Phil Lilley

Sorry Trav- had to delete that one. Make points without the #$&*.

Vince and I put in across from Walleye Haven this evening and boated up Powersite. Fished the Forsyth side in the big eddie and caught 6 whites, 2 keeper crappie and a keeper walleye on white jigs. Water was about 12-18 feet deep and we picked them off the bottom. I think it was a slow evening- I think there's alot more fish than what we saw there. Be careful of the current- it's really wild getting up there.

Was quoting Richard Dawkins from the movie... he's not a scientist. He's a "Darwinist". I respect your answer. Thanks.

Yea- I know. I'm sure they're pulling their hair out and can't make anyone happy. As of 1 pm they have TR down to 930.89 but if they shut it back to just generators I'd think it would shoot back up over 931. It's amazing how much rain the area got- what- 4-5 days ago and they're still moving it thru.

Interesting... the saying "it takes more faith to believe in the big bang theory than in a intelligent designer" lends itself to theological thinking BUT there are those who think that intelligent design, if there is such a thing, came from other beings from another place and/or time. Is it possible for science to conclude "scientifically" that "life" had to have been started by a designer, whatever it or he may have been, or is this impossible? I know no one can predict what may be found in these smallest of living building blocks, but I'd think that at some point this answer could or would be discovered someday by someone, seeing the advances man is making today.

Knew that was coming... Crooked is known for its great small mouth. Someone did way they were going to fish the upper White.

I've heard they will shut the gates when TR's level reaches 931. It's 931.22. http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/Repo...ata/Tabrock.htm If they do shut it down at 931 I'd think it would shoot back up. My head hurts.

Dang... posted in general discussion and don't mention where. Is this one of those - "guess where this is" games? Looks like James River. Am I close? Seriously- that's a real nice small mouth. Most people don't get one of those in their entire fishing career.

Did you notice and google ads for this topic... interesting sites to visit.

Guides caught alot of goggleyes today. Did ok on bass but not as good as yesterday. Still swimming a grub.

Man- I'm not going to post anymore of the Corps reports... I think the only thing you can count on is that they are going to be wrong. They are still running 28k cfs.

Lamar... that means ALOT more water for us! Blessings!!

We've seen this same thing in the past in a tough economy... people will stay closer to home and take shorter, less expensive trips. We get most of our people from within a 500 mile radius and this is what we hear, from say people in KC, taking a trip to Branson instead of Orlando because of gas or other higher costs.

Yea - I've never gotten my lisc simply because I've never really guided "officially". I've taken a few paid trips of out necessity. I know of at least one guy who let his expire and he had to go thru the process again.

They lied to us again. Still Running as I type. Same level. I don't repeat rumors but what I hear the Corp say on the radio. They also said they are going to TRY to drop Table Rock 8 feet by Memorial Day... where are they going to send the water? Here it come Arkansas!! I'll believe that one when I see it. For the businesses on TR it would be a great thing.

Not sure in AR but in MO you can net them but can't use a gill net.

For me personally... this debate is way down my list of things I defend as truth. I think it's interesting but I wouldn't trade a friendship over it, nor would I let it keep me from fishing with someone who has a differing opinion on this or any other subject I may see eye to eye on. Life is about more than that.

Now in saying this- I am not taking on the science world and trying to over throw the system. I think as science advances, the truth will come out but what I hope for is that all scientist will have a honest and open mind on BOTH sides of this issue and admit they are wrong- because one side is wrong and the side is not.. in a nutshell.. kind of. I don't think it will change our personal beliefs about life and God... I will not even try to do that on a forum. It's not the place because it is impersonal and not based on friendship and relationship and only if you know someone would you want to live like his example. Sorry for rambling... just don't want this to become a bash session on each other's belief cause that won't accomplish a thing.

