FishinCricket

Thanks for the kudos guys, I was real happy with that fish.. And thanks Eric for a very thorough response..

The Suzy hole is at the top of Zone three. Good news is it's not just my nickname for it, there's actually a sign in front of it and a big slab of concrete for disabled access.. Usually it's deserted during the c&r.. I am still a novice fly guy as well and was looking forward to utilizing the solitude of c&r season to perfect my cast and drift and such.. Why don't you take down my number (below) and gimme a shout when your coming down, maybe we can hook up?

How would you fish it? Close to the surface or deeper? Perpendicular or parallel with the bank? The fish all seemed to be holding on the deep holes even with the upswing in temp, do you think the smallies are down there in the depths next to those bluffs too, or do that move up into the shallows or on the transition area of a riffle into a deep hole.. thanks for the answer, sorry that it brought up so many questions...

Thank you.. That look on my face is a particular type of proud. My mom refers to it as "goofy proud".. I'd more refer to it as "giddy as a school girl" in honor of my capri pants... lol

That section of the river was freakin sweet! All of it looks like killer smallmouth waters.. But no soft plastics means my trusted tactics for the monsters is OUT so I'll have to think on that one for a while.. Maybe early spring topwater? Like the Niangua? Well I tried to give them some solid advice, but I did give them one piece of information.. They thought that Cedar to Akers was less than 1/3 of the trip (rather than about half), so I am sure by the time they got to the bridge (say around 3 or so?) they realized they were getting ready to get a workout or suffer the consequences.. They didn't seem like complete goofs, so I'll keep high hopes.. Almost wanted to ask for their number or something just to check up on them.... Right.. lol (leans over and whispers to wrench) You see this guy? Hurtin' so bad he don't know whether he's coming or going! He was supposed to be at the Ford at around one or so, but I don't blame him for not meeting up with me.. He's hurtin' so bad he missed someone's birthday the day before! (you know I'm just teasin' ya, buddy)

Hmm, I think they call them cabela's breathable fishing khaki's, but I only bought them cause they match my rouge, eyeshadow and lipbalm combination.... :bats eyelashes:

kokuchibasu is Japanese for Smallmouth Bass! Say it with me.. KO KUCHI BASU

Just spinning gear this time.. Still working on my long rod technique, and frankly I am still at the point where I can beg out cause I needed my arm for paddling..

Some story, Al.. Hope to have a similar one some day (30 years from now, lol) nice fish, pops.. Woulda won a Maramec tournament!

Thanks.. Yeah, those guys didn't even have fishing poles, so I am pretty sure they were just planning on booking it downstream.. Not a whole lot of fun if you ask me.. And probably a dark, cold, wet arrival at the takeout.. lol But hey, it's their 80 bucks.. lol

Okay, so it's been a while since I typed up a report.. It's not been because I haven't been fishing, it's just because there's really been nothing to photo recently, and I always like to include a photo when I post a report. In fact I am always embarrassed that I don't take photos of all the beautiful scenery, but alas it's just a phone camera... Down to the report: On a whim the wife decided that she just had to get out of the house and do something.. We kicked around a few ideas, like heading down to the Landing and meeting Phil, hiring a guide on Table Rock or LOZ, running off to Mexico for good, you know, the usual stuff.. We ended up heading down to the Current river. The water levels have been crazy recently (flooded two weeks ago) and the levels were still up a bit, the water was a bit murky and running a little faster than it usually is (I am told), but it made for a pretty comfortable float on the trophy waters.. We didn't put in til about noon (almost didn't find a shuttle company open, but Aker's Ferry took us up and put us in) and I figured we would be pushing it to get off the river by sundown. I was right, we were pulling in to the low wter bridge just as the last fading sunlight left us. Along the way we saw some amazing stuff! The wife spotted a couple different deer, a raccoon, a Bald Eagle, a Heron.. etc, etc.. Lots of pretty scenery, and the spots where the bluffs come down to meet the river are just amazing! Seemed like fishing deep next to the bluffs was the ticket too... We'd float down through the lower water and the rapids, then I'd hop out and hold the boat in the slack water next to the bluffs. Most my fish came from the lil Maribou jig i'm so fond of, but I did have some good luck with the big swimbaits from above those rapids as well.. Seems like the fish find the deep holes and stage at the top or bottom of them behind boulders and such.. Really had to get the lure down there into the sand to do any good. Patty hooked the first fish (she used the same one inch wonder that's been tied on all freakin' summer), a 12 inch trout.. Then I missed a couple goggleye, got one small one to the boat, missed a pretty big smallie, then immidiately hooked a 2 pound rainbow in the deep blue hole we came to (that wasn't already populated by guys in waders with canoes tied to them..to be honest, the first 1000 yards or so was like paddling through Bennett or something, we were dodging fisherman left and right!).. All in all she ended up with 10 fish (Rainbow, Brown, Smallie, Perch, goggleye, chub minnow) and I ended up with 18 (Rainbow, Brown, Smallie, Goggleye) Highlight of the day was the big brown I caught. I was forwarned that this hole might contain some monsters, so I walked the canoe slowly downstream and kept my eye on the deep spot downstream. BIG BROWNS!! I actually saw three of them swimming around in the hole... I fished for them for about 30 minutes with my different big swimmers, but only managed to scare them off by hooking their lil buddy, a 12 inch smallie with a belly like a football! So I gave up on the swim baits, got in the canoe (so I could cast out that far) and got out the ultralight and the lil maribou. first cast to the hole, bounced it twice and BAM! This rod is not the rod I was planning to bring.. It is my original Ugly Stick Ultralight (bought 15 years ago) and I (when I say I, what I mean is my wife) inadvertantly grabbed it instead of the one with the fresh string on it. Didn't realize it until that fish was on and he took me all the way to my knot (which was only about 30 yards, but luckily was a far as the deep water went), he jumped two or three times and gave me one of the best fights I have had in a while. He wasn't big enough to keep (17 inches or so), but he would have went back anyways.. Took a bit to revive him. The only other note I can think to add is that Aker's dropped off two guys along with us, each of them piloting his own canoe, and their plan was to paddle down to Akers Ferry before dark! Now, I can't say I have attempted it on this river, but I am guessing they ended up paddling (and possibly wading) late into the night.. 16 miles in 6 hours or less? Including at least three portages that I am aware of... You tell me, but I think they were freakin crazy and I told em so... to their credit, the Outfitters did try and talk them out of it for a minute, but quickly gave up and took their money.. lol Hope you enjoyed the report as much as I enjoyed the river! (onlly picked up a few pieces of trash and two outfitter supplied trash bags, the river up there is pretty clean!)

