Phil Lilley

I made a mistake and bought 2 lb tectan- a bulk spool. It's so thin I find it hard to set the hook in fear of breaking off, which I do most of the time. It's incredible line but but the 3 or 4 lb... I think they make a 3 pound but not sure. 2lb is like... 8x! It floats in the wind when you cast it.

Does anybody have any favorite holiday chex mix recipes they would like to share????

There's a thread that's a couple weeks old in which we talked about crappie on TR. Not sure if anything has changed. May be someone's been out since then. Hope you find them.

For Immediate Release: November 16, 2006 A service of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation News Contacts: Micah Holmes or Kristen Gillman (405) 521-3856 Web site: www.wildlifedepartment.com Wildlife Department ramps up stocking efforts at Great Salt Plains Lake Deer harvest on record-setting pace - deer gun season begins Nov. 18 Fishing Report Waterfowl Report Wildlife Department ramps up stocking efforts at Great Salt Plains Lake Last week Wildlife Department fisheries personnel stocked more than 100,000 channel catfish into Great Salt Plains Lake in northcentral Oklahoma. The stocking comes after high temperatures and prolonged drought led to a major fish kill at the lake this summer. "We conducted several gill net surveys last month and we found out the fish kill was very significant," said John Stahl, northwest region fisheries supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "The good news is that this has always been a productive lake and we expect the fish populations to bounce back over the next few years. In the meantime, we're going to do everything we can to help Mother Nature along." In coming weeks biologists are planning on stocking an additional 40,000 channel catfish, each about 5 ½" long. The catfish should grow to catchable size by next year. Next summer, if water levels are favorable, Department officials will stock both blue and flathead catfish in the lake. "We're going to monitor fish populations in the lake very closely over the next few years and make management decisions to ensure this fishery is as healthy as it can be," Stahl said. For more information about fishing in Oklahoma log on to wildlifedepartment.com -30- Deer harvest on record-setting pace - deer gun season begins Nov. 18 This year is shaping up to be the best year ever for deer hunters. Hunters have already taken 40,055 deer, a 26-percent increase over this same time last year, according to preliminary deer harvest totals. "This is great news and I think it is safe to say the deer harvest so far has exceeded everyone's expectations," said Mike Shaw, wildlife research supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "And the deer hunting should only get better in the coming weeks." Archery hunters have already taken nearly 10,000 deer. During the youth season, young hunters took 2,783 deer. Muzzleloader hunters accounted for 27,280 deer, including more than 17,000 bucks. If hunters continue at the current pace, the deer harvest will exceed 105,000 this year, topping the former record of 102,100 set in 2000. Last year hunters harvested 101,111 deer. "With deer gun season opening Nov. 18 and so many hunters already having had success, this is a great time to remind hunters about the importance of harvesting does," Shaw said. "Taking does is not only good for the deer herd, it also provides hunters an opportunity to share their harvest through the Hunter's Against Hunger program." The program facilitates the distribution of deer meat to hungry families in the state. Through the program, hunters provided over 34,000 pounds of venison to the needy families around the state last year. Hunters who legally harvest a deer during this year's deer seasons can simply deliver the deer to the nearest participating meat processor after checking the deer in. To help with processing charges, each donor is asked to contribute a tax-deductible $10 to assist with the program. The ground venison will then be distributed to the needy through a network of qualified, charitable organizations. To find out more about the Hunters Against Hunger Program, or for a list of cooperating meat processors, check out page 26 of the "2006-07 Oklahoma Hunting Guide." Deer hunters hoping to harvest an antlerless deer in southeast Oklahoma should be aware that the antlerless (doe) days have changed. In the past, hunters could kill antlerless deer during the middle Sunday of the 16-day deer gun season in Zone 10, which includes the Honobia Creek, Three Rivers, and Ouachita Wildlife Management Areas. For the 2006 deer gun season, however, hunters may take an antlerless deer on the middle Saturday (November 25) of the season. Hunters may also choose to kill an antlerless deer Saturday, Nov. 18 or Sunday, Dec. 3 in Zone 10. Hunters are reminded that only the first nine days of deer gun season are open on Honobia Creek, Three Rivers, and Ouachita Wildlife Management Areas. Deer hunters in Oklahoma must have an annual hunting or combination license, lifetime hunting or lifetime combination license, disabled veteran's lifetime, senior citizen hunting or senior citizen combination license or proof of exemption. In addition, hunters