Quillback

Son!

Excellent, go Stacey!

Story from the AGFC website: COTTER – Arkansas’s trout tailwaters are famous for incredible scenery, fast action and some of the biggest brown trout in the world – just ask Kansas angler Calvin Johnston. Johnston, a resident of Olathe, Kansas, was enjoying his first trout-fishing trip to The Natural State Friday, February 27, when he hooked into a fish that will have people up and down the White River talking for years. “I’m a bass angler,” Johnston said. “But we have a few ponds in Kansas that are stocked with some small rainbow trout. I’ve gone to one of them a couple of times and maybe caught five or six rainbows, but this was my first real trout fishing trip and my first brown trout ever.” Johnston grew up in Little Rock and graduated J.A. Fair High School before moving to Kansas. He says his brother and brother’s friends from the Bryant Police Department always go to Rainbow Drive Resort on the White River for a trout trip during this time of year. This year he decided to join them to see what the trout fishing was like. “I used the same rod and setup that I use to drop-shot fish for bass,” Johnston said. “A medium-light six-foot, nine-inch spinning rod with 15-pound-test braid tied to a 10-pound-test fluorocarbon leader.” When the group arrived, the current was flowing too heavily to wade more than a few feet from shore, and the cold weather had most of the party taking a break to warm up Friday afternoon. “It was getting to be sundown, and I know that’s always a great time to fish for bass,” Johnston said. “So I headed down to the bank to cast a little. I didn’t even have any waders or a net and just cast from the bank. That’s when she hit.” Johnston says nearly all the line peeled off the reel on the fish’s first run. “I’ve never fought a fish like that before,” Johnston said. “She was running around rocks and grass and there were several times I thought I’d lose her. It felt like I fought this fish for 20 minutes.” Without a net to land the fish or even waders to go in after it, Johnston was stuck. “I started to yell for anyone to help,” he said. “One man finally asked what was going on. When he saw the fish roll at the surface, he ran to get a net. He said he’s been fishing there since he was seven years old and had never seen a fish like that in his life.” After a few tries, the pair finally managed to get the trout’s head in the net and pull her to shore. “Everyone started to come out of their cabins to see the fish,” Johnston said. “One man brought out a handheld Rapala scale, and the fish measured 40 pounds on it. That’s when I knew I needed to call the Game and Fish and get this thing weighed officially.” AGFC Trout Management Program Coordinator Christy Graham and District Fisheries Biologist Jeremy Risley met Johnston to weigh the fish on certified scales at the Mountain Home Field Office. “It’s official weight and length was 38 lbs, 7 oz., and it was 36.6 inches long,” Graham said. “I’ve looked into former records for brown trout in Arkansas, and can only find official records of two brown trout being larger –Rip Collins’ former world-record from the Little Red River that weighed 40 lbs. 4 oz. and the previous world-record fish from the Norfork Tailwater that weighed 38 lbs. 9 oz. “This is the biggest brown ever recorded for the White River,” Graham said. “We are extremely pleased by Mr. Johnston’s catch. The White and North Fork Rivers have always been known as world-class trout fisheries and this is just further evidence that anglers still have the opportunity to catch trophy fish.”

Just a reminder, it is a No A-rig tournament.

Jim and all - Bill Babler and Phil are bringing enough food and paper plates etc, for everyone (Thanks Bill & Phil). rps is bringing some wings. That being said, if you want to bring some food, it will be welcome. You may want to bring your own drinks, there will be some available, I'm going to throw a case of water in the truck, but you may want to bring your own. Bring your digital cameras if you want, take some pictures out on the water and post them on the board. If you're unsure how to post them, you can send them to me and I can put them up.

No problem, suggestions are welcome.

It's tough to pick a location and date that works for everyone. I quickly learned that you just have to put a stake in the ground and say this is it. We'll see how this one goes, and I'll talk to the participants to see if this worked for them.

Sorry to hear that J-Doc.

Looking out the window right now at falling snow. But next week we're supposed to see 60's.

DST starts this Sunday, didn't take that in to consideration when I set the start time. So to make sure we've got good light, we are moving the start time to 0730, and end at 1500. With what looks to be quite a few boats, we'll do a staggered start, a boat leaving about every 30 seconds. Bill Babler has volunteered to be the starter. He'll point at you when it is your turn to go. The person who was going to be our weigh master is not going to be able to make it. If anyone would like to volunteer to be the weigh master, shoot me a PM.

What next? Somebody slips on the rocks, are they going to sue MDC for not cleaning and drying the rocks? Hopefully he loses his case.

Sorry to hear that.

We're getting close to the date, looking forward to seeing everyone! Here's a roster of who I have so far, looks like we'll have some goodies to pass out and so I'm trying to get a good estimate on who will be here. Some of you were unsure if you would make it, if so, I put a question mark by your name. May have missed a few folks, if you plan on coming, but don't see your name here, please feel free to post that you are coming. Same if you cannot make it. rps Donna G and Champ188 Merc1997 5bites Macsimus OldMillRoad Fishing Addiction Dwiebenga Daryk Campbell Sr Ketchup and his Mrs. JacobW OlBasser LdFisher and the Mrs. - Probably won't fish, but will attend the post tourney. Kbilb Crazy4fishin? Bassenforcer? Pour Dennis Sac River Jim and dblades aarchdale Richy611 and buddy? Tapout and Kenny Gann Denjac Powerdive Phil Lilley and Bill Babler Dmorgan 66 Darrencombs and family Muddy Water (weigh master) Devin S and partner Catbass1 GES and buddy Duckydoty

If the forecast is right, next week is looking great.

Yes would be nice if they had some craw patterns.

Looks similar to a Shad-Rap, except a bit heavier and runs a bit deeper (according to their depth chart). Looks like it has possibilities. However, a bit overpriced in my opinion. http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Bagley_Balsa_Shad_Crankbait/descpage-BAGBSD.html#multiview

Yes you would be good, release only applies to trout.

Never heard of that NZ fish, flew under the radar. Supposedly there is some great trout fishing in NZ.

I may try those Spintech's on a topwater.

Yeah I am not crazy about the pre-rigged head myself, I would rather just buy the plastic and get the heads separately. Maybe there is something to that head that gives it the action it has, but seems to me any ball head should work.

Welcome! You're coming down at a good time, should have some good fishing.

I really like the Mustad Elite KVD triple grips for crank baits. Sharp and stout. Seems that I lose fewer fish on them also. I also like Owner size 2 or 3 split rings. They don't deform as easily as some will.

Yep Calipari's sales tactics are hard to beat. Arkansas was dwarfed by Kentucky's size. So many big guys on that team, I think the Harrison boys are both 6'6", pretty tall for college guards. Only weakness I can see is Kentucky's offense. Their shooting is a little weak and they can have trouble with turn overs. Arkansas D played them pretty well in the first half, forced quite a few turnovers - but Arkansas offence failed to take advantage of the turnovers, either turning it over themselves, or missing shots, and they were missing shots mainly due to poor shot selection.

Yep I hear you. 5 more years and I'll be eligible for Social Security.

That is pretty neat. Looked up Shatner on Google. He is now 83 years old, doesn't seem possible.