Phil Lilley

I have to tell you, I've had some of the best bass fishing trips on Table Rock in January and February fishing a grub along pea gravel banks and transision banks. May be I was totally ignorant and got lucky but it seemed to be a given that they would bite on sunny, 50-60 degree days. I'd use a medium weight spinning outfit with 6 lb line, 1/8th oz lead heads with a dark grub- olive or smoke and work it slow on the bottom. I took Ron Waterman, a guy who used to have a fishing show out of KDEB (Fox, Springfield), out to do a winter bass show and we caught the tar out of bass (at least I did). Ron couldn't get the hang of it... actually he had a hard time with trout too but that was Ron. Anybody else have any winter secrets for catching bass on Table Rock?

At what point could we start finding crappie on Table Rock this winter? I've alwasy been told if you know what you're doing you can catch them all winter along the bluffs. Is it better after the lake turns over?

Really?! I'll have to make sure to try a Sunday/Monday trip this winter. I need to see new waters this winter.

After much consideration... and I really hate deleting posts... I'm going to remove the post in question. I don't like to edit what's said on this forum but when something is aledged about someone without improper identification and therefore merit, it shouldn't be allowed to stand whether it's true or false. If everthing we've done is posted on a forum like this, whether know or unknown, we'd all be incredibly embarrased and ashamed... especially me!

Roaring River, catch and release season. Beaver tailwater may be.

Forgot to mention- there was a guy fishing an olive #10 wooly bugger below #2 and doing real well. Didn't see him catch anything huge but he was catching fish... and in the mouth every one! I boated up to Short Creek this evening and caught a dozen small rainbows on a #16 red zebra under an indicator 18 inches deep. They were midging around leaves in the water.

No but it had to go 15-18 lbs. Very heavy fish.

Drove to the dam at noon today to find one unit running again! Can't catch a break. But it was dropping out and was down by 1:30 so I can't complain too much. Not many people fishing. I stepped down below #2 about 70 feet and had plenty of trout to cast to. I tried the G-Bug ginger #20 first and hooked several small trout. Hook kept pulling out so I didn't bring to hand. But it was good to see fish eating my flies. Took this pics of 2 gents with nice browns. Helped one guy release a 30 inch male at #3 before the water was completely down. He took a brown measuring 25 inches home. Saw a good number of dark male rainbows moving up already... it's going to be a great winter season.

I have. They are willing to look at the issues but right now they're swamped with the hatchery addition and other coldwater hatchery problems (low flow) so they put me off till next year. I'm thinking about stirring it up again after the first of the year.

The muslim's I've met were very passionate people, family oriented and hard working. One guy converted to Christianity and became just as passionate about Christ. This was back in the mid 70's. Anyhow- looking at the US from a 3rd world view, you can see why many are cinical about the west. They see all the west as "christian" and they see the porn, crime, corruption, hypocrisy. They know history and see again the killing in the name of God. It's understandable how they feel and why they want to kill us. We are the great satan. But talk to missionaries who live among the people in Iran and Iraq and you'll find they forgive easily if they see in the flesh Christians who are truely living out a life of sacrifice, risking their lives to bring Christ's love to them.

This is a scud I tied this am... been trying to figure out how it was tied for some time. I woke up thinking about how it was tied and I think I've figured it out. I don't consider myself a good tier- I don't tie that much. But the key was the duck flank and marabou pulled over the back. Vince and I tied last night over at his house, tying Brett's G-Bug and Soft Shelled Scuds. The G-Bug isn't that hard... marabou tail, slightly dubbed body and ostrich hurl body. Tied in small sizes this fly flat catches fish. But the soft shell had us baffled. We did find out that if you dubbed a body with rabbit, squirrel or antron and then tied a long-fibered piece at the back and pulled it over the back, tying it off at the front, you could then wrap either wire or mono for ribbing and the ribbing wouldn't dissappear into the dubbing. Then pick out the fibers from the bottom or top- whatever your preference. Anyhow, this morning I tried tying in some marabou, then fibers from a pheasant wing, then the ostrich herl. Dubbed the body, brought the marabou over, brought the pheasant over and then palmered the ostrich. I showed Vince via email and he thought I had it.

