FishinCricket

Glad you got there at some point, it's always nice to be with the fish... I usually go down there in sundays, so maybe some other time.. Sounds like your truck will be easy to recognize... Take a camera next time and get some shots of them big 'bows!!

Well so far I have been in contact with KC's on the Current (sent a request for a reservation) and Rocky River Resort (spoke with via phone).... I suppose I will jsut have to take the 2 1/2 hour float? It's just hard to believe that the only put in choices are a 7 mile float or a 22 mile float. Either way it puts me on the river WAY after the fish are biting, but that's OK for my wife sooooo.... Tough luck for me. Still no suggestions? I am wollowing here.... It's not asking alot for someone to put me on the river at 6 am and drop me off at about the 12 mile mark up river (even if I have to carry the canoe through a field?)? I know I am nuts...

This is what it's all about folks.. I bet you were so far in the zone you could feel the lure's action at the end of your carefully adjusted line.. Definitely exhileratin' man!!! Congrats on your win, any time you can fish and get money for it it's a good thing.... Next time you get to Lebanon bring me along and show me how it's done!

I am staying with my grandparents in Doniphan on memorial day weekend.. I called a local outfitter down there to see about renting a canoe to do a float from Bay of Nothing down to Doniphan's take out.. I was told that for that long of a float I would have to rent at least 2 canoes and explained that it was because this was extreme backwoods territory, and safety is paramount. While I understand, this still leaves me either A. floating with someone the outfitter puts me with and having to keep pace with them, or B. floating a much shorter float (scheduled for 2 1/2 hours) for around the same rental price. Anybody from down there have any suggestions?

My report definitely concurs with yours.. It took me hours to limit out, and very little luck on my high swimming spoon lures... Very dingy and fast and alot of weight required to get the hook close to the bottom. I ended up using rainbow colored powerbait (pink and green were working the best) and didn't see anything over 1 lb. Which part of the park do you fish? Sounds like you use a fly rod?

Yeah I fished at the mouth of the spring yesterday and the bite was pretty slow past about 8 o'clock... I had to leave a really long lead on a really heavy weight to get it to stick, but once you figured out the length and the color it was on from there.... Should be cleared up soon though.. If you drive by there daily, Keep an eye on it for us, would ya?

I was out yesterday at bennett and it was still pretty dingy.. The spring water was clearer than the river of course, but still really muddy for sight fishing... If the weather holds out and the rain quits for the next week it should be great by memorial day.. But right now everything near bennett is swollen (ponds, creeks, and backwashes) and any more rain will keep it muddy...

Hey, me too! Cool.... Did you make it out yesterday afternoon? I wasn't able to make it to the noon meeting, but I didn't see anyone that morning (did see a beautiful eagle and got a picture of it catching a fish).... Fishinwrench, if I did miss you I am sorry.. I caught a few fish tough.. Had to switch over from lures to powerbait around 8 to limit out (and for the kids sake) I ended up taking a few nephews who got a little rowdy and got tired of fishin' after only a few minutes and just wanted to get back to their video games.... Anyway, I didn't take pics of the fish, but here's this...

Beautiful trout! Glad you had a good time, I will have to chekc that river out too.. I can't even begin to tellyou how many new spots I have on my google maps after reading thorugh this forum...

Yeah I have a theory on that... My grandfather is a pastor and I spent quite a bit of time in church. I have read the bible 3 times, and have done numerous studies on biblical subjects throughout my many 27 years... I recall that where two or more are gathered together in his name, there he is. I remember that we should make a joyful noise unto the lord. Well I consider going to the river to be the ultimate communion with god. I talk to him and sort out problems, I consult him for advice, and I beg him for another bite on my little lure! Would God prefer that I sit in a pew and listen to the same thing that I've heard every two years for the past 20 years (that I usually only partially agree with) or would he prefer that I was out communing with him in a way that makes sense to me? It also frees me up to invest 10% of my income into charities rather than the reverand's New Lincoln... All in all I lost alot of respect for highly religious people when I started selling cars. I know it sounds like I am prejudging, but after five years I have learned that I am not. If you ever want to see a liar try and buy a car, come sit at my desk when I am working a deal on a New Escalade for a Pastor... I have never had a customer tell so many lies in one sentence. and when I caught him in a lie, he admitted it and said "It was just a little white lie.." And this is the guy that is advising you on your religious beliefs? I don't buy it... But I will buy that new Kastmaster Lure please.... A local reverand recently asked a family in the congregation to leave, citing that they "weren't the sanctified congregation members that we need here", and that he would "rather preach to 100 sanctified people than 1000 criminals and vagabonds"... Is this the type of person you really want helping you to interpret the good word? Didn't the apostles come to Jesus with the same argument? What was Jesus' response? Just how well do you know your preacher? RANT OFF

Wow, I have been looking at the daily streamflow conditions for three years now and still managed to learn something new from this thread. Thanks again for the useful info!