must possess a deer gun (antlered or antlerless) license for each deer hunted, or proof of exemption. Resident hunters under 18 years of age may purchase the youth deer gun license. Unless exempt, hunters must also possess a fishing and hunting legacy permit. All nonresident deer hunters must possess a nonresident deer gun (antlered, antlerless or combo) license for each deer hunted or proof of exemption. Holders of nonresident lifetime hunting and lifetime combination licenses are not exempt from purchasing deer licenses. Nonresident deer hunters are exempt from purchasing an annual nonresident hunting license. Nonresident hunters must also possess a fishing and hunting legacy permit unless exempt. Hunters may take a total of two deer, which may include no more than one antlered deer and one antlerless deer. Antlerless deer may only be harvested on specified days in certain zones. Harvest of antlerless mule deer is prohibited during deer gun season. For antlerless deer hunt zones and dates open to antlerless hunting, pick up a copy of the "2006-07 Oklahoma Hunting Guide." Upon successfully harvesting a deer, all license holders, including lifetime license holders, must immediately attach their name and license number to the carcass. What the hunter attaches can be anything, as long as it contains the hunter's name and hunting license number and remains securely attached to the animal until it is checked at a hunter check station or with an authorized Wildlife Department employee. Annual license holders, upon harvesting a deer, must complete the Record of Game section of the universal license. The information must be recorded on the license form prior to moving or field dressing the animal. To do this they must print in ink the time, date, type of game and method of harvest in the appropriate columns. Lifetime license holders are not required to complete the Record of Game section on the universal license. All successful hunters must check their deer at the nearest hunter check station. A county-by-county listing of hunter check stations is provided in this year's hunting guide and the most up-to-date check station listing is available at wildlifedepartment.com. Deer gun hunters should always remember to keep safety the first priority. All deer gun hunters must conspicuously wear both a head covering and an outer garment above the waistline, consisting of daylight fluorescent orange color totaling at least 400 square inches. Camo-fluorescent orange is legal, if the total orange meets or exceeds the required 400 square inches. Hunting hours during deer gun season are one-half hour before official sunrise to one-half hour after official sunset. For additional regulations, antlerless zones, check station locations, season dates and a wealth of other information be sure to pick up a copy of the "2006-07 Oklahoma Hunting Guide" available at all license dealer locations or log on to the Department's Web site at wildlifedepartment.com. -30- FISHING REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 15, 2006 CENTRAL Overholser: White bas being caught on cut shad and shrimp. White bass being caught trolling the lake and off points. Crappie being caught around the dock and off points. Report submitted by Kelly Roberson, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County. Thunderbird: Elevation 9 ft. below normal and clear. Crappie good on minnows and jigs on structure at 7-10 ft. Saugeye good off points on jigs and medium-diving crankbaits (slow retrieve). Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County. Wes Watkins: Elevation 6 1/2 - 7 1/2 ft. below normal, water 62-68 and clearing. Catfish good on chicken liver, worms, fresh cut bait and assorted stinkbaits in deep water of main lake channel and around dam area deep. White bass good on assorted colored medium diving crankbaits. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 13-14 ft. around docks and structure and brush piles. Largemouth bass poor on assorted dark-colored soft plastics with some action on Carolina rigging. Report submitted M. M. Fowler at St. Gregory. Wes Watkins: Elevation 7 ft. below normal, water 52. Channel catfish fair on cut baits and chicken liver at 8-12 ft. around the dam. Bass slow on medium-diving crankbaits at 12-15 ft. White bass slow trolling off points. Crappie fair at 16-20 ft. on minnows around the dam. Report submitted by Ronnie Arganbright, game warden stationed in Pottawatomie County. NORTHEAST Eucha: Elevation 10 1/2 ft. below normal, water 50 and murky. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around brush and structure at 14-16 ft. Largemouth bass fair on plastic worms. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries. Ft. Gibson: Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal, water 60 and clear. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits and spinner baits in flooded grass. White bass good on a variety of lures, spinners, jigs and some topwaters. Catfish good on shad and cut shad. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 12-15 ft. Report submitted Marvin Stanley, game warden stationed in Wagoner and Muskogee counties. Grand: Elevation below normal and clear. Channel catfish are being caught at 30 ft. on cut shad and juglines baited with cut shad. Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, game warden stationed in Delaware County. Greenleaf: Elevation 1 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits and spinnerbaits along shoreline and off rocky points. Catfish good on cut bait on bottom around structure. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County. Keystone: Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water 60 and clear to murky. Largemouth bass good n spinnerbaits and plastics at 3-6 ft. in creeks and coves. Smallmouth bass fair on crankbaits and jig and chunk at 5-10 ft. in the mouths of deep coves. Spotted bass good on crankbaits and spinnerbaits at 5-10ft. in main lake off points and bluffs. White bass fair on casting spoons and rooster tails at 4-6 ft. off windy points. Striped bass below the dam are fair on live shad and four inch swim baits from the surface to 3 ft. Striped bass in the lake fair on live shad and four inch swim baits at 6-10 ft. in the flats. Channel catfish good on worms and stinkbaits at 3-6 ft. in creeks and coves. Blue catfish good on shad and punch baits at 4-8 ft. in the flats along the river channel. Flathead catfish fair on live shad and goldfish at 6-12 ft. off rocky points. Crappie good on jigs and minnows at 8-18 ft. in brush piles and dock areas. Report submitted by Larry Sellers, Woody's Bait and Tackle. Oologah: Elevation 2 ft. below normal, water in the lower 60 and clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush piles at 15 ft. Blue catfish fair on shad on upper areas of the lake at 15 ft. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County. Sooner: White bass and striped bass hybrids fair in the lake on topwater lures and sassy shad in the discharge channel. Crappie fair on minnows around brush piles. Report submitted by Doug Gottschalk, game warden stationed in Noble County. Spavinaw: Elevation 6 ft. below normal, water 52 and clear. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around dam area. Largemouth bass fair on spinner baits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries. Tenkiller: Elevation 5 1/2 ft. below normal, water 64. Crappie fair around docks on minnows or worms at 15-20 ft. and fair in brush on tube jigs at 15-20 ft. Sunfish good around docks or bluffs at 10-15 ft. on worms. Report by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort. Webbers Falls: Elevation normal and murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits along shoreline and around structure. Catfish good on cut bait on bottom. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 12-15 ft. along shoreline. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County. NORTHWEST Canton: Elevation 6 ft. below normal. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around brush. Walleye fair on night crawlers. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed in Blaine County. SOUTHEAST Arbuckle: Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water 61 and clear. Crappie good on brush piles and Guy Sandy dock early morning hours. White bass good on creek channel drop-offs using spoons. Bass good using crankbaits, and slow moving worms at 12-20 ft. Report submitted by Jack Melton. Blue River: Elevation normal, water 57 and murky. Largemouth bass slow on minnows and flies. Catfish fair on liver and worms. Trout fair on power baits, rooster tails, meal worms and super dupers. Report submitted by Charles Baker, technician at Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area. Broken Bow: Water murky. Bass good off points on salt craws, jig heads and soft plastics. Catfish good on trotlines and juglines bait with cut bait or sunfish. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County. Eufaula: Elevation 3 1/2 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bass good on plastic baits at 4-10 ft. White bass slow. Blue catfish fair on shad drifting the flats at 10-15 ft. Crappie fair on minnows or jigs at 10-20 ft. Report submitted Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County. Hugo: Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 64 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Crappie fair on live minnows. Blue catfish fair on stinkbait. Report submitted by Wendell Smalling, game warden stationed in Choctaw County. Konawa: Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 55 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits at 5-10 ft. off points and in weed beds. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County. Lower Mountain Fork River: Zone 1 has been very productive for most anglers. Zone 2 has been a real thrill for the fly fishers Zone 3 has been a bit slow, with only a few trout caught near the re-regulation dam. The powerhouse has been releasing water at about 5-6 p.m. continuing for a few hours... be careful wading. There has been hatches of small black caddis, a very few mayflies, and lots of midges. A black wooly bugger has been productive at night then early in the morning, use a very small emerges or adult mayfly pattern... watch the fish.. they will clue you in to what fly to use... and don't forget the caddis flies and midge flies. Report submitted by Sid Ingram, Beavers Bend Fly Shop. Pine Creek: Elevation above normal and murky. Overall fishing is still slow. Crappie fishing activity has increased somewhat, anglers are reporting limited success on jigs around submerged tops. Bass fair on plastic worms when jigged slowly around points. