troutchaser

I want to give a positive testimonial for Jim and Plateau Fly Shop in Springfield. I've enjoyed spending money with these guys over the past several months, and this weekend they really came through for me. A couple of weeks ago, I dropped my Redington CD 5/6 reel on the asphalt and bent the foot enough that it wasn't possible to attach it to the rod until it was repaired. I tried finding a replacement foot on my own, but no one had the part, because the reel is an older model. I called Jim and cried about it, expecting him to tell me he would gladly sell me a new reel. Instead, he said, "let me see what I can do." Less than an hour later, he called and said he found someone who had the replacement part I needed, it would be mailed to the shop, and he would call me when it arrived. He called me on Saturday, I picked up the part yesterday, and replaced the broken foot last night. The price was very reasonable (VERY reasonable, wink, wink, nudge, nudge). My favorite reel is back in action, and Plateau Fly Shop deserves big kudos for their top notch customer service.

Well, I was hoping to give you guys a decent fishing report, but that isn't going to happen. There was so much junk in the water (logs, trash, etc) that it made it almost impossible to catch anything. We tried several lures and baits, but nothing would produce.

OK. We'll certainly give the fishing at Empire a chance, but it sounds like we need to pack the harmonicas and guitars just in case we need to fill the time with something else.

Thanks for the advice, guys. I heard it was tough fishing right now, just like Taneycomo. I didn't know how tough it was, though. I suppose I could bust out the big rods and go for whites...

Hey, everybody. I haven't fished Bull Shoals in over 15 years, so I'm really clueless about fishing there. I'm camping with some friends at Shadow Rock this weekend, and I'll be fishing from the bank. What would you recommend I throw out there? I'm after trout, smallmouth, and crappie, mainly. Thanks for your help.

I think he spends winters above the cable...

Brassies are okay for bluegill. I've had luck with chartreuse copper johns. It only happened on one trip, so maybe it was a random occurrence. I prefer a foam terrestrial (ant, spider, cricket, hopper) or a san juan worm under an indicator for bluegills. I have a lot more luck with them. I know someone who swears by the mackey bug, so you might try that variation. I don't really bass fish with my fly rod, so I don't have any advice on that subject.

Great. Another thread hijacked by the Alabama Rig.

Amen. I guess that make us "old skool."

I'm a little more active in my retrieve on curly tails. I try a bottom bouncing with them or a random jigging/twitching with a moderate retrieve for suspended crappie. If I'm feeling lazy, I'll use the old jig 'n float method. I stick to a few main colors: white, silver/gray with glitter, chartreuse, and electric chicken. I also started carrying ultra minnow style jig heads. I don't know if they catch more fish, but I like 'em.

I've always had good luck with the Rapala CD-1 in silver. Other than that, I like the Lil' Jake in white with red dots, or I'll just use curly tail grubs on a 1/32 head. Color depends on water clarity and sunshine.

Not this year. I just can't justify it. Between the gas prices and the irritable fellow fishermen, I'll just wait.

Sounds good to me. By the way, can anyone give me directions to the white ribbon section below the park? I'd like to try it in the evening after the park closes, but I don't know how to get to it.

I'm wondering if the crowd at the park will have died down by this Saturday. I don't mean empty of people, I'm asking if it will be down to a normal-sized crowd. I'm thinking of going down for the day, but I really hate it when you can't even find a place to fish...

I'm in. I could bring the cheese dip.