Sorry Al, I kinda set you up. I visited this site you're referring to in 1978 during a retreat while attending college in Dallas. One of the human prints was inside the heal print of a 3 toed "something", can't remember the name of the beast, but it was a large print about 30 inches from tip to heal. The human print was kinda buried and sunken into the mud to where you could make it out as a print but you couldn't see the toes or the print itself clearly. BUT I took my foot and wiggled it into the print and it fit- perfectly. I could feel the toe prints and heel and arch. There were other prints... small ones and large ones. Some were kids and one was about 14 inches long. That one was on top of the mud and clear as can be. There were some that were questionable but many that were not. So, it doesn't make any difference to me what any scientist says about these human prints... I have seen and touched them and they are human- no doubt.

Bill fished the dam area on Table Rock today. His clients caught 19 bass with 5 keepers which isn't the greatest day on the Rock but it's better than the previous week or so. Other guides called Bill and said they had the same kind of day... may be a bit better. Tim Paige has 20+ bass with 11 keepers and I heard Pete Weeners had a very good day up in the James Arm on crank baits - probably Wiggle Warts. Babler's fish, and most of the other guides, caught their fish swimming a grub in 4 to 12 feet of water. "Any place you could get to the bank without having a bunch of trees keeping you from the magical depth of 4 to 12 feet, you'd catch fish," Babler said. His fish were all smallmouth but Wenner's fish were largemouth. Babler spotted spots and largemouth on beds in Big Indian Creek Arm today too. Water temps are in the mid 60's and the water is clearing in the dam area, 6 - 8 feet of visibility. Grubs: 4-inch Chompers in salt-n-pepper and watermellon and 4-inch XPS Copper Flake on a 1/4 ounce jig head. James River is clearing but the White Arm is still very stained and not fishing well. Long Creek is clearing and of course, is warming up nicely. No reports from Long but I bet the catfish are full of worms back in the back of Yocum and the white bass are about done spawning in Long, Cricket and Blair. But they still should be around on points for weeks to come. Crappie: Absolutely no reports at all. We usually hear rumors at least from our tight-lipped crappie fisherpeople but nothing! They should be going great guns on the banks but this high water has baffled anglers. I'm sure they're deeper than normal but they still should be able to be found... by someone! I'm going out the first of the week and give it a good try- will report back.

Word is that the flood gates will be shut down tonight sometime. Table Rock crested this morning at 5 am at 931.95 ft. The generators will remain open similar to what they were running prior to the gates.

I'm studying for my Captain's lisc. Have to take it next month cause my app will expire in June. Jumping thru all the hoops isn't fun... but that's gov't for ya. The test really scares me. I ordered a deal from National Captain's Institute on the net- a syllabus with hundreds of test questions that has really helped me. Also bought Chapman's Piloting, best book on the market for boating. With those tools and google, you can find about everything you need to know... alot more than you'll ever need in guiding for sure.

Ever hear about the dinosaur prints along side human foot prints in a creek bed in Texas?

Went up to Fall Creek to take some pics of the dock for management. While I was up there I just HAD to troll up in the creek (Fall) and see what was up there. Good color. Lots of water too. Went up about 200 yards. I like the cover- hoped to snag a crappie or bass. Caught 3 rainbows on a olive 3/32 oz jig and a 19.5 inch beautiful smallmouth on a white 1/8th oz jig. He came towards the back of the creek. Pics and released. The rainbows were about 13 inches and had big bellies. George Steffen (twosets) is out with his kids fishing. He said they did very good at the dam on white jigs, catching some real nice rainbows. They went back up... and it's pouring down right now. "Oh dad!!!" He's gone.

Good point. When people REALLY understand what the aux spillway is about, the obvious question is why??? Can you guess how much MORE rain we'd have to get for there to be the possibility of using them? Although our gates have been opened to record levels, the percentage would surprise most people. I bet it's less than 5%. They let a 4 inch rain in the whole region thru with 5% of the gates open at Table Rock. - Alright, 10%, 20%... I concede I may be wrong on the % but I've made my point. I'll try to find out what % and let you know.