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County. Robert S. Kerr: Elevation above normal, water 54 and clear. Largemouth bass fair at 5-8 ft. using shad imitation crankbaits and plastic baits fishing the rock and weed cover next to deeper water. Crappie-good at 10 ft. using minnows fishing the bends in the old creek channels. White bass fair at 5-8 ft. using crankbaits fishing the rock dikes in the upper part of the lake. Blue catfish good at 5-10 ft. using fresh cut bait, minnows and worms fishing the timbered areas used by the cormorants. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County. Sardis Lake: Crappie good along structure on minnows and jigs and off bridges. Largemouth bass fair on shallow running crankbaits and spinnerbaits running shallow. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County. Texoma: Elevation 3 ft. below normal, water 64 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass slow. Striped and white bass fair to good on live bait and sassy shad at 10-20 ft. at Platter and Washita Point. Channel and blue catfish-fair on cut bait at 10-20 ft. at Little Glasses Creek and Washita River. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 5-15 ft. near underwater brush piles. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County. Wister: Elevation 1 1/2 ft. above normal and murky. Largemouth bass fair on plastic baits running shallow. Crappie fair on minnows around brush piles. Catfish fair on trotlines and juglines. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County. SOUTHWEST Ellsworth: Elevation 13 ft. below normal and murky. Catfish fair on cut bait off rocky points and around the dam. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County. Foss: Striped bass hybrids and white bass good on slabs and live bait. Walleye and saugeye fair. Catfish good. Bass fair. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House. Ft. Cobb: Elevation 2 1/2 ft. below normal. Catfish slow on cut bait. Report submitted by James Edwards Jr., game warden station in Caddo County. WATERFOWL REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 15, 2006 For zone maps and complete waterfowl hunting regulations log on to wildlifedepartment.com NORTHWEST Canton: Lake level is 5.71 ft. below normal. Habitat condition is poor. Water level has dropped below all vegetation along the shoreline due to water release. Winter wheat plantings are mostly complete, but are in poor condition. Duck numbers are low, with most ducks leaving to find better forage. Goose numbers are low, with mostly Canadas, and a few Snow geese as well. Some migration movement into and through the area has been observed within the few days. Hunting activity is low, with low success. The boat ramp west of Canton WMA headquarters is not usable due to low water levels. One of the north ramps at Big Bend is usable for small boats. Ft. Supply: Lake level is 2.5 ft. below normal. Habitat conditions around the lake are poor, with lots of open shoreline. Local wheat crops are fair to poor. Duck numbers are low, with mostly divers. Goose numbers are low. Area bird movement has been low as of recent. Area ponds and sloughs are mostly dry, and some boat ramps are closed due to low lake levels. Hunting pressure has been low, with little success. Waterfowl season is closed on Fort Supply from November 18 to November 26. Washita National Wildlife Refuge: Lake level is 4.79 ft. below normal. Wheat in the area is up. Duck numbers: wigeon 75; redhead 48; green-winged teal 240; shoveler 10; ring-necked 41; gadwall 56; pintail 86; mallard 142; canvasback 7; bufflehead 35; ruddy 3; hooded merganser 26. Goose numbers: Canada 28,126; Snow 1,101; white-fronted 17. SOUTHWEST Ft. Cobb: Lake level is 2.23 ft. below normal. Habitat condition is fair. Peanut harvest is in progress, with winter wheat in good condition. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are fair. Hunting activity has been low, with fair success. Hackberry: Refuge reservoir is approximately 1 foot below conservation pool, with around 1,000 plus acres of wetland units flooded. Habitat conditions are good, with Johnson grass, wild millet, milo, and sunflower. Duck numbers are good. Goose numbers are fair. Ducks using the area include wigeons, gadwalls, teal and pintails. Several hundred sandhill cranes on the area. Hunting activity is moderate with fair success. Sandhill crane season on Hackberry Flat WMA runs Nov. 4 through Jan. 28, 2007. Hackberry Flat WRP is closed to all activity from October 15 to January 31. Waurika: Lake level is 4.99 ft. below conservation pool. Lake habitat condition is good. Winter wheat in and around the are is in good condition. WDU on the south units are being flooded at this time. Duck numbers are low, but increasing. