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Waking Up Early For A Full Day Of Drift Fishing


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The alarm clock was buzzing in my ear and as I reached for it to throw across the room I noticed that it said 4:00 a.m. "Now why in the world would it be going off at 4 am" I asked myself. While trying to silence the annoying buzz the fog in my head started to clear. The last thing I remembered from the night before was trying to tie up as many stones as possible. "Why? Oh, yes", I remembered, "I'm fishing today. The North Fork of the White with motroutbum and Brian Wise. Brian, hmmm, he is that guide over there that wanted to take a test run on the river with the water being up as practice for his up coming season with clients.

We're fishing from a drift boat today. Cool."

As I stumbed into the living room I find motroutbum in his usual spot on the morning of a trip.

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I kicked him a few times untill he started to move and told him, "Come on. We gotta go."

The North Fork of the White is about 2 hours drive from my house and we needed to be there by 6:30 a.m.

Just as we got to our rendavous place with Brian, dawn was starting to crack

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We followed Brian to River of Life Farm on the North Fork of the White and proceeded to launch our vessel for the day.

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After securing the boat we had to shuttle a vehicle to our final destination on the river. Blair Bridge access

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We then car pooled back to River of Life Farms where the drift boat was waiting, geared up and loaded the boat for the day. Fishing gear, a 6 pack of Mt Dew and a bag of corn nuts.

We drifted down to the 1st set of riffles and got out to fish the seams.

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Motroutbum was on fish almost immediatly.

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He pumbed the fishes stomach to find out what they might be eating

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Lots of partially digested stones.

We kind of looked around in the water to see what else might be available as food sources. Almost ever rock turn provided a stone, scud, or sowbug. Lots of sculpins, darters, on other minnows in the water too.

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We had a few more fish to hand at the first riffle, I think it was called the "Cave Riffles" before we decided to get back in the drift boat and work our way down to the next wading hole.

Fishing was good in the drift boat too.

Motroutbum and I both managed to bring several to hand

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We continued to fish from the drift boat in the slower waters and wade to fish the riffles.

Accourding to Brian, the best time to wade fish is around 400 cfs and we were pushing 700 cfs, so the water was a little high, really fast in the riffles and just a little color to it.

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We let Brian fish and he was getting into them too.

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The fish in the North Fork of the White have and orange tip on thier dorsal fin that makes for some interesting markings

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The fish were non-stop all day

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From the boat and while wading

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It was in the 70's yesterday in southern Missouri. The turtles were out and short sleeves would have been enough by afternoon.

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Its hard to believe we are having freezing rain right now and predictions 6-10" of snow by morning.

Think I'll go fish Taney tonight.

duckydoty

A Little Rain Won't Hurt Them Fish.....They're Already Wet!!

Visit my website at..

Ozark Trout Runners

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Great report and photos. Too bad it had to end. Looking forward to your next trout adventure with motroutbum and friends.

"Where There Are Trout, There's Hope" - John Gierach

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Brian Wise's professionalism, knowledge of the river, and drift boating skills all attributed this to being the best trip that I have had on the North Fork of the White River. I am quite sure that the three of us had over 60 fish to hand. If you ever have the chance to fish with Brian I would fully recommend it.

duckydoty

A Little Rain Won't Hurt Them Fish.....They're Already Wet!!

Visit my website at..

Ozark Trout Runners

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I really had to make myself not post a report as soon as I got home! I had an absolutely awesome time with you guys--epic numbers from 2 insanely good fisherman. B)

Not to correct you...well, yeah I guess to correct you. :P We fished on water around 700 cfs and stellar wade fishing is around 400.

Too bad motroutbums PIG was camera shy... <_<

Brian

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I really had to make myself not post a report as soon as I got home! I had an absolutely awesome time with you guys--epic numbers from 2 insanely good fisherman. B)

Not to correct you...well, yeah I guess to correct you. :P We fished on water around 700 cfs and stellar wade fishing is around 400.

Too bad motroutbums PIG was camera shy... <_<

Brian

Man Brian...looks like you guys put in one heck of a day! Some of those places look kinda familiar :P

Look forward to fishing with ya soon...

Chance

...I'm haunted in my dreams of waters I have yet to fish and trout I have yet to catch...

Chasing the Dream...

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Brian,

Great to fish with you. Thanks for the correction. I hate to mislead people. North Fork of the White has got to be my favorite river in Missouri to fish and you defenately know your stuff. Randy's camera shy pig had to be pushing 22". It sure would have made a nice picture. I guess thats why its called fishing.

duckydoty

A Little Rain Won't Hurt Them Fish.....They're Already Wet!!

Visit my website at..

Ozark Trout Runners

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Thanks for sharing your talents with us,you definitely have a higher calling.

The only good line is a tight line

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