troutgnat

Gentlemen, Headed to the Rock in like 5 minutes. Will be putting in at Indian Point and headed up the Indian past Big Cedar. Probably will be working the Big Cedar side for smallies from area 21 to 18. Anybody out there be sure to say HI. I'm in a white 06' Tundra with a 89' 374 Silver/Burgandy Ranger 150 HP OMC on back. See ya on water and will post report upon my return.

Phil, Enjoying the camera/video work. Nicely done.

Phil, I almost gave in and dealt with the weather today but I just didn't feel like being a drowned rat all day. It is so not cool when every day you have off it decides to rain! So I played couch potatoe all day though I did managed to do some tying!

Just a word to fishhand! Hey, if you truly are a die-hard flyfisherman of the "one who only catches trout on the "dry-fly"" analogy as you come off to be then that's great. Kudos to you. However, don't be bad-mouthing others on here, especially someone who runs a very legitimate business. We should not judge others by "how" we catch fish provided it is within legal and ethical means. But I would boast a die-hard "fisherman" as one who has enabled him/herself to catch fish by all means.! A skilled fisherman to me would have an arsenal of techniques to aid in his fish catchability. So, before this turns into one of those "bashing" threads. Let me just say: To each his own. There are many techniques to catch fish by and no technique is any more right or proper than the other despite the "A River Runs Through It" McClane law. And a big KUDOS to the fisherman or fisherwoman who is well versed in all of them. You offended me Fishhand and my friend. I am an advid flyfisherman and have put to hand many a trout and other species by means of the fly. Oh and I know what your thinking......Yes, when I say advid, I am an ethical flyfisherman and can properly cast a flyrod, oh, and tie a #22 zebra midge on a Teimco hook. Catch my drift??? I am also proud to say I can and do catch trout by all means and am well versed in my trout arsenal. And I should mention that I am not the only one who can do this! So in the end-all please take your offensive comments elsewhere and shame on you for not stepping foot into Backcountry Outfitters!

Phil, Was he born with gills and a dorsal fin and an appetite for powerbait?

Fly-Guy, I guess everyone has a different sense of humor, enough said. I for one find this act childish. Let's keep this forum for its intended purpose to be used as an informative learning and teaching tool among fellow anglers.

To spare "fly guy" anymore embarassment I am going to keep my mouth shut................lol. Though I must say I read his post and thought hmmmmmmm, not wise grasshopper!

check out my report from Sunday. Gulp eggs in chart, orange and white and according to Phil pink also. Those 4 colors and you've got it covered. I also used night crawlers and did well. Be sure to inject them with air to float them off the bottom. Use just enough split shot about 18" up from the bait to get it down to the bottom. Good luck!

Well I couldn't have asked for a better birthday to be spent on Taneycomo. I launched the boat out of Cooper Creek and headed up the lake to just around the bend up from Lilleys. I wanted to throw some jigs looking for bigger trout and possibly some browns. I started on the chunk rock bank and down timber on the channel side. In my first 3 casts here is what i caught! Cast #1 = a 3lb smallie. Cast #2 = nice 14" rainbow. Cast #3 = a fight of 6-7 minutes and what i thought to be a nice brown trout turned out to be another smallie nearly 4lbs! All within a 20' stretch of bank. And I did release those two big bruisers for you all later! Well I continued to throw the jig and caught several more rainbows and then decided to motor up towards Fall Creek. I fished outside the trophy area near the mouth of Fall Creek and caught quite a few rainbows on power bait (white and Chart. eggs) "doubled" just playing around but saw many catching fish. I have never been much of a nightcrawler fisherman but am testing my skills at it and caught a number of rainbows on half a nightcrawler "aired up" off the bottom. I later met my dad and brother-n-law down at the landing and took them out to just above lilleys around the bend and we all fished gulp power eggs in orange and chart and just boated fish left and right! It was continued excitement for nearly two hours till it slowed up a bit. I saw a lot of boats and saw a lot of fish being caught. So I guess we were all blessed with a nice holiday weekend. I am sure it will be the same for today! Happy Birthday to me it was a good day to turn 39 and thanks to the fish for making me a feel a whole lot younger for a day. Good luck for those heading out today.........................Darren.

