Justin Spencer

I should have said shifted from pine/oak/hickory to oak/hickory, without fire pines have a tough time regenerating naturally. I would guess most of the controlled burns are done by private citizens and kudos to everyone who does this. Starting them is the easy part, you must have good fire lanes to prevent fire from escaping to your neighbor who may or may not want his property burnt. Before I burn I get together with the neighbors and we often let the fire burn over several properties, lessens our work and helps more land. Has really opened up the glade areas by killing cedars, and has created openings in the woods where wildlife abounds and woodlands plants sprout. In my area I wouldn't be worried about the city slickers starting fires, more start because of the locals throwing out cigarettes or blowing up their meth labs accidently.

Well put! Until the last century we had no good ways to control fire which played a critical role in the evolution of our natural landscape. Prevention of these "natural occurances" have allowed too much undergrowth in some areas which go up like tender and burn down houses (California). Glades evolved with fire and were usually devoid of cedars because of the fires. For this reason you see the MDC cutting and killing cedars and burning the glades to get them back to their natural state. If you've ever been in a grove of cedars you see how there is nothing on the floor and while they have some cover and food value it is less than what would take its place. Because of fires the Ozark forest was dominated by pine prior to logging. Only since the prevention of fires (following clear cutting) has the forest shifted to an oak, hickory dominated landscape. If you are willing to burn your property many times you can get paid by the MDC for these habitat improvement practices. That being said, don't throw a cigarette in your neighbors woodlot, let him do it.

Holy Stuff that fish is HUGAE! Nice job.

I would say yes but it could cause problems with partiers on the big floating rivers, some of our best gravel bars are right in front of a house or cabin and I can see why they would not want that on their property. For fishing and camping I think it would be great, but no way to differentiate the two.

We need more forest fires left to burn in this day and age, it helps regenerate the forest and open up the floor killing off maples, cedars and other trees that have very little wildlife value. Most forest fires burn slow because the woods are so thick that mainly the leaves are all that burns. If you get into an area of cedars however that can be a scary thing, but they really need burnt. Most houses should be safe here as long as some yard has been maintained. Hopefully everyone will be careful, but if not "burn baby burn". I don't see deer season ever being postponed due to dry weather and don't think it ever should be.

The grass is always greener!

I'm jealous!

Most of my fishing knowledge on the North Fork has come from guys directly or indirectly associated with Hargrove's. When I bought Sunburst I was a mediocre park fisherman at best and spent countless fruitless hours trying to fish this difficult river. Over the course of a few years with open invitations to fish with many different people thanks to Tom, Craig, Chris and many of Tom's regulars (Gavin and Steve to name a few). I have learned to fish the river somewhat effectively. Whenever any of them are coming down they call and see if I need anything (think I still have an outstanding bill), and even brought a bunch of rods for me to try out before my purchase. Seems to me like customer service is number one with Hargrove's and that can be hard to find these days. Reading this thread as a business man I can only hope that our customers think as highly of us as Tom's do of him. Loyalty is the only way the smaller guy can compete these days and you only get that through doing things right. Fly shops are one of the few places left that have that home town feel where you can get not only merchandise but also valuable information that can improve the quality of your trip. Great job Tom and Craig, sounds like you have the go to place in St. Louis.

Had a great time with Gavin and Steve it was nice to get out and row the boat for a full day trip. Had a tough cross wind and low water which lessens the advantages of using a drift boat. That being said most if not all of the fish were caught from the boat with wade fishing being very slow on day 1. Great day on the river one of the best in a long time and you may have noticed Gavin didn't mention my fish because I was skunked. Looking forward to some higher water if it ever rains again, this low flow and warm weather has the dreaded algae of the North Fork as prevalent as ever. Stay away until it dies for the winter, that leaves me all the good spots.

The difficulty of accessing the good parts as well as being far from most cities and lack of shuttle service (we charge big bucks to shuttle you there) should keep the Bryant from ever getting very busy, great river though and would be a great spring 2-3 day float. Don't tell anyone!

What is the best way to fish for these river walleye and where on the river is the best place for them?

Last Wednesday floated from Big Rock (just below 95 bridge) to Hodgson Mill with nothing but fly rods on board. Took a canoe and at 177 cfs were never forced to get out of the canoe due to low water. Even though I live only a few miles from "the Bryant" I usually focus my efforts on the trout of the North Fork. For those who have never been on the Bryant it is a magnificent river. Limited accesses and lack of outfitters will always keep this an overlooked gem of a smallmouth stream. Big gravelbars,sheer bluffs, sporty riffles, and deep holes filled with nice smallmouth make this as good as any warm water river in the state. We floated the day after the big cold front came through and while the fishing was slow the experience was as good as it gets. We should have taken spinning gear, but really wanted to only fly fish. We caught several small smallmouth, one nice largemouth and sunfish of every species along with a shiner or two. Bald eagles were everywhere along with migrating ducks and kingfishers. I have had some epic fishing days on this strech of river in the summertime, and while the fishing wasn't epic the trip was. Fall colors were at their peak we saw no other people (normal on the Bryant) and the beer was cold. Thankfully when this waterway was named they called it a creek instead of a river. I have had several people (you know who you are) turn down invitations to fish here because they expect too much dragging on a creek during low water. I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of dragging during this dry spell, and look forward to getting back to the Bryant at a time when the fish are a little more cooperative.

This is very true and after busting my butt in the same place 2 or 3 times I have finally realized maybe I should just leave those fish alone. I can always find fish in less slick areas and although it is tempting to try those slick areas (why do they always look so good?) sometimes it's best to move on and stay dry and unbruised, fish really aren't worth it.

