remi74

Just sitting here enjoying my coffee with some sort of egg and sausage casserole my wife baked . . . just dwelling on today's highlights. It wasn't a great day. Heck, the water temperature dropped darn near 20 degrees in a week. Fall hit us like that darn drought. Well, I hope it's Fall. I finally strapped on the ol' waders and hit the frigid stream. Warmed up playing with some sunfish and bream. I crept onto a long stretch of smooth shale with some deep pools, hoping to play some bass with a crawdad I had tied on. I landed a few small bass and lost a decent one too. As the weather began to warm up and the clouds rolled in from the east, I made my way to the secret spot . . . MY secret spot which nobody will ever find out about . . . ever. For now, he he. With my crawdad pattern, I was using floating line. The leader was short, so I piddled around a deep pool until I lost that darn thing. So, I tied on a Rainy's Cricket. I got some of these flies from my dad about 4 years ago and have never used them. I landed a few small Ozark bass and a Shadow bass or two. Not much action as the past few weekends on this spot. I decided to make my way back upstream to drift the cricket. But before I left this spot, I slapped it down near the edge of where the deep pool turns shallow and the stream slows down a bit. SLAM! A bass leaped out of the water as it hammered my fly. I pulled back and he jumped back out of the water again. DANG! A beauty. Since I had lost a few big ones recently, I decided to play this fish out. It took about 10 minutes but I think he still wanted to play. Yup, I was happy. So, I ended up losing that cricket in some rocks across the stream. I decided to put on my sinking line and tie on a chartreuse Clouser. Yep, landed a few more bream and smaller bass. The wind changed direction and clouds were now coming in from the Northeast. I decided to hike back to the truck, as the wind was getting colder and clouds began to grow and darken. Trying not to doze off, I sip on my coffee and nibble on my Snackimals . . . just thinking of how much time I have left before Mother Nature brings her chilled reminder of the holidays and it's droll responsibilities.

Went out today. The stream was running faster and the bass were moving about in the riffles and backwater. Due to our heat wave, the streams have receded more than usual. The fish were sure enjoying their freedom from the heat and murky waters. I don't know why but this year has been awesome for me . . . at least in the way of catching bass. One interesting note, I was casting downstream into a swift current and popping my Flip-Flop fly against the flow - back upstream. AND the bass were hitting it. Not only was it a portion of stream that I have never caught bass in but I was using a technique that I figured was odd. I also hit some backwater on the edge of the stream which was grown up with weeds and grass. Lots of rocks and logs. The water had risen enough for the bass to chase minnows and crawdads into this somewhat shallow retreat. September . . . and I'm still taking lots of bass on top water flies.

I know you will be SO jealous. lol. This pic is what my action consisted of yesterday. I did find a good spot where the weeds grew out on top of the water at the edge of the riffles. I hit that same spot with my popper 3 times in a row. The fourth cast, I put it on top of the weeds and chugged it out into the water where a huge bass slammed it and took it downtown where he broke it off the line - partly because I tried to wrangle him in instead of playing him.

Yummy. I lost a huge one yesterday on a popper. Didn't change my tippet or fly from the day before. Grrr. Lately, topwater action is king BABY!

The past couple of weekends, I've been tearing them up with top-water flies. No doubt, it's awesome. If they missed the fly, they'd try to take it again. At times, I had to be patient and wait when the fly hit the water . . . or wait a bit after chugging it once. I bought some flies at the Bass Pro Shops yesterday . . . looking to kook up with some smallies soon. I honestly do think of myself as lucky. I am still learning about how and where to fish for smallmouth.

Went out yesterday morning. I think the cold snap kinda threw the fish off until noon. I landed about 10 smallies on my Flip-Flop fly.

Thanks! Low water bridge . . . hmmm, will have to locate that one.

Had to do some strategic wading and swimming but it was successful. Lots o' bass came my way.

Hey, Been a long time since I posted. I usually fish the Little Sugar but scoped out a few places on the Elk in Pineville and Noel. Is anyone wading the river?? It seems to be down really low and I think it may be a waste of time - at least until the drought and heat leave. I had some luck on the Big Sugar too but am looking for some new water. Thanks.

I was out on the 18th. Water was up about a foot and flowing so fast I could barely wade some places. Very dirty. Caught several smallies on chartruese and white clouser with large stainless steel red eyes. Also, several crappie on pink and chartruese clouser. Intermediate sinking line. Still looking for big smallies. Caught several large and juicy male bluegills on sinking line with nymphs.

Went out for smallies and caught a few. I landed more panfish than anything. Some really small white bass too - maybe they were Yellow Bass?? - they were really small. Clouser was productive as well as white rooster tail. Good size 'gills for the fryer. Area was productive for a little bit then everyone left. Things picked up an hour or so later, I landed 4 bass in about 45 minutes. I would say today was one of the most productive days I've had in a long time. Fished 4 or so hours on local stream. We may have to hook up for 'gill action. I know of a hole on Middle Fork that can be pretty productive sometimes. But who knows where I'll end up.

Won't say where I went. I had chores to run this morning. I fished about 30 minutes and landed 8 white bass. Tied on a white bead head wooly bugger - white crystal flash chenille. I'll post a pic later - camera is at home. 5 wgt. intermediate sinking tip line. Water got too crowded for me. Used to be not so crowded. I want smallmouth this year more than anything. I almost chose not to go out for white bass today. I wasn't feeling it. I want to land smallies!!! Going out for smallmouth tomorrow. Going to fish unfamiliar waters too. I still have yet to land white bass with a crawdad pattern. Truck is covered in orange mud. White bass will always be there and fairly easy to catch. Smallmouth bass are more difficult for me. I also want some large bluegills for the fryer. Yum - Uncle Buck's fish batter.

