Quillback

I have some rod tubes, heavy duty cardboard and a couple of PVC if you want them Randy. I could bring them to the OA One Bass which I assume will be in March sometime.

I thought you were going to say that you had caught a giant bow. 😄 But if true, that fish is truly a giant.

You're right Mike, it was good to be out.

Got out yesterday morning, fished downstream from Big M. A little breezy near the launch, but glass downstream. Had a little early action in the depths, caught a couple of spots on a white tube on a 3/8 oz jighead, bouncing it off the bottom. The deep fish left the area not long after I got there, so I hit a chunky rock bank with timber and fished the Ned in 20 FOW. Caught a couple there and even got one on a top water. After that, fished quite a few other places, couldn't find fish, couldn't get bites. Put the boat on the trailer at noon and headed home. Had 6 spots, 3 were keepers. WT 53.

Surface activity is what I like to do for stripers. I have been thinking about how Live Scope type electronics might help locate them when they are up in the water column chasing shad.

My favorite:

Got a kick out of that before and after pic of the fried fish.

Forgot to add - Couple of people bait fishing off the ramp when we launched, they were doing well, they certainly had enough for dinner. If a person wants to soak bait and catch fish, you can certainly do it in these low flows. Quite a few wade fishermen out there too. Speaking of ramp fish, Ham caught a nice rainbow, his biggest fish of the day, off the Cotter ramp while I was backing my truck down the ramp.

I am home now, came home last night, decided I wasn't going to fish today. Ran into those storms on HWY 412 east of Springdale, it really came down for a few minutes. Yakked a stretch of water with Ham yesterday, my first time in a yak and it took me some getting used to. Felt like an elephant on a skateboard for a while. Once I finally started feeling comfortable with the yak, the wind started blowing upriver, hard enough that it would blow you upstream if you let it. I spent most of the last two hours paddling back to the ramp into the wind and it wore me out. I caught 8 trout I think, nothing big, but they were all well colored, hard fighting fish. All rainbows except for one cutt. Took me a while to start catching fish, they would not eat a 1/16th oz jig, and Ham finally prodded me into fishing a 1/32 oz jig he had given me, and I finally started getting some. Once that wind started howling, fishing that 1/32 became a chore, but they just would not eat that 1/16. Caught a couple behind Riley's before meeting up with Ham, and some of the guys ferried over to the big island behind Riley's and they did well, but they can fill you in on that. Some big goldens in that stretch of water which caught their attention. 😄 Sorry, no pics from me, wasn't taking my camera on the yak.

I like those chunky spots, they get nice and fat in the winter. Wish they got to 10 lbs. like they do in some of the CA lakes.

That's some good catching. I wimp out too when it is below 32, I try and time my winter trips to get to the ramp when it has gotten at least above 32.

This is turning into a Foodfest! Which is great!

Yep, sounds right, except Thursday is deer burgers and dogs.

I have plates too, and plastic spoons/forks/knives. Also bringing some paper bowls.

I always start out slow, the Florida tourneys kill me.

What the heck, I'll donate another $10 to help fill someone else's tackle box.

I'll put you and Bill in the A-Frame, but if you want to stay somewhere else, let me know. I'm doing a $140 per person lodging fee, does that work for you and Bill only staying one night?

Are you set on burger buns? I have a frozen pack of something like 18 hot dogs, I'll bring them too.

I can bring the rice, but I know nothing about cooking rice or what type to get - I'm assuming the dry rice in a bag?

Personally, I think that would be great.

Sounds good, what are we going to do Saturday night?

With Brett not coming, we are at 16. So the cost for the 3 places is $2,130. Divided by 16, it comes to $133 and change. I propose we round it up to $140 for a tip. So bring $140 cash or check only, check made out to Riley's Station. I am going to stay downstairs in the A-frame, have the dog with me. A-Frame has 2 bedrooms up stairs each can sleep two. So we can put 5 in the A-Frame. Bunk Lodge is spilt into two halves, each halve can sleep two, so 4 in the Bunk Lodge. That leaves 7 for the River Villa and plenty of room to spread out. All these places look to be pretty nice. If you want to reserve a spot at any of the above, reply back. A-Frame Quillback Phil Babler Bunk Lodge River Villa

Sorry to hear you won't be able to come Brett. But can sure understand the reason. OK, guys looking for suggestions for Friday dinner. We could do a lunch meat spread, bring some sub type rolls, bunch of lunch meat and cheese. Build your own sub thing. Not as good as a fish fry, but easy.

Forecast calling for 60's Thursday, then 70's Friday, with cooler temps and some rain on Saturday.