goggleeyes

Do you still have the freezer? My wife has been after me to get one. I would like to look at it if it is still available.

I have fished out of a tube for years. It is always a great way to relax and enjoy nature. The Finley has been a good place to go in a combo wade float. I have done the James several times as well. The thing I don't like as much is lack of speed, its takes a lot longer to get from put in to take out.

Jabber Jaw, I would like to tell you your boys are very blessed to have you as a mother. Fishing can be such a great way to connect and bond with them as they grow up. I'm sure most everyone here would be honored to help you in any way we can, just let us know! Your boys love for fishing is pretty cool at their young ages, and it will probably only grow as it is fed.

Have thought about the native watercraft 14 as well, it looks like a pretty good boat. I will continue to check things out. Thanks for you input on this. Several heads are better than one , helps you see different sides.

I sure don't want to get a canoe that I am unhappy with. The more I have seemed to research or look for different brands and styles the more unsure I become of what I want. I was at BP the other day and saw the Old Town Guide 147 there and thought it might work by moving the seats around and save some money. Eric your seat looks great the way you put it in there I'll have to keep that in mind if I need to change the one I get. Looking at yours I thought a swivel seat would be awesome to put in. I'm not pulling the trigger today so I'll try to take my time and find one that I will be have with.

So if I'm reading your comments right the guide is wider thus making it harder to paddle. Is that the main difference between a solo and the tandem. I thought maybe I could save a little money converting the guide. But a little extra money may be worth it. I'm a little bigger than you Eric, about 275. So I feel I need a little extra length (be nice). Bobber I would place as close to the middle as I could. Weight of the canoe may not seem as big a deal to me. Don't really think the portage issue is that big of a deal, maybe missing something though. Do you think the Mohawk is better than the Buffalo?

Want to pick you guy's brain about getting a solo canoe or converting a tandem into a solo. I was wondering about the old town guide 147. I would remove both seats since they are molded and move the one from the front to the middle back area. How would this work vs a solo say the Buffalo 14 or another 14 or so long. I am a bigger guy so I think I would need something in this size? It would be used mainly in the rivers in the area. Thanks for your thoughts.

Eric, That thing looks awesome.... where's the order form?

Smallmouthjoe, So sorry to hear about your accident, but glad to hear that you're OK.

here

Bill, Don't know if you found a pack or not? But I saw one one craigs list today. It is listed in Ozark. Might help.

Is anybody fishing the power site dam spillway and doing any good this time of year?

Its great you found your rod and reel and surprising since it was the next day. The only thing the would have made it better was a big ole smallie on the end of it!

I wonder if that's why it is called fishing, and not catching?

Well today I went back to the same spot as last week. Quite a bit different this week. SM Joe I used a 3" tube as you said, and had a great day of fishing. Started kind of slow so I was thinking do I go back to the trusty craw crank? The goggle eye started biting and I caught at least 40-50. I also caught 10 LM's the biggest was 14". But what made my day complete was a very fat and healthy 16" smallie, the biggest I can remember catching on the Finley. Only caught 12 smallies, but I had a great deal of fun with my new bait of choice. Thanks SM Joe for your input last week.

Well today I went back to the same spot as last week. Quite a bit different this week. SM Joe I used a 3" tube as you said, and had a great day of fishing. Started kind of slow so I was thinking do I go back to the trusty craw crank? The goggle eye started biting and I caught at least 40-50. I also caught 10 LM's the biggest was 14". But what made my day complete was a very fat and healthy 16" smallie, the biggest I can remember catching on the Finley. Only caught 12 smallies, but I had a great deal of fun with my new bait of choice. Thanks SM Joe for your input last week.

My lovely wife dropped me off at the Smyrna bridge, but there is a place to park just past the bridge. There is plenty of parking by Linden.

Joe I know the hole your talking about. Last time up there my buddy and I saw a large smallie swim by us. We got very excited for a short time trying to catch her. Probably scared her into laughing at us. Do you usually fish with soft baits?

I know it is probably just me. I have fished in that area before. I have caught a few bigger fish in years past, but not to the amount of small ones. I would never keep them either, save them for another day. I guess I'm having outward thoughts. Thanks for you response.

Went fishing on the Finley from Smyrna Bridge down to Riverside friday. What a beautiful day to be on the river. Saw a big doe about 25 yards from me standing in a riffle just checking things out. Caught quite a lot of smallies and goggle eyes. Had a great day. My question is, do any of you guys catch smallies of any size on the Finley? The biggest I have caught has been in 10-12" range with tons of small ones. They seem to look very healthy and have plenty of food in them river. They are very fun to catch, but was wondering do they get bigger? It may just be my fishing! Still loads of fun either way.

Spooks, bitsy bugs with a craw tail and then the old faithful small craw cranks have seemed to worked best for me. If you can go on a week day it will much quieter also.

Steve, I have used the James River Outfitters. They are in Galena right by the bridge. They are really nice and helpful. Their # is 417-357-6447. They also have a website that can be helpful as well. My favorite float is from Cox to Galena, takes about 5-7 hours depends how hard you fish. there is a lot of good water in that float.

You'll have to try it out. I'm thinking from Ponce down to Kerr for my next trip.

James River Outfitters were great. I will be using them again. They said they were to only one to be able to use the Cox put in? The water below there to Kerr was really good. Even better than below Kerr.

Cox is in between Ponce and Keer