Great info guys. I did get a couple of flies with rubber "grub" tails. Fishers Ford bridge is being abandoned by the county. Hope access remains available. I haven't been down there in a long time. Landed a few at another bridge Monday - tough fishing.

Funny thing. I was at McClellan's this morning. The wiggle minnow was tempting. I did pick up a number of smallmouth and white bass flies. I have a lot of topwater patterns but and trying to switch from my other flies such as nymphs, crawdads, woollies and such. Picked up streamers and crawdads. Flybox is looking better.

Anyone used purple crawdad patterns? I had a custom pattern I was drifting - brown. I like deep holes. Streamer patterns just aren't working too well for me. I couldn't fish on river much. Lots of rain last night. Switched to rooster tails and fishing bridge pilings. My success on this river lies almost soley with rooster tails. Lots to learn yet. Some of my white bass patterns work ok. I had a fly - White River Minnow - purchased from local shop that is no longer in business. It was a killer. Maybe the Illinois is getting nasty. Oh, any shops around NWA with hellgrammites?? Looking for help fly fishing for smallies on Upper Illinois in AR. . Tired of panfish (kinda).

I have read some stuff on this site about folks' opinions about their property and scouting and asking permission. I do ask permission but sometimes, you fish a hole or two because the fence is far offf and nobody knows who owns it and everyone else is fishing it . . . . There have been a few issues I have run into such as a golf course taking both sides of a creek or property owner mentioning he owns both sides. Heck, I have had an owner that owns just one side of the creek (the other is already known) come and check on me when I access from the other side. Thing is, I have been on the phone and emailed and had a forum or two about these issues. AGFC has been vague about these issues becuase I feel they don't want to step on anybody's foot. I have found a link to the code on rivers and creeks many times but cannot locate it now . . . if a creek or river is navigable a certain amount of months, it is considered public domain. The owning of property on the creeks was noted. If you own both sides of a creek or river, does it give you a right to keep people from fishing? And I totally understand folks wanting to keep things private - oh yeah. What irks me is folks screwing things up for other fisherman. If a creek is owned on different sides, who has say? Who has say about navigable waters? Does someone say to someone else, stay off the Arkansas, I own this side? Not sure what I am saying at this point, just a bit upset. Few places I located this week where I used to fish are now noted and posted or blocked off. AND BELIEVE YOU ME, I KNOW HONEY HOLES ARE HOLY - mine has been littered and destroyed due to Outdoors Writers making them popular. I grew up in British Columbia - seemed different mindset or maybe society has changed. Too many greedy littering disrespectful people.

It happened to me one year. I can pull a few out at this spot most every year. But back in 2006, they were short striking me. I had on a Gummy Minnow with a hook that was probably a 4. Went down to a size 8 on a different fly. No problem there but the crappie were still being a pain.

It happened to me one year. I can pull a few out at this spot most every year. But back in 2006, they were short striking me. I had on a Gummy Minnow with a hook that was probably a 4. Went down to a size 8 on a different fly. No problrm there but the crappie were being a pain.

Checked out Little Sugar in MO yesterday. Running pretty swift. I have 2 access points. If someone has permission or something let me know - having heck of time fishing from certain spot. I only fish by myself . . . . in certain waters. Looking to head to Big Sugar soon. If anyone wants to hook up on Little or Big let me know - I'll use spinning or fly rod. No matter.

Heading out today or tomorrow if anyone wants to hook up around Twin Bridges. Maybe hit another location if it rains too much today. I imagine white bass are biting here and there but water temp won't be optimal with this rain today - cant' wait!!!!!!!! I would be wading in unless someone has boat or canoe.715-1377 josh

Savoy - HWY 16 - little bridge. There was on other place - I waded in off a side road somewhere. I know a few other places a long ways off from there too. Let me know when you are up for it. There are deep holes by the bridge - so watch out - and it can be pretty slick in there too. I have never waded south - only north. That spot frustrates me but if you wade downstream a ways, it gets better. I haven't been down there since 2004. If you rent a canoe at Lake Wedington (or take your own), you can land a bunch of bream. Lake Bob Kidd has awesome Largemouth fishing on the far corner with all the lily pads and old sunken farm junk.

Ya, been there done that - it's an OK spot though. Spoiled - trying to get back towards state line - nice juicy fish.

There are just a couple of places I can fish on the Illinois here in AR. Most of it being on private property - hard to get around. Caught a bunch of Kentucky and Smallies around 412 last year.

I have caught some decent sized largemouth below the spillway nearest the memorial. There can be decent fishing - I fish it everynow and then but end up using rooster tails instead of usual fly fishing gear. Some great bluegills in there. Low water does affect fishing. I fished way out east of Bella Vista and caught some large kentuckies but that's if you are adventurous. I will fish for anything - look for sucker spawn too. Lake is really low right now - I would use popping bugs on lake if fly fishing. Holler at me too if you go out - I was just out Tuesday - water is cold - fishing is slow. Just rained all night but I will fish it in a few days or so . . . but the spillway closest to highway is busted and water is not being controlled - may be a week or so . . . . keep an eye on it.

Campground area to wade into - not anything near Forum. Thanks for any info!!!!