GotaFish

I am interested in your Shawnee, where can I see a picture?

Phil, Hi, I actively review the forum. Thanks, GotaFish

Opening weekend of the fall turkey season was perfect. I headed to my favorite public hunting spot, arrived before first light and was happy to see no other vehicles. I headed to my favorite hillside to bust the turkeys off of their roost. Right at first light, everything was perfect, the weather was cool, winds were calm and the turkeys were flying everywhere. A bunch flew up the hill and several more flew down into an overgrown field. Almost immediately the birds were calling from all directions. I thought about it and decided my best bet was to work the birds down in the field. The birds were so eager to get back together I didn't even have time to set up my decoys. I would call they would call back, with each call my huge bird was getting closer. Eventually I saw him coming through the tall grass, I stopped calling because he was calling and coming right in. I raised my gun and starting tracking him, I had to wait for the perfect head shot. I was growing more anxious by the minute, don't stop, keep coming just a few more feet until I would have that perfect shot. Then as if by magic, the big fella stepped out into the clearing, carring his twelve gauge and tooting on his turkey call. I have no idea where that guy come from, but he is sure lucky I am an experienced hunter and know to clearly identify my game before shooting. In the past when hearing of a mistaken for game hunting accident I could never understand how it could possibly happen. In this instance it was almost a perfect storm - I had just jumped the birds off the roost, had birds calling from all directions and was calling in my bird - I can see how a less experienced hunter may have taken an ill advised shoot. I am not sure what the moral of this story is, but I do know a few things I do to never put myself in the same situation as this guy. I never walk through the turkey woods tooting on my turkey call and I usually wear or carry an orange hat when I am walking through the turkey woods. I hide the orange hat when I sit down to call birds. Later that same day I walked up on a couple of hunters who had three decoys set out on a logging road and they both were sitting within about 20 feet of the decoys pretty much directly in the line of fire of the decoys. One of the guys asked me if I was worried that the turkeys would see my orange hat, I told him I wasn't worried about the turkeys seeing me I was worried about other hunters not seeing me. While I didn't bag a bird that day it was a fantastic day to be walking around God's green earth.

Seeking recommendations for a taxidermist in the Forsyth area to assist with a large Walleye my Dad would like to have mounted. Your recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the update, looks like I will be staying closer to St. Louis this weekend

Anybody know how much rain has fallen around the river? We are hoping to float from Prosperine this weekend, but won't want to waster our time if the river is up. Anybody been by the river today?

Aggitator spinner baits have not been made for years and my supply is running low. They are really versatile, both great for slow rolling and for use as a buzz bait. I used to buy them at Paul's Bait and Tackle in South St. Louis. If you have any lying around in your tackle box I would be willing to take them off your hands.

Would you happen to have any "Aggitator" spinner baits in your collection?

Floated on Saturday and Sunday from Prosperine to Bird Island. The weather was great on Saturday, but the river was up and flowing pretty fast and still a little murky. Fishing was not that good, however we did manage to catch a few smallmouth, the largest being 17 inches. Sunday started out overcast with the river looking better, then the thunderstorms came with the heavy rains and lightening. We were still above Lead Mines when the rain started and were stuck on a sand bar for a couple hours. The river began to rise quickly and looked like chocolate milk, so we tied everything down and rode her down to Bird Island. We didn't catch many fish on the trip, but the four teenagers we brought along will have some good memories of a fun ride down the river.

Has anybody looked at the river since Monday? Am planning to float on Friday and Saturday. If we don't get any more rain I think it should be in pretty good shape by Friday.

Bill, I enjoy reading all of your posts and appreciate all of the information you give. I review your posts everyday and daydream about actually getting on the lake. I will be heading to Bull Shoals this weekend to spend a week fishing with my Dad. I have never tried the turd worm, or a green bean as you called it, but plan to stop at BSP to stock up on the way to the lake. In your post the other day you mentioned using a no.1 worm hook and not a 1.0. Is the .1 a small or large hook? Thanks in advance for your advice.

211.3 miles from my driveway to the RiverRun Ramp, needless to say I don't get there as often as you guys.

Can anyone recommend a good Walleye guide for a trip around Powersite this time of year? My father and I have fished Bull Shoals for over 40 years so we are familiar with the lake and are pretty good at catching a few bass, white bass and crappie. We are trying to learn how to consistently catch Walleye. We have been doing pretty well trolling for them in the summer, but would really like to learn how to catch them this time of year between Powersite and Swan Creek. We are looking for a guide that specializes in Walleye or better yet Dewayne's Dad to show us how he is catching all of those monster Walleye. Your recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Also fished the Niangua on Saturday the 16th and part of Sunday the 17th. Weather on Saturday was awesome and the water in the river was very low and very clear. Caught a few fish on Saturday, goggle-eye and bass, but nothing of any real size. It was just a great day to be on the river. Sunday on the other hand was a different story it started raining about 8:00 a.m. and didn't stop until we got off the river about 2:00 p.m. Thought the rain would turn the fish on, but it didn't seem to help. Biggest fish of the trip were a 17 inch largemouth and one 15 inch smallmouth.

I had to go out to the driveway and get the number for Shawnee off of my boat. I have a 20'6" - 41" wide that Gay Rory built for me two years ago. It is the best river boat I have ever owned, comfortable, very stable and if loaded properly will float through a 4" deep riffle. Boat and matching trailer were very reasonable, but it did take about six months to have it built. Contact info. Gay Rory Shawnee Yellville, Arkansas (870) 449-6373

Leonard, Thanks for the advice, my daughters and I just got back from a great trip to Bull Shoals and fished the spot you recommended. We didn't catch many fish as the water temp dropped about 6 degrees since my Dad was there last weekend. However, in about four hours of fishing the hole below Powersite, we did catch a little of everything - one 16"1/2 walleye, three 14" large mouth, 3 small trout, a goggle eye and a couple of blue gill. Nothing big enough to keep, but we had fun anyway. Hopefully, fishing will pick-up for you all soon.

Leonard, Thank you for your response. We will let you know how we do.

Great to hear that the Crappie are starting to bite. I am leaving from St. Louis for the lake tomorrow night with my 8 and 12 year old daughters and would really appreciate any specific information you could provide to help me catch a few of those crappie. I see me, because my daugheters don't need any advice they are pretty good, but I can use all of the help I can get. Were you fishing from the bank near Powersite or is their now enough water to get a boat up from River Run? Also, is anybody catching whites or Walleye between Beaver Creek and Powersite? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.