Kicknbass

I don't believe that there are any restrictions, but it is big water and there is a lot of barge traffic that create waves that really rock small watercraft. There are no locks below the chain of rocks canal up from st. louis. Good luck and be safe. EB.

Email it to Phil. I bet he can get it to post.

Not at all......

This should be against the law.....unless your "smoke'n hot. Then it would be encouraged........... unless I'm floating the river with my kids. fishingwrench wrote: <what's the big deal with a 19y/o sneakin' a few beers ? Or even---smokin' a joint---don't go out hunting them down, and then slapping felonys on his record that will screw up his future for many-many years.>

I always enjoy your reports John, keep posting them. Thanks. EB

Smart man. I always try to work in a fishing trip when traveling on business. Even if it is just for a few hours. There are lots of unique places in the world that you'll never notice if you don't stop and take them in. EB

JS, Thanks for the report. Nice read.

TU or some other org will surely be doing a benefit dinner soon. Donation sounds good.

It seems like there is always at least one person that bails out in the swaps. Too bad.

I fish the middle current fairly regularly, and have been doing so for 40 years and I agree w/ Al. Catching pickerel is fairly easy if you target them and fish water that hold them. You will rarely catch the in the main river, though last year, I found a few of them holding on in the lower end of a long deep hole in a beaver or rat nest. Typically, if you want to catch pickerel, you need to fish the sloughs or back water out of the moving water. I will typically use a suspending or floating stick bait and work it in a jerk and stop fashion. You need to watch your bait, because you'll get more follows than hits. The remind me of fishing in canada for the northern pike. Fun fish to catch. But, please if you find these in the river, please catch and release. due to there fondness of a very selective water type, It is very easy to wipe out the population in an area. As far as Smallies go, in a river system like the ozark streams. The cold water tends to hinder their numbers in areas that stay cold much of the year. I'm not an expert on why, but Al's logic seems to make sense. I wouldn't say that the trout are the differance, because this is the case on streams w/o trout. And, OH, Horny, settle down, you seem to be easily riled up. I appoligize if I am reading you incorrectly. Good fishing.

I've alway just slipped into the woods w/ a hatchet and found a couple of straight sapplings. You could buy 1" or 1 1/4" closet rod from most lumber yards. 1 16' length would give you 2 nice seine poles.

How about 18', 20' or 24'. I spent many days in my childhood in a 24' wooden river jon. The boat was swan, awkward on land, but graceful in the water.

I can't believe the absolute best bait has not been mentioned....... A live Helgramite is automatic any time of year. I haven't fished with them for years, due to the trouble it takes to obtain, but with out a doubt, these out produce any other bait 2-1. For live bait, after the helgramite, I would choose a Blue tail minnow, then crawfish, then worms for in that order for live bait. For artificial bait, it depends on the conditions. If moderate current is present, a fluke or worm fished on a split shot rig is hard to beat Still water a jig around structure Active fish w/ stained water - spinnerbait Active fish clear water - crank bait Heat of the day in the summer go swimming Cold water - go trout fishing.

Go to add post - file attachement - browse to file - attach - click add this attachment - add into post - submit post. If this doesn't work, and you get an error message, go to your personal info and see how much memory that you have on the forum server. You may need to delete other photos if you have posted in the past. I hope this helps.

We are heading north for the summer. Minnesota and Wisconsin. I know the place is loaded w/ lakes, and finding a place to fish will not be hard, but if anyone knows of a must fish location, please chime I w/ a suggestion. I will be packing a spinning rod, a bait caster, and a fly rod. I have 3 small children, so nothing hard core. I don't think that this is a boundry waters excursion, but could use some solid advice. Thanks.

We are heading north for the summer. Minnesota and Wisconsin. I know the place is loaded w/ lakes, and finding a place to fish will not be hard, but if anyone knows of a must fish location, please chime I w/ a suggestion. I will be packing a spinning rod, a bait caster, and a fly rod. I have 3 small children, so nothing hard core. I don't think that this is a boundry waters excursion, but could use some solid advice. Thanks.

I always travel w/ rod and some equipment. My advise would be to go west young man. Colorado has some great fishing, and there is lots of things to do w/ the family. We stayed in Basalt one night on a trip a few years back, and I got up early and fished the Frying pan river below the dam, and did quite well. I was able to get back to the room, shower and get out by check out time giving the family a chance to sleep late. That trip, we traveled and camped all over the state and I caught fish in the Rio Grande, Colorado river, Frying pan river, and in a small stream in Rocky Mountain national park. Summer time in the mountains is awsome. Buy a good pack rod and case. Good luck.

Just send me the walleye fillets and forget the flies.

Mine will go in the mail tomorrow. Thanks for hosting the swap Jeff.

Thanks for the report. I spent the weekend at graduation parties just a wishn I was fishn.

If you want to roast in warm weather, buy the Neoprene waders. If you want comfort, buy a pair of breathables. I wear my breathables all year, from fishing to duck hunting, the breathable waders are all I wear.

Boy I don't understand this. As much fishing as you do, you purchase the farm raise channel catfish. Surely you have put a crappie or two in the freezer this spring.

Any time.

This is my favorite time of year to get out and enjoy the outdoors. This was a great weekend w/ the weather cooperating. Mild nights and warm days, the conditions were perfect. Unfortunately, the Turkeys in the area that I was hunting were silent and the river was up and cloudy. Saturday, after spending the morning in pursuit of the ghost of the forest, I spent the afternoon boating and floating on the current catching SMB. The river was cloudy and up slightly from normal which made drifting soft plastics a bit difficult. But since I have the most confidence in soft plastics, I fish them more often than not. I switched colors a bit, but caught most of the fish on a natural green color. I tried pearl as well, but caught most of the fish on green. I caught about 15 fish in about 5 hours all better than 11" with the best fish being a nice fat 16" fish. I caught this larger fish on a chartreuse and white spinner-bait on the 3rd cast. I through this spinner-bait quite a bit the rest of the day, but this 16" fish was the only fish that I caught on the spinner-bait. I cast my fly rod some, but drifting in fast current, working a trolling motor and casting a heavy fly from a boat is more trouble that it is worth. I did manage to catch 2-3 fish, which satisfied my urge. All in all a great day, with the mild weather (I did manage to get a farmers burn) the fishing was good, but not great. The water temperature was 61 degrees. I believe the next week or so as the river gets back down to normal, the fishing will improve.

Great post Al. I have spent many days fishing the current river with my dad, those memories will never leave me. I wish my father was still able to get out and go. He will turn 80 this June. This has been a tough year watching his mental health go south. He is suffering from dementia and is never comfortable away from home, yet he has begun to wander and we can seem to keep him home, weird condition. Cherish the moments that you still have w/ your father, while you can.