Phil Lilley

Brian Shaffer can write a book on Crane but he's too shy to post...

Oh man... when do we go???!!! What flies do you use? Do you have pics? Jeremy and I are working on some recipes/pics of how-to. I'd love to have some instructions before springtime on how to tie flies that would work for stripers.

Maybe 2 day- Ponca to Pruitt and camping at Kyles Landing.

Would Hickory Creek be worth a separate forum? There's alot of these small creeks around but I don't want to add every one of them... was thinking about adding the Elk River- it's a great smallmouth stream and floated alot.

I don't look for them to generate much at all- it's getting warm later in the week and the lakes are low. If they do, it will be alittle in the morning- but I doubt if they do at all.

Greg- green zebras are a new color for me... you're the third person who has mentioned them and done well on green midges. I'll have to try them. Droopy Dog- A good distance to start a jig is 4-5 feet. If there's alot of surface activity, you may go shallower at first. If they're running water, I like to go deep, close to the bottom but seldom do I like to bounce it on the bottom (under a float). Throwing a jig is another thing. You can throw it anytime- water on or off. It just depends what mood you're in I guess. That's how it is with me. If they are running 1/2 to full generation, I will throw a jig instead of using a float simply cause that's what I like to do and I feel I can catch more trout that way. Others would disagree- that's why it's a matter of preference. You could spend alot of time on the subject of jigs... theya re really the best lure you can ever learn to use.

Steve- post away here!! If it's a benefit to our members, I welcome it.

There are tons of coons and mink here. I'd love to catch a mink--will have to reply on Bill's help on that one... or anyone else you wants to teach a green-trapper like me. We really do have alot of "fur" here, as Bill would say. I think I may take my boys out next week and set another trap or two.

Sorry- I meant to post as "Lilley"... I forget who I am sometimes.

This is something all we flyfishers need to learn... fly fishing for stripers. Beaver and Norfork are two great striper lakes. I speak for all of us- looking forward to learning using this forum. Bull Shoals Striper

Greg- how did you fish? Scuds, stripping...

I've fished this tailwater several times in the fall and always caught fish... mainly crappie and white bass. It's best when the water is running I've heard and it's been running when I've fished it. I think it can be the best tailwater fishery in the state- springtime when the whites, hybirds, walleye and crappie are up there. And the catfish! I'm hoping the Bait Station does their reports here- I think their reports are the best for this area. If someone knows them, put in a plug in for the forum.

Vince and I boated up to Short Creek this evening and fished from 3:30 till dark. It was alittle chilly with the breeze but the wind created some chop and the trout liked it. We did tear them up by any means but we did see some action. Zebra midge #16 under an indicator 18 inches did the trick for me- caught this 18 inch brown just off the bar to my surprise. Both of boated a few more decent rainbows and headed back downstream. But while we were fishing we kept hearing a couple of fox barking on the bluff bank and finally saw one making its way down the shoreline. then all of a sudden it took off and then appeared another fox chasing. It was quite a sight. It could have had something to do with mating because the bigger one was chasing the smaller one... and then the other way around. Finished the evening down by our dock using jig and float- dark jigs like brown or sculpin and caught a few more.

The only area I've fished the close to the dam. I've trolled the dam face and caught walleye and crappie. Would like to get back there sometime.

This is supposed to be the "offseason" for us being in a tourist town... but it's been anything but. Internet - trying to go wireless. I have a friend who claimed he could install routers and repeaters and cover the resort with wireless internet for us and our guests. Three weeks later, we've dropped DSL and am now on wireless only by our fingernails. It seems we have some interference or something. We might have found the problem tonight- a bad router. We're using a Linksys WRV54G router and a couple of WAP54GP access point routers (we ditched the repeaters). We've ordered a new WRV and another WAP so hoepfully this will close the gap. But it's been very trying... you don't reallize how dependant you are on something until you don't have it. WebCams- am still looking for the perfect webcam software and video capture card to host the cams. The underwater cam is doing great- if you're in the cleaning shack looking at the monitor. Problem is... I'm dependant on someone else for the expertise. They are friends and won't take any $$$ for the work which honestly I'd rather pay and get it DONE!! Capture cards... routers... they're all way over my head and it's frustrating. Newletter- I'm finally going to get the White River Journal out next week. Been trying to work on in between everything going on. Brochure and other things- we've been trying to design/print a resort brochure for several months now... our last brochure is 12 years old. Also designing a logo for ozarkanglers, the resort and new catch-n-release pins for trout unlimited's c/r program. I'm not doing much of the designing but the guys who are seemed to be as busy as me. Friends in town- the last 10 days have been hospitality time for us. Not complaining too much- they all have been dear friends and we've had a blast... but fitting it all in with Christmas programs at church, YMCA, resort dinner and fishing with everyone, it's been interesting. I see the light at the end of the tunnel- I think it will be Monday next week. My daughter and son-in-law are coming in Friday before Christmas. Am looking forward to kicking back and sending time with the kids. Meg and Cob move back home tomorrow from C of O so all will be here for the holidays.

I wouldn't think one could trap up there... but I don't know. But no- these animals come from downstream 6 miles or so. Got another red fox today... done for awhile.

Just a short report. Jim, James and I fished mid day today. They were running a unit so we boated up to Rocking Chair. 4 boats on the water. 2 waders that I could see. They continued to drop the water out as we fished. We anchored and started throwing beaded sculpin wooly buggers and James hooked up with several rainbows. He did best when he drifted the fly instead of stripping it. I caught a few on a tan thin-skin #16 scud under an indicator 5 feet. Jim caught a few on a small streamer. We drifted thru KOA- catching got slower. Jim tied on a zebra and so did James. They hooked a few more rainbows. Nothing over 13 inches.

2 big, buck coons today and a nice silver possuum. Had 2 traps that didn't do their jobs.

Yes- Tom and Jim. Jim bought the cabins at 37 and the PM back in 1981 or 2, just before I bought our resort. I went up there for the first time with a friend from St Louis, Peter Mathiesen, and got to know Jim, Phyliss and Tom. Since then, I've been up there 20+ times and Jim & family comes down here twice a year. Tom is coming down this weekend and joining us for some fishing on Taney before going over to KS for some bird hunting. Last year, I went up to Alaska and helped Tom on a package trip with some of his clients. Jim sold the lodge a few years ago. He guides and builds drift boats. Tom and Chris manage the Rainbow Club just downstream from the lodge. He guides in Alaska and in Central America in the PM's offseasons.

Leonard - you sure get around!!

1,000 year flood plan...

Jim has an 11-foot and 2) 12-foots he'd sell. With trailer. They are Stealth Crafts- he makes them. All 3 are fiberglass. Ash rails. 2 swivel seats. Dry storage box. Oars. 2-3 years old. All are in good shape. 2 are green camo and 1 gray camo (aqua design). $1,500 choice. They are in Baldwin, Michigan so you'll have to go up and pick them up (spring steelhead trip!!) The 11-ft is the same as the 11-ft hyde drifter design. Jim said when he gets home in a couple of weeks he can send pics. http://hydeoutdoors.com/boats/used/used.php

Bill Babler and I set our first traps on Taney yesterday. Bill is an old trapper from his college days so he had traps and know-how. I got the dirt. We only set 9 traps - had 5 coons and 1 red fox this morning. No one has trapped on upper Taney for years so there's alot of fur running loose. Babler wants some mounts for his lodge. I just want the pelts to hang in the shop.

I think Wayne is right. If Beaver goes, they wanted a fail-safe for Table Rock/Taneycomo.

I have a friend who builds the Stealth Craft Drift boats out of Michigan. He's here visiting- I'll ask him and get back.