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is low, with low success. NORTHEST Copan: Lake level is 2.2 ft. below normal. Lake level is not flooding terrestrial vegetation. Soybeans and wheat in ag fields on WMA. Beans are cut, with wheat coming up. Duck numbers are low, with about 200 ducks observed. Goose numbers are low. Ducks are currently using WDU's on the north end of the lake as 3 of the 5 pools are now flooded. Hunting activity is low, with fair success. Deep Fork NWR: Water conditions are poor. Wetland conditions are dry. River is at normal base level. Food conditions are good. Duck numbers: mallard 250; gadwall 15; green-winged teal 24; wood duck 400; ruddy 2. No geese present. Eufaula: Lake level is 3.68 ft. below normal. Current habitat condition is poor due to lake level, but habitat potential is excellent. Vegetation is very good to excellent on the mudflats and suitable lake shore. Very little farming in the area. Few ducks observed, about 300. No geese observed. No significant bird movements have been observed. Ft. Gibson: Lake level is 0.30 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is good, with smartweed, barnyardgrass, bidens, cut soybeans, corn, milo, and wheat in the area. Duck numbers are low-fair, with slow bird movement. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is moderate, with fair-good success. Hulah: Lake level is 1.6 ft. below normal. Lake level is not flooding terrestrial vegetation. Soybeans and wheat in ag fields on WMA. Beans are now cut. Duck numbers are low, with about 150 ducks observed. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is low, with low success. Kaw: Lake level is 0.23 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is good, with millet and natural food available. Increased lake level has flooded some of the millet. Duck numbers are fair with early migrants. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is fair with fair success. Good numbers of waterfowl are on the lake. Keystone: Lake level is 3.9 ft. below normal. Habitat conditions are poor, with all habitats dry on survey. Habitat potential is fair to good in wetland units. Habitat potential is fair on the mudflats, sloughs, potholes, and lower elevation. Both duck and goose numbers are low. Good amounts of waterfowl movement, but birds continue to move south due to poor habitat conditions. Pumping operations are still underway at Cottonwood Creek WDU. Hunting activity is high at Cottonwood Creek WDU, but moderate on flats. Hunting success is moderate as birds pass through. Oologah: Lake level is 4.13 ft. below normal. Current habitat condition is fair, but not flooded. No flooded millet or native vegetation on the lake. Ag fields have been planted with wheat and soybean, and are in poor-fair condition. Duck numbers are fair, with good numbers of gadwalls, mallards, and lesser scaup reported. Goose numbers are poor. Reports of fair-good size groups of birds flying in over the past week. There is no water at Overcup Bottoms until there is significant rainfall. Upper Verdigris has no reports of waterfowl and both units are dry, until there is significant rainfall. Sooner: Lake elevation is 0.5 ft. below normal. Habitat condition is fair, with some submerging vegetation. Winter wheat in the vicinity is poor to fair, with some fields not planted yet. Duck numbers are good, with a good variety of both puddle ducks and divers. Goose numbers are low, with resident Canada geese present. Hunting activity is light during the week, but moderate on the weekends. Hunter success is fair for ducks and low for geese. Webbers Falls: Lake level is 2.67 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is good, with smartweed, barnyardgrass, bidens, cut soybeans, corn, milo and wheat in the area. Duck numbers are low-fair, with slow movement. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is moderate, with fair-good success. SOUTHEAST Hugo: Lake level is 0.20 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is fair to good, with Japanese millet, sedges, and other native vegetation in the area. Duck numbers are fair, but improving. Goose numbers are very low, but also improving. Bird movement is slow in the area with mostly gadwall, teal, and mallards moving around. Geese are also picking up with the front moving through. Hunting activity is slow, with fair success. Little River NWR: Water levels across refuge are fair. Food conditions are good. Gadwall 80; green-winged teal 10; wood duck 125; mallard 155. No geese observed. Red Slough: Most wetland units are dry except for borrow areas. Unit #21 is 80% full, unit #27A is 25% full, south part of unit #38 is partially flooded, and Teal Lake is 60% full. Habitat conditions are good with milo and Japanese millet. Duck numbers are fair, with 1,000 ducks present. Goose numbers are poor. Hunting activity is low. Texoma: Lake level is 3.41 ft. below normal. Habitat conditions are good, with smart weed, barnyard grass, and nutsedge in the area. Duck numbers are good. Goose numbers are poor. Large numbers of ducks and geese moving in on strong front Tuesday night. Hunting activity is heavy, with good success. Wister: Lake level is 0.51 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is fair, with sedges, smartweed, and barnyard grass present. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. No signs of bird movement into area. Hunting activity has been high, with low success.

