Quillback

Last Saturday my neighbor and I hit one of the Bella Vista lakes in the evening. The plan was to get a few small Bream to use as bait on some jugs and then do a little catfishing once it got dark. Anyway we were working the shoreline for Bream, picking up a few bait sized ones. My neighbor has this bad habit of trailing a nightcrawler about 6 feet down under a cork off the stern as we fish the shoreline. Every once in a while he actually catches something on it, well that's how he got the mighty 12 inch Redear. Biggest one I ever saw. Sorry no pic, as it wasn't my fish. The catfishing was a bust, not a one did we catch. But the giant Redear made my neightbors day (and probably the hightlight of his year fishing wise). He's already claiming it weighed 2 pounds - next year it will be 3 lbs. I'm sure.

Those Sockeyes are darn godd eating.

First time I have been able to get on the board for several days. Did it get hacked?

Crippled Caddis - I remember reading that article years ago, it was either Field and Stream or Outdoor Life. It was unusual to read about flyfihing for catfish, I guess that's why I remember it.

I think just about any good sized tackle shop in this area carries "Fishing Hot Spots" maps of Beaver. They are decent maps and have some tips on where and when to fish. It may be worth a try to Google fishing hot spots maps and see if you can order one online, if you want to check things out before you get here.

That is a nice redear! I'm jealous. A catfishing get together would be fun.

I was out checking the boat, looks like an inner seal is blown on one of the wheels and it's throwing grease, if I knew how to repack bearings I'd fix it myself, but I don't. Anyway, as much as I hate to do it I'm going to have to cancel, just can't bring myself to drive two hours worrying whether that bearing will hold up. Someone else will have to bring the utensils. Sorry about this, I really hate missing out, I had gotten everything ready, bought worms, rigged gear etc.

They do put Hybrids in Beaver, I think on an every other year basis.

Ok, I'm planning to go. I'm coming up by myself and I'll be bringing the boat, I can fit two people in the boat (it will be a little cramped) besides myself if any of you shore fishers want to boat fish with me. I plan on moving down the bank with thr trolling motor tossing redworms to likely looking spots. I'm going to try and get there by 0700-0730. I can bring paper plates, plastic cups, plastic utensils if it's still needed. I don't know if I'll stay for the fish fry, just depends how late it is when we start. I'm assuming there's a boat launch near where we're meeting? I'm also thinking of bringing a couple of jugs and put some of those pesky little green perch to work - I'm assuming jugging is legal on Stockton? If any of you wants to fish with me just use the message feature on the board so we don't clutter this thread and I'll get back to you. Anybody bringing cell phone? Could be useful to pass on info when we're on the lake.

I'm still on the fence about going, it being a 125 mile drive from here. But, I just found out it's FREE FISHING WEEKEND in MO this weekend, so I won't need to purchase a non-res license. Where is Cedar Ridge picnic area? At Stockton State park?

I'm up for the fryeth of the Bream, I can also bringeth my boat as long as it's not too much of a driveth. Seriuosly, I'd be in for one of those MO lakes as long as it's relatively close to NW AR, say no more than a 90 minute drive.

I read an interesting story in Business Week today about Exxon. Basically they are rolling about 60% of their profits into a stock buyback program. By reducing the number of shares outstanding they increase revenue per share. In other words their stock looks attractive as earning per share are going up, but they're not getting those earnings by producing more product. Many corportations are adopting this strategy. Not a very good long term strategy in my opinion. Exxon also said they weren't building any more refineries in the US, and they weren't going to increase spending on trying to find new oil deposits. They are very happy with the way things are now.

I think it's a good idea.

From my "Fishes of Arkansas" book: "In breeding males, all colors more intense, fins becoming densely pigmented, pelvic and anal fins becoming almost black." Bluegill also have a very long, pointed pectoral fin. Redears also have a long, pointed pectoral fin, but most other sunfish have a short, rounded pectoral fin.

OK, Gone, I'll keep you in mind. Not that I'm an expert on these lakes, this is my first year here. Once these fish have moved off the beds they'll probably be tougher to find.

Funny that you guys brought this topic up, did some Redear and Bluegill fishing this Saturday on one of the Bella Vista lakes. Here's a Redear and a Bluegill.

Test

I paid 3.25 in Jane, MO yesterday. Prices have really jumped in NW AR and SW MO. Supposedly some sort of refinery outage in OK. #@&^!

I'm filling up in Jane MO yesterday at 2.89. Guy strolls out to the big price sign and bingo, gas price now 2.97. Another day, another price increase.

Cool, thanks for the report!

Cunningham, thanks for the info. How did you do Saturday?

Today's Arkansas Gazette has an article that states that farmers are taking CRP land and planting corn on it. Corn that will be converted to Ethanol. The writer speculates that this loss of CRP land will have a direct negative impact on duck numbers.

I was reading that farmers are planting corn now instead of other crops because of Ethanol. We could see increases in food prices, especially for meat and pork. Then there's also biodiesel, some crops are better biodiesel producers than others and they aren't necessarily food crops, so again we could lose more food production so that we can produce biodiesel.

As Britts and Birds says, they got us by the lower unit, we can whine about oil companies, conspiracies, taxes, govt officials, dems, GOP, (name your villain) but they're selling it for $3.00 and we're buying it. The oil industry figured out last year that we'll pay these high prices, maybe we'll grumble about it and blame whomever, but we'll still pay, heck the oil companies aren't charities, if we give them our money they'll take it. Best thing to do is buy some oil company stock. Exxon has doubled in the last 5 years.

I was reading the other day that gasoline usage in the US, despite higher prices, is still rising on a year to year basis. As long as we keep burnung it, they'll keep charging us for the priviledge. I'm reminded of that old Pogo saying: "We have met the enemy and they is us."