Justin Spencer

I got my Boykin in Greenbrier, Arkansas just outside of Conway. He's never retrieved a Canada but I'm sure he could. To be honest though if geese are your main quarry I would lean toward a bigger dog. I have 2 boykins, one is 39 pounds and is my hunting dog, the other is 29 pounds and while she has much more drive than Finn, it might wear her out retrieve more than a couple geese, although she would get them back I'm sure (she drug the hide from one of the deer I killed up to the house the other day probably 1/4 mile). My main concern would be a lightly wounded goose, it's one thing for them to bring back a dead goose, but when looking at a live goose that is much taller than them it could be a battle, I think my smaller dog would whoop a goose, my bigger one has no trouble with live ducks, but he might not want to tangle with a honery honker. I love them for their small size, I put one in front and one behind me in a kayak and have no trouble at all. hunting from a john boat and pulling them in, or tossing them up on a dog stand in flooded timber is no problem either. Flooded rice fields are not the best because while labs are taller they can often times run through these fields while a boykin has to half swim half run through the low water. Makes marking a little more difficult for them being closer to the ground as well. It also takes them longer to make a retrieve due to their small size. Scott is probably right, retrieving geese is probably a heart thing and if you only shoot a couple per trip I don't see it being a problem. The fact of the matter is a lab is hands down the best retriever for waterfowl. If you prefer a smaller dog for whatever reason, or want a flushing dog with a ton of drive for upland hunts (I have quail and pheasant hunted with Finn and he does well) then you might consider a Boykin. Make sure your breeders dogs don't have a history of skin problems, Finn gets hotspots and itches in the summertime, while Choxie seems to have no problems at all, but she came from a small breeder that no longer sells dogs. Hope this helps, I love my Boykins but mainly got them because I didn't want a big dog to take on the river when I am floating.

That could be a sign!

The beard is the real trophy!

This is Finn, my Boykin Spaniel. He retrieved a speck this year across a plowed field, wish I would have gotten a picture, he had to hold his head as high as he could just to keep it from dragging the ground. By the time I got a camera out he had dropped it and refused to pick it up for a picture, guess I don't blame him since it was about the same size as him.

Looks like they floated Kelly Ford to Blair Bridge which is about a half a mile above Sunburst Ranch. That was a great show, I can attest that Kyle wasn't putting on a show for the camera, that is how he treats everyone, he can teach you about the river as well as put you on fish, and you will eat like a king. We fished last winter one time and while I was pulling out a salami sandwich he was heating up some chili, I fed my sandwich to the fish and enjoyed a hot bowl of chili, and this was just on a casual short trip.

http://www.417mag.com/417-Magazine/February-2014/The-River-Wild/ Check this out another article (and video) on the North Fork fishing with Kyle in his longboat. Pretty cool, this past fall the writers were flown in to our airstrip, stayed at ROLF and then flew home. We are working with Kyle to try and promote fly in trips to the North Fork, so anyone wishing to do this can contact him, or us if you are a private pilot with your own plane. Our Lodge at Trout Island is located basically at the end of the airstrip, so it makes it a perfect place to stay if you are wanting to do the river in style! If you have friends that are pilots, you need to talk them in to bringing you down to enjoy the NFoW, the runway is extremely long and in good shape.

MDC has several bobcat herders on staff, you probably got caught in the middle of a drive.

This stuff is a great idea, but I can't imagine it will pattern or kill very effectively. http://www.seasonshot.com/About.cfm guessing it didn't work since looks like the website was made in 2006, still a neat idea.

I only spin fish a couple times a year so I never think to change the line before a spur of the moment trip. I only change line when I my spool gets too low to handle a long cast or big run. I must say I can't think of a time I have started having breakoffs due to old line and I bet I have used some that has been on a reel for close to 10 years. Just my observations, probably not the best way to do it.

Lots of smallmouth in all sections, but the clarity of the river and the blue ribbon designation makes them tough to catch from rainbow to Patrick. Upper sections have the deeper holes, and while I haven't fished it much most people say it is the best smallmouth water. I shocked with MDC a few years ago and was impressed with the number of nice smallies from Kelly to McKee bridge. Get murky water and the section from patrick to the lake can be good.

Access is good with 4wd, haven't seen as many big browns this year either, being in red ribbon I think they are being bait fished out on occasion.

Wonder what vicious pigs sound like?

You know some states have a limited season for swans.

Either or both.

Sure did, fixed the problem.

Tell Dr. Beaumont hi for me, he helped me on some fish health issues I was having during my reasearch in grad school. Fine man he is!

Tasty like bluegill too!

Went down around DeWitt Arkansas last weekend and did a little duck hunting. Stopped by Mack PW in Stuttgart and pulled the trigger on the patternmaster. Didn't have a chance to pattern it before hunting, and still haven't. But after a few misses I got it dialed in and it really knocks the crap out of the ducks, made a couple long shots, and it kills the ducks dead pretty well. It also seemed to lessen the kick of the gun, although maybe that was just me not feeling it since the ducks were falling. Had a good timber hunt with 4 other guys, we didn't limit but would have had one guy not fallen in and gotten cold a little prematurely. Killed 16 gadwall and 1 Susie. Only let 2 ducks out unscathed which is pretty rare for our group. 6 Gaddies landed just outside the spread while picking up the decoys, makes you wonder why we have to hide so good.

Don't forget Zombies, sasquatch and mountain lions.

Can't ever have too much lead. I tie everything with lead, and beads if possible, and still use lots of splitshot.

Never tried it, but no doubt in my mind it would work probably just as well, I may tie a few up and give them a try, is it just hackle instead of rubber legs?

Super easy stonefly pattern, that I think the fish sometimes mistake for a crawfish, tie in size 4-8 usually. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaPQlAfkfck

After not fishing for a couple months I dusted off the fly rod on Wednesday and Thursday and fished for a few hours. Caught 4 in about an hour here in front of the campground on Wed., and yesterday caught 6 in about 2 hours down in front of the Lodge, got schooled by a large rainbow down there that eventually came unbuttoned as well, and lost a few other dinks. A couple were tiny young of year, most were around 12 inches with a couple fish up to 15 inches mixed in. Fish were eating coffee and brown pats, and of course the go to fly of the winter, the egg. There are a few redds around so if you go make sure to cast to these (just kidding). Water is great, eagles are everywhere, and people are gone, perfect time to fish! I love the white tipped fins on all of our fish here, as well as the parr marks that tend to stay on until the fish are 10 inches long or better. Looks like someone widened the smile of that second fish in a previous battle.

JD is right, you don't want the soybeans we grow, they are genetically modified and heavily fertilized, probably make you grow a third nipple. Heirloom seed companies should have some good varieties, but it will take some work to get your own stash started.

Probably wouldn't get to hunt them then, bet they taste better than eagles. Many Americans are turkeys though, so it would fit.