Thunderbutt, Sorry, it is a 24 volt system. Didn't have a one certain thing in mind for a swap, thought I'd just wait to see what would come up. What ya got?

Short fishing report here for Montauk. Sorry to say I didn't fish hard like I usually do, this trip was just more for some relaxation w/ friends. My flyfishing was very limited as my buddies don't flyfish. However, two afternoons I flyfished the catch and release fly zone and had a wonderful time. I caught a great number of fish and several big bows in the 3-6lb range. All fish were caught of the opposite bank by casting a black beetle pattern in close to the weeds above the undercut banks; big fish would come out under the banks and just smash that beetle. It was quite fun!!! My beetle pattern is a slowsinker, not tied to be fished high and dry. These fish would not even hit a hopper. As for the rest of the trip. We fished the buzzer every morning, usually throwing olive jigs. Fishing was pretty good for about the first 10 minutes and then they were done. We found fishing honestly to be quite slow during the days, but then again I didn't burn down the water like I usually do.

Gentlemen, I recently upgraded my trolling motor on my boat and have my previous one just laying in the garage. It works as is but I will admit that its on its way down hill. The lower unit will need to be replaced as the bushings are going out. The guys at Marine Repair Center in Springfield, MO. said that it could be repaired for around a $100 bucks to have the lower unit rebuilt. Anyway, it would make a great motor for someone on a starter boat or for an upgrade on an old john boat, etc. I'm asking $35 or if you got something you'd like to trade lets talk. If your interested shoot me message or pm me. I really don't plan on shipping this so if your local that would be better or come and get it. Thanks.

Dutch and Fishmeister thank you for your advice. I just called the Marine Repair Center. I never knew they exsisted. They are holding for me a Motor Guide Tour Series Digital 24V 70# bow-mount/foot control. My cost is $500 and they will install it for a flat fee of $60. It is a rebuilt/refurbished motor they bought from the factory. It comes with an attached 6month guarantee. This same motor is 789.99-800.00 new everywhere else. So, I thank you gentlemen. I have an appointment next Tues. morning to have it installed. Wow, I'm uprading from a 48' thrust. I ought to be able to ski behind this thing!.............Darren.

Fishmeister, Thanks for the reply. When you say Marine Repair Center does that mean you bought it at the Bass Pro Outlet Store also? Did you see others? Wow, that really is a great price. I assume it was foot control correct?. Darren.

Tom, thanks for the word. I'm on a 10 day stretch at work now so might be a bit before I can get back. Congrads on your trip!

Gentlemen, My trolling motor just bit the dust. I am looking for a Motor Guide 24V system with 70 lbs of thrust but will consider anything similar. A good used motor would be nice or possibly new. If anyone has one for sale or knows the whereabout of one to be had please leave word. Good fishing to all and thank you for your consideration.

Gentlemen, Wondering what others are seeing and experiencing night fishing under lights. I went several evenings ago and we anchored off a bluff end next to the channel swing. Front of boat in 65' and back in 30' of water. One starlite over the side and down about 3' and one overhead light (modified heat lamp) shining down into the water. We had two gill nets down for shad but never caught a one. We had a lot of schooling shad around the light but they were babies. Never had any in any quanity large enough to get caught in the net. So, we never had any shad to fish with. We were prepared and had shiners and minnows but never had a bite! Caught a few fish on jigs mainly small whites, two nice crappie and a 18" walleye to boot. But overall very, very slow!!!! Anybody have any reports or recommendations? Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Phil, Great to hear from ya. Sorry for the delay getting back to you, computers been down for a while. Plan on bringing a lady friend to Taneycomo this Sunday for some fishing. Will be bringing the boat up again for some drift fishing. Would appreciate your latest advice good friend. I hear drifting nightcrawlers is doing well right now. If so I will stop in your place and buy my supplies. You still do have boat parking for customers already on the water right?.......LOL......That will be me. Talk to you soon.

