Little Sugar. Public Non-Navigable Or Navigable?

[chima47]

Confused. Seems you can float some but maybe wade another part. Anyone know if it's deemed navigable? Thanks.

[bfishn]

From Lake BV down, it can be today's wild ride or tomorrow's boring drag. Semi-flood conditions are the only times that ensure no walking. Putting in right below the lake is pretty straightforward, but taking out (or even stepping out) anywhere else before Missouri will likely result in a very unpleasant encounter with the non-native residents. Newly-minted aboriginal golfers "own" that stretch, and they're not shy about telling you about it. Keep a bucket of golf balls to offer as tariff, and it's not too painful.

Below the state line liquor stores (where the AR golfers hang out when they're not making divets), you'll notice the Cranky Yankees are gone from the shore. Don't be overconfident though, you're still being watched, but now it's liqoured up rednecks (with guns). Here you may need to have a fish or two to make peace. The Mo side used to have lots of smallmouth, but I have no recent experience. When the creek's high enough to avoid dragging, it's probably poor fishing though.

[chima47]

I've heard that a out Arkansas side. From reading MDC stuff, it seems you can wade it just fine. Seems that folks can float it. Am wondering about floating and wading - is it cool to wade in MO without getting shot? Bella Vista needs to drop the POA.

[bfishn]

After observing the creek from several angles today, I'll have to make an exception to my earlier comment. By what I saw and from past floating experience, I think LS would have been floatable and fishable today, and might be tomorrow as well. At least if you had to drag it would be minimal, and the water is the ideal color/clarity for fishing. "Normal" clarity is too clear IMO, just a tinge of green/cloudy makes the fish a bit more careless and easier to fool. Pay extra attention to any side branch inflows, no matter how small.

Added

If you're also into cats, there are some surprisingly good ones there, blues and channels (escaped from BV) and native flatties aren't uncommon. If you encounter a hole that should have fish but doesn't there's probably a big flathead or two as a reason.

[Guest]

  On 4/19/2013 at 12:24 PM, chima47 said:

I've heard that a out Arkansas side. From reading MDC stuff, it seems you can wade it just fine. Seems that folks can float it. Am wondering about floating and wading - is it cool to wade in MO without getting shot? Bella Vista needs to drop the POA.

In BV, you gotta pay to play.

Buy a membership lot for a few hundred and pay your dues.

That's what Ive been doing for 8 years now.

Lots of good redear and catfish in those lakes.

BTW, don't get caught wading in MO unless you've been floating from a rentals place.

Otherwise, it trespassing and they will have you fined or harassed.

Theres plenty of good wade fishing near most rental places, and the fee is small compared to BV.

Good luck

[chub minnow]

I've been wading LS, BS and Elk my entire life. Never been fined or harassed. I'm also generally courteous and considerate so...........

[Guest]

  On 4