Phil Lilley

Zinc Dam downstream PSO Bill landing 13 pounder in the "honey hole" fly in mouth- barbless thankfully Fishing just above the "berm" Bill with his 8 pounder

Bill Butts, Vince and myself made the drive over to Tulsa Tuesday to check out the great fishing, reported by Michael, Bill and others over the past month or so. I know Bill will post his own report along with pics I took of him with fish but I thought I'd begin by posting my own report, lacking as is it. The short of it - windy! Not wind gusts but sustaining winds of 30-40 all day from the south. It beat us to death. But I usually don't mind the wind as long as the fish bite.... they didn't. Not for Vince and I. I landed my first fish, a small 3/4 lb white about 5:30 pm. Vince caught a dozen whites and a drum thoughout the day but no stripers. I'll let Bill share what he caught and I'll post my pics alittle later this morning. My impressions of the fishery- different, very rugged, unforgiving. It has the potiential to be great... but with any river system, the key is being where the fish are at the right time. I believe 2 events worked against us yesterday- they brought the water up during the night, cooling the water temp from the day before and the water dropped Tuesday but not as much as it did the day before. When water patterns aren't consistant on Taney, our trout are tentitive--it may be the same on a river like the Arkansas. Plus- fishing is fishing... some days they just don't bite. Walking/wading this river is very tough. The flat, uneven rocks and sand make wading treacherous at best. When Bill told us to bring a wading staff he wasn't kidding. I got by fine with felt bottom boots but metal cleats would have helped. The Arkansas is not a pretty river. Lots of old disgarded pieces of concrete laying all over along with metal and other trash. They need to do a river clean-up in a bad way. But as for having a striper/hybrid fishery in your backyard like the Arkansas- it's pretty cool, one that alot of Tulsans obviously don't know about. We saw one other wader on the river along with some bank fishermen later in the day. I'll go home here in alittle bit and download the pics I took and post them.

Can't get away from the "ethical" question when asking about bed fishing for big female bass. If you're looking to kill a nesting female bass on a bed, you may not find anyone who'd answer your question. I'm not a bass fisherperson per say and don't fish for bass during their spawn so I can't speak to the catch question but as for killing them, well it seems counterproductive to the angler to kill off their future sport, whatever the species. I have spoken to that issue on other posts, ie. crappie, and will continue to remind those who will listen- release sows with eggs when possible... at least a few for "seed".

Don't get in a hurry- we need rain- a good soaking rain- before they start coming up again. Yes they have been up in some places but these places are isolated because of ground conditions and rainfall amounts. Even if we do get rain, it depends on the condition and makeup of the soil. If the rain goes right thru the topsoil (rocky soil), the mushrooms won't do well. They like lots of moisture.

Do you drive a black Toyota pickup? Park at the 31/Riverside parking lot close to the light? If so I saw you park and walk across the street yesterday. You didn't mention the WIND!

Hey guys- We just had Cox replace some bad cable feeding our modem so we may be able to accommodate more people on the Trout Cam. Check it out. Water is very cloudy. Been seeing some big blue gill, crappie and bass in the brush but not yet in the camera. Take it back- just saw a largemouth bass.

They should be in full stride... most everywhere. But haven't heard any stories personally. Blair, Cricket and Long should have whites in the back of and in the upper reaches of each.

I was on the water a lot this week and really have caught a variety of fish. We started the week white bass fishing up above Twin Bridges and caught a lot of whites with some being big ones. The size went down as we fished later in the week. I think the white bass run is about over in the rivers. We looked back in our records for last year and saw that we started catching white bass above Sailboat Bridge on the 14th of April. I think the fishing is better once they move to the main lake than in the spawn. You have to know where to look for them though. We have done well on crappie this week on or close to the bank. Where are all the small crappie? All we are catching are good keepers up to 14 inches. It worries me a little that we are not catching more small ones which will grow up to be big ones. We black bass fished a couple of days and did fairly well. We caught our fish on jigs and spinnerbaits. We saw a few beds also with a few small males on the nest. Wont be long till the bass are bedding big time. Everytime I fish uplake at Twin Bridges the spoonbill snaggers are cleaning limits at the ramp area. We saw one that might have gone 70 lbs. The catfishing is good around the flats at Sailboat Bridge. The fishermen are fishing very shallow on windy days that the wind is blowing out of the south. There are some good ones being caught up to 30 lbs.

Just glanced at the weather forecast for next week. Starting in the 70's and climbing into the 80's all week with some rain. That just means one thing... crappie are going to move one step closer to spawn. Reports from most areas on the lake are basically the same this weekend- males are off the banks 4-8 feet and varied on depth. Females are off the banks further and holding. They've been moving closer if not on the banks early and late in the day. With the warmer temps, look for pairs to be on the banks spawning this week. Bridgeport seems to have the bigger crappie, unlike last year when you had to catch 10 short to one keeper. I would strongly suggest a couple of things. Releasing part of the females you catch for seed. And releasing crappie under 11 inches, not 10. If enough anglers practice these two things, we should have great crappie seasons for years to come. From what I've heard there are plenty of 11 inch crappie at least on the James Arm. Once last thing- if you get your reports/information off this forum, please give back part of what you've received. Write a report, tell how you caught your fish. Share a picture. If you don't know how- email it to me and I'll post it for you. Thanks - Phil

These are great for tailgate parties- I think they are selling a ton of them. I've riden them- they are a blast.

