cnr

Thanks Al. Good advice. Do you have a rule of thumb for high CFS, when it may be a little too fast for an average canoeist? I'm guessing 250-300. I know I don't like to wade the upper Current outside of Montauk when it's over 200 CFS, too dangerous. But man do I like fishing it between 150 and 200 with jerkbaits!

Showing 10.75 on the gauge right now, It's doable at that level. Gonna be bumpy right at the Snow access. It's better when it's above 11' but we have floated many times below that level and done just fine, and me and my fishing partner are big guys. Make sure you post a report and pictures. Oh, and make sure you take some 2.5"-3" mustard colored tubes. Lots of crawfish in that stream and the SMBs will hit them hard. Drift them through the really fast water with an adjacent slow eddy and the smallies will absolutely crush it. Kind of like nymphing for trout but with a tube jig, just let it drift down through the fast water. And I would recommend taking your felt-soled wading boots. There are some very slick flat rock bottomed areas that are hard to walk in without felt.

It drives me crazy hearing someone say "It is what it is" to declare that something is final or cannot be changed.

Forget the bait and tie on a Zig Jig. White, Olive, Black, etc…They all work. Search this forum and you will find a lot of references on this and video "how to" from Phil

Looks like fun. Nicely played.

Awesome!!

Nice fish, congrats. 5 miles upstream? You earned that fish!!!!

That's tough, I am guessing you share an iTunes account with your wife. The correct way is to have an individual iTunes account for each user so you don't get cross-over issues like you just had. I'm still sorting through the problem of a shared iTunes account between my wife, daughter, and myself. I feel your pain!!!

Looks like a Coleman Crawdad boat to me.

Get a second-hand canoe and enjoy all the great Ozark streams. Better fishing and much cheaper. The gravel bar camping can't be beat either…just be respectful of the adjacent land owners!!!

I second the White suggestion. You really can't beat the area for diversity and access to many rivers and lakes. White river, Crooked creek, Buffalo River..the list is long.

Me too. How much?

That's a rare cutsmalliebow.

I'm a big fan of the McSticks, great action and 1/2 the cost of megabass. I haven't fished the megabass lures though, too much $$ for me. The McStick is listed as 3'-5' depth range but I think they go a little deeper. There is a deeper diver option available but I have not used them.

Awesomeness!!!

Great instruction. The majority of folks fish a jig way to fast. I think it's similar to nymphing for trout. Keep it in contact with the bottom and keep a close watch for any movement.

Ha. LMFAO. Smallie, you just made my day!!!

I'm partial to the 14' length in a solo, but I'm a bigger guy at 6'4" and 215lbs. I fish out of my buddies 14' solo (I think it's a Mohawk Odyssey 14) and really like it.

Merry Christmas. I hope everyone's stocking is full of new tackle! My favorite gift is still those gift cards from Cabelas or BP from my team. Makes it less painful to stock up on those high dollar jerk baits :-)

I'm a big advocate of fishing bigger baits. If you want to catch big trout on the white I would use large articulated streamers if you are fly fishing or go to jerkbaits if you're spin fishing. If you can float the river when they are generating you will have a good chance of putting a big fish in the net.

Like Al said I don't see the point of drift boats in the ozarks. Great boat for out west but limited use here. I've used them a few times in MI tribs like the PM and big Manistee but that was with a guide and he did all the rowing. I'd rather fish than row. :-)

+1 on the Action Optics from Smith. They're just like Maui Jims only cheaper and better! All kidding aside I don't think there is anything better for the price point. Just check out what most fly fishing guides are wearing. A good majority of the time it is Action Optics. Oh yeah, they do prescriptions too.

I took a look at the Allen Kraken model reel. The sealed drag is nice and it has a good price point. Anyone know what their warranty is? I didn't see it on their website.

I have a couple of the locally made (Baldwin, Michigan) Harris reels that work pretty well and have held up to a lot of abuse. Unfortunately they don't make them up there anymore. I believe the company sold out to a manufacturer on the west coast. If you have any recommendations for a stout disc drag reel that can withstand the cold and wet of Michigan Steelheading let me know. There should be some good choices without going over $250 and breaking the bank. We typically fish light tippets (at least for Steelhead) of 6lb and the key is having a good drag that has a smooth low-inertia start-up and stays consistent in extreme cold and wet. A lot of products out there just don't hold up if it's cold.

Next thing will be a new reel that has a drag that can hold up to harsh cold weather. I haven't told him that yet! :-)