Mikey

Filmed another one, this time with my 12 year old and his great grandfather's .22 single shot with some rat shot in it. And before everyone screams safety in regards to me standing in the line of fire, it's the wide angle of the GoPro that makes it look like I am right beside the target. I caught hell from my wife over that one... http://youtu.be/iBFR4sZxgqI

It does when I actually hit it. But seriously, I understand your concerns in regards for safety. Just beyond that tree line is a compound that houses blind orphans. But the owner always keeps them in their tents so I'm sure they're safe. That or it's another mile of trees heading up out of the valley. Could go either way.

So I'm by no means a TV personality. I really don't like being in front of a camera. Would rather be behind it. But while I was on vacation last week I got bored and decided to do something new on youtube and try to get a channel going with regular periodic content. It's called Gun Noob and it's mostly me shooting whatever gun I can get my hands on. I kind of talk about it and maybe tell a story. Not intended for the serious gun enthusiast because I'm sure I will give out wrong information. I'm a noob. But hey, check it out and let me know what ya think. Click the like button on the youtube page if ya would. It gives me a warm fuzzy. http://youtu.be/p-YakQz-K9k Thanks for watching, Mikey

Been a while since I've dropped by here. Have some work friends making a trip to Bullshoals at the end of the month, two of which have never trout fished. We're staying on the lake in a house boat but plan on getting into the park to fish a bit. I read on another thread that someone said the entire park is currently catch and release for all species of trout? I may have misunderstood their wording but that's what it looked like. I checked the guidebook and it seems to be worded that they have just extended the brown trout c&r to include all of the park instead of just the area below the dam. So, I guess my question is: are bows still ok to be kept? Hate for these guys to hook a few pan sized bows and not be able to throw them on the fire. Thanks, Mikey

Zack, I hope to see you Saturday if you are around. That should be my first morning of fishing and I would love to get my kids on a trout or two. maybe you can enlighten me on all the diff areas and the regs of those areas. These kids are notorious worm users and really want to catch a sculpin. Ugly buggers. Anyway, time for bed before loadin up the camper and heading out tomorrow. Good luck with your fundraiser.

A coworker of mine was up there on Saturday and his report was "a lot of water". I took it to mean swift moving water from generation. He said no, it was more like fishing a lake. Wide and still. When te river is that way is it possible to paddle about in a canoe or kayak? I have one if those and if it helps me catch fish so be it!

Another question, when looking for wadeable water...what should I look for on the generation chart?

Next weekend my family is going on our first camping trip up to Beaver Dam. We are staying @ the "dam site river" campground. I have fished te white before at bullshoals so I imagine it fishes like most other tailwaters. I wondered though, in layman speak what are the slot limits around the park? If I get my kids down there I don't want to keep a campfire bound rainbow that I shouldn't. Also where would the better spots be for the little ones to fish? No fly rods for them (3, 5, and 9) so would tackle be the old stand by of power bait or nightcrawlers? I appreciate your time and feedback. Mikey

I didn't make it Wed....going this morning with a buddy. His first time in the river, he's not a fly fisherman at all so it looks like spinning rig for me.

I have some micro jigs I picked up the other day, a bead should get them down to the bottom. Also, I picked up a streamer that was on sale a Bass Pro over the weekend, might try it out in the deep water under the dam. I will definitely pack in some grubs just in case tho. Thanks for the tip!

Thinking about making my second trip of the year on Wednesday morning. No sense taking this week of vacation and not hooking some trout. Packing my fly and spinning gear... have yet to get the hang of trout of the fly. I'll start with my fly rod until my temper gets the better of me, then I'll be using my spinner. So expect to see me have the fly rod out just long enough to try and get the fly on my tippet and then I'll grab my spinning rod. Mikey

Thanks for posting that clip. Nice to see him growing up and doing great things. I never had a chance to fish with him on the Ill, maybe this fall.

Actually, we did use my stash of 3" floating trout worms from berk. Caught a few on them. My technique on power eggs is to cast them out, let them sit, then slowly retrieve them...same method I use on nightsnakes and frozen shad. Something fun about the tink tink tink of a trout nibblin on your bait.

Took my son and brother in law to the river today for some fishing. We got in the water around 10:30. The temp was about 35. Everyone got their waders on and down to the water we went. Since these guys aren't veteran anglers I parked at the power house and we hiked down the rocks to right under the dam. Had a few strikes on night crawlers and I landed one on yellow power eggs. The kids just had some strikes...nothing landed. We moved down a bit to just above the riffles and saw a lot of trout feeding right at the surface. We tried in vain but none would stay on the line long enough to land. We walked further down past the riffles and fished off the sand bar. That's where we had the best luck. Managed to bring 5 more trout to hand. 2 for me and 3 for my son. My brother in law had a HOSS hooked and got it all the way to the bank but his novice instincts had him try to lift the trout out of the water by the line and it flopped and wiggled, landing at his feet inches before the bank. As it swam off I laughed heartily. He never landed anything but had a good time. We left when the cold got to the kids. I will say this, I haven't been up there since before the heavy rains last year and my how that riverbed has changed. We would have hooked more fish if I would have had a chance to check it out first. It was rough...but glad to catch something instead of nothing. Hope to be back up there in the next month or so. Mikey

When I get my fly gear back in order we'll team up and you can show me your tricks.