rps

3/19 update: Four hours mid-day. 7 fish in the boat, 2 legal. 3 fish shook off, 1 legal. Water temps 50 - 54. All fish on warts although I did fish grubs and sticks.

I used to fish out of a 20" Supreme river boat. Loved it. Easy to haul and any ramp or steep shore was good to go for launching. Had a good front deck to stand on. It was also great for fishing tailwaters and best of all, it was inexpensive. What they don't have are tall sides or bilge pumps. Two summers ago I was swamped, twice. Once I was just outside Campbell Point marina. That long point there is great for spots and walleye. The second time was near Big M. Both times boats resembling Queen Mary were making wakes by making circles. One time what looked to be a grandson was wake boarding. The other time multiple jet skis were wake jumping. I finally decided I can't change people - the majority are always going to be idiots - but I could change boats. There times when I miss that river boat. Speaking of jet skis, I have come to the conclusion that our only hope is to spary where they breed.

I fished out of Holiday Island for three hours on 3/17 afternoon. Zero'd for two hours on the stick bait, but I must admit I am still only learning how to fish it. Took three fish, one legal, when I switched to a brown craw wigglewart. Each was shallow and just inside a point of the little pocket cuts just upstream from Jolms Branch. The points were covered in tournament fishermen. I assume they were tournament fishermen - they were wearing two and three color shirts that matched their high dollar boats. On the better points it looked like the Bass Pro Shop check out line during the Spring sales, one after another after another. Talked with two. Each had four legals in the well. I assume it took a good weight to win. BTW, how far did they have to run to reach that far up river? And why? Went out again this morning. The weather man was dead wrong about the overnight temp. The predicted 51 felt like 36 because it was 38 when I started. And windy. Two hours of that kind of fun was all I could stand. Water temp ranged from 49 to 54. One fish, short, on a stick bait. Talked with one gentleman who had fished the last three days. He reported good success on white bass near the "island" opposite Cedar Creek upstream from the marina. Not the best start to my spring vacation , but then, I was fishing and not getting ready to deal with 100 13 and 14 year olds on Monday.

Welcome Heather. Enthusiastic people are always welcome, regardless of experience. Recent signees for this forum seem to be running 50% teachers. (I am one of those new people.) This is a good thing. Riverrunner: Social studies is the toughest area to find employment here in NW Arkansas. I haven't heard of any openings nearby, but if I do I will email you. rps

This minimalist post will give away the fact that I have never joined a board before. No avatars, no emoticons, no interesting names. Boring, I know, but then again, I don't pretend to be entertaining. I fish out of Holiday Island on Table Rock. I've lived on the bluff by the entrance since 2002. The first year was very tough fishing. I wish I had found a forum like this then. I teach school at Eureka Springs and fish maybe 100 days a year, mostly during school holidays. My favorite method is Spooking, but all bass go back. I do keep all legal walleyes and crappie. What the kids would call my "ride" is an tan 18 foot Xpress center console. If you see me, say hello. I'll always be able to tell you what is not working well. rps