Drove to the dam at 4 pm... wanted to try something different. I went armed with my jig box and fly rod. I debated taking my spin rod but thought if they didn't hit a jig, I'd throw a crackleback or something. Is started at the TU stairs and fished up to outlet #2 throwing Leonard's bunny sculpin in white, black and purple and Brad's gray and a yellow scuplin- a couple of hits and lots of looks. Got up to outlet #2 and switched to an olive 1/32nd oz jig and immediately got hit. Caught one rainbow (pic) and hooked 2 more trout before getting a hard hit and breakoff. Of course I only had one. Tied on a 1/50 purple, sculpin and then a white and had several hard hits on each but no hookups. They would hit and run so hard they'd either break off or pull out. There was a huge midge hatch this evening. Swarms of bugs- the trout didn't immediately come up on them but did later. I was sure tempted to switch to a crackleback or soft hackle but didn't.

New contest... Find Walter!

TL I almost went up to the dam last night to throw some jigs. A jig hopped off the bottom has to look like a sculpin to a trout- has to. I've watched how they move around the dock- they'll sit real still and then move quickly to another spot and then sit again. On the gravel flats below Lookout, I've worked a jig just the same as that and watched rainbows literally pick up a jig off the bottom while it sits motionless.

Wish I could help. I hear that alot- a house on Taneycomo- but there's not many on the lake so the pickin's are lean. And what's there will be inflated- price I mean. Table Rock is much easier, esp the way of the way areas, but you might not want to be out there. Coleman & Company is a good real estate company in town. You might give them a call.

I'll have some by the end of the week- either I'll tie them or I'll have Leonard. I may even have some other colors of flash tied in... just to cover my bases.

A 20-inch rainbows... but that's a feat for the NF. Beautiful day - and I bet you had the river to yourself!

http://lilleyslanding.com/lt_maps/ I had some maps I did this summer I don't I ever posted. Well here they are. Still need alittle work... I noticed some of the Lakeshore Dr resorts are already gone.

More information for the trip: For June, Jim recommend the following: Rainbows: Minnow imitations. These should imitate a salmon smolt. We need them 1 to 2 inches long (usually a 6 or 8). Some patterns that worked well last year was Spirit River's Lite- brite minnow with a blue back and the Gummie Minnow in either blue/white or green/white. Leeches. Both large and small. Large articulated rabbit strip leeches in black and olive, small wooly buggers in the same colors. Sculpins. Large in natural and olive. Dry Flies. Don't need many, but a few standard patterns like elk hair caddis and adams in size 12 and 14 ought to do it, along with a mouse or two. Small bead head nymphs. Early season on the Brooks River is like fishing a spring creek, with rainbows taking tiny nymphs and small dries fished on long light leaders. Pheasant tails, bead head caddis, flash back hares ears, etc. in sizes 14-18. Sockeye: Small streamers and nymphs. In the ocean, sockeye only eat small stuff. 8's are large for them, 12's are better. The problem is, they are too strong to be held on a 12 when they are silver. The key is to tie small flies on stronger hooks. Woolybuggers worked well last year in black, olive, purple and cream, as did PM Wigglers. Teenie Nymphs work very well. Try black, pheasant tail, olive and sometimes bright colors like pink. Small bead chain eyes are a plus. Kings: Plugs - Large QuickFish, Large Wiggle Warts, Thunderstick Juniors, Large Wiggle Warts in bright colors. All Orange, Pink, Chart. and fire tiger all worked well. In clear water, more normal colors like silver/green and gold/orange worked. Spinners - #5 and up sizes, preferably with large single hook. Same colors as plugs. Flies - Large streamers are the first choice. The salmon snake is probably going to be the best (and most expensive) pattern. This is a Michigan fly with a plastic diving lip and a clipped deer hair body, jointed and very large. I also like articulated leeches and any other large flashy streamer with a lot of action. Tackle: 5 or 6 weight for rainbows in the small streams with a floating line and a shooting line. 7 or 8 weight for the rainbows on the Naknek with a floating and a shooting line. 7 or 8 weight for the sockeye with a shooting line or floating line 9-11 weight for the Kings with a Teenie style sinking line in a 400 grain plus size. What else to bring - Leader material in 0x, 3x, 5x flourocarbon, Ultragreen Maxima in 12, 15, 20 pound (butt sections and kings) Small barrel swivels (black) in size 12 or 14 Split shot in sizes b, bb, 3/0 DEET repellant and/or head net, if prefered. Clothes for any weather from 40-80 degrees, including raingear I recommend polyester fleece bottoms under breathable waders, wool socks, fleece vest and sweater up top, with a breathable rain shell over all. Billed baseball hat or rain/sun hat. Polarlized sunglasses, preferable in amber or brown Chest waders with felt soles and a wader belt Wading staf, if preferred Flights The earlier you book to Anchorage, the better price you can get. Especially if you want to use miles for a free trip. We book the flight from Anchorage to King Salmon... we get a lodge rate.