She hears you talking about her dog like that and you'll get to know a side of her that even I don't wanna know.. lol (that's her baby, man.. Funniest and scariest thing that ever happened to her on the river was when that lil bastard jumped outta the john boat and his leash almost got wrapped up in the troling motor.. I think she actually had a mini heart attack!) Typing up a report right now, you'll enjoy it... (Patty says thanks for the compliment)

Agreed, thanks..

Hey, you can't be crossing up threads like that, no one's gonna know what the heck your talking about.. But I did.. So that's what it feels like to shoot Dr Pepper and Cashew chicken out of your nose! Now I know.. lol

little Hiawatha bravely shed his skins and moccasins, kissed his spirit stone necklace for good luck, and dove out of the canoe into the frigid waters in search of his prey. The spring waters bit into his body and sought purchase, but Brave little Hiawatha steeled his resolve, took a slow, deep breath and slipped into the murky depths. High up on a rocky outcropping the Elder watched by moonlight as little Hiawatha swam out into the pool. What the elder didn't see was....

.. there was no way he was going to let the elders have all the fun! So on he paddled into the night until, coming around a bend into a deep eddy, he glanced up from his feverish one-two one-two pace and saw....

As mentioned before, the wife will be of no help.. She's bald! Don't suppose I could send you some of my white pomeranians hairs instead?

So much for the years of sales training and dealing with the public.. lol

well shoot.. I just shaved and the wife would be no help.. Can I borrow some of yours? I'll mail em back when I'm done, if you like? (feeling uncomfortable yet? Would you have preferred I said back hair?) guess what I saw while out picking up lunch? A truck with a cage full of white bunnies for sale.. I stopped and bought one for you, but had to wring it's neck halfway back (it was trying to eat my fries).. What address should I mail the carcass to? I am looking forward to joining the ranks of douchebags (who don't discuss pubic hair) on team Eric...

Well at least somebody got something outta this.. lol All I know is my letter killed Mr Jones! Who'dathunkit?

Uhm, yeah.. I made the whole thing up, so hopefully your BS meter was going haywire.. But assuming that if I did write you that letter and you were Mr Jones, I feel my letter has a better shot than your impromptu visit.. But I spose you can't please everyone.. (especialy your Mr Jones, sounds like if I had walked up to his door unannounced I stood as good a chance of getting shot as I did of getting permission.. Most certainly if I had brought my disabled friend, lol)

(as a side note: this Mr Jones fella kinda sounds like a cantakerous jerk.. "he hated the disabled"? Seriously? What kinda grouch hates disabled people? I may have continued correspondence with him, but I doubt if I ever stepped foot on his property.. He sounds like a guy with a crappy attitude...) what does this say about you, Ness? lol (admit it, I woulda won you over with the letter, eh?)

Dear Mrs Jones, My sincerest condolences, I am so very sorry to hear of this horribly tragic event! If you need any help from Jim or I, please don't hesitate to call on me. Sincerely, Cricket Staggs PS) if you were interested in looking at the bright side, at least he didn't merely end up disabled (which in his mind surely would have been a fate worse than death) I am sure Mr Jones is much happier this way.. PPS) hopefully it's not too soon for this, but... did I mention that my disabled friend, Jim, is single?

Any lure of some type of fabric or feather material that is Permanantly attached to a single hook.. No soft plastics is the only other pertinant stipulation I can think of.. Kastmaster with single hook fly? Ok (simple single hook with no fabric is not ok) maribou? Ok, regardless of size (you can attempt a 5 lb maribou cast if you want, but anything over about 1/16th ounce and your more likely to knock em out than you are to entice them to strike) mepps spinner with single hook? Ok Trout magnet plastic lure on weighted jighead? NOT OK As a tip: hit the suzy hole with that lil maribou...

Dear Mr and Mrs Jones, Thank you so much for a prompt reply, even if it was to te affirmative. Jim and I most certainly understand personal boundries and we will respect yours. Jim's disability would keep him from offering this, but I wanted to make sure and mention to you that, if you should need any help clearing brush frm the afore mentioned culvert, I would still be happy to help, free of charge in Jims stead as a good neighbor. Sincerely, Cricket Staggs PS) Yes, Dale Carnegie was a fantastic orator and salesman, glad to hear he has other fans out there besides myself.