body, some slugs lodged in their skulls. An adult male bear's skull is up to 2 inches thick. To kill a bear DEAD and thus, not tearing at your neck, you'd have to get lucky and get off a heart shot and even then, he'd have time to do you in while he was bleeding out. I like bear spray. I'll take it over a gun any day of the week. BUT when a bear is on top of me, it would be nice to at least have something that may get him off and a hand gun would be that something. It should be an option to those who would want to carry one in any National Park, at least in AK.

Took my nephew Ryan and friend David out to try to catch some white bass. Got to the park about 6 pm and boated up in Swan to see what was what. Nothing. Headed to Powersite. Some boats up there and lots of people on the west bank- LOTS! Something's going on. We turned to the east side and fished the places where I'd caught whites a few weeks ago. They were still there. White jig on the bottom. Chart swimming minnow. Both caught whites. 4-5 good ones. 4-5 marginal ones. 20 or so dinks. Good evening of fishing.

Guided with Bill yesterday and this am. Generation about the same both days- 1-2 units in the am building to 4 by 1-2 pm. We started with micros but went to scuds soon after and stayed with them most of the trips. #12 or #14 silver/gray scuds worked the best. Drifted from Andy's to Fall Creek, staying pretty much in the middle of the lake using fly rods only. Set the fly from 7 to 12 feet, depending on amount of water running at the time. A good amount of weight to keep it on the bottom. Fly gathered some moss but not too bad, esp for this time of year. Bites yesterday were hard but this am were soft and they missed a bunch. Had to really watch the slack in the fly line cause you had to be quick and affective on the set. Saw guys doing pretty well throwing jigs straight. Not sure of the color but they looked dark. Night crawlers were hot in the short creek area, catching some real nice rainbows.

Check out reports on oa's main page and on the forum. Also look at the generation and levels from the last few days. You'll see generation has been slow in the am and fast in the pm. You'll have to judge for yourself if the water is high enough to go to the dam. The water is clear and you can see the bottom anyplace. Fishing should be excellent this weekend.

As much as I'd like to join this conversation and allow a good and civil discussion on this subject, I can't. I can't allow it to continue either. No political subjects- sorry. I'll delete this topic in a couple of hours, closing it now.

Seth- Your list is perfect- right out of the USCG manual. I anchor in heavy current here when I want or need to. It is relatively safe IF you know what you're doing but nothing is 100% safe. Depending on what kind and shape of boat you're in, a large wake could swamp an anchored boat. Leaning to one side quickly could lead to taking on water. I've seen people get their anchors lodged on the bottom, then try to maneuver their boat by running it back upstream to dislodge the anchor just to have the boat's bow dive down violently when they hit the end of the rope, swinging back down and then whipping back into position. As for here at the marina, we take the safe side and say don't do it, especially in our rental boats. When dealing with the general public, you have to assume the worse - that they are ignorant and will do stupid things if not told otherwise. I do try to instill a certain amount of fear when talking about the subject. I've seen what it can do first hand. If we say just "Don't Do it!", then it's choosing to stay on the safe side of the issue.

Not bad... have to differ. Our water is 45-46. That's cold even for trout. Surface temp on TR is in the 60's. Mix the two and you've got warmer water- better for trout. I'm telling you- I've caught my biggest trout on Taney during flood gates in May. BUT I doubt if it will happen. Table Rock is too low for flood gates regardless where Beaver is.

Have a great weekend, Russ. We'll be staying close to the house, thank you! We don't venture out too far on the holidays... too many tourist. BIG ->

Direct sun helps alot.

My old Pentax Optio W2??... the words have worn off the camera.

