OzarkFishman

Not surprising, but I totally agree with you Al. The only floating I had done before last week was the James and Finley. Last week I got a chance to fish 16.5 miles on the Buffalo out of a friends Old Town Pack. I had always back stroked to get through riffles, but I wasn't used to the riffles on the Buffalo. One guy I was with told me that I had to be faster than the current. I followed the advise the whole trip and somehow never flipped, but I did get spun out and swamped half-full once. Both of which could have been avoided with slowing down and utilizing back strokes. It probably didn't help that I had two coolers, my overnight bag and other miscellaneous camping stuff with me. I was also guilty of casting one too many times and letting the canoe turn too far out of position to correct with one hand. Though there were times that I allowed the canoe to get out turned around to cast a few extra times to likely targets. I probably "looked stupid" many times, but fishing out of that solo has changed my thought process for my next boat purchase. It will definitely be a solo canoe. If quality and performance were first priority and cost was second, what solo canoe would you recommend? Definitely let us know how to get ahold of that book.

SOLD

My wife really wants this boat out of the garage. If you are interested, then shoot me a price and we will see what we can agree to. Please no trades ... someone offered me a chandelier on craigslist.

This is an old Corp of Engineers boat from Bull Shoals. It is very stable and has been a great boat for me. I added a removeable carpeted front deck, which makes this a perfect Springfield Lake bass boat. With the boat you also get ... (1) 6 hp motor (with gas tank and fuel line) (2) Front casting deck (carpeted AND easily removeable if you desire) (3) Front and rear lights for night time fishing (4) Anchor (5) Paddle (6) 3 cushioned seats (one is the pedestal on the deck) (7) A nice trailer with guide posts for easier loading Boat, motor and trailer have clear titles and are currently registered. I have it listed on Craigslist for $1,000. I would be willing to sell it to someone on this site for a little less. PM me or call Shawn at 816-591-0045

Close calls make the best lessons. Like you said, chalk it up to a cheap lesson.

Being a spin fisherman myself, I may be a little flawed. That being said, I got a great deal on a Quantum Tour Edition and that thing can straight chuck ANYTHING you want a long way with little to no backlash. Many others have alluded to this, but you get what you pay for with baitcasters. From the bank, I truly feel a spinning reel gives you more versitility. With a baitcaster, you have to have a nice and open area to cast from (like a boat OR a really open bank). The problem with the Ozarks (and beauty) is that all the banks are overrun with trees and other vegetation. I fished a pond this last week and the hardest part was finding an area to properly backcast my baitcaster. I am fighting the battle of being able to cast my baitcaster VS the incredible fighting power of a baitcasting reel. It really is a big difference. If you fight big fish, then you want to fight it with a baitcaster OR a high dollar spinning reel. In my humble opinion, a true bank fisherman is probably a spin fisherman. I can cast incredibly accurate with my spinning gear NO MATTER what is around me. Other BETTER fisherman will disagree, but a good spin fisherman can fish in nastier situations than a baitcaster. But then again, in a boat ... I LOVE MY BAITCASTERS! Have fun with the battle. Sometimes I just take my baitcaster to challenge myself when shore fishing, it is rarely as productive as taking a spinning reel. Remember, fishing is fun ... so enjoy yourself while fishing!!!

The increased flow will not slow the bite .... it will just change the bite.

There are many methods. I will list a few and then others will surely chime in. 1) A friend or an outfitter would be easiest. 2) Put in, paddle up, then float back down. This is not the most enjoyable way, but many of us use this method. 3) Take your canoe/kayak to your put-in spot and chain it up (or hide it). Drive to you take-out spot. Then ride your bike back to the put-in spot. Chain your bike up and float down. Of course, this would mean you own a bike (I don't).

Nice report. How do you fish the countdown? I never seem to get much action on them (user error for sure).

I totally agree for ease of use. I am all hybrid or braid.

Look further down the board. There is a forum that has many DETAILED fishing reports about Lake Fork.

Almonds, beef jerky and a peanut butter sandwich if going without a cooler ... add a banana and change the sandwich to turkey and cheese if I take a cooler. I expected a thread about guns when I originally opened this up.

Let me pull out my nasty troll-hat again (it is bright red and green for those that care) ... I went back and read the thread that you included in your original (1st) post of this thread. There is nothing in that thread that would get you (AmericanAngler) banned. Other posters directly say they are going to break the rules more so than you. Unless you have multiple screen names. The only plausible thing I can think of is that you are the guy in the youtube links ... but that is probably wrong. I have to say that while I don't share the same presentation "skills" that some of the posters on here do, I do share some of the concerns of the legitimacy of this thread.

Some people post and then think ... others think and then post ... To each their own!!!

I agree with exiledguide.

What a dog pile here ... Was it a little stupid to break a computer screen??? Maybe. I forgot that none of you get mad and are living in complete sublime ... Is it hard to believe that you really got banned from the 3 lakes for mentioning something on a forum post??? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This one is tough to wrap my head around .... we would all like more details about what exactly was said in the "in-person" conversation with the Whelan Security Officer. This is tough to believe the more I type ... one of 2 things happened, 1) the Whelan employee showed up at your house. 2) they some how knew your face, truck, boat and stopped you at the ramp or lake. Both are tough to believe. Fill us in ...

Not to sound like a smart @#$, but you have to try it before you know. Every trailer is different (bunks, height of tires, etc.). Next time I go, the plan is to wade out a bit and feel around with my feet. I will be able to move bigger rocks out of the way ... and probably get the added bonus of falling on my bum (or head). You will probably make it to the lake before I do, so report back so I don't have to get wet !!! Good luck and take pics!!!

I had a similar experience. I just unloaded it with an uneven trailer, then tried to even out my trailer on the load. It didn't go very smoothly, but that is a small price to pay to fish out of a boat compared to the bank. I agree with usmc, not enough rain yet ... On a sidenote, my boat is a 1953 and my motor is a 1969 ... so I don't care too much about banging my boat around. The trailer is a 2009, but it is a cheap one bought from the old Joplin Academy. If you have a nicer or heavier set-up, then I wouldn't try putting in Springfield Lake right now (or go with the canoe or kayak). Fish on!!!

I sent you a PM. If the megabass and x-raps are still available, then I would like to buy them.

You need circle hooks and either fresh cut bait or small live bait (2 - 3 inch bluegill/sunfish). With the live bluegill, there is always a chance for a nice bass.

Getting to fish one time each week would be a great goal. For me it is sporadic. Nothing for 3 or 4 weeks, then 5 days fishing the following week. Kids are amazing, but the fishing part of my brain can't wait for them to grow up a little. A four year old is fun to take fishing every once in a while, but focused fishing just doesn't take place.

The best bet would be to cut the hook and slide the hook out (avoiding the barb all together). Been reading a lot of your reports ... seems you are having a great fishing summer!

When they get hooked deep like that, you can cut the line as close to the hook as possible and let them swim away. I have to do this sometimes when tube fishing (better gear and line will help, but some days anyone will deep hook fish with plastics). I have read that they have a good chance of surviving, even with a hook in their gullet. Some of the reading says that the hook will be shaken later ... with a quality worm hook, I don't see that happening. At least you will be giving those fish a chance at survival (not that I am against keeping legal fish). Tight lines!

At many farm ponds, I can catch 100 bass in as little as 6 or 7 hours (do the math, I get tired). It helps if I am doubling up with a donkey rig, but very obtainable (but not very enjoyable, I take more breaks these days). Panfish are similar. As for PUBLIC water for bass or trout, many quit counting and just guesstimate (I am not good enough to do that, I count every one of them).

Nice fish!