Quillback

Oregon has some tough games left, Stanford, and at the end of the month, the in-state rivalry game against Oregon State.

Just been doing a little research, Lowrance claims to be using CHIRP (Continuous High Intensity Radar Pulse) technology for this application rather than CW (Continuous Wave). CHIRP, according to the experts, delivers better range resolution and better signal to noise ratio. CHIRP has been around since the 90's but it has always been expensive. This technology SHOULD provide better image resolution than what is currently available in your typical freshwater sonar. Not that I'm going to rush out and buy it, but if it works as advertised, it's an improvement in freshwater sonar technology. I would not be surprised to see CHIRP implemented into side imaging and down imaging applications. it is, as far as I can tell, a separate unit connected through a network hub. it seems it would not be a great leap to connect CHIRP compatible transducers to the hub and integrate with the sonar screen.

Yeah that's the thing, the technology has been available since WWII, but getting it reasonably priced, and adaptable to freshwater bass fishing is what's new. This stuff has the potential to be more than just a fad.

Interesting stuff, it mounts on your trolling motor, so you can point it where you want to "look". This is unlike Humminbirds 360 sonar that is mounted on the transom. I don't know how well it will work, for say scanning under docks or under bank cover like laydowns, but if it does work well, to me it's almost to the point of violating the principles of fair chase. Yeah even if you know where the fish are, you'll still have to catch them, but still I wonder if technology is starting to get a little too good. Thoughts? http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/News/SpotlightScan-Sonar/

Well I don't want to gloat, but I am happy to see the Bosox win. I think the Cards have some of the best fans in baseball, knowledgeable, dedicated, and courteous, so all you Cards fans have my sympathy. Wacha just didn't have it last night, he looked strong the 1st inning and I thought it was going to be tough to score on him, but after the first, he just seemed to lose it. I'm wondering if they had him trying to throw to many curve balls? He just doesn't have good control with that pitch, it's devastating if he gets it over, a great change of pace from his hard stuff, but if he misses with it, those Sox batters can focus on his fastball, because it's coming. I also wonder if the pressure got to him, tough assignment for a rookie, no matter how good his stuff is. Cards bats went to sleep again also. I will not be surprised to see the Cards back in the WS nest year. Boston, who knows?

I'm all for a 64 team super conference that's split into 4 16 team divisions, winners of the conferences advance to the playoffs. Or it could be 128 teams split into 8 16 team conferences. Rankings, committees, computers, and coaches opinions all become meaningless at that point. But it will probably never happen.

Seals and sea lions would every once in a while grab a salmon I'd hooked when fishing Puget Sound or the Columbia river. Never had one snatch a fish out of the landing net or when it was in hand, but I've heard stories of them doing it.

BV is given fish for free as the AGFC states they are surplus. BV asks for them and the AGFC gives them to BV. Yes there are public lakes where these fish could be stocked, again you need to ask AGFC why they are not. And as far as your wildlife argument, wildlife such as geese, ducks, eagles, etc., pass through and utilize the BV lakes. It's just as reasonable to have the state help manage these lakes as it is to have them assist private property owners. The blue cats were stocked to help manage the gizzard shad, which should benefit bass populations. And just for the record, high water events wash fish put of the BV lakes and into the public streams. You can't hunt on private property that has game species on it, the AGFC offers help to those landowners to manage habitat, but you can't hunt it. Are game species going to leave a large, well managed piece of property where they have everything they need? The AGFC assists private landowners in many ways, you don't like it that they provide fish to BV lakes, but you're OK with providing assistance to private landowners to enhance hunting on that land? You're picking and choosing what assistance to private landowners is OK to you. I'll agree with you that's it's not OK to assist BV with state resources if you agree it's not OK to assist other (private) landowners with state resources.

AGFC has designated them as surplus, you should ask them why they don't stock them in public water. So managing private property is part of AGFC's job, but raising fish in hatcheries is not? it's all spending public money. Providing assistance to a private landowner to help manage wildlife is still spending AGFC money helping a private landowner. No different that stocking fish in a private lake. Fish in hatcheries aren't public property, they belong to the state of Arkansas. Grab your fishing rod and head over to one of the hatcheries and do some catfishing. You'll probably get about 5 minutes in before someone shows up to boot you off. I agree that it would make sense for the AGFC to sell it's surplus fish, but again you need to contact the AGFC, if you're so passionate about this issue, you should direct your efforts at getting something done. Your arguments really don't matter if you aren't willing to do something about it. if you do take the time to contact AGFC with your concerns, I'd be very interested to hear what they had to say.

The bait is the Zoom Ultravibe Speed Craw.

As to AGFC helping land owners with Habitat ( THATS THEIR JOB ) Duh But AGFC does NOT stock those private lands do they? NO THEY DO NOT! The AGFC spends money to help private landowners, that's the point. I can do without the "DUH" comments. I think you're intelligent enough to put together an argument without resorting to that kind of stuff.

Sorry that you don't get it F&F, I don't want to see my tax money spend on stocking stripers, you don't want to see it spend on stocking fish in BV lakes. BTW the public can fish the lakes, you just need to be hosted by a member. Also anyone can purchase a lot here and pay annual dues and gain access to the lakes. Also these fish are designated surplus by the AGFC and in effect given to BV by the state. Your original rant against the POA and the city of BV is misguided, if you are so unhappy with the state giving surplus fish to BV, you should direct your rants at the AGFC.