I never take my felt soles that I use in the NFoW to a didymo infected river, but without them I would die a quick death in this slick river, fall plenty even with them. If they need to outlaw them outlaw them in the rivers that are the problem.

I think we are better off because we have a great spring fed river not neccesarily because of the regulations, obviously the 18" limit and bait restrictions help the blue ribbon area! Locals for the most part couldn't care less about trout, I have no friends from Ozark county that will even go trout fish with me, they want bass because none of them like to eat trout. I see very few bait chuckers down in the red ribbon section on the NFoW and most of my big number fish days come from down there as well as some of the biggest fish I have seen, in an area that allows gigging. I love to fly fish trout and gig so think of it this way. You buy a house next to the city park that has a tennis court. On the court is a basketball goal. You don't play tennis but love basketball and play there with your friends every night. One day the city says you can no longer play basketball there because it is roughing up the surface for the tennis players. No more ball games with your friends. This is the closest analogy as to how I think the locals kind of feel about this. Sure you can drive across town to another court but it's not the same, with gigging for me I have to make sure the trailer lights are working, accesses are few and far between and rough, and to be selfish, I had several good holes here that were not easily accessed by others because of my private access, so the gigging was better than at public put ins, plus I can't drink lots of beer if I have to load up and drive the boat home (really isn't that why we gig anyway)! For those of you who haven't gigged, a big bonfire on the bank cooking fish and drinking beer is the real reason for gigging. A social event where the gigging is just a way to get fish for the main event which is the fish fry, people aren't out to gig bass, goggle-eye and trout. There are a few bad eggs like with everything else, but most people who have gone to the trouble and expense of a gigging rig do it right so this activity won't be taken from them altogether.

I would say that prohibiting gigging may help my business although I think most people didn't gig trout very often anyway. My main objection is that while there are plenty of places to gig suckers in the state, I can't put in at my boatramp and gig on the bottom of the river which I guess the state considers "my property". I guess it would be like saying you can't go out in your woodlot and hunt deer with a rifle because you might accidently shoot a similar looking non-native deer. I see both sides of the arguement and am not even sure I'm against the regulations. I just wish I could gig in my front yard because it would be a hell of alot easier than trailering my boat somewhere to do what I could do right here. I just want my freedom back (boo hoo!)

I am sure those big ones are tough to hook and even tougher to land, and I would have to agree that a 20 pounder would be the fish of a lifetime and you probably won't catch one on a free flowing stream. I agree it is silly to close sections of rivers for fishing on fish that are not native. They are here for our enjoyment and for economic benefit not because they might someday cure cancer. They closed gigging on blue ribbon sections of trout streams upsetting much of the local population, and while I'm not sure why they did it I assume they thought it would make fishing better which would make more people fish these areas leading to more revenue. I guess trout trump suckers even though they are not native and have changed what has historically been done on our local waters. We are about an hour and a half from Branson.

Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong! Depending on what you call the fish of a lifetime, I'd rather catch a 25" brown or rainbow on a free flowing river, than a 30" fish next to a pipe. Nothing wrong with these fisheries, and if you want to catch lots of fish and some big fish they are great, but give me a river all to myself with the best scenery in the country and the challenge and opportunity to catch stream bred fish and I'm happy. We need to remember that trout fishing in this area is all "fake" and will be managed for the best economic benefit of an area, not neccesarily what's best for a "wild fishery". If you have never fished the 11 point or North Fork you need to try it, for me the experience trumps the catching (maybe an excuse for being a poor fisherman).

Narrow spots and shallow spots are why many rivers in Missouri aren't great for drift boats. It slides through shallow water very well but can be hard to control if you can't get the oars into the water. Narrow spots aren't a big problem as long as they are short spots, you just line yourself up and as you get to the narrow spot let go of the oars until it is wide enough to row again. If you have ever rowed a jon boat then you should have the basic knowledge for rowing a driftboat, only you use the current to take you downstream, and move up and across the river to avoid obstacles.

Last week Amy and I drove to Chattanooga to pick up a used Hyde Pro Series Drift boat. Finally got it out today for the first time and floated a whopping mile from Blair Bridge to Sunburst, itching to get it out by didn't want to fight the wind all day. Despite the wind leaves and algae, my fishing buddy caught a parr marked rainbow above the public access and my first fish on the new boat was this 19" brown caught at the bottom of fantasy island which happens to be in front of the campground. If anyone is interested in having use of this boat let me know. I am working up a plan by which a yearly club membership will give members unlimited use of the drift boat to be used on this river or any others within driving distance. It will be an inexpensive way to have use of a drift boat without the expense of purchasing and upkeep of your own. Once you fish out of it you will be spoiled! I'll have more on this later this winter.

Great video, nice bow! Even a nice plug for the Marsupial Mile (my answer to the Miracle Mile) due to our high number of possums. I do need to charge you a rod fee for catching fish in "my water". Always easy to recognize the 2 rocks in front of our takeout. I'd love to have a shot of you and that big fish for the website if you get a chance.

Great info sounds like fun. I lived in Florida for 4 years and this seems like as close to flats fishing as you can get in the midwest.

Just wondering if anyone fly fishes for carp on lakes in the area. Wondering if it is too late in the year to do it and if anyone has any suggestions.

Boy we need it on NFoW also, probably a good idea going to a lighter tippet. I think I may put up the rod and take out the bow until we get some rain!

Sounds like a great problem to have!