Report: Tyler Bend To Gilbert 11/22

[zthomas]

Floated Tyler Bend to Gilbert Sunday morning. Weather was absolutely beautiful and river was perfect level—at least for floating.

Fishing-wise, got just plain skunked for the first time in a while. Threw big ugly flies—craw and leech type stuff—and missed probably half a dozen strikes that I’m guessing were just bream or little bass grabbing the tail.

Did see one good-sized smallie out in the middle of wide, sunny run two or three feet deep. The boat spooked him, and I just got a glimpse of him scooting out of the way. Maybe I should have spent more time in the open water, but I didn’t see that fish until a quarter mile from the take-out.

Saw three otters and tons of sign, and a bald eagle that kept leapfrogging down the river ahead of me. Tyler Bend was empty, one floater’s truck at Gilbert, no one else on the water, but lots of rifle shots.

Wouldn’t feel so bad about the skunking except for Zack Hoyt’s Crooked Creek report from the same time: “Stopped counting at 30 fish…”

[Andy & JoAnne]

Beautiful pics. Thanks so much for sharing.

[Zack Hoyt]

Good pics. I have the same pontoon and love it.

[KCRIVERRAT]

Sorry you got skunked, but seems you're like most river guys on here... catching fish is just iceing on the cake. Wife and I did the same float back in late July. River was up, lots of color to it. I caught nine with the biggest at 15". The others were all above 12". I'm more comfortable with soft plastics (Chomper stuff... Spider Craw, Skirted Grub, etc.), but they weren't working in that type of water. Shortly after we started, switched to a craw- colored Wiggle-O. Had a blast after that! But... have had many days like you had as far as boating fish. Plus I've got to travel a ways to get there. Still... I cherish every trip to any river in the Mo./Ark. Ozarks, whether I catch fish or not.

Be fun to hook up with ZHOYT on Crooked Creek sometime. I've always wanted to fish that. Enjoyed the old Jerry McGuiness (spelling probably wrong) Fishin' Hole shows when he fished it in the old days.

KC

[eric1978]

Great pics as usual. Thanks for sharing.

[Zack Hoyt]

Be fun to hook up with ZHOYT on Crooked Creek sometime. I've always wanted to fish that. Enjoyed the old Jerry McGuiness (spelling probably wrong) Fishin' Hole shows when he fished it in the old days.

KC

It is a good stretch. Let me know when you make the plans to try it, if I cant join you, i will sure tell you what I know about the stretch.