Phil Lilley

As you may have noticed... I've been silent on the subject of hosting or co-hosting another tournament. I'm hesitant to commit to it just now. I have a lot of irons in the fire presently and don't wish to add another. I may do something in the fall.

The boys won last night. They are seated #4. The girls won today easily. They are seated #2... but they are playing in Sioux Falls, IA. Brian is speaking in Springfiled- I bet- and the group meets at the MDC Natures Center off Glenstone/60 (south of town). And I bet it will start about 7 p.m.

Serious!! I never knew the Bryant had that kind of run!!

Where? When? Wish I could go. Gotta go see some more basketball!! NAIA II first round games finish tonight. 16 games in 2 days... not bad for basketball junkies.

No he didn't. You might give him a call Brian if you want to help with the classes. pm to you with the direct # to him.

Randall stole my thunder... Thanks Mr. SKMO. You done good. I guess the fire threat is gone!! PTL!

It'll only take a minute. It's painless. We really would like to hear who's all on the forum.

I talked to Jim... he's waiting on the final list of speakers for the event before putting out the schedule. He's going to get back to me when it's out.

North Arkansas Fly Fishers March 2006 Newsletter Click on the heading above.

That's a tough question... probably not. I'd like to but I try to limit it to just 2 tournaments per year.

I think the cold front slowed things down. I also think it's been so good up in Long Creek this winter because the water is stained up there but down past the marina, it's clear and cold. It'll takes some time for it to warm up without rain to muddy it up.

I'll take it - I'll give you a dollar tomorrow. Phil

We've found at church a couple of things... Call a prayer meeting- a few show up. Call for a work day at church- a few more show. Call for a livey worship service- more people come. Have a pot luck - the masses come!

who's signature?

I don't (haven't) fished there but I heard after putting in at Voila, head upstream and troll wiggle warts along the channel edges. We may not have allot of Kings River Arm anglers on the forum... yet.

I didn't say that. Everybody has a right to his opinion... just as long as we 'just be friends'

We put in at Gage's (Long Creek Arm) at 3:30 pm. The wind had been out of the north for most of the day but it had switched to the south which I thought was a good thing for us. We went up into Bushey first and fished a couple early spots first. Going up- second cove on the left- fished out in the trees and caught one keeper crappie on the bottom in 12 feet of water. Left that spot and headed south past the marina and into the second cove on the left and fished out towards the mouth in the trees- nothing. Went on south and hit the bluff bank on the right- deep water- fished the trees but it was windy- nothing. Went south of Cricket Creek Marina- past the mouth of Long and into Cricket- fished the first mud flat-bank on the right. First fished close to the bank- nothing. Dropped back into the trees- caught 2 keeper crappie, a white bass and several more short crappie. They were suspended about 6 feet deep in 10-14 feet of water. Boated on up in Long Creek- fished the flat on the right alittle. One guy fishing the trees close to the channel said it was slow- he was catching a few. He was fishing real slow. We, again, boated up around the big bend near Yocum and fished the mud flat on the left- caught another keeper crappie and a short. On the way back out, we stopped at a cove just inside MO on the east side and caught another keeper. Way out from the bank 60 feet out- Chuck just got lucky. We (Chuck Puckett, Tom Johnson and myself) used swimming minnows with 1/16th or 1/8th oz heads - chartruese was the best color but did catch a couple on smoke and purple. Didn't have a temp gage but the crappie felt real cold!

1974- fall. Fishing with salmon egg just below outlet #2. Broke off allot of big trout.

I tried a one-fly for a couple of years but couldn't get anyone to fish them... well a few. I'd do it again if there was interest- real interest. Had allot of people say they were going to fish but didn't. I know there's a ton of people who don't like tournaments. Had this conversation before on other forums... but there's a section of the population that likes them. They aren't commercialized- don't have any sponsors- don't make anybody big bucks- they're just fun.

I listen to NPR allot- no worries. Was it a local piece or may be national? What did they say?

Brian Shaffer is hosting two new forum topics, dealing with old fishing equipment, lures, rods and stuff..... I'll let him plug the topics... they are out of my area of expertise.

I use a 9'6", 7 wt rod for salmon and steelhead and it's plenty of rod to handle up to 35 pound chinooks. I wouldn't go any heavier. Large Arbor Battenkill reel - in my opinion they're the best reel for the money.

Before I read and clicked the hybrid pics... I thought they were crappie!!! Man I was ready to jump in the truck and head up! What did you catch the hybrids on? I love fishing Truman Tailwater! Never know what you're going to catch.

Wow- they're official. Lots of rules. We could adopt some of the rules. 2-man team, $50 per boat, weigh in 7 crappie (sounds like not very many but what do I know), start 6:30 a.m. (if it's held before daylight savings changes) and weigh in 1 to 3 p.m. Might make it a short day in case people want to continue fishing Saturday afternoon, evening. Big crappie pot (separate). Pay out 85% to first thru fourth... I usually hold out 15% for trophies.

I visited with the owner of Beaver Creek Marina this morning about them hosting a crappie tournament this spring. He sounded interested. I told him I would help and promote it through OAF... I think it would be a blast and bring in a good group to fish it. How do crappie tournaments usually work? 2-man team? How many fish are weighed? Anyone know?