Gentlemen, I was looking for a lazy day of fishing to be honest. I didn't feel like competing others for outlets for minimal fishing water. No offense to anyone I will glady wait my time to get on an outlet for some flyfishing water but like I said I felt like being lazy. But before I get reamed for this let me say I am an accomplished flyfisher and can hold my own. However, as many of you I have a wide variety in my fishing arsenal and will fish any means possible if it means having a great day on the water. So that being said I launched my Ranger at Cooper Creek with my cousin and his girlfriend. The mission was: (His girlfriend had never been fishing and had never caught a fish period, so game on and goal was for her to catch fish!!!) We floated between Fall and Cooper Creek several times over fishing drift rigs on the bottom with power eggs. In my lazy mode I really didn't fish to awful hard, I was in guide mode. You know, maintaining boat control, giving advice, baiting and retying rigs, etc. Well the fishing was slow but the outcome was: ME- 0 trout CUZ- 2 trout Newbie GIRL-A LIMIT OF 4 TROUT! Can you believe it, she was all smiles. So it was a great day for all. Trout were caught mainly in front of Lillies(way to go Phil!) on a 2 egg rig. One white egg followed by one chartreuse egg. Well I hope this helps anyway headed to the Lake.

Gentlemen, With all the high water I decided against battleling the outlets for minimal water to flyfish and launched my Ranger out of Cooper Creek with a couple of friends. We drifted the area mentioned from 2-7pm. Fished Powerbait eggs on drift rigs and made numerous drifts through the area. Between the 3 of us we boated 6 trout and missed several others but fishing was slow. Bite was on 2 egg rig(one white and one chartruese). Hope this helps any of you. Good luck to all.

Gentlemen, I feel bad for all of ya cuz I'm in the same boat. I have fished at least once a week for the last 3 weeks looking for the crappie. I decided to concentrate all my efforts in the cricket creek area trying to really pattern them. Best trying to learn a fairly small parcel of water rather than burning down the water, so I figured anyway. Well last week was much closer than this week. Went out Wed. with a total of 9 crappie from daylight to dusk. Crappie very scattered! I fished Long Creek, Cricket, Blair Branch and Cole Springs and caught about 2 fish in each area. Some were suspended out in the trees fairly shallow, a few others I caught right in front of the buckbrush adjacent to the cove pockets and a couple off of docks. If anybody out there has somewhat of a pattern to em please let us know. Hope to see ya on the water. If anybody is in the cricket creek area I'm the guy with the white 06' Toyota Tundra and an 89' Burgandy/Silver Ranger w/150. See ya on the water! Darren

As with everybody else, I've always recognized them by looking at the shoreline cover. Whenever I see a remarkable change in shoreline stucture that's the first tip-off for me. For instance, the other day I was motoring of Long Creek and I was in a stretch leading up to a large channel swing in the creek(where the creek makes a hard bend) I was motoring down a fairly long stretch of low mud bank with trees lining the bank, some fallen in the water and then BAM it tapers right into chunk rock for a good stretch leading up to the bend. Above the chunk rock you can see as the topography of land leads up to a ridge above forming a small bluff. (Very noticeable change in topography). As the other gentleman said what you see above the water is a good indication of what continues below. One other tid-bit I would throw in: When bass are on these transition banks there on them. Many like to say that under frontal conditions the bass will move off these banks and head to deeper water, although this is true you would be surprised at how many fish you can pick up who are still on the banks. I always look for minor structural changes on these banks. I.E. Your main depth parallel down the bank, say, is 6-8 ft from the bank out 10' foot or so then all the sudden you motoring a long a find a pocket that drops to 12'. BINGO! Any small depression of a little deeper water and you will find a fish on it. And it may be right on top of the bank where least expected. That's where your graph will come in handy!

Roy, thanks for the reply, the mean mouths are fun aren't they. Those that I caught bit hard as well. I threw a spinnerbait as well but didn't get bit. It was the wart for me. I saw some guys on one of the major channel swings up Long who were fishing for cats and doing quite well with several 7lb+ channels on the stringer. Did you see them by chance?

Gentlemen, Sorry for being a couple of days late. Friday morning I fished Yokum, Cricket and Long. Actually went looking for the whites but couldn't locate them, they were not up the creeks as they had been. Anyway good thing I was prepared and brought my cranking rod and some crankbaits. Found a couple of productive windward chunkrock transition banks up Long Creek and paralelled them with a crawfish colored wiggle wart and boated 3 mean-mouths; the biggest being a 14 incher and a 15" largemouth and several smaller blacks. The crank bite was quite aggressive. I never did find the white bass. If anyone knows where there at right now I'd appreciate a pointer or two. Thanks.

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