Boated to the dam 8 am. Passed Babler- he's doing real well floating pink micros under a float from Andy's to Fall Creek. I threw sculpin and white 1/8th oz jigs at first. Rainbows were swarming the jig but not eating. Drifted a #16 black zebra tandemed with a brown san juan 9 feet deep and caught 3 before hitting the old KOA. Drifted a peach egg fly and caught 3 thru there- all three outside the mouth- again- they are slapping at it, not eating. At Andy's saw alot of rainbows on the shallow flat but none below there and the Narrows. Fished deeper and caught a couple more rainbows on scuplin jig, then moved to the bluff side and caught 3 more before quitting. Four of the rainbows were of good size- hooked one and lost it that would have went over 18 inches. The others were all less than 12 inches. Great day! No wind and 2 units this am.

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Another pic I missed... actually just testing the attachment feature on the forum.

That's what I was going to say- I wet wade in the fall.

As Babler exclaimed this morning when I told him the news... "They should be jumping in the boat this morning!!!!" Generation is down to a crawl. Am waiting official news what's going on or what Corp's plans are for the near future. Table Rock is down below 917 which is great. Beaver on the other hand is tickling the top of their pool again. I'm sure they are going to have to run Beaver full or possibly flood gates. That will put alot more water in TR. Bull Shoals- they're saying it will continue to come up and be held high for most of the summer AGAIN. Taney County will be without their fairgrounds yet another summer. I would think they will be back to running Table Rock Dam at 4 units full 24/7 shortly. Not sure why they've slowed it down today but it is a welcomed sight. I'm backed up and can't get out and fish- sure wish I could. For those who are- if drifting with bait, lessen your weight by a bunch- just a split shot. You'll feel more bites and catch more trout! Also, night crawlers from Fall Creek to Short Creek has been great- catching some nice, beautiful rainbows- probably out of the trophy area.

It's all changed. This am they are running only 2 units and not all of 2. Flow is way down and level here is down 5 feet. Now- gravel bars from Short Creek up to the dam will come into play. Better get a map here on OA or stop in at Lilleys and get a map and suggestions. New this may change again by the weekend- there's NO WAY to tell. But this am it's changed and word is it will stay this way thru Friday.

Was a perfect day on the river- temp, sun and flow all were good. Water had alittle color to it. Not crowded. We put in at Ponca about 1:30 pm. The current was good and we hardly drug at all. Five canoes and one kayak. Throwing brown or sculpin 1/8th oz jigs, we caught red ears, small mouth and gogs- nothing big and didn't catch that many but it was fun. It's been a few years since we've been on that part of the Buffalo. Last time it was low and we drug a lot. Pics soon.

It is my experience whites stay in the creeks for weeks after the spawn to feed on minnows.

That's the plan. All the kids are here so we're hitting the water before Sara and Josh head to Port Aurthur, TX Wednesday. Water is perfect. Taking the fishing rod just in case. Will report back.

Launch- downtown next to Scotty's No problem with any hazzards- water's too high. Dangerous in current- absolutely!!!!! If you want to anchor, be smart about it and anchor in slack water only. Drift eggs down the middle of the lake from Fall Creek to downtown. Night crawlers from Fall Creek to Short Creek- very hot right now. Brown/orange 1/8th oz jigs worked along the bluff banks.

Put in the park at 6:45. Headed up Swan on a great tip from Vince. Went to the 3rd bluff- one on the left and started catching small males on a blue rebel right off. Worked on down to the bluff on the right, where the road follows on top and people fish off of all the time, and finished there. Fished till dark. Kept 32 whites and 2 big crappie (3 of us) and threw back a bunch. Best was the rebel. Caught them on a purple jig, smoke swimming minnow and a small sluggo. Lots of whites in this area.

You know... I love the "bite" on topwater soooooo well I don't care about the hook-ups.. You know what I mean?

Despite high water, big rainbows are being caught. Richard Draheim of the KC area has been coming to Lilleys' Landing since before it was Lilleys' Landing. He and his brother Walter come every spring and every fall for a week. They fly fish regardless of water conditions. And they use jigs they tie themselves. It seems to be a contest every trip. If one jig is hot, they DON'T share but get bragging rights that evening at the cabin. Richard, I think, got the best of Walter this week on big rainbow. Caught on a gray jig, location unknown. 21 inches. Released.