brownieman

I think we all need to get the hip boots on...not for wadin water neither, lol. bm

If you have drove 3 hrs...fishing a spot where the hybrids been blowing shad every eve for a short period, one boat is anchored on top of a 12 ft. deep hunp using live shad catching a big hybrid every cast and there are 25 boats darn near fishing out of his back pocket throwing every piece of hardware they have and no-one, I mean no-one catches a single fish, well, it will make you wish you had some live bait. I've seen the power of live bait and if you don't get to fish that often or drive that far to hit it myself...I enjoy a bend in my rod. Live, artificial...don't matter. There's also somewhat of an art drift fishing for smallies in a swift riffle with bait and a novice is nothing but hung up 3/4 of the time. IMO it's not totally skilless...maybe if you're catfishing from the bank at some pond ar lake...but that's not my thing anyway. later on bm

Crazy Crawler you say...this one ring a bell. later on bm

I believe live bait produces more fish, especially if you get bait from wherever you're fishing. I've seen the power of shad on Truman, minnows on the Piney too many times. The only thing I don't like about bait is concerning smallies on the river...they do tend to swallow it but if you don't let them run with it too long you can avoid alot of that, miss alot of fish but that's better than them swallowing it. It's just hard to beat their natural food source which is what all artificials do so you do the math. later on bm

Hey wrench, Rakes don't fit my hands very well...can I bring a blower ?? bm

Cricket, You better watch it buddy...Buckshot will demote you to his 'Only Enemy'..lol...and don't think he won't cause I got a hunch he will. Just the thought of that brings a tear to my eye, lol. bm

I took Claude fishing one time...only once, lol. At the end of the trip he had broke his own rod, net and lost most his tackle. At the end of the day, hesitantly I let him throw my rod at a spot where I knew a big one layed. There had been a gillion canoes beat through there all day long, people swimming everywhere, you name it. On the second cast I heard his/my drag sqwalling and Claude yelling. I ran back up and helped him land what was the fish of a lifetime for him, just shy of an 8 lb. brown...guess I deserved it for sharing my honey holes just thought no way this would happen. Moral of the story...even the very worst fisherman can be a sh$$hook now and then. later on bm

You might want to bring severel rods...keep an ultralight with 4 lb. test on to fish for dinks with using traditional trout stuff like these guys have said. If you want a chance at a big brown bring one pretty heavy set up. Cheap rods will produce about as many fish as the most expensive rods...been proven many times just don't look as pretty. For fishing the Current I target lg. browns. I use a 6'6" medium heavy action Ugly Stik and a 4000 series Shimano spinning reel with 15 lb. test and a heavy duty barrel swivel...the swivel lets me throw every color I've got much faster and I think it adds a little weight and action to the lure. All I carry is Rapalas, F 13s...I know one wouldn't think it but they will belly up a fish often when nothing else will...don't know if they are fightin it or bitin it, don't really care but don't think for one second it does'nt produce big fish...wrench will testify to the number of fish this method produces. later on bm

Got a buddy was up there last week-end. He said they caught the tar out of big cats, mainly blues...he caught several between 20 and 50 lbs and said there were some bigger ones caught. He said the whites and birds were spuratic...bite was mostly early and late in the day as usual but there is no second guessing those dang fish. If you're a cat fisherman at all he said it's the best he's seen in several years and they were hitting all day long where as the bite is generally better at night for the cats. About all I've heard and this buddy tells it like it is from my experience. Hope this helps... later on bm

Went down to the river today, Cedar Grove. The river is running bank full and is stained considerably...best shape I've seen it for this time of year for quite awhile. Took a few pics upstream from Cedar...made a few casts from the access points so can't really call that fishin, saw nothing. Anyway, thought I would share and give a little report on what the water looks like.