You're right. Hopefully we can get MDC to address some of these issues.

Now did the fish fight? Good, not good? I found that the crowds had thinned yesterday while I was there mid day. The browns aren't done but I think the anglers are.

The whole upper end of the lake has filled in with gravel. From the cable down to the boat ramp- there's no deep hole anymore. Back in the early 80's, I remember having to walk upstream above #2 about 75 yards to wade across and even then I barely stayed dry trying it. Now it's not even to my knees. Below #2 you didn't even try it. If we had deep water like that again up there, these trout would be protected from the relentless bombardment of anglers and shufflers. MDC needs to do something about it.

Jim Turner and I drove to the dam for alittle video shooting. We've been meaning to do this all fal and today was a pretty day. We're trying to use these underwater webcam I use for the webcam under our dock. But the quality wasn't there- image was too bleached out for the most part. We'll have to go the conventional route and buy underwater camera housings for our video cameras. Not many people fishing today. Still lots of nice browns crusing around and seeing some spawning rainbows show up.

The dead chicken fly I've seen is exactly like a griffin's gnat except tied on a bigger hook. The big ugly uses black foam tied on the shank then big, webby hackle palmered over it. They really are 2 different flies.

What were these false religions and what exactly were the people doing? Thanks Wayne. and Ron.

This is getting interesting... or it's headed to fire throwing. When our pastor starts preaching and starts throwing around concepts and ideas in his owns words, I remind him his authority comes from the Word- so he should use the word to back his statements. I for one would like to be educated. I know alittle about Islam but am rusty. Tom, if you would, provide some scripture and writings to explain your position and Brian can follow with any research he has. Let's keep it a factual discussion.

I think we should pray for Dems and Reps- whoever makes the decisions now- cause they are going to need wisdom... far more than I have! I would say if politians- here or in Iraq- start making military decisions for our boys on the ground over there... they need to come home pronto!

Sounds like handicap at Norfork Tailwater is fishing very well. I recommend John Berry if you need a guide. Or I'm sure he'd have suggestions for ya. Davy Wooten would be another.

The only thing you could have done different (if you didn't) is take it to one of the outlets. The DO is high there. But even there, if you play a big fish too long, they still could die. I found a brown the other night below #2 drifting around in shallow water. It was still breathing so I took it right up in the outlet and held it there for 20 minutes. It continued to breathe but never would regain enough strength to keep upright. I ended up leaving it- it may have been 20 inches. I think sometime anything you do can't help- some are just going to die. But you know- there's alot more where they come from. Great story and catch!

Here's some pics from a group of guys staying with us.

Peppy Scud by Rolan Duffield Hook: Mustad #3906 or TMC 3769, sizes 12-18 Thread: Uni-Thread Gray Material: Peppy blended with gray antron. Note: Peppy was our cockapoo dog who's fur got sheared in the spring. A great friend. It's a medium to dark gray fur. Step #1 Wray the hook shank with lead wire. Use .020 for size #12, .010 for sizes 14 - 18. Then wrap the hook and wire with gray thread. Step #2 Apply about 3-inches of the dubbing fur to the tying thread. Space the dubbing so it's a consistent thickness along the thread. Step #3 Twist the bobbin and the thread until the dubbing forms a rather tight bond to the thread. Holding the lower end of the dubbing, wrap it onto the hook. The example show the hook about half wrapped. Step #4 This example shows the fly is almost complete. Note the bulges and irregular body. Step #5 Pick out the bulges using your thumbnail and forefinger. The body should be reasonably thin and consistant in thickness. Step #6 Take a pick and pick out some of the fibers on both the bottom and top sides of the fly. Stap #7 Pull the fibers up and trim the top of the fly. The length of the fibers should be about the width of the hook. Perform this same procedure for the fibers on the bottom of the fly. Trim off the tail fibers.

Great to see you're doing so well on jigs... Gotta fish with blinders this time of year on upper Taney. Most people try to do the right thing- then there's one or two that spoil the show.

Thanks for sharing the pics!