Buzz

Me too. I haven't found any other forum that I have met anyone with the same passions for the Ozark waters. The OAF is the true jewel of the Ozarks,IMHO. Our little get together seems to be getting bigger every time we setup a float. I think that is great. All are welcome to join our little S.W. Corner of Missouri Chapter of the O.A.F. Buzz P.S. I spoke to my oldest son tonight about the float. I hope he and my youngest ( almost 20 ) can make the float too.

Grouping up with the trucks is a good idea. I think we can meet at Lime Kiln access a little early, maybe 8:30 am, and drop boats and everything there with someone staying with them and then take all of the other vehicles to the take out spot on Old Scenic Rd. with a couple of the trucks transporting everyone back to Lime Kiln. That should only leave a couple of trucks upstream so most can leave for home after the float ends. Does everyone agree with this option????????????? I also am hoping the weather holds out. So far so good. We are good to go KCRR, you can take the front of my canoe. Keep watching this thread for updates. If anything comes up I'll PM you. Barring torrential rains this week or next that turns the creek to chocolate or a total blowout I think we should be good to go. Buzz

Hey, don't you work anymore? LOL

I'll be there.

It is along way from where I'm at, but I've been meaning to take some time and backtrack to some of the places I lived as a kid. One of them was Jeff City. I'd also like to fish Binder lake again. We have one stream like that down here that we fished last year. It was full of smallmouth. I want to get on it again before the bottom falls out of it . Last year, even after all of the rain it was only 12" deep in spots, but it had some nice runs and a few deeper holes. It's on my short list for this spring. Thank s again for the report. Buzz

I can easily get myself and 4 others in my pickup and I'm sure I could strap one more canoe in the bed. I'm really looking forward to this float. It will be good to see everyone. KCRIVERRAT, I'll find out if Emmanuel is going to make it or not. If not your welcome to take the front of my canoe. It would be my pleasure.

Thanks. I love spot fishing. It's great when you can get a big fish to turn and take your fly. Most of my bigger fish this year and last were like that. I caught a nice 18 inch rainbow out of Hickory tonight doing the same thing. She took an olive zebra midge,though nothing like what you caught. I gotta get back down there.

I'll probably bring Emmanuel if he can do it. 9:00 is good for me.

Nice fish. What were the best flies today? Thanks for the report.

Great pics Fishin'. I don't think I like the looks of that second one though. He looked mean.

Man, I would love to have seen that gig ol' goggle-eye. I thought it was you that said that,but couldn't remember. We might get into them on the float they are biting good right now. Chief and I have been catching quite a few G eyes so far this year.

Just saw your post creek wader. Nice fish. I agree this is a great time to be on the water, whether it be wading, floating, or casting from the bank. Thanks for the report. I'd love to fish that river one of these days.

Someone on here swears that the state record goggle-eye resides in Shoal Creek. I don't know if that is true, but they do get big. This picture is to help inspire everyone to join the float. Buzz

"Well, I am open. I really don't care where or when we fish." Just Kiddin'. I would like to throw the Lime Kiln to Pieline float out as a possibility. Last time we fished it the water was running at a pretty good clip, but still caught some nice fish. As far as dates go, I am open to either the 28th or the 4th.. I will have to check with the warden to see if anything is scheduled for whatever date we choose. I'm sure I can get a day pass.LOL Speaking of the creek; I stopped by Tipton Ford bridge yesterday and caught a couple of keeper sized smallmouth and one really nice goggle-eye. I might post the picture tonight.

Yeah, a spring float sounds good doesn't it.

Hey CDC, Great report, glad you guys caught a bunch of fish. I know that float very well. I couldn't tell you how many times I've been on that stretch. The place you spoke of by the rail road is a great place for smallmouth and just past the chunk rocks usually holds a couple of nice largemouth. If you were parked by the house with the chain link fence and the dog, that is where I always park too. I have never had any run ins with the guy that was ranting about the 100 acres. Sounds like he needs to check out the laws. You were not at fault by any means, but I think you already know that. I do know that someone bought up a lot of the land below that put in area and has painted purple on a bunch of trees along the creek. That is fine and he is within his rights as far as the land goes, but that is it. I hope he doesn't mess with Chief and I this year. I don't think he'll like what he hears. Thanks for the report and I hope to fish with you guys again this year. Buzz

This is my second post on this subject........ I had looked and looked for years for a forum that I actually felt comfortable about posting topics or comments on. Finally, I found OZARK ANGLERS.COM. I don't even check the other forums anymore. They are far too cliquish and you are not made to feel welcome. This site is quite the opposite. People post attaboys on topics of waters they may never fish or have never fished. There is an equality of abilities that is not found on any other site that I have encountered. A friendship, even as siblings that don't ever seem to agree on anything else , they seem to agree on one thing, OAF is something special. I know I enjoy cruising the site and checking out all of the reports from some areas that I have never fished before, but hope to soon. In Phil's defense, sort of, he needs to give us a little more info, one way or the other. Trav, I can put up $50.00 right now. What'll that get me? Expand the site, start a new site, but leave OAF as it is.!.!.!.! BUZZ

I never did throw any grubs on this float. I thought about it a couple of times, but I just kept chunking the YUM 2 1/2" Crawdad and the 3" YUM Woolly Hawgtail. I wish I had brought my ultralight spinning rod so I could have fished with grubs and Rebel Crawdads also. I won't make that mistake again.

I know one thing for certain I will bring my fly rod next time we fish Indian and a couple of the other streams that we fished last year. Indian has some great runs with deep water beside shallower water. Fish in both. I couldn't believe some of the deep holes we floated over. Some had to be well over ten feet deep. Beautiful creek and I'm looking forward to the next float.

Glad you caught some fish CDC. Plastics have been the best so far for me. Crawdad and small creature baits in a green color has by far out produced any other bait. The same was for Chief and I on Sunday, catching a bunch of smallmouth and goggle-eye on 1/8 oz. jigs. The fish I have caught are definitely keying on smaller baits, 2 1/2 to 3 inch has worked the best. Chief caught most of his fish on a stand-up jig and I was rigging my jigs to put the craws in an upright defensive position. Some of the hits would be light and others would hammer the bait, either way when they grabbed it they would usually hold on. It's been fun catching 2 lb. fish on light tackle. I sort of got away from it ,but I'm back. It's always a blast catching a big smallmouth or largemouth on a spin rig.

Dang!!!! That is a great catch. Congratulations.

Yeah, thanks Phil. It should help a bunch.

I'll second that Mark. Good idea.

Well done Ollie. I believe markinkc did the flyer work up. I'm sure he will get with you soon. Buzz

I wondered that myself. Maybe Dylan will start a trend.