porochi

Fish on weekdays when possible. I try to stay away from Taney, especially the trophy area, on weekends because the terds really come out then...

Beyond awesome. And that hog is still in there, swimming, thanks to catch and release. It's great that a kid caught it too.

Always filleted them, just like Phil said. I like em fried. And have found that if you leave skin on, the breading doesn't stay on as well. And besides, I don't like to eat the skin. I don't cut out the ribs unless it's a big fillet. With these stockers, it's just too much hassle to cut em out; when fried, the ribs just pull right out, if not simply cooked out.

The information y'all shared is far more than I hoped I'd get. Bless you. I'm kinda new to the area, but fished the whites in Oklahoma, where I'm from, so I've experienced a good run or two. Anyway, I gotta get me some good maps so I can find these places. Like where is Flat Creek?

Hey, thanks for the advice! I'll save this and come March / April, I'll check out these places.

I'm looking for advice on fishing the white bass spawn this spring on the James River. Never been there. Will be flyfishing, would like wade access but will probably use boat. I understand the run starts in March, about when though? And where on the James do ya go? Where should I put in? And if there is some wading accessible portions of the river that are good for fishing the run, I'd like to know where. Thanks for any advice. porochi

Yeah, high water (3-4 units) flyfishing is tough. If you're trying to wade, forget it, you can stand on the bank and maybe catch a few right off the bank, I've done that, but it's tough. From a boat, if you can get your stuff down deep, you can catch some, but like with nymphing, you have to use a lot of weight, and that's a bear to cast if you're flyfishing. If you want to flyfish during high water, need a boat, and I'd strip streamers, but get em down. I use a R-IV sink tip in those conditions. And I use my 6 wt. R-IV is a fast sinking sink tip line, and drifting from a boat, throw it upstream, let it sink down, then strip it back. To ensure I'm getting it down deep enough, often I'll shove the rod tip under water and strip. If I don't get snagged on the bottom a time or two, I ain't deep enough.

Offering advice, attempting to "educate" others, w/out asking em, I think is bad manners. Maybe that's how momma raised me, but seriously, why go up to someone and offer unsolicited advice or "educate" them about fishing, rules, etc. unless they ask? Couple years ago I was fishing taney with a new flyrod, reel, line, etc. All new stuff. And I was minding my own business, and god forbid, watching my backcast! Some self-appointed flyfishing instructor walked over and told me I shouldn't watch my backcast and proceeded to tell me (I've been flyfishing for 20 years) how to properly cast. You know what, sometimes I like to watch my backcast, especially when I'm unfamiliar with the rod and not only want to feel it load, but want to watch it as well. I was ticked that someone interrupted me and acted as though I was a novice. I probably could teach Lefty Kreh a thing or two about flyfishing ya know? I didn't say anything rude, I just said I meant to watch my backcast cause I had a new rod. I've had a lot of anglers ask me for advice on the stream and I'll freely give it, often with a fly or two to boot, if that's what they's biting. But I'd never just up and approach someone and start "educating" them. Ain't right, and could get you a punch in the mouth too. No matter your good intentions, what your telling that person is they are wrong and you are right (and smarter, more rightous, etc.) I've never responded more to a thread than this one, guess it just touched a nerve, and yes, I've had more than my share of stream encounters with know-it-alls. I swear, they seek me out! When fishing, man, I just want to do my thing and be totally left alone. i do my best to ignore everyone else. I wouldn't even fish Taney 'cept darn it, there are some nice trout in there! I swear I'll never fish there again after tangling with the crowds, then I'll hear about a state record brown being caught on a size 16 scud, and I'm back again...

St. Croix Legend Ultra is a great rod, and priced at $300, can find for under that once in awhile. They're not as fast as Sage; medium fast I'd call em. Am very happy with mine (3 wt) and I landed a 5 lb rainbow at taney on it earlier this year. Thought for sure it was gonna break, it was bent so severely, but it held up. (Oh, and I released the trout by the way) Don't recommend using a 3 wt at taney much, especially if they're running water, once a big trout gets into that current, it get BIGGER! You need something with a bit more backbone than a 3 wt when that happens...

I've had a couple run ins at Taney w/ folks trying to tell me how to fish, or what to do with my fish after I caught it, and I've witnessed others being subject to the same "harassment." And it was always a flyfisher doing it! I'm a devoted fly flinger but it just irritated the hell out of me when that stuff happened. Ya know, if you're so darn concerned about a fish, then why are you trying to drag it in with a hook in its mouth anyway? Seems kinda hypocritical don't it? Yeah, if I see someone doing something outrageous, like netting, keeping dozens, etc. I will call MDC. But if someone puts a 13 incher on a stringer, something like that, man, let it slide. Like the above posts show, if they're stocking on average 2000 per day, learn to pick your fights, ain't right to mess up someone's day by showing them up. And if someone suggests you let your 20 incher go and just make a replica mount, tell em sure, if you'll pay for it. Let's see just how concerned they are about the poor fishy then. Hopefully this thread will make those folks inclined to bug other anglers about releasing fish to think. You mean well, but just donate an extra buck or two to Trout Unlimited rather than make some guy feel guilty for doing what the law allows.

Hey, if they are 20 in, you CAN keep them. No one should say a darn thing to anyone if they decide to keep a fish at 20 inches or more. What gives you that right? That's what I find irritating, I've kept fish 20 inches and I've had people fuss at me for it. Hey, its legal. Now if it's snagged, foul hooked, okay, that isn't legal, but y'all should keep it to yourself if someone elects to keep a trophy fish. I guess I just don't like busybodys on the stream. Think about it before you speak.

I'm one of those fly fishers w/ expensive gear, clothes and the cigar. But you know what, I won't say squat to you, even if you're in the trophy area and netting them and keeping 10 dozen. I might sneak a call on my cell to MDC but I sure won't confront any angler. First, ain't my place to be the trout cop. That's MDC's role, and they know what goes on at Taney in the trophy area and by their frequent absence, it's apparent enforcing the rules there isn't a top priority. Second, you never know what can happen if you confront someone, you know the old saying, don't pet a strange dog, it might bite. Ain't worth getting shot over some minor fishing infraction. I've fished taney for years, I've been on the receiving end of lectures about this and that, and always from a flyfisher. I've never, ever, been confronted by a spin fisher. I don't want to add to the flyfisher's reputation as a snob. You know, we're there to fish. I ain't there to be some kinda enforcer. And note, if y'all see some tall dude wearing a cowboy hat, sunglasses, smoking a cigar and flipping flies, you can say howdy but don't lecture me if I decide to keep a few, or give me advice on how to handle trout, in fact, just don't say nuthin but howdy, and move on... porochi