2/22/09

[Brian Sloss]

Got the drift boat out and floated (for fun, not guiding) the trophy area fishing my way down with my friends Mike, from West Plains, and Justin, who has an outfit on the North Fork (Sunburst Ranch). The water is up about 10 inches high and stained so getting deep quickly was key. We caught fish on Stoneflies, Don's Crawdads and 1/16oz marabou jigs(fly rods) with the jigs producing the most. We paddled quickly down almost a mile before we started fishing and Justin and Mike started picking up fish here and there while I rowed. It wasn't fast and furious, but a few fish none the less. At the first stop, I got a 17 inch wild 'bow on a jig. Big Bluff down to Mary Decker produced best. MIke lost a real nice one at big bluff and I lost a real nice one at the shoal before Mary Decker. Justin got four smallmouth including two 14 inchers and a fat, fat 15 incher at Little Hurricane shoal. Justin caught all the smallies. We all caught trout with plenty of wild ones in the mix with stockers. The numbers were not out of this world, but the quality was good and we caught enough to keep us interested all day. It was fun to get out on the water.

[FishinCricket]

Great report, now where's all the pics? (three of you means no excuses)

What do you think it was that got the smallies hitting on the one guys line but not the others? Presentation?

[Brian Sloss]

Two of them hit in slower water while he was stripping streamers while he was the only one fishing and the other two hit jigs while wading at Little hurricane just off the main current by a rock ledge. It was where he was fishing more than anything I think.

I brought a camera and charged the battery all night, but when I went to get a picture of my first fish the battery was dead. Must be a bad battery, which sucked.

[FishinCricket]

Must me a bad battery

Likely excuse.. LOL jest teasin'...

Seriously, great report.. Can't wait to make it back down there..

I repeat that whatever Brian charges to put you in the front of his drift boat is worth it..

[ozark trout fisher]

Got the drift boat out and floated (for fun, not guiding) the trophy area fishing my way down with my friends Mike, from West Plains, and Justin, who has an outfit on the North Fork (Sunburst Ranch). The water is up about 10 inches high and stained so getting deep quickly was key. We caught fish on Stoneflies, Don's Crawdads and 1/16oz marabou jigs(fly rods) with the jigs producing the most. We paddled quickly down almost a mile before we started fishing and Justin and Mike started picking up fish here and there while I rowed. It wasn't fast and furious, but a few fish none the less. At the first stop, I got a 17 inch wild 'bow on a jig. Big Bluff down to Mary Decker produced best. MIke lost a real nice one at big bluff and I lost a real nice one at the shoal before Mary Decker. Justin got four smallmouth including two 14 inchers and a fat, fat 15 incher at Little Hurricane shoal. Justin caught all the smallies. We all caught trout with plenty of wild ones in the mix with stockers. The numbers were not out of this world, but the quality was good and we caught enough to keep us interested all day. It was fun to get out on the water.

Great report. I gotta get to the Eleven Point. A river that beautiful and with a pretty decent trout population, you can't beat that. I think people who don't live in Missouri would be shocked to know there are places like it.

[FishinCricket]

Great report. I gotta get to the Eleven Point. A river that beautiful and with a pretty decent trout population, you can't beat that. I think people who don't live in Missouri would be shocked to know there are places like it.

This picture doesn't do the river much justice (it was not only up and a touch muddy at the time of the photo, but it's also a bad angle cause there are spots on that riverthat just take your breath away) but it's a good idea of what the fishing is like..

I was fishing that day from a john boat and we floated the stretch from Greer Springs (if you get the chance drive up on 19 and park and walk down to the spring, it's epic!) to turner mill.. I caught prolly 30 trout like this and was kinda exstatic cause I never got out of the boat! (i know, lazy huh?)

You MUST go to Eleven point, then come back here and tell us how it was..

and by all means have Brian and his friendly folks set you up, I am positive they won't disappoint...

[ozark trout fisher]

This picture doesn't do the river much justice (it was not only up and a touch muddy at the time of the photo, but it's also a bad angle cause there are spots on that riverthat just take your breath away) but it's a good idea of what the fishing is like..

I was fishing that day from a john boat and we floated the stretch from Greer Springs (if you get the chance drive up on 19 and park and walk down to the spring, it's epic!) to turner mill.. I caught prolly 30 trout like this and was kinda exstatic cause I never got out of the boat! (i know, lazy huh?)

You MUST go to Eleven point, then come back here and tell us how it was..

and by all means have Brian and his friendly folks set you up, I am positive they won't disappoint...

I certainly plan on doing that as soon as I scrape up enough money...