I am suprised no one has replied to this, it is apparently an excellent method for trolling in deeper waters. I would assume you could set it up with some dowel rods and some swivels.. I will see if I can find a schematic floating around on google for that and get back to this thread with an answer for you.. I warn you though it would be best to get the advice of someone who has actually done it...

that's hilarious! I know just what you mean... only with my own wife, of course...

Al is right.. Remember one key thing, the fish never really stop eating, they just slow down or change their eating habits based upon the current conditions. After flooding the river is inundated with strange foods for the smallies, so now might also be a good time to get out that really weird freaky lure than never really produces fish.. Seems to work for me anyways...

Awesome, my nephew and I will be there at 7:30 until 8 or so (we might be on the bank tossin' a line, but you'll see us) and then back at noon to show off our catch (hopefully) I look forward to meeting you...

That's one of the spots we drag for trash every year... Last year we must've filled up the john boat 4 times over the year....

that is a beautiful fish! You are right it's times like these that the lake completely changes on where to find the fish, but if you can keep an open mind and be a bit daring (like checking out the flooded yards) the payoff can be great!

It's the least I can do, after all I want to see my kids kids fishing for brownies on the river too.... I will be posting some threads about the fall clean up if the local outfitters decide to do it.. Because of work conflicts I can't always attend (I run an entire department) but I always do my best to increase awareness...

That's a beautiful trout, and obviously one excited kid! Glad to see that kids day is working out well so far, has it been a good turnout?

Just thought I would post a thread on here inviting all anglers to meet Sunday morning at the Public Access just below Bennett Springs for some trout fishing fun! Eventually I would like to turn it into an every sunday thing, and would even be willing to put in my john boat and shuttle anglers to their favorite spots.. For now I will just invite anyone who wants to come and meet for fellowship to come on down to the Bennett Springs public access (about one mile past the turn off to bennett and over the bridge on the righthand side) to meet me down there either at 7:30 to 8 am to discuss a game plan or at 12 noon to show off your catch and tell the stories about the one that got away... I will be in the funny looking little Geo Tracker posted below... I look forward to meeting you there.... Please comment to this thread if you plan to attend so that I can have a good group game plan made by then...

Glad you mentioned the catch and release, if he's from Illinios he will want to make sure he is tagged up as well (seperate trout tag in missouri to keep 'em) Also "MIssouri Ozark Riverways" is an old worn out copy by now but it's always close at hand.. It's a great guide, and I have lived in the middle of the Ozarks all my life.. Great advice!

If you don't mind I will give a small report of my fishing day on 5/15... I will keep it short though... I fish just below the opening of the sping into the open river ( which I still consider park fishing since all the trout I catch are from out of the park).. There is a path that leads down the river and I ahd to use it because I don't have any waders yet and the water was a little high and fast and cold to be slip wading.. I use my open bail ultra light with 4 lb test and a small Kastmaster Lure (rainbow colored).. I have found it's always the same color and same lure, it's just a different presentation.. With the water still up you need to cast the lure directly out from you and let it get ever so close to the bottom.. This requires practically no reeling as the current moves pretty quick.. Every spot where ther is a riffle produces endles 8-12 inch trout and a few that get up into the lunker size... This method seems to work no matter what day it is, but they turn on and off during the day.... That's my report, thanks for listenin'...

I will definitely concur with the guys above, there are frankly about 10 places out by bennett with a wealth of knowledge, Readings' being my favorite. I think it's the fish talk and the atmosphere... I sent you a PM, welcome to the forum (I am new here too, and practically your neighbor!)

We will all hope for you and us as well.. I am thinking of doing an overnight to leadmine from prosperine that weekend... If the weather does what it's supposed to do we should be good and you should be haulin' out some sows down by the dam.. Good luck!

I ain't much for eatin' bass, but I'd sure be happy to come out and help you catch 'em... don't suppose that would be possible? I'd be happy to provide the sides for a fish fry...