Fishhand

I went on Sunday and put in at the same spot. I put a big red glove on one of those trees on the flooded field side marking the access spot. I would have left it there, but, couldn't afford to lose it. I'll probably go back Saturday, so, I'll be sure and tie a ribbon on the tree. Also, the powerlines downstream of the Highway 76 are hanging just above the lake. Be careful and try to stay on the right or left side when boating up to the bridge.

Missouri state record white bass is 5lbs 6oz. An 18" female white full of eggs will be 3 lbs. give or take, of which, I've seen stringers full. In my opinion, to call a 3lb. 12 oz. fish a "world record" is somewhat of a stretch. But, it does look good on the brochure.

Went by Powersite today and took a couple of pics...Very gnarly up there with about a 4'-5' drop from Taney to Bull

I've been skunked many times when walleye fishing, but, I haven't resorted to eating my bait (yet). Although, the Gulp Alives do exude a pungent aroma that is pleasant yet repulsive....Good fishin', Jimbob

Sandy's on the halfshell. I like it. I watched a fishing show a few weeks ago and the guy on the show was fixing redfish the same way. That's where I got the Idear. Fixed some more tonight and man are they good. The majority of the red meat will stay on the skin side after you've cooked 'em. The flame was hot enough tonight to dry out the edges of the fish and the scales were burnt to a crisp, but, the center was moist and delicious. Even the dried out edges of the fish were good. Did I say they're good. Man, they're good.

I don't really like whites better than walleye. But, it does seem walleye are too mild sometimes and lose their flavor to breading when deep fried. I like to eat all kinds of fish except for Taneycomo stocker trout. I'd rather eat Ol' Roy from the can. I've been fixing whites this year by filleting them out, but, leaving the scales on the flesh. Cut out the rib meat (or not). Get a hot bed of coals going, season the meat with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and a little butter and then place the fish directly over the coals scale side down (or season with your preference of spices). Close the lid and let 'em cook like that until the meat turns white. Flaky goodness.

FYI for anyone fishing above the Highway 160 bridge in Swan who may not be aware of the new 2008 regulations...Walleye may be taken and possessed only between 1/2 hour before sunrise and 1/2 hour after sunset from Feb. 20th through April 14th....why keep walleye anyway when white bass are tastier? Just wanted to let folks know 'cause of the four times I've been checked by the Game Warden in Missouri, two have been at Truman Dam, one at Taney, and one at Swan Creek. Jimbob

Pics of the flood waters from the Highway 176 Bridge at Galena. It looked like the water stayed just under the Y Bridge.

Hey Zach, The soccer field is on the opposite side of the river...The soccer field accesses the river below the Power Supply of Oklahoma discharge. It's nice to come in from that side 'cause if the water begins to rise, you can immediately high tail it out and not have to worry about crossing 100 yards of rising river. You get to it by crossing over the I-44 bridge and taking the first right. You'll come to a T, take a right, and then take the next left and follow it 'til you see the soccer field on the right hand side of the road (about a half mile+/-). I don't know the road names...sorry... Just follow the shortest path to the river after you cross the bridge and head up towards Zink Dam. There's a parking area by the soccer fields and the access to the river is right there, or, you can walk along the trail up toward Zink Dam and check out the joggers... good fishin', Jim

My brother and I went Saturday afternoon 1:00 to 6:30. Water was flowing over the top of the rock island and 42-43 degrees by the portable depth finder. We caught one 16" brown trout and one 20" waller. Saw one other boater catch a sub legal walleye. There were usually half a dozen guys, or so, fishing the concrete wall, but, I couldn't tell if they were having any success. Caught the walleye on a chartreuse swimming minnow about 5:00. Probably should have stayed 'til after dark, but, my's toes was cold. Does anyone know when MDC is planning on shocking?

We're fishing in Tulsa above the I-44 bridge. It's illegal to snag spoonbill from Keystone Dam down to the I-44 bridge, so, I guess you're out of luck on snagging where we're fishing. I haven't a clue what the snagging possbilities would be below the I-44 bridge. They're probably in there somewhere, just got to find 'em. Good Snaggin', Jim

Hey Steve, That was a good striper! R.E. and I came in right in front of you guys down at the PSO. We kind of pounded that hole thinking there would be fish... hooked one nice hybrid but had "technical difficulties" and couldn't get him in...We wound up catching a few whites above the bottleneck and then some small stripers (15"), a half dozen whites, one decent sized hybrid, and 3-4 drum down at the soccer field. We also caught two catfish on fly and foul hooked 15-20 spoonbill and an additional 6 +/- drum. We couldn't get away from the spoonbills. Never did find a decent striper. I finally down sized my bait to a small clouser just to get a bite. Only had two grey / whites which were producing well on small fish, but, lost both of them on spoonbills. A couple of guys came down from the parking lot at the soccer field and caught three small fish between the two of them. I sure had high hopes going into the day...Hope you get into 'em next time. Good fishin', Jim

I watched a couple of guys fishing off the bank, but they didn't catch anything while I was there. A boat was in Swan Creek fishing the downstream side of the old concrete bridge. I didn't see them catch anything either, however, I couldn't stay very long. I agree with you guys about the water. If it keeps running like it was today and clears up, it could be on! And when I say on, I mean losing $15 worth of Rogues for a 10% chance of catching one 17" walleye...

