laker67

We ended up on the crappie dock about 11 am. Things were slow, but it was a great day temperature wise and we had nothing else to do but fish, relax, and enjoy the day. Minnows were the best producer today. They have not spawned yet even though a few males are on the bank. Females came off the dock and full of eggs. Like I said it was slow fishing but we ended up with 14 between us. That is two meals for us. Crappie, black eye peas, cornbread, and maybe a fried tator. Now we are expected to get more rain from this area and south. 3 to 4 inches around West Plains i s the forecast. The creeks will be full again.

Well yesterday was my 72nd birthday and roughly 61 years of fishing at bssp. My wife and I headed out about 11 am , stopped at Kelly's store and then hit the creek about 12:30. It was crowded for a monday. Not only with fishermen, but lots of sight seers. My wife bought me a new fishing chair, so it was try out day. I mostly sat while she fished. I kept a spare rod rigged and ready. She would say "honey" I want to try an x- factor with two # 6 split shot. So I would have it rigged and ready. A leader malfunction, I had that covered as well. It started out slow, but after a while she figured it out. Changing up on fly size, and more weight, she put on quite a show for the last hour and a half. I had a great time just watching. More than one fisherman close by had to come look see what she was using. One guy says, "that looks exactly like what I am using". That is so often the case, it is more on how you are using than what you are using. Had a great time watching her catch fish after fish. I like my new chair. Air temp was 81 degrees with a moderate wind. A Dairy Queen sandwich and a chocolate shake on the way home. Had a great birthday. I think today we will try to catch a crappie.

Looks like he has been stomped on, drug thru the rocks, and maybe roped a couple of times.

i fish subsurface like I use to fish a jig and pork chunk. When you feel nothing, is the time to set the hook. Sometimes you might get a slow swim off to one side or the other. All good advice from everyone responding.

Are you talking over the hwy?

Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water. Creek is on the rise again, rivers are up , and sounds like flood gates may be opening soon at my favorite tailwater. I think i'll go to Texas and watch the egrets migrate.

Looked at the trout cam earlier. Water appeared to be about half way up the spillway.

Looks as if you could fish from the swing set at bssp. According to the gauge, bssp has risen 2.45 ft.

WOW congrats to the angler.

Maybe dropper rigs off each of the 6 hooks. Might be legal on the arkansas side

Last I heard Pete, he was in oklahoma living with his father.

I am not sure that I buy the smell theory. I suppose sea run fish could possibly smell fresh water, but I think it is more like instinct. Like the great migration of herds of animals across the world. Something other than smell has to trigger that mass migration of "hatchery raised warm water fish. " All them fish headed up the glaize, niangua, and gravios are headed the wrong direction if they go by smell.

That is cool, and I know 3 of those people. Brad , Jeff, and Leonard.

I am liking the looks of those tigers. Are they stocked on the norfork?

Way to go Pete. Are you seeing any rainbows up the creeks?

I am guessing the first picture is a tiger. Never seen one before. They are a cross of what?

With the exception of the 3 years I spent overseas while serving this great nation, I have spent 71 years and 10 months in camden county missouri. Came here in 49.

fshndoug sent me a video of two, one a sculpin, and the other a stand up jig looking thing. He was walking them on the bottom of a tank. Both flies were so realistic, that they had that "please don't eat me look". He is tying me a couple of the stand ups to take to Texas on our annual bass fly fishing trip. Last trip we caught some really nice fish on his green/white rabbit strips.

Did she tell you to stand downrange.

The goggle eye and smallmouth didn't school up in zone 3 this season like they normally do. The ones there were below average small. 3 years back I caught 52 smallmouth the opening day of winter season. Some in the two pound range and all on fly rod. I have not been able to even come close since, mostly due to high water and unable to sight fish for them.

Not sure I want to be bit by one, oneshot

When we were younger we were most times forced to fish or hunt when we had the opportunity, regardless of the weather conditions.. I feel fortunate now to be able to pick and choose as are several others here.

Yep I'm with you and fw on this one. Forty years ago I would not even blink an eye about the temps. Harv and I fished the high bank hole one day back in the 80's. It was 4* when we started, and 6* about four hours later. A few trips back to the truck to warm up and we fished most of the day. High bank had several good fish back then. If you could keep ice out of the guides you could land them that day.

If you are planning on fishing any of the trout parks this coming weekend, you might want to re=schedule.

Great catch Duane. Nice boat work and net work by Blake.