Brian Sloss

Those look like they could be post spawn females or likely they are stockers from downstream. I say that because we see some fish like that on the Eleven Point and they are always stockers. Especially the one on the left. It is too skinny. Our hatchery rainbows in Mo don't have the best genetics and the MDC is working to improve this. Speaking about the Eleven Point, because this is what I know, after spawning a number of our stockers continue to get even skinnier and almost snake like until they die and the one on the left looks like that is the case for sure. My guess is that that fish came up from the stocked area.

Very nice guys. Can I read it online?

I am not willing to take the chance going forward. We have been lucky so far on the NFOW and 11pt and I am all for preventing it from here forward.

Didymo is an hour and an half from my home water and it has not gotten here yet and I don't want it to get here. I am fine with the new reg, it is worth the inconvenience. Frankly, this ban will take hold in a lot of other states as well is my bet.

I have fished with Brian and consider him a friend and someone I respect...you are barking up the wrong tree.

Took Brett and chad from Arkansas out to chase some smallmouth today. Fishing was good again today. They drifted 1/16th oz marabou jigs under indicators on 6 wt fly rods in ginger, white, white and grey, and olive and burnt orange about 5 to six ft deep. Great guys and the fishing was good.

I think all the fly fishing mags are good and will read all of them. I have a subscrption to Eastern Fly fisherman, simply becasue it is more regional. My big problem with all the mags is it seems like they all routinely write about the same 20 rivers or so. It is like they have a set rotation. How many times can you read about the Snake river, the Yellowstone, the Battinkill, the Ausable, etc. I just wish they would try a little harder to expand their horizons.

1/8th marabou jigs in a variety of colors, which I will have. Have him bring some crank baits as well.

Got about 4 inches and so far the river has come up and has a green stain, but it looks fine unless we get a bunch of water from way upstream. I will call if it turns bad, but it should be fine.

We are going on Thur and will keep our eyes open, but I doubt the water will be very clear, so seeing the bottom may be an issue.

There has been a gauge on the Greer Spring branch for years, glad they are finally posting it. I would love one at hwy 19 bridge and one at Thomasville's hwy 99 bridge as well. Then we could really see all that is happening with very few questions. Glad to see they put the spring gauge up, it is maybe a 1/4 mile down from the source.

I am thinking the rain will only make things better. Of course we can get too much, but looking at the forecast, I am feeling good about it.

Found the video, thanks.

We were fishing in Missouri and i am not as familiar with the fishing on the Arkansas side. That said, in Missouri, if you find the right holes you can catch them in the winter. Look for springs that can warm the river.

The link provided above is a crappie video, not Hellbender. Really would like to see the hellbender video though.

Very Nice!

My friend Justin of Sunburst Ranch fame on the NFOW came over to do some smallmouth fishing on the Eleven Point. We caught 3 trout, 4 Goggle eye and untold numbers of Smallmouth. All fish were caught on 1/16th oz marabou jigs under an indicator on fly rods. Lots of fun! We lack pictures because my battery was dead and Justin had a full memory card. Oh well.

The jet up Greer spring is illegal as can be, for that matter so are canoes and kayaks and fishing in the spring. I see you found some nice smallies. Did well on the smallies myself on Sat afternoon.

Took a couple of wonderful ladies from Memphis, Lesley and Kathy, out for a a guide trip in the drift boat on Thurs. The water had started to cloud up from a rain a few days earlier. It was even cloudier Fri as it appears Greer spring is putting out cloudy water that is just now reaching its outlet. Anyway, it hasn't done much to the levels. The ladies caught fish regularly. We started the day with 3 smallmouths, a Goggle Eye and a pickerel. After that it was mostly trout, including a few wild ones. Oh and 1 hog sucker to boot. The best fish were Kathy's 18-119 inch male 'bow and Lesley's 15.5 inch smallmouth. Great day with some nice women.

I had Mark from Spring River Flies and Guides over to fish a couple of days before deer season opened to do a little fishing out of my drift boat. In exchange I am going to go fishing with him on the Spring out of his boat soon. The fishing was fun, though it has been better. Saw my first redd of the year with fish on it. We caught fish pretty regularly, but no just red hot spots. The Bloody Mary seemed to work the best. Lots of fun to compare notes and exchange ideas with someone in the industry and we caught enough fish to keep our interest all day. We are expecting a little more rain the next couple of days and I hope we get dumped on because a rise in river levels is just what we need to have really good fishing and a good spawn

Sams web address is www.tightline.biz

I would love to here some the pickers from this board jam sometime...and i was just giving you a little crap in fun with the 3 hr remark. Hope to have a good fishing report tomorrow as I am taking the boat out with a friend in the morning.

Sounds like fun and only 3 hours from the Eleven Point!

I imagine there will be others camping at Turner, Greer and Whitten and like Gavin said, there will be campers along the road here and there just off the roadside on the way down to Turner.

They will bite on the usual stuff, plus I'd bring some egg patterns as they may be spawning by then. We need rain bad, the river is real low. Bring hunter orange, you are coming down opening weekend of deer season. Be prepared to share the woods. Have a great time like you always do.