remi74

No trouble here. Just access legally. I make calls every year to county, MDC and sometimes sherriff's dept. to ask questions. I haven't had any run-ins with anyone but keep my butt covered with phone calls. I run into anglers every now and again who access from same points and never had trouble other than saying to keep the area clean. Seems some landowners like to post and even put fencing where they shouldn't but as long as you stay on stream . . .

I think everybody has a different experience. I fished a stream for 15 years. I always waved and said hi to the same old guy for years. He talked with fisherman, etc. this year, he tried to run me off and mention all the trouble he's had by his house and that his neighbor was scared of me fishing behind her house. I spoke with the other neighbors who were surprised to hear he had any trouble and taken back that this old guy and his neighbor were running me off. He was telling me he own the road in front of the bridge and I was trespassing and the land on the other side that I accessed next to the bridge was his neighbors was considered trespassing too. I could go on . . . Said he had my tag number and name, I asked him my name and of course he couldn't answer. Said he was calling Sherriff and I said to call warden too and tell them my name too. So, I called game and fish, Sherriff, and county road dept. I was told I entered the stream properly and not trespassing and the road was county property. However, being in AR, AGFC said to ask permission to fish on stream from land owners.

I held this hefty big boy like this because of it's weight. Hope it's a proper hold because I really don't like to hold them too long. I've lost several photos because I snap a shot and put the phone in my shirt pocket and release the fish. I go back and try to finish the pics and post them on Intagram but they disappear. So, I do my best to let these guys go without inflicting too much discomfort.

Sorry, thought Chief was poking fun and calling me greedy for smallies. Read it as "snapping jaw" like snapping turtle. The fish's belly was resting on my hand. But now it does look that it wasn't my best grip. I've seen some nasty pics and agree that a fish shouldn't be held in a manner than can hurt it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

From last week. When the floods subside, I'm gonna catch me some more fatties. Gonna post a pic of the fly soon.

There are 2 bridges I know of. If you acces from a bridge, it's legal and you can be in the stream up to the high water mark. I don't care if they own both sides of the stream. They didn't put the trout there in the first place. Big money = loss of stream access.

There are 2 ways to get in to the creek legally around the "trout" area. These are legally accessed because it's from a bridge which it totally legal and you can be in the stream up to the high water mark. They can not make you leave. There are smallies in there too.

I had someone tell me of a pattern. Glad he told me. Got me out of my comfort zone (foam). Working my way to the Sex Dungeon. Gonna throw up some pics. You can find instructions on youtube (not mine). Hoping the extra movement will pull some larger bass out. The white fly is Galloup's Articulated Boogie Man. The black fly is Galloup's Articulated Circus Peanut.

Thanks. May actually have to put the kayak on moving water.

Any suggestions on a campground to wade the Elk?? I need some deeper water or something in the way of hitting larger smallmouth. All these decent bass are OK but I'm ready to hit some big stuff. What flies are you guys using to target large bass other than top water patterns? THANKS!!

Nice fish. I'd consider that a good one. I take what I can get and am more than happy, lol. If I can catch something over 1 lbs., I am amazed.

I haven't been to the cemetery hole since Spring. I was at the fair today and noticed the mailbox was gone. Completely gone. I've been told in the past that fishing is free during the fair. Does anyone know if it's still open?? Back in about 2004 or so it was closed due to all the littering . . . .

I've had some rough outings lately. At this time last year, I was tearing those bass up. Seems kinda dead since all the rain. Fish are finally moving about, lol. Gonna switch to some larger flies. Saw a guy catching smallies on a large fluke. It was about 10 inches long and about as long as those bass. Topwater action has been lousy and those bass have been sucking and spitting for about the past 6 weeks or so . . . maybe it's me, lol. Caught some nice bass on a new 3 wgt. rod.

Got to looking at MDC info. Looks like gigging started 9/15. He he. I don't really pay attention to that stuff I guess. I used to gig frogs every now and again but guess I'm stuck in the ol' fly fishing mentality, lol.

Elk River system - I found 7 carp heads in the water. It looks as if they were cut off but I'm not see any scales or bodies nearby or downstream. This seems to have happened yesterday and I could not find sign of people having trampled or littered, etc. As much as I want to say this was a huge bird, lol - it seems that someone may have killed some carp . . . I have never seen this before and sure not on the stream anywhere. I'm just looking for some feedback because I in speaking with someone who also fishes this area has also noticed that this pool where I found the carp heads has not been very productive this year. I am in agreement and have seen a few folks take more than his lawful share of bass . . . is it someone killing carp or perhaps taking them for a meal??

If you pray, pray for peace. Tell your churches to spread Christianity through missionaries and financial support of families abroad. Even though the government says we are not at war with Islam, it is at war with us. The only way to fight it is with the Lord. We don't talk about the current issues with Islam in church but it's about time we do bring it up. Praise the Lord and through his son shall we all be saved.

Been tearing up the smallmouth on Pistol Petes and crawdads. Been tough going for me lately but topwater is picking back up. Does size matter? NO.

Yup. Caught it on a popper. Crawfish tube bait/jig stuck in it's throat.

They are in the craft dept. There are blue and red hangers too.

Brian, those can make a blolooop sound depending on how you pull. I designed them to displace water.

Thanks guys. I love foam flies.

These go for $1 and are obvious;y thicker than flat craft foam. Makes for a nice squishy body.

These are simple - if using a cutter but you can cut this shape out with scissors. Size 10 hook 2 lengths of foam about 1/2" wide One length of foam needs to be about 1/2" short than the other. Match up the butt ends (longer piece of foam on the bottom) and secure bottom at about the barb with 6 wraps of thread. Wind thread around the shank towards the eye - stop about 1/8" from eye. Pull the longer length of foam over the top of the shorter piece and secure with several wraps of thread. Tie in a foam indicator if needed. Throw some legs on and secure with thread. Clip thread and secure body with glue.

This is a good pattern for bass but best for large panfish such as rock bass or warmouth. Those small sunnies may have trouble sucking these down. It's a foam pattern cut from a foam door hanger from Walmart. Pretty simple. Tie some foam on and legs. I used a Chernobyl cutter but obviously, you can cut a body with scissors. This is a size 8.