Bill will do about anything for a fellow trout fisher... he'd even do nails. They do have an incredible place... nice hot tub overlooking Table Rock. Hot tubs in all the rooms and a very nice billards table downstairs. As for the rainbows- yes there is a spawning run in December and January. Nothing like the brown run but substancial enough to make a special trip. Not half the crowds.

For your marriage sake, we won't tell you.

You would have to put alittle orange flash in it... something else I have to have Leonard tie for the shop. Nice pics! Thanks!!

Seasons- Season opening on the Naknek River is June 10. At that time, rainbows can be fished for in the river. The lake had lake trout and northern pike but we haven't fished for them... yet. The rainbows are just too big and wild in the river so it's hard to leave them for something else. The salmon fry stay in the lake after spawning all winter and migrate out into the ocean after the ice-out. They fill the river in June and July and the rainbows take advantage of their size and numbers. It's like a white bass feeding frenzy- first the gulls find the smelt, then the rainbows, and they attack the smelt like there's no tomorrow. Everything is on the surface in full view and of course that makes it more exciting. June is the best time for the migration but they are still in the river in August. When we were there last summer, Aug 4-16, we saw and caught rainbows surfacing on smelt. Naknek is known for it's huge rainbows, growing up to 24 pounds. Landing a rainbow in the 15 pound range is common. Hooking one bigger is also common but landing it is another thing entirely. We use 7-8 wt fly rods, floating line and streamers and cast to feeding schools of rainbows, either while wading or from a boat. One can also use spinning gear. I took some swimming minnows up with me and did well. Wooly buggers, clousers and other streamers work. Small to medium crank baits would work well too. And fight! I caught several 15-18 inches rainbows that tore me up. The largest rainbow of my trip was 27 inches and weight about 8 pounds. It took me 15 minutes to land him. He made over 10 runs and I had him on a spinning rig and 6 pound line. I can't imagine whata 15 pound rainbow will feel like. Later in the season, rainbows pick up the pace when the eggs and flesh really get going. We caught rainbows drifting egg patterns in the big river as well as drifting eggs in the smaller rivers like Brooks and Margot (early to mid August). We also caught a good number of Dolly Varden. In late August into September, rainbows and dollies really kick it up a gear, gordging themselves on flesh and eggs from the millions of salmon now dropping eggs. This is again when we see 10-20 pound rainbows and 8-12 pound dollies. King salmon start coming up the river mid June. They'll get up to 80 pounds. Use to top 120 pounds but commercial fishermen all but eliminated that larger king gene pool years ago. Jim will have to elaborate on the kings because I didn't experience that part of last season. I did see remenants of the run- big red fish laying on the flats in fast water... and I mean big. Every fish I say was well over 36 inches in length. One client foul hooked a king while wading and held it for over 20 minutes. But he had no chance with it and finally broke off. Sockeye start just alittle after the kings. Sockeye are the most numerous salmon in the system. They crowd everthing, literally taking over the river and the feeder streams soon after. Just like the kings and silvers, they are silver when they enter the river, wild and strong... and excellent tasting. Soon after, they turn red before spawning in late July through the month of August. We found a huge number still in the rivers in mid August. They average 10-12 pounds each and can grow to over 16 pounds. They are mean and aggressive and won't come to the net willingly. Silvers are the last salmon to enter the race to the beds. I was impressed with their fight... most of which is out of the water- tail-walking, dancing, racing- whatever you want to call it. A hundred yard run is not uncommon. If you're wading, gotta break it off or you loose your entire fly line and backing. Another great tasting fish early before turning red and but still good after it turns. You'll find silver spawning well into September. Jim will have to cover Chum Salmon- I'm not educated on Chums. Pink Salmon, or Humpies, make their run every 2 years. We won't see any pinks in 2007. Bears? Did I mention bears? If you don't like them, early to mid June is the time to go. They aren't down from their sleeping quarters yet, but in late June and then throughout the summer, bears abound. We see them around camp in late June, then they migrate to the rivers to start their annual feast. My experience with the brown population is that they don't care too much about people, ignoring them for the most part. They don't like it when you catch a fish or mess with their cubs so we keep our distance and make noises and don't fish around them. We aren't allow to carry firearms (National Park) but do carry a BIG can of bear maze. It's effective inside 9 feet. Shall I say more?! I'll leave you with a few images. I hope you can swing a trip with us. What I like about this Alaska offer is that we are able to offer it 'on the cheap', giving people a chance that could otherwise not afford the more expensive packages. Smelt salmon Silver Salmon 25 inch dolly varden

