A Little Monday Broil On The James.

[RSBreth]

I fished the lower James yesterday morning, and caught a few good fish, but man, the heat was oppressive. I saw a lone Bald Eagle turn and soar up to a tree high above me. He looked hot, too.

Not really much to report, the water was up a little versus normal, but clearing. Best lure was a Bomber 4A in a hot color that I can't remember the name. Lots of yellow/orange with a sage green back.

Also caught a few better sized ones on finesse jigs, I was rotating between the 3/16th-ounce Baby Boo, the 1/8th-ounce Terminator, and the 1/8th ounce Bitsy Bug. Kind of grab bag, but it's what I had with me - I tried to pack light because I paddled up and there is one long portage upstream in the stretch I fished.

I was going to take a picture of one Smallie with awesome markings, but I had hooked it funky with the two trebles of the crank, and had a little problem getting it unhooked easily without just ripping the hooks out, so I skipped the pictures and let it go ASAP after finally getting the steel out of her.

I was splashed in the face with a swipe of the tail as a reward!

I did have one funny incident where a "pounder" chased my soft jerkshad right to the canoe, then stopped cold in the water, staring at me and the boat. I twitched the lure, but the fish seemed mesmerized by the canoe and me, so I thought I'd try the "figure 8" maneuver like you do with Pike or Muskies. As soon as I turned the rod around for the second swish the Smallmouth seemed to snap out of his daze, and disappeared like smoke on a windy day. I'll say my first attempt at "figure 8 for Smallmouth's" was a failure!

[smallmouthjoe]

Monday was a brutal day to be outside, I should know because I spent the entire day out in it. Thanks for the report Randy, I still haven't had a chance to get on The James lately and I miss it. This summer has been nothing but work and when I do get a chance to fish it's usally around the Neosho area. I'm planning an overnighter between Hooten and Kerr in the next couple of weekends, hopefully it comes to pass.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Have you been fishing the Elk? The Elk is high on my list.

If you're fishing around Neosho you should give Ollie a shout, that area is in his backyard.

[Bubbas Dad]

I HAVE FISHED THE ELK MANY TIMES FISHING ALWAYS SEEMED GOOD BUT ALL THE DRUNK AND HALF (AND SOMETIMES COMPLETELY)NAKED FOOLS OUT THERE JUST GOT TO BE OVERWHELMING. HAVEN'T BEEN BACK IN YEARS. SHAME THOUGH.

[Predator1]

I HAVE FISHED THE ELK MANY TIMES FISHING ALWAYS SEEMED GOOD BUT ALL THE DRUNK AND HALF (AND SOMETIMES COMPLETELY)NAKED FOOLS OUT THERE JUST GOT TO BE OVERWHELMING. HAVEN'T BEEN BACK IN YEARS. SHAME THOUGH.

I went down the Niangua a few weeks back. Not a place I will take my wife and friends ever again. To many derelicts and idiots on that river. I know every now and then you might see a couple of Drunks on the James but atleast they know how to suppress their actions MOST of the time and don't take their clothes off or ask your wife to show her......well you know what i mean. LEAVE MARDI GRAS TO NEW ORLEANS.

I KEEP A MEAN PADDLE IN MY CANOE.

Hope you all have a great weekend coming up. Heading down to Branson to relax with some Trout Fishing. Glad to see we got Trout in the James, never caught them here, but look forward to them some day.

Also, I was wondering. Has there been a Missouri Stream Team Clean up on the JAMES this year and do any of you participate in it?

[Bubbas Dad]

I went down the Niangua a few weeks back. Not a place I will take my wife and friends ever again. To many derelicts and idiots on that river. I know every now and then you might see a couple of Drunks on the James but atleast they know how to suppress their actions MOST of the time and don't take their clothes off or ask your wife to show her......well you know what i mean. LEAVE MARDI GRAS TO NEW ORLEANS.

I KEEP A MEAN PADDLE IN MY CANOE.

Hope you all have a great weekend coming up. Heading down to Branson to relax with some Trout Fishing. Glad to see we got Trout in the James, never caught them here, but look forward to them some day.

Also, I was wondering. Has there been a Missouri Stream Team Clean up on the JAMES this year and do any of you participate in it?

EXACTLY WHAT I MEANT. I ONLY FLOAT THE JAMES, BEAVER CREK, AND OCCASIONALY SWAN IF THE WATERS RIGHT AND RARELY SEE ANYONE ELSE. IT SEEMS ALL RIVERS THAT HAVE BEEN COMMERCIALIZED HAVE SUFFERED. TOO BAD

[wily]

if you want to fish the elk...away from the crowds. try cowskin canoe on 43. floats start downriver from the noel dam. it doesn't get near the crowd...the fishing is good.