Quillback

You know, that has me thinking. If I was younger and motivated, I would start an old folks home for fishermen. Have a private lake right behind the home, stock it with trout in the winter, catfish in the summer. I have reached old codgerdome and now have a lifetime AR hunting, fishing and trout permit license. The feds send me a check once a month, I get senior discounts all over the place. What a country!

Nuce acquisition!

Go catch a golden and win a guided Little Red trip: Hatchery team praised for successful trout stocking across Arkansas, boosting fishing ops

I'd be outta there for sure. That dude is looking for an excuse to shoot someone.

I'd say there's a good chance he violated this clause in the MO "Unlawful use of Weapons" law. Exhibits, in the presence of one or more persons, any weapon readily capable of lethal use in an angry or threatening manner;

Now that's a big fish!

Almost makes we want to pay a visit on one of the openers to do some people watching. Thanks for the report and pics Marty. It's not as crowded as I thought it would be for that many permits.

Congrats, that's some great fishing!

I'm happy to see this February in the rear view mirror.

I drive through RR when I go over to Table Rock. Sure as heck not driving through there Saturday. Not even thinking about fishing it. I hope those that do have a good time, but it is not for me.

Wow, I guess it is true.

Today was kind of a weird day. I found a bunch of fish on one of Randy's old spots, a long, rocky ridge that runs out off a bluff end. I caught 8 bass and 3 walleye off the end of that ridge, fish were in 10-20 FOW. Crazy thing was I missed something like 20 bites, and that's a conservative number. They liked a 2.8" swimbait, I'd get a bite, set the hook, have what felt like a solid hookup and they'd come off. A few I'd move a few feet towards the boat and they'd come off. Hooks are sharp and all that, I'd get good hooksets, but they'd come off. I may have uttered a bad word or two. Once those fish stopped, I fished another couple of hours in several spots and only had one more bite, and of course it got off. Wind was getting feisty so I called it quits around 1230. One of the wallies was a keeper, so I have enough for some fish tacos. WT 42-45.

Local outdoors section says MDC is anticipating selling 2,500 permits at Roaring River. Saturday opener. I find it hard to believe that many people would be there, but maybe they are right.

Next time I see you, I'll poke you with a stick. 😁

One of my motivations is that this is the time of the year to get a biggun.

Not a fan of those masked bandits either. My SE MO grandad used to hunt them. He was a farmer and that was his thing to do in the winter was hunt coons. He always had at least one hound, sometimes two. He had a Remington Nylon 66 that he put a little dab of floro paint on the front sight. I was given that rifle after he died, had it for 45 years and recently gave it to my uncle who will pass it down to one of his kids or grandkids. Cowboy guns are fun. I have a couple of .45 Colts that I like to target shoot with.

Yeah they can be mean. Once in the cage, I like to poke them with a stick, that really gets them going.

A lot of birds flying around the house today, a couple of pairs of woodpeckers chasing each other around, I think they are either red headed or hairy woodpeckers, but i can't get a good look at them because they keep flying around chasing each other.

Good to see you back Bill.

Looks like it is tough everywhere. Talked to a buddy that fished the Upper White and he and his wife got three. (He may have thrown the wife at them). Glad you saw temps in the 48-51 range, I saw 45 - 47 on Beaver and thought my temp reader must be busted. I'm really surprised the surface temps are that warm.

Dutch and I fished from daylight until a little past noon and had our worst day as far as catching fish we've ever had on this lake. A couple of 12" smallmouth were it, no other bites. I thought it might be a bit tough after the cold front, but not this tough. Water surface temp was 45-47, which surprised me that it was that warm, but that may be just on top. We heard a bunch of turkeys gobbling and yelping first thing in the AM.

I skimmed though the article but didn't see where it was guaranteed. Certainly your chances would be better to catch a 10+. But if I'm going to spend a $K fishing, I'd go up north to one of the smallie lakes.

Yeah my gramps was probably somewhere in France in the spring of 45. I'm kind of surprised they raised trout during the war.

If you are interested in Beaver Lake the Lost Bridge North campground is open, but I don't know if they have full hookups that early in the year. You could call the Beaver lake COE office to find out. If you have kayaks there is a cove on each side of the campground that hold smallmouth, and if there's rain with runoff, the back ends of those coves could hold white bass and even a walleye or two. If bank fishing you could drive down to the White river below Beaver dam for trout with a shot at whites and walleye, but it's mostly trout in the bank accessible areas. That time of year, there's not a lot of other people out on that end of Beaver, there's not a lot of development on that end, and it's somewhat scenic, but the fishing can be tough.

I would not but it is not that far out of line. A full day with a guide on one of the Ozark lakes will run about $600 these days.