Current conditions of the Pothole / Powersite on Tuesday afternoon.

I took a few pics of Roark Creek today. It's all coming your way...

Fished the Pothole area on Saturday, 02/16. Put in at Swan Creek @ 1:00 pm. Water temp. was 40 degrees. Went up to Silver Creek and noticed alot of shad popping the surface. Not being chased, just popping the surface. Shad were scattered all the way from Silver Creek up to Powersite. Threw Rogues, minnows, 1/8 oz. jigs, and clousers. Didn't get a single bite. The water turned on about 4:00 pm, so, I casted Rogues while floating with the current in addition to trolling the seams. I got one bite around 5:15...frost bite.

Hey Trout Troller, Thanks for the report. I was wondering if you could divulge some information...I'm in serious need of a hybrid and / or striper bite...I assume it's too early for the Greers Ferry hybrids to be running, but, I was wondering, if friends and I come down there, what tributary holds the most consistent runs of hybrids. I've never fished there and I don't even know where to begin researching. We'll be fishing out of a river jon w/ fly rods, so, we'll probably need some flow. Just would like to find out about a good stretch, not your honey hole...just a good stretch. Thanks and good fishin'. Jim

I haven't been there in 3 weeks. A group of three guys went on the weekend of Feb. 2nd & 3rd and caught a few, but nothing exceeding 5 lbs. It looks like the water is being turned on most Saturdays, which is kind of discouraging when you drive 3 hours...We stay over Saturday night and fish Sunday, but, it's been hit and miss (mostly miss) for us. We're kind of waiting until the weather stabilizes and a consistent bite is reported. Although, we're getting the fever pretty bad so we may come out next weekend. See ya' on the water. Good fishing and thanks for the report. Jim

Hey Okieflyfisher, Nice catch on the big one! I was wondering if you've ever been down to Fort Gibson Tailwater or if you know of any websites / forums where I can find a report. I met you at the end of last year down at the PSO... Friends and I come from Springfield MO, so, I would like to try and find out a little more about FGD before making the drive. Thanks for any info. Jim

I'm not sure where to get bait coming from the North. I came from Branson...I fished the hole right below the confluence of the NFOW and Bryant Creek one year back in the 1990's. I was fishing minnows and a kid about 30' up the bank from me was fishing with slicks. He had four nice walleye on his stringer and I didn't get a bite. I'm not sure if the fish were staged in the hole different or if I had the wrong bait. I spoke with him and we were fishing basically the same way, but those walleye were keyed in on those slicks. I found it kind of interesting.

Hey Kyle, I started going up to the tailrace last year with a friend from Sedalia. I took the flypole on the intent of trying it. Found out a couple of things. When I was there, the good spots were usually the most crowded and I couldn't get a good swing because I didn't want to foul the people's line fishing downstream from us. Even when a fish was hooked (at least with the water running) you'ld have to follow the fish and when it's shoulder to shoulder, it ain't fun dancing under, around and behind people. I also found it tough to cast because of the chunk rock banks not allowing a substantial backcast. There is the sand point between the dead channel and the main channel that always looked good to possibly wade out on and throw a fly, but, we never tried it.

Hey Jackaroe, I went to Tecumseh on Sunday morning, 01/27. Didn't fish it 'cause the water was too low and very clear. Instead, I went down to Udall and paddled down to the next boat ramp, Liner Creek I think (a couple miles, give or take, below Tecumseh bridge)...Water clarity had to be near 20'. And cold, actually broke through ice at Liner Creek. Caught two kentuckies on a white 1/8 oz. jig and one kentucky on a char deep diving crankbait. Three bank/ bait fishermen I saw at Liner Creek didn't catch squat, but, one guy said he caught five walleye last week. Half a dozen boats out. Saw one boat catch one kentucky. I didn't see any balls of shad. Looked like everyone had a slow day with the bluebird sky and no wind to speak of.

I went over the Hwy 76 bridge at Cape Fair today and there was a little ice around the banks but otherwise fine. Went up Hwy 173 and Flat Creek had ice all the way across it but not very thick at all. The water was a flourescent green. Stopped by Walnut Springs / Asher Cane on Tuesday or Wednesday and walked out on their dock. Visibility was about 8'.

I think Jakes is between Poverty Point and Emerald Point. If you go over Table Rock Dam on 165/265 heading East, go past the State Park, and when 165/265 starts to get very curvy, you are on the West side of Jakes. I think Jakes Cove is where the Argonaut development is beginning to take place...

A buddy and I went to the skunk/pot hole yesterday afternoon. One other boater was there but they took out around 3:00 p.m. and I didn't get a chance to speak with him. Water temperature was 47 degrees with no generation. Fished the pothole, shoal below Silver Creek, mouth of Swan and Barker hole with bobber/minnows, jig/minnows and stickbaits. Nary a bite. A few bank fishermen did not appear to catch anything either. Stayed 'til dark but the water never came on line. There weren't any bank or boat fishermen who showed up after dark.