BFTMASTER

I have caught some really nice fish the past couple months. I hope that they are holdovers that have benefited from the min. release. I have watched some really decent fish cruising. All they have to learn is not to eat powerbait and they have a chance to get bigger.

I was down in Zone 2 this weekend and saw almost every spin fishermen using some sort of soft plastic, be it a trout magnet or something similar. Does not seem to matter to much though, I did not see any of them catching anything. I think the CA could watch it a little closer IMAO

Thats awesome!! Those Sculpin look just like a little ling cod.

My opinion would be that a Kentucky in that cold clear water would have a rather vivid coloration and pattern.

I hope you catch a nice one too! Brown/black and Brown/Orange is a good color as well that I found productive later in the day on the White below Bull Shoals. Good Luck and have fun! Let us know how it works out for you.

I try to pop my jigs when I think the jig is inches from the bottom. Thats why I lose many jigs, but that it also why I catch decent numbers of brown trout, in my opinion.

The jigs should most likely be 1/8oz or less. Those look good and should work. If you fish them correctly, you will need many more pending on area and amount of time spent fishing.

I would look at the mountain fork around Broken Bow in Oklahoma. Probably around a 2 hr. drive? Pretty area, closest to Dallas.

I spent 3 months in New Zealand fly fishing, surfing, etc. The fish are big and smart. I spent lots of time fishing with limited results. I thought since I had done very well fly fishing while living in Colorado for 5 years, that I would kill the fish in NZ. Not the case, even the fly shops and guides had a different idea of what a good day is compared to here. There is some absolutely huge trout there and probably the next couple world records will come from NZ. The trout in the lakes were about the most that I got into them. I would find a drainage after a rain and catch some decent fish.

You need a G.Loomis with a Shimano Stella or you won't catch any fish.

So is it catch and release for trout species only? or are we talking about breaking laws? I caught several in the C&R years ago and let them go because I don't like trouble. I anchored in the eddy just left of the outlet and was swinging Rapala's into a hole that was producing a walleye or nice trout on every cast. The walleye always felt like I was hung and a stick trying to pull it against the current. Yes, I switch my hooks to barbless or smash.

Does anyone know the regs. For Walleye in the white? I had a park ranger tell me that they were fair game at any size, and you could keep them in the C&R areas. That was years ago and I could never really found out on the regulations in print.

Shoot, Ham, I wish I would have let you know that we were at Rivercliff. It would have been nice to have met you. Next time I will be sure to say something. What kind of boat do you have?

My new vote: Temple Forks Outfitters "Gary Loomis Signature Series" 7 ft. Light/Fast. Side by side with my buddies St. Croix there was no comparision. The action breaks appear to be far more engineered. It easily out cast my 6'6" Falcon by 10-15ft.

Forgot to add that we caught 18 Browns this trip over (3) days. Nothing over 3lbs or so, but some of the fish were really long and probably spawned out fish that would have been nicer later in the year.

Having problems with pictures from my samsung phone to my imac. Will try in the morning from my office. On another note: I really liked my new TFO Gary Loomis Signature Series 7ft. Light/Fast. Seems to give the jigs the action I wanted. Did not think I would like the 7ft as much but wanted to try something new since I have a quiver of 6' and 6'6". I paired it with a Pflueger President 6925 since the reviews for the president were far better than any shimano reel until you spend about $125. For the money, this rod and reel performed great on the maiden voyage. The true test will be in the middle of an epic trip 3years down the road.

I usually like to go into more detail but work and life don't leave me much time currently. Thurs day 1: Bitter cold 6 degrees. As we approached the dam we started to see shad in the water and sea gulls going crazy at the outlet. Did I mention it was stupid cold? First cast with a 1/8oz. White ZigJig was rewarded with a healthy Brown around 3lbs. Next cast a slightly smaller model. I would guess that the water was around 7K-8K CFS. Around 8:00 or so with little action other than the (2) Browns we drifted into the State Park where the rainbows were biting nicely. I highly recommend that when Jig fishing a barbless hook is the way to go, especially on the white where catching can exceed 50-75 fish in a day easily. I feel like I miss less fish, and it is better on the fish to shake them off without ever bringing them in the boat. Actually, I was afraid the darn fish would freeze solid before I could get them back in the water. It was so cold that droplets of water that would get on my spool would freeze the line together and cause tangles. Thank you Simms for making a decent fishing gloves and thank you hot hands for hand warmers. Fishing continued to be rather good for the rest of the day with the best area for jigging being between the end of the State Park and Rivercliff cabin where we were staying. After 10:00 or so we switched from white to Brown/Olive and Tri-Olive with good numbers for everyone in the boat. Friday Day 2: Rented a boat from state park. Really nice 48" Shawnee with 15hp electric start. This is really the way to go for renting near the dam. Dock opened at 7:30 and we were first ones to the dam. Temperature was a lot warmer at 18 degrees, can't really tell the difference actually. The fat rainbows remembered the shad from the day before and everyone in the boat was catching nice 1 1/2lbs.+ fish about every cast. I counted (6) fish for myself in a single drift. That is where barbless is nice for quick release, also required in the c&r area. This was by far some of the best fishing I have ever experienced on the White. I have caught bigger fish, but never back to back quality rainbows like that. Soon every guide and fisherman in the know was on our drift. I say ours because it felt like that for an hour before we even heard another boat. Epic fishing until the water dropped out around noon. Then it was a fish here and fish there...search, search, search...fish. Seems that the fish like moving water or for it to stay off for an period of time. Saturday Day 3: No water and rain until noon. Lightened up the jigs a little and caught a fair amount, nothing like the other days. Gold spoons and jigs under a bubble saved the day. Also, I saw some absolutely huge walleyes exiting the deep holes between Rivercliff and Newlands. I mean 10+lbs. Not carp, walleyes. Does anyone know how to catch these fish? I have seen them for years and they are starting to get huge!! Anyhow thanks guys for all the tips and Reports. Good luck and have fun. Here is a few pics Of the scenery And shad evidence. The ones on the bank are near cane island.

Hot color this past weekend was white (report to follow in couple days) for obvious reasons and after 9:30 or 10:00 in the morning brown/olive was the ticket.

I am sorry, they call them "throats". Here is link or just Google Redfish throats. http://2coolfishing.com/ttmbforum/showthread.php?t=380264#/forumsite/20501/topics/380264

On the Gulf Coast all the guide cut the "wings" (pectoral fins) off the Redfish and Specks. You can either grill or fry them. When done correctly the fin itself is crispy like a potato chip and the meat is very tender. I am sure the striper would make great wings too, and most of them are being tossed. I will find a post from the forum on 2coolfishing.com and post a link when I get a chance.

Nice video Mill, just a few drone shots from Kick-A

I hope it is up and running, I want big water for my trip next week. There is wade able water most days in the afternoon

I am trying out a Temple Fork Gary Loomis signature series next week on the white. 7' light/fast. I will let you know what i think. Retail $109, feels pretty sweet

Falcon Original series in Light Action