Going to Tulsa Tuesday to fish the Ark. but will be here tomorrow. Phil

Marabou jigs are DEADLY on the SJ... you could start something out there if you out-catch the guides using them. My daughter will be out at Kanakuk Colorado again in May/June. If we go out to visit, I'll give you a call.

No generation. Still no generation even though Table Rock has risen a bit- up to 905- but that's still 10 feet low and for this time of year, it's almost unheard of. April and May hopefully will bring spring rains. If not, we are in trouble this summer and fall. Fishing has been good most days. Friday and Saturday were ok for those boating but not great. This morning has been much better. Night crawlers are still the best live bait but we are selling and people are doing well on minnows, fishing them on the bottom. The stretch from Fall Creek to Short Creek is still producing the largest rainbows. Jig and float using sculpin/orange head 1/50-1/100th oz jig or micro jigs under a float 4-5 feet has been very good- great chop on the water the last couple of days has made jig-n-float fishing very good. Above Fall Creek- boat fishing... zebra midge in red, black or green under an indicator 18 to 48 inches excellent most of the time. Target feeding rainbows on the surface and fish shallow or fish the deep channel area 48 inches deep. Use scuds- #12-#16's in grey, brown or olive under an indicator and fish deep enough to be very close if not on the bottom. Move 'em around to trigger a strike. Windy- throw a wooly or soft hackle. At the dam - lots of trout- LOTS! Night fishing has been great, according to Leonard. White woolies it sounds like. I haven't heard anything from the forum or from anyone about fishing below the dam this week. Maybe someone could help me out!?!?

bobber- email me the pic and I'll reduce/repost it for you. phil at lilleyslanding.com

So you went by yourself? You must be a sure-footer, or should I say paddler. Was the water real dirty or in good shape? See any other canoers? Any pics? Thanks for reporting.

Went fishing this afternoon with my 'little brother' Logan, part of the Big Brothers program here in Branson. We boated to Short Creek where Logan wasted no time landing this rainbow on his first cast. We were fishing with air-inflated night crawlers. He limited with 4 nice rainbows within the hour. Great trip.

I just learned it's been difficult to get minnows and shiners in the area, especially in the Forsyth area. We carry minnows, small and mediums, and I just picked up some shiners for those who like to use them on whites and walleye. We're located off Fall Creek Rd on Upper Lake Taneycomo. Call is you have special needs. 417-334-6380 800-284-2196 Phil

They are very spotty for us... at least for me. I'm in Branson.

Still have 2 left.

Not really. But may be. Really didn't notice. But we may have caught the blacks early and they were deep off the banks. I know some of the bigger crappie came late and they were on the banks and most of the bigger crappie are white. BUT I think they were on the bank cause it was late and getting dark.

Biggest crappie was 16 inches.

If it is TR - I would make sure he can build a dock- period. The Corp on TR are extremely tight with their permits. He may say he is trying to get a dock but I wouldn't put money on it.

Got an email from a friend in Fayetteville - I took Coltons PE teacher and his son, Got to the spot at about 4 PM.on Tues. My son in law Morris (Colton's step dad) had been there about 2 hrs. He gave me 6 whites up to 2 lbs and 2 Hybrids to 6 lbs. He had to leave. WE stayed till dark. NO more hybrids, But we fileted a total of 22 whites and 13 good crappie. And then came Wednesday. JD went out at 2:30 PM. He picked me up at Walkers bluff at 4 PM. He had a 5 lb Hyb 3 whites. We went back to the spot. Same hole as Tues. A small front passed thru and the sky cleared. We moved up to a little deeper water. Immediately caught 2 five lb Hybs and several medium whites. JD had to leave ahout a 6PM. I took him to Walkers bluff. Just down stream we stopped at a crappie spot. 1 Crappie. I turned around the opposite way and caught a good white. JD turned and caught a Hyb approx 7 to 8 lbs. I filleted 26 whites, 3 hybs and 4 big crappie. We got a lot of rain to the south and east last night. May mess the water for the week end.

I own several G-3's and have had good luck with them. I also have a Landau- as much as I've beat that boat up, it doesn't leak- amazing. Landau is built in Lebanon, MO just up the road and there are dealers in NW Ark. If you're going to live in NW Ark, stay with a dealer in that area if you can. Better service if you buy it from a local dealer I believe. I'm sure there's some OAF people from that area who will chime in.

Are you talking about Table Rock?