Cameron Gillespie

That’s a beautiful smallmouth. I’d like to figure out the winter walleye fishing. I don’t get started until the summer.

No, had to come off of it. Picking up a 2019 Bass Cat Puma this week that’s replacing it. I had about quit trout fishing.

Sold!

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That’s just a beautiful fish. A fine specimen.

Out of the generators. I ran all the way to the sign.

Went to Norfork on 12/27 and very murky water was coming out of generators. Entire river was messed up. Ran up to Shipps on White River and caught a few skinny stockers. I hope it clears up soon.

Had a decent day. Bite was tough early but got a couple on a jig before when it was dead calm. Once sun broke through and there was a little chop, I started cranking 45 degree banks with the rock crawler and did pretty good. I think I had 7 keepers and a few shorts. Water temp 55-56.

I’m not a fan of putting the knife to the nice sized largemouth and the smallmouth. I’m not a hypocrite, I’ve taken the sides off of some decent largemouth and done the same to some smallies in Canada. I just try not to make it a regular thing. I’ve got enough crappie and walleye so I’m not going to be greedy and keep some bass. It doesn’t hurt to keep a few bass from time to time, but a lot of people doing it will put the hurt on them. What bothers me are the meat hogs on streams who eat every smallmouth they catch.

Pretty much stuck to the 45 degree banks and ran those. It was a weird bite, almost like I had a stick or leaf on the crankbait. Marked huge schools of Shad. I still think water is still a little warm for the crankbait bite to get going full on. I’ll holler at you next time I go up there. I live in Batesville so that’s end of the lake is closer for me.

After reading Fish 24/7’s reports, I decided to give it a try. Launched out of Oakland and ran to Theodosia. Didn’t tear them up but did have three keeper Largemouth on a wart. I think I caught 10 bass total. Wind was pretty bad.

Sounds like you had a great day! Did you stay in Theodosia arm?

Good report. Probably going out of Lead Hill on Saturday.

https://www.twinlakeswalleyeclub.com They have a lot of great information and very detailed fishing reports. They also give a detailed DO/Temp report that is crucial when the walleye bite is going in the summer. It’s a bargain at $25 a year.

I’ll be honest, I’m selfish and protective of the lake. It’s a great fishery and usually not crowded, and I’d like it to stay that way. I’ll share information with the walleye club, because it’s behind a paywall, but that’s about it. I’m more than willing to share info on a one on one basis, but I’m not broadcasting it on the internet and social media.

I feel the same way. It’s pretty surprising more people aren’t drowning on the White and Norfork. I saw three boats sunk in 2020, one of which resulted in a fatality. I think the powers that be do all they can to keep such news as quiet as possible so not to scare the tourists. I’ve seen a ton of kayaks on both rivers and it’s really foolish if you ask me. Most of the people in them really have no clue and no business being out there. They will get out in the fog and stay in the middle of the river. I’ve mentioned to some of them that they’re braver than me for kayaking on the Norfork River, they don’t seem to get the point. Only kayak rescue I’ve done was on the Eleven Point. Woman and young son were clinging to a tree in the river. Walmart needs to quit selling them.

Sylamore is pretty skinny water. Smaller is better.

Bill is right about this. Everybody and their brother is a “guide” down here. It seems to have really taken off with livescope becoming prevalent on the lakes, but the White River has plenty of folks who buy a river boat and then the $25 license and start guiding. I have a pretty good idea who the real ones are and who’s just looking for a little extra cash, but it’s harder for a tourist to weed through them. I’ve only used a guide in AR once, that was to learn something about walleye fishing from a guide at Bull Shoals Boat Dock. We only caught one walleye that day (it was a big one though) but I learned a huge amount that has helped me catch a lot of walleye. I got burned once on a trip to Canada that was less than promised. That was totally my fault and I learned my lesson. I’m sure the same could be said by the OP. Honestly, a recession might weed out some of these amateur guides. The professionals won’t ever have a problem getting bookings.

I (along with just about everybody else I know) use a 3 oz bottom bouncer on Bull to fish the 30’ depth range. Fish seem to be doing similar things on TR. I haven’t been on BS in over a week, so it may have changed. I plan on going on Sat.

I think you’ll catch better size fish throwing hardware and jigs. I need to throw Rapala’s more.

A lot of guides take those institutional size cans of corn out there. I’ve used plenty of corn in my life and I’ve done lots of trout fishing, but the fact that they can be so easily caught on corn reduces the “mystique” of trout for me. (I know it’s different with wild trout and browns) I made the decision that I wouldn’t use bait to catch them (only jigs for me) and that’s worked fine. They could make Taney, White River, and Norfork all artificial and it would be fine with me, but that’s never gonna happen. Also, some fly fisherman turn down their noses at anyone using spinning tackle, which is stupid. The way I fish with jigs isn’t much different than fly fishing and I’m not killing any fish.

You are spot on. Rim in particular gets a lot of illegal fishing. I’m completely uninterested in catching 10” stockers. If I can’t target quality fish I’m out. It’s one reason that when I’m trout fishing, I usually go to Norfork. It has more C&R water and better fish. I don’t understand the appeal of keeping a bunch of trout that aren’t good to eat. I’ve not fished Taney, but it looks like a lot of good fish have come out of there, but I’m sure it could be made better. I wish they would ban chumming down here in AR.

He’s a smart guy.

It sounds like there is substantial natural reproduction in TR. I’m really curious how much natural reproduction is occurring in Bull Shoals? It seems to have a strong enough population.

Bottom bouncing has been good to me lately. I’ve found a 7’ medium heavy rod with 30 lbs braid is perfect for the 3 oz weights used here. I use line counter reels or a line counter on my rod.