Daniel Anderson

Targa. I know this is a week old or so but thought I'd give you some input. Hickory hollow is fine to launch at. It costs 3 dollars mainly because it is a private resort. Only problem with the ramp is the turn around is pretty tight but if you have launched a boat enough times you'll have no issues. Keep in mind that once you get to the bridge your mapping will likely turn to a base map so you'll have no guide as to where the channel is. The long straight stretch heading towards the bridge from hickory hollow has a very narrow channel, and a huge mud flat on the west side that is very shallow. But I have done well on walleye and largemouth just up river from the bridge. Honestly there is really no need to go any further up river from there. You will find most of the boats are up river from the bridge and it gets crowded quick! I've taken more trips on my kayak this year and usually catch them like crazy until the boats show up. After that they get a little shy.

It absolutely has been busier on the white. I haven't made a trip there yet mainly because of how busy it is. Hopefully it will only get better! Seems like it has been better fishing each year that passes. Could be an even bigger tourist attraction than it is now and that will do great things for the economy. Hoping for the best! Now is the time to get out if you havent.

I have been fishing the kings walleye run for the past few years almost every weekend. The pressure this year is out of control compared to years past. The main reason for this is people (mostly arkansas guides) posting their catch on every fishing group on Facebook. It has worked out great for their business but I do wonder if it is sustainable for years to come. Only time will tell. This year has also been an odd one because of the warm February we had. I have been catching them like crazy since the ice storm that hit in early Feb. There was an early push of fish that moved all the way to romp hole that spawned early. But the majority of the fish have just now shown in the spawning ground up river. These big rains are a key part to when they make their move, along with the days getting longer and the moon phase. The water temp has been right since just after the ice storm. I usually throw a jig and minnow until March then I switch to plastics. Facebook would have you believe that the walleye fishing is just bananas and you will be catching them non stop, but that is just not the case most days. 90% of people I talk to on the river struggle to even catch one keeper even with jig and minnow tied on. When they are up river in the spawning holes you can bet that they will bite good most of the time, but it is still a grind!