eric1978

I agree with Wayne. The shape of the head only changes the way the jig moves over and through cover. I don't believe either will catch you more or less fish. Some people say that a football prevents it from laying over on its side, which I tend to agree with if you're talking about a totally flat bottom, but I think that many types of trailer will perform the same function. I'd just fish with the jig that you hang up less and have more confidence in.

how are we supposed to know which is the best if you keep changing your mind?

The springs are not "loaded" with smallies during the winter. It's an unproven (as far as I know) theory of some, including myself, that smallmouth that live in heavily spring-fed rivers, might possibly move closer to a spring during the coldest part of the winter, since the water coming from the springs is somewhat warmer than sections above and far below them. But springs don't regulate temperature only where they well out of the ground. That water is warmer for miles down the river. So, no, fish aren't stacked up right at the head of a spring like stocked trout in a park, but it makes sense logically that smallmouth will seek out milder temps in winter, so maybe they move closer to it. It's also possible that many fish live in the same hole their entire lives, not leaving, say, 100 yard stretch of river where their deep hole is. They bury themselves under a big rock or root wad and only move if a shiner limps past their face. I don't think anyone really knows for sure. The reason you don't hear of more people taking advantage of winter river fishing, is because most people don't. The vast majority of people fishing on some of the more popular rivers, including and especially the Meramec, are passive, seasonal anglers who are floating down the river with their families or college buddies on a warm summer weekend and are casting a Rebel Craw between slugs of beer. Many other more serious anglers simply close up shop when cold weather gets here. And for good reason. The fishing will be very tough most days in the dead of winter. You have to fish dreadfully slow and it can get very tedious. You have to keep working that one little spot where you just know there's a fish. You have to drop the lure right on their noses. And they still might not eat it. At the same time, you're freezing your butt off. But fish do still eat in the winter, and they can be and are caught all year round. If we get a stretch of just a few unseasonably warm winter days, that can be enough to get the fish out and moving and eating more. Some days you'll expect to catch nothing but catch lots of fish. One of my best days was in late November, overcast, low 30s, cold front about to blow through, and the fish were going nuts. I caught them all day like it was early summer. So yes, you can catch them during winter, but it is a challenge. However, a day paddling down a clear Ozark river is a better day than most, with or without fish. Just stay home when the temps are below freezing. I don't do much fishing in January or February.

Hmm...Parts of the Huzzah and Courtois look like that, but that's pretty far from home for you. I don't really know the western Ozark streams.

That looks like Jack's Fork to me and I'll bet you caught a fish in that spot, too, didn't you?

I guess Chief does know what he's talking about. Nice fish, gentlemen.

Does anyone know how much of an impact moving a thwart, say 6 inches or so from where the factory sets them? I'm thinking about moving my rear thwart forward for another modification, but I don't want to mess up the structural integrity of the canoe. Any advice?

And the fishing?

I would wait until they are outlawed (which they won't be). Vibram soles are good for hiking and terrible for wading. I wore my Chacos on a float about a month ago, and just about broke my neck dragging the canoe through a shoal with small, slippery boulders. I would stick with felt.

Lower Current?

Saw the Everglades when I was a kid, and backpacked both the Rockies and the Smokies. The Ken Burns doc has me wanting to backpack Yosemite and Sequoia really bad. I'll get there one day. Until then, I'm happy to have the Ozarks. It's better than what most people have, and I feel fortunate just to not live in Nebraska.

Yes, that's an Ozark Humpback, latin name Humpus Ozarkus

That looks like something you'd see on the middle Meramec, but I'm assuming it's not since you're so far from that river.

You know Kevin, all kidding aside, that would be pretty sweet to have sitting behind you on a two or three day float. You could have a hose running straight to your mouth from the keg. You'd have to figure out a way to keep it cold, but that thing would be a great floating companion. Obstacles on the river would become a much bigger problem by 3 or 4 P.M.

Here it is gentlemen. The completed and installed modified seat. I still have to cut the excess bolts off at the nuts, but I'll have to wait until I see how she rides in case I need to adjust it any. Here's a custom rod holder that I'm really proud of.

The debate on which vessel is the "best" for float-fishing will continue to go on into eternity. People (including myself) can be very picky and can think themselves into paralysis over specifics like material, weight, length, width, etc. and even tiny details like raising a seat half an inch or moving a thwart or where to mount rod holders...I personally enjoy that stuff. But I sometimes have to remind myself that all that really matters is what you like. If you are used to going down a stream in a jon boat, and you find it comfortable and convenient for fishing, it's golden. Is it possible that another watercraft may be "better," or more aptly put, "more efficient?" Probably. But who cares? If you spend all your time on the river worrying about what you could be using, you'll only be wasting precious time enjoying what you are using. The only thing that truly matters is that you get out on a stream and take a deep breath of fresh air and soak in nature and catch a decent fish.

How's this? That's a tall-boy if you can't tell. Not sure they make 'em bigger than that.

You're a lucky man, Al. I've only seen three on your list. I'm guessing some of your trips were probably meant for "research," but you saw them all the same. You live a good life.

OTF, I gotta disagree with you on this one. Aside from more weight and cargo capacity and stability, I can't think of another benefit using a jon boat over a canoe. That is unless you wanna put a trolling motor on one on a wide, lazy stream.

Here's a modified beer-holder/pouch for stuff. Still working on the seat; should be done tomorrow.

I'll float in anything that floats, I'm just gonna be a little pickier when I'm buying one for myself. Fiberglass works fine, I've floated many times in them. I just hate the noise, just like aluminum, and I don't think they're tough enough for the weight.

I think the smallies may actually move closer to the spring in the dead of winter since the water out of the springs is warmer. That's given that they actually move more than a foot out of their winter holes. Wish I knew.

I like the double when paddling through slack-water or going upstream, but for manuevering in tight spots and the million correction strokes you make in a day, I prefer a single. Picking up and laying down the double gets a little cumbersome for me because of its length.

I'm positive that the spots are the biggest problem, but no, the giggers don't help either. When we launched at Mill Rock, there were a dozen or so filleted carp floating around the ramp. Hoosiers. Didn't see any dead bass, but even the rednecks are smart enough to toss their carcasses in the woods where no one will see them.

Here are the completed thwarts after three coats of polyurethane. I'd like to add two more coats if I can muster the patience. Here are the dimensions for the thwarts. Keep in mind that these dimensions will vary depending on exactly how far forward you want your seat. I'm moving mine approximately 5-6 inches farther forward than factory placement. Obviously, the canoe tapers to the ends, so placing your seat farther back will mean shorter thwarts, and farther forward will require longer thwarts.