There are seveal older plugs Chief showed that are collectable. I took some outta my box, Sonics, Lucky 13s, several that I found were pretty collectable. I was totally surprised when I first found they were worth what they are. Dad and I made some plugs that are copy cats of them...it's just a little harder to throw them when you know they are worth 30-40 bucks and can't be store bought now. Guess I just don't realize what an old fart I've become...never thought I would be around this long, shoulda, coulda...you know, lol. later on bm

OK Buckshot, Now I see where the humor is coming from...you been pluckin those funny weeds off your dreams dam bank again, lol. later on bm

That's good, Love a good lauph at someone elses expense besides myself, lol. Least you were gettin paid somethin for your trouble...I have felt like that before, worse when it's your own buddies. later on bm

If you're totin a few fish could be 10 hrs. out... Sounds like a heck of a hike...probably for sure helps the fishin. later on bm

Gotta comment, JMO I wouldn't put any in less than 10...seen em take too many small lakes and ponds over. later on bm

Hey Bird, Go to Joes Old Lures...a collectors site, they sell lots of stuff. Go to the message part and about 80 names down the list or so there is a guy, Brian Fowler, who has some molds for sale. Not sure what they cost new but I think he's got em priced right...be worth checking out. later on bm

If I'm lake fishing I'll take the entire arsenal of which I have a few 'go to' plugs and spoons. If I am canoe fishing I try to take only what I feel I will need and the amount of gear I take depends on the river I'm fishing. I grew up on the Big Piney and always bait fished with my dad so when I am fishing the Piney, Jacks Fork, warmer water streams I generally take some #6 hooks, sinkers and a minnow trap, bucket and seine... some crackers for me and the minnows. Having fished bait for years I can generally keep most fish from swallowing the minnow... you just can't let them run with it too long, miss alot of em but don't like em swallowing it. If they do swallow it too far I'll lose a bunch of hooks...I'm not going to hurt a smallie getting a 5 cent hook back. For years we used jig hooks, a fairly large split shot and 4 1/2 " purple creme worms...purple jigs. A few years back they quite making creme brand worms, I have a few left but for me I have never found another that works as well. Just for back up I'll take a few top waters, spinners and deep divers. Have had days when minnows are hard to come by. I have one fishing buddy that no matter where and when we go, short of wade fishing, he'll take every piece of hardware he has and end up using the same old stand by's. Guess I can understand his thinking...he is always afraid he'll need something he left at home, hence...just packs it all. It has paid off a few times but most of the time just eats up space in the boat. later on bm

Maybe you're onto something wrench, lol...if they all move west we'll have all the local water to ourselves, ya think ?? later on bm

Sure, I'll allow for suspending fish...figure if I can put it right in front of him h'es a little more apt to hit it. later on bm

OF, Depends on what and where you're fishing. Anything from trolling, casting, especially to cover alot of water and for long casts, vertical jigging, ripping em through fast/shallow water, fish em deep with lots of jigging...just kind of depends. In my earlier years I would have never thought they would treat me as well as they have...good all around use I have found. later on bm

All you guys are much wealthier than me, have had more time off, had more opportunity, somethings wrong here, lol. As far as big browns and a decent variety it would be the North Fork in Ark. (or does a tailwater not count) Scenery there aint to shabby neither. later on bm

Chart. Rapala cold water I 0z. chrome spoon warm water later on bm

The reason there can't be what they call 'undesirables' is the fish they stock especially the lmb and blg are so small they are easily eaten. One of the worst species to have in your pond or lake are Green Sunfish. They have a way of getting into water one would think isn't even possible. They don't grow very large but have one heck of an appetite and have large mouths for the size fish they are. All their pond stocking program requirements should be able to be found on their website I would think. later on bm

The MDC stocks fingerlings only so when stocked you have to wait a couple of years before anything worth catching gets enouph size to it. If you put larger fish from wherever, stream, private hatchery, etc, if they are of catchable size they will eat anything smaller than themselves in the pond. So whatever you choose just a little additional info...pro's and con's to both I reckon. later on bm

On a side note, I sent a respectful but urgent email to the MDC, hoping to get them on our side on this one. As far as I can tell, I have been politely blown off. Things change though. OTF The MDC imo should be totally supportive of all efforts to save and/or improve a nice fishery like Crane. "Politely blown off"...that's a shame but for some reason doesn't surprise me a bit...really too bad. Hopefully things will change and you will get some positive feedback but don't hold your breath. later on bm