I'm on the dock this morning. It got colder last night than I thought it would. At 9 pm it was still warm and humid last night but this morning it's cold and crisp... alittle icy going down the runways. I boated to Short Creek yesterday at 4 pm in hopes of catching 4 rainbows worthy enough for the frying pan. Still had a zebra midge on from the other day- black #16 with a nickel bead- pulled up onto the gravel bar and started watching for rises. It wasn't long- I hooked a small rainbow and released it. Most of the rainbows we've been seeing in that area have been about 9 inches- too small for my frying pan. I did hook one rainbow for a couple of seconds that would have been good. Saw it flash and felt the heaviness but the hook pulled out. After a half-dozen small rainbows, I headed for Fall Creek. There I found the same- midging rainbows all over the bar. And they were larger in size. I had no trouble putting 4 12-inch rainbows in the livewell, releasing more than a dozen others. Never changed flies. Moved back and forth on the bar and fished the edges primarily. Had the whole lake to myself practically... it seemed... especially later in the evening. I've found alot of midging rainbows early and late. This technique works anywhere, anytime.

Cajunangler- We have some of the best smallmouth bass fishing in the country around here and hopefully some of the guys here can point you in the right direction in the coming months. Yes, we need rain. That has played a part in slow fishing but you should still be able to land a few trophy brownies, esp in the streams. I'm a huge jig fan myself. Welcome. You'll have to share some of your cajun experiences with us sometime. I was just talking to a friend that we should take a redfish outing sometime.

An email to me I guess. We can go over details, dates and such. phil at lilleyslanding.com I just found out that if you put your email anyplace on a website, spiders will find it and put you on mass email lists. I always wondered why some people write their email like I wrote it above.

We have a special rates as a lodge in King Salmon- we book that flight for you. A flight the first week of June from MCI to Anchorage is $533 which is about the same as last summer. Our rate from Anchorage to King Salmon was $389 last season and shouldn't change much.

Not sure about TR but on BS they have always produced walleye. I've talked to several old timers that say that's all they use. I've done fair using them but I don't get down there much.

Here's the openings we have presently - Whole camp June 9-16, 16-23, 23-30. 2 spots June 30-July 7, July 21-28 and July 28-August 4. Whole camp open for July 14-21. The best rainbow fishing would be in June (especially early June before the salmon come in) and September, but the fishing stays good all summer. The Kings start around the middle of June and run through July, The sockeye (which are delicious and hard fighters) start into the river during the last week of June and run all of July and most of August. Silvers come in mid August and run thru mid September.

Well, I finally made a committment to host 3 weeks on the Naknek River in King Salmon, Alaska next summer. I am taking reservations now for the dates of June 9-16, 16-23, 23-30. The camp can hold up to 8 clients for these 3 weeks. Rainbow and dolly fishing is at it's best during June. Rainbows up to 20 pounds and Dollys up to 10 pounds are commonly hooked... but hard to land. Fly or spin fishing- wade or boat- your choice. Also, boated trips over to remote creeks feeding Naknek Lake are on the agenda. See our website at http://naknekrivercamp.net for details. Costs are $1695 per week per person which includes lodging, meals, all transportation from King Salmon, use of a boat when not fishing with the guides (me and Jim). Questions?

Sorry I didn't go. I knew it would be a good night. Thanks for the report Leonard.

I'm curious about winter fishing on Stockton. At what point would we see winter patterns emerge for bass, crappie and walleye? Does the lake need to turn over before we can identify constant patterns?