Quillback

I'm going to fry these fish, I like fried fish about once every month or so. Next time I get some of the white bass family I am going to make that RPS chowder.

So what do you guys think of sub-species as far as adding to your count? The reason I ask is that doing some reading on walleye today and the Black river has a genetically distinct walleye population that are native to that river. And there are 3 smallmouth types in Arkansas; Northern, Neosho, and Ouchita.

Wow, you guys whacked them! That's a great day on the Beav!

Walleye are designed for the fillet knife, here's the results from filleting a couple in the 19" range.

I'm assuming AGFC still stocks walleye fingerlings in the Kings and White rivers. As far as I know they collect brood stock from the Kings and sometimes the White. They usually net them around March 15. MDC does stocking when they have "surplus" fingerlings. I'm guessing the walleye I caught yesterday on gravel where there to spawn - but that's my gut feel. Up shallow in 10 FOW, with nothing else as far as bait fish or other fish like bass. Can't see any other reason for them to be there, well maybe getting into some warmer water. Checked out the two I kept, one was a male with sperm sacks, the other did not have either sperm sacks or eggs but had what looked like fat globules - it was a fat fish. I sent an email to AGFC to see if they are still stocking walleye in the TR tribs. Here's something from the MDC website: The Missouri Department of Conservation stocked surplus walleye in the James River Arm in 2014, 2016, and 2020. Fish sampling surveys in early spring 2019 indicated a quality number of walleye in the 21”-24” range in the James River Arm. In addition, 75% of the walleye sampled in the James River Arm in March 2019 were > 20". Good populations of walleye are also present in the Kings River Arm and upper portions of the White River Arm. Walleye catch rates in the 2019 spring electrofishing surveys in the Kings River were the highest ever recorded. Anglers reported catching numerous smaller walleye throughout the lake in 2020, indicating good recruitment from the high water in recent years.

The guys on the Roaring River? Could be, I have never fished there so don't know if the whites run up that far or not.

I'm perfectly happy with my Texas Tackle pliers, but should they ever die I will check out those Xurons.

Casting. I'm pretty confident that if someone wanted to troll a Keitech you could get some wallies.

Finally got a keeper sized walleye - as a matter of fact I caught 2 keepers today. Couple of short walleye too, one was just a hair short of 18", it was tough to let it go when at the time I had one in the livewell, but I just could not get it to that 18' mark. These walleye were all on gravel points in about 10 FOW. One on a Pointer 78 and the others on the 2.8 Keitech. Bass fishing was slow for me, caught 9 spots and only one was a keeper. Most came on the Ned rig. I found a school of them just inside a cove in the trees, they were goofy biters, missed several but caught 5 in that school which was my bass fishing highlight of the day. Caught a couple on the 78 too. WT was 43 when I launched and almost 46 when I came in. Roaring River was hopping when I drove through, had about 8 vehicles backed up at the stop sign to get onto 112. River was lined with people, fly rods in hand, near the bridge. Nice day to be out.

Good going guys, you did a lot better than I did today.

That's great, good to see them up shallow!

You're right, at least in my case. If I'm going to bake fish it is always saltwater fish.

Sweet fish, congrats!

Nice!

Have not watched the whole thing, but though what I'd seen was interesting. Wild Science Webinar: March 2021 - Smallmouth and Ducks - YouTube

Went on a trip to Ontario years ago, we fried up yellow perch, walleye and pike together. The pike were the best, but boney as you mention.

Speaking of walleye, local Harps had fillets for $11.99/lb.

I cut the red meat out on whites, stripers, and hybrids. Usually when you get into those species you get enough of them that you can cut the red meat out and still have plenty of fish.

Fried Pacific smelt was a thing in Washington state before the smelt runs disappeared. Headed and gutted, deep fried the bones would dissolve.

That's pretty cool, congrats!

Those are some great fish. Maybe they were giving some school kids a tour - "Hey you wanna blow the horn?"

Cool, better the LU than the powerhead.

Nice one! Tons of new houses being built here in Bella Vista too. It got pretty busy here with new construction in 2006-2007, but this is many more times that. New houses sell before they are finished. More pressure on the community lakes here too, I was out today and had a decent morning on the jerker, but had a lot of company.

Sorry to hear that.