That doesn't matter, I don't want to pay for stripers stocked in Beaver. You want to fish for them, you pay for them. Why should everyone in Arkansas pay for your striper fishing? And speaking of helping private landowners, why should AGFC help landowners with habitat projects for wildlife? Why provide help with helping set up private ponds? Should the federal government provide money to farmers for CRP? You can't hunt it without permission, so by your reasoning all of this kind of funding should be cut off, I wonder how many ducks are shot at private duck clubs that you can't access? But you bought a federal duck stamp didn't you? If you're going to argue that AGFC should not provide surplus fish to BV, then by that argument, there should not be any assistance provided by AGFC to any private entities. Or the federal government.

Nice rant there F&F, AGFC is also funded by a 1/8th percent sales tax paid by all Arkansans. Those stripers you catch are in part funded by ALL Arkansans. Maybe some of us don't like having stripers in Beaver, and why should we pay for it so YOU can catch them. I think there should be a special permit created to fund all striper hatcheries and it should be required for anyone who wants to retain stripers. All striper hatchery funding should come from the sale of those permits. Time for striper fishermen to Pay up or Shut up.

Blue cats and trout stocked (trout sometime this week). Quite a few blue cats, might provide some good fishing (and eating) next year and beyond. The "I" referred to below is the POA fisheries biologist (didn't ant anyone to think it was me ). Catfish Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) will stock fish in Bella Vista Village lakes, at my request, if they have surplus fish available in the state fish hatchery system after all state public water stocking requests have been fulfilled. They do not charge us for these fish, since to fish in Bella Vista Village, members have to buy state fishing license from the AGFC. I request channel catfish for some lakes each year in hopes that we get them in some years. But this year, I requested blue catfish for the four largest Bella Vista Village lakes, because those lakes have populations of gizzard shad. Gizzard shad need to be kept thinned out and large open-water predators like blue catfish and hybrid striped bass are good fish for this management need. AGFC was able to fill this request and the fish were stocked last week. The blue catfish averaged 6.5 inches in length and the following lists the numbers stocked in each lake. Ann 1,130 Windsor 2,200 Avalon 670 Loch Lomond 4,770 Lakes Brittany and Rayburn do not have gizzard shad populations, and therefore, are undesirable for another large predator like blue catfish. Those two lakes were not stocked for that reason, but both lakes have received channel catfish stocking every year since 2007, and therefore, have large populations of channel catfish. Rainbow trout The Lake Brittany trout stocking program will resume for at least two months beginning this week (the week of Oct. 28). A load of 1,000 harvestable size (11 to 12 inches) rainbow trout will be stocked in Lake Brittany by Crystal Lake Trout Hatchery, along with some fingerling trout that will average 6 to 7 inches in length. That will be followed by a load of another 1,000 harvestable trout stocked in late November or early December. These are stockings that I originally budgeted for in this year�s budget just as in years past. I have budgeted for the usual springtime stocking of 1,000 trout per month in January through April in the 2014 budget that has yet to be approved by the association's Board of Directors. Hopefully, we will be able to continue this program as we have since 2007. You might recall that this past spring we were not able to spend this budget money due to Board concerns for the budget earlier this year and so no trout have been stocked thus far in 2013.

12 - 4 would not be bad.

Well you guys have Wacha going Wednesday night, it would not surprise me if the Cards win and push it to game 7. Fenway is going to be a madhouse.

I'll keep an eye out for you guys. I'll probably be fishing somewhere Thursday if the weather cooperates.

Dang Snap, you had some good seats, I am jealous.

Launched in some heavy fog this morning about 0830. Went back to fishing the jig on shallow cover. That did not work quite as well today than it did Saturday. Threw a c-rig around for a bit also. Caught 9 bass, 2 keepers. Very light biters today, Saturday they just swallowed that jig, today, the ones I managed to get into the boat, were usually just barely hooked. I missed 3 big fish, two of them I never saw. Never knew they were on the jig, what happened was I'd throw it out there, think it hit bottom, lift the jig and feel something solid just like hanging on some wood. But then the wood took off - all of them pulled drag and got off after a few seconds, just never got the hook to stick. The one I saw I got up to the boat, looked to be a spot in the 3 - 4lb range, really hated to see that one get off. Another big bass encounter I had, was late in the afternoon as I was fishing a rock point, there were quite a few shad in the area. I was using a c-rig, had my rod under my arm, adjusting my bait, happened to look down at the trolling motor and see a big fish slowly swimming up to the boat. At first I think that it must be a carp, but got a good look at it, it was a bass, I'm thinking 6 or 7 llbs. I freeze and watch it slowly swim under the boat. I dropped my bait over the side, but she wouldn't go for it. Never saw her again. Big bass of the day was this fat 2 lb. spot caught c-rigging a Zoom Ultravibe Speed Craw. Took a picture of a Red Maple growing on a bluff, sunlight was a little bright so the picture doesn't do it justice. Saw 4 turkeys strolling in the woods. Water temp 64.

I bet he's a happy guy right now.

Smith can't complete a pass over 20 yards. He missed a couple of deep throws yesterday when he had open receivers. I think Bowe is getting a little frustrated.

They have exceeded expectations for sure.

Been a great Series so far.

Not my personal best, but all I'm seeing are pictures of river fish. Here's a Table Rock smallie I caught in July.