JD Dudley

I can definitely see how that looked a little "fishy" (see what I did there?). Clay, thanks for the word and to anyone else reading, I was messing with him and expected that kind of response to my questions about Cotter... we've been known to pull a trick or two on each other. We've also spent alot of time fishing together on the river and he can certainly hold his own over there and really anywhere for that matter as shown by his picture with the fish he's holding! Heck of a nice guy and would give you the shirt off his back. All of that to say, the fact that Clay responded the way he did about being called a "Novice" should confirm that he knows what fishing is all about... trying to help anyone and everyone succeed! Well done Clay! Maybe slidergrub thought novice meant something different... heck, I just had to look up what that meant after thinking it was a compliment.

What size line are you throwing to catch all those fish? And to what do you attribute the lack of ability to catch fish under dire circumstances at a place like Cotter?

I would guess that's what caused that rise. Thanks!

Phil, that would explain it, that's why I was asking John how much rain it was in Pettigrew... I just didn't know that it rained anywhere yesterday. I'm with you in that I don't think I've seen it rain like this in August before. How was Alaska this year?

F&F, yesterday's rise wasn't a result of Thursday mornings rain as that rise had already started cresting. Yesterdays, was caused by something else. John, How much rain was it or do you know?

One more thing... I fished last night between Hickory and PC and there was some debris in the mainlake, but a LOT of it in the creeks. Water clarity was normal.

Just looked at the lake level and it jumped almost half a foot today after the rise slowed down yesterday. Also looked online at White River in Goshen and it says the river rose and crested at a little above 14 feet just today. Was there rain on the WRWS today? I was watching the guages online all day Thursday and after all the rain we got early Thursday, the White River crested at 5 feet, which tells me one of three things about the readings today... either the website is really screwed up, there was a TON of rain around Winslow, or Lake Sequoia Dam broke this afternoon. Anyone have any idea what's going on?

Sorry... any size to those fish?

Any size those fish?

Shhh... me too!

Planning on it and would love for it to be as windy and cold as last year!

Told a friend about it on Saturday and he went out yesterday and did almost the same thing, just didn't find the same big bite. He had right at 16 pounds and caught about 30 keeps... all LM except one 4 lb. smallie that came unbuttoned at the boat. On Friday, I started around PC and never got bit. Moved down lake towards the dam and was fishing the windiest stuff I could find... almost everything came in creeks, but again, the mudline seemed to be the key and if I remember correctly, the sun was shining on Friday and Sunday and the clouds were out on Saturday. If you take a stab at it again, let me know how it goes. Depending on the weather next week, I may go try it again. Good luck!

Fished from about 10 - 3 yesterday and had a good day. Threw a wart on WIND BLOWN pea-chunk on points and either sides of the points... and ledges. Mudslides were the key. Had around 20 keeps and best 5 were just over 20 including a 6.5 LM and a double (pic below). For what it's worth, it should keep up for a while. If you can stand the beating from the wind... HAVE FUN!!!

Hummingbird 727 Fishfinder. Never been used. GPS Ready with all cables and transducer. 479-466-8202

9.82

Phil, me or dad would love to take you over there... just a matter of finding the time and getting it set up. Got video of the Brown on my iphone and will try to download it later. Beautiful fish, VERY healthy and certainly not the only one we saw. Also, saw a bunch of them in the Cotter run. Miss going over there, just haven't had time with work and bassin'. Read the thread on the "Golden", but still don't quite understand what causes that.

Hooked up the boat and took my son, Father-in-law, and brother-in-law yesterday. Fished around Cotter for about 2 1/2 hours. Between the 4 of us, we caught around 50 between Cotter and Reds, including one 28 inch Brown that my father in law caught... quite a site to see this man, who had never trout fished before, fight and land this fish on 2 lb. line... INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE for him to catch it and the three of us to watch as his Shimano Symmetre was singin'! Soon after, loaded up the boat, ate lunch and then headed to Ranchette. Motored up to Crooked Creek and fished down from there. Havent' fished that stretch in over 10 years, but fishing was as good as I've ever seen it. There was one stretch where I caught 5 in 5 casts and could've caught several more in a row, if not for unhooking fish and retying jigs for those with me (well worth doing it so they could experience it as well). I totaled the number of fish in one 15 minute stretch at 13 fish. Saw a good amount of 5-10 pound Browns in this stretch as well but no takers on this run. Overall, incredible day... well over a hundred fish, father in law caught a goodern and a bunch of fun ones, 7 year old son learned more about God's creation and caught some fish as well (as well as learning how hard it is to swim in COLD water), got to fish with my brother in law for the first time in a while, and I got to watch and experience all of it! Very thankful! For what it's worth, every fish we caught was on a home-made 1/16 oz. black jig on 2 lb. line. Even though the jigs are home-made, I'm sure that PJ's or the zigjig would've and probably did just as well. Odd note... been fishing the White for over 25 years and saw a fish yesterday that I've NEVER seen before... it was an ORANGE Trout. It's entire body was bright orange, like a goldfish. I've seen orange carp before in the lake while bassin' AND know what a goldfish looks like, but this one was neither... it was a trout! Same body shape and actions as a trout, but completely orange! Any thoughts?

Caught two 16 inch footballs... looked like they were about to pop. Didn't do us any good in the tournament, but a heck of a lot of fun to catch in that moving water especially as the first one came up doing cartwheels about 1 1/2 foot out of the water. Other than that a ton of fish and alot of fun and great fellowship. Thanks again Phil and Marsha!

Fishing Goals for this year... 1) Flesh out the Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone I have the privilege of fishing with... even when I lose the fish that matters. 2) Take my 7 year old son to fish his first tournament 3) Take my 4 year old daughter and my son fishing more often... and give momma a little break 4) Truly be thankful and remember that it is a privilege to get to fish and to enjoy being in God's creation Blessings and have a great year!

He bought the Skeeter, not the Stratos.

The Stratos is a boat that I bought in 2004, although he's been known to use it occasionally. That's part of the reason that he got into bass fishing.

1996 Stratos 268V w/ 115 Johnson FastStrike. New 70lb. MinnKota Maxxum foot controlled TM. New 2 Bank Dual Pro charging system. Eagle 320 FishMark fishfinder. It's a good boat in good shape and has been garage kept since I bought it in 2004. It's faded a little and has a few niks on it, but overall, in good shape for a '96. NADA with what I have in it is listed at $5,500, but I'm listing it for $4,750. Contact me if you're interested at jddudley@ubcfayetteville.org

I've used a few different jig rods and have found a jig rod that in my opinion (which may not mean much) is the best that I've ever fished with. It's a new line of rod that you get to build online. www.g2rods.com Their trout jig rods run anywhere from $70 - $180... you pick the price as you build it to your liking. Used it today (6'6" Ultra-light) AND a G. Loomis SR720 and I caught more fish on the g2 rod using the exact same line and jig. I'll be honest with you, I'm on g2's pro-staff and could be giving you a line to sell these rods, but for what it's worth, I was on G. Loomis pro-staff for 10 years... left them and went to g2 and am thankful I did.