Brian Sloss

Very nice

I am somewhat surprised no one has made a real push (that I know of) for that property. I think cabins added to that property would do quite well if someone stepped up and gave it a try. Of course I am not going to be the one, so easy for me to say. The potential is there though.

I have often thought Rolla would be a good place for a fly shop, given its location close to the Meremac, Current, Little Piney, Spring creek, Mill creek and a number of smallmouth streams.

Fly fishing accross the country may or may not be on the decline, but I agree with Justin on two fronts. First, it seems to be growing in the ozarks a bit and secondly, you need to support your local fly shops if you want them around because the big box stores and online shopping is taking a bigger and bigger share of the market. I know where I am, if all I sold was fly gear, I would soon be out of business. On the other hand as a compliment to the rest of the business we do, it is a big asset.

I do indeed. I'll be around whenever you want to go.

I got out with Marvin and Phil, a couple of nice clients I haved fished in the past a couple of times. We fished a couple of days after a conservation Dept fish survey and stayed a couple of shoals ahead of them while they were doing round two on Wed. Fishing the blue ribbon area can be hit or miss in the spring, but we have been catching fish pretty regularly this spring, particularly on golden stones and of course, fishing them deep. The morning was, to say the least, tough fishing, which I think had a lot to do with being in the fish sampling region from a couple of days before. After we got out of that stretch, the rest of the blue ribbon area fished pretty well and golden stones were the key. We also did pretty well in a couple of shoals fishing an olive rubber legged wooly on a sink tip. They caught a number of 6 inch wild fish and a couple of 16 inch fatties, but the highlight was a very fat 22 inch bow. Of course there were some 11-13 inchers in there too. You can't go out expecting ridiculous numbers right now, but there are some very nice fish out there to be caught. We have been getting a steady rain most of the day today (Fri) which should help our levels on the upper river. I would like to see a strong rise in levels, just not too much.

Caught part of this show and enjoyed it. I thought I might given he did a documentary called the Comlete Angler a few years back. Check it out.

nice blog

Glad everyone had fun. I stopped by Fri and fished before everyone arrived and toured the new cabin. Awesome cabin and located on a great shoal going around the island out front. Wish i could have hung around for the festivities.

Glad you had a good trip. Got checked doing a guide trip from Greer to Turner on Sat. My guys did pretty well with the golden Pat's rubber leg stone out producing everything we tried. Caught a few 6 inch par marked trout and a few 16-17n inchers with plenty 10-12 inchers. The fishing was a little hit and miss, but when we would find a fish, we normally got into a few more as well. I was glad to see MDC out there as last fall I saw too many people stringing up what they claimed to be 18 inchers, but were only fat 15-17 inchers. Amazing how many people don't have a tape measure, but will assume a fish is 18 inches just because it is a good fish.

I dare you to try taking one up and down Hall Bay. Every now and then someone will try and about 1 in 5 make it.

The chute on the right is best now at MD, some stuff shifted and made it a little tighter on the left. Just don't run tight to the left bank @ Hall BaY, too steep a drop. You probably read about going left at the fork and bypassing the shoal. That went away a few years ago due to flooding. Just go down the middle and don't get sideways and you will fly through. Neither are hard to do. Both of those spots get all the attention, but it is normally the lesser known spots that turn a canoe over. If you are paying attention to what you are doing and make smart decisions you should not have any problems.

Going commando must of cause some serious chaffing

First it was just a joke, because he posted a pic of a New Zealand brown trout on the 11 Point page. Second, it is not going to happen. The state biologists seem to have had interest as they have proposed it a few times. I would love to see it and we did a petition a few years ago that went no where. With the hellbender endangered, there is no way. They would not stock any more trout, just replace some rainbows with browns. I think this river would grow the biggest browns outside of the tailwaters, due to the habitat. I doubt there would be a huge influx of new people here. Without riverside lodges, this area will only grow so large. that is not an argument to put riverside lodges and cabins on the river, just a statement of fact.

Monster brown that managed to find its way into the Eleven Point! See how big they could all get if we were just allowed to have them.

....so is anyone going to float Fri?

Hell of a day guys

I am planning to be there for at least part of it. May only be able to come Fri, will have to see about Sat. I'll come Fri as long as there is someone to fish with on Fri.

I'd take one as well.

Mark- I have to disagree about the fishing up there as well. Like anywhere, it doesn't always fish easy, but that area is a great smallmouth fishery. I wish the cows were not ever in the river as well, but the reality is most of the time they are not. I have yet to float that section and see one in the river. Though it does happen and it is allowed. Portages are likely until the forest service cuts it out, but there is also more beautiful parts to that stretch than not, including the springs.

Eyeballed Thomasville yesterday and it looked lower than I thought it would. Levels will improve 1-2 miles in, but still no word portages

Been catching smallies pretty well and a few nice trout, but not huge numbers. Have not fished the lower river where you tend to fish the most. Stocking down there should start in April some time, but I am sure there some to catch. Talked to a john boater at Whitten the other day that caught a few. Marabou jigs, golden stones, and Don's crawdad have been what I have had success with lately. Fish deep.

You can certainly go Cane Bluff to Greer now. The river is in good shape there. You might be able to start at Thomasville now, but be aware that no one has been running that section in quite a while due to the drought this past year. What I am getting at is there may be portages from any trees that may have fallen across the river during the last 8 months or so. Not saying not to do it, but realize it may require work. It might be clear, but you you could have trees to deal with. I have not floated there in a while, nor have any of my customers since last spring and I have not talked to anyone who has. Forest service will go through and clear it out some time this spring. Probably late April or early May. As for the gauge,700 cfs should be ok, but the gauge about 38 miles downstream.

I know not many people here have need for this, but here goes. Our canoe rental is looking to replace our 1990 Ford shuttle bus so we need to sell it. It has a 460 big block and it runs well. The rest of the bus looks rough. Hoping for $1750 but that is up for negotiation. Pics can be found on our facebook page @ http://www.facebook.com/groups/102606856450001/

As the Brian on the 11 Point I can say for sure there is no brown trout spawning because they are not there. I have caught a baby brown on the NFOW, but it was 1 out of 20 baby trout and the rest were bows. I don't think there is much successful brown spawning there, but they certainly spawn. Wise or Spencer can tell you more.