Quillback

Congrats on you recovery! I would not recommend throwing topwaters to stripers however, one of those things blowing up on your lure could give anyone a coronary!

At least here in Arkansas I still don't see the need to charge a river fee to hire "Riverkeepers" or whatever. Not that it's a bad idea. The AGFC rakes in $75 million a year, and if herding drunken canoers should be deemed a priority enforcement issue (and the only way it will become a priority is through public outcry directed to the AGFC commission), then the AGFC has plenty of money to throw at this issue. Maybe in Missouri the MDC is underfunded, so a fee might make sense there. I also have to admit that every time there's a problem, the perceived fix is to create a tax or fee to have government solve it. I'm fed up with the "Nanny state" mindset. What next? Webcams mounted on every tree in the wilderness so law enforcement can bust us if we break one of the many rules we've created? Sounds like we need a fee!

Thanks for the report, I'm going to give it a shot tomorrow AM. (If I can get out of bed early enough).

Here's a couple of budget numbers, you can find out more, if you're interested, by googling "AGFC budget" Budget for 2012-21023 is roughly $73 million. Thought it interesting that they're spending $90,000 on the Joneboro office for furniture and refurbushing (I mention this because I doubt you'd get $90,000/year from an Ozark river usage fee, to get $90,000 you'd have to charge 9,000 users $10 each for example,). Also, it should be noted that about 40% of the AGFC budget is for personnel costs. "Approved the AGFC budget for fiscal year 2012-13, totaling $72,950,869. *Approved a budget increase of $90,349 for purchase of office furniture, temporary rent and moving expenses for the new AGFC Jonesboro Regional Office."

I'm not at all in favor of Arkansas creating an Ozark river usage fee. The AGFC gets 1/8% sales tax in addition to all the other fee money they already get. Not to mention gas leases on AGFC land. And the federal money coming in through the fed tax on certain sporting goods. AGFC gets plenty of money, the issue is where it is spent.

Got a tenth of an inch or rain yesterday, but today it's coming down hard, great stuff!

Glad to hear some good reports, I think I'll pay a visit this week.

Got a little yesterday, but not near enough, but could get some more the next 2 days.

SOLD!

New online retailer based in Arkansas, they have a 20% off sale through midnight Sunday. Not the selection that TW has, but some good stuff.

Just went to their website (decided I needed a few more jigs). Their daily special is Luck-E-Strike STX jerkbaits for $5.99. I also noticed they've added some new colors.

Yep they snagged some of my money again. Good selection of stuff and good prices when they have these sales.

When you say REAL craw scent, what brand are you using?

That's a great trip! I like fishing the Ol' Monster myself this time of year. Black/blue flake and black/red flake, Zoom makes some great worms!

It's funny watching the TV weather people, they keep talking about the rain we're supposed to get next week as if it's a done deal, but on their forecast it's only a 30% chance. 30% seems like a low chance of rain to me.

Another thing I've noticed is there are a lot of blue herons on the lakes and streams, I don't remember seeing so many back in the 60's and 70's, seems in the last 20 years they've really become numerous.

Saw a pair of juvenile eagles on Table Rock this weekend, looked like they were just learning to fly. Mom or dad was out on the lake diving on fish. I would think that they would eat a lot of gar, seeing how gar hang so close to the top of the water in the summer, and TR has a lot of gar.

Outdoor writer in the Sunday paper was saying Cooked Creek is dry in places.

No rain here either, last night the TV weather guesser was predicting rain next week - I think he's just saying it to get people to watch the forecast.

The TV weather dude is predicting a cool down (upper 80's) and rain for next Monday/Tuesday. I'm sceptical to say the least.

You would think it would make a difference on the White river arm. I admit I never look at generation, I just go early in the morning and fish.

I probably whizzed by you - I'll keep my eyes peeled next time, but don't know if I'll be on TR much more this summer unless we get a cool down. I've got a silver and black Phoenix with a 200 HP Merc.

Pulled away from the dock about 0500, went down lake a few miles to an area that has several long runouts, fished a Zoom Ol' Monster on the points hoping for big fish, got some fish, but nothing over 15". Good shallow bite right away, they were up on the points chasing shad, but that lasted for maybe 30 minutes. Did some deep fishing with a Punkin Ed Shakey head with a big worm, got a couple of thumps but missed them. Ended up catching a few more spots off points with an FB jig. Caught 11 bass total, but no big ones. Off the water at 1030. Passed by the Devils Backbone, several boats there, looked like walleye guys. Not a whole lot of bass boats out, but the skiers and other riffraff were on the water, not too bad, but enough to be annoying. Had a pair of jet skis go by me at 0600, adios peace and quiet. Saw a couple of juvinile eagles hanging out in a dead tree off one point. My guess is they hatched this spring and are now starting to fly.

Sorry Stumper, don't know the answers to your questions, the article was pretty brief, just a paragraph or two and didn't have anything in the way of details.

I forgot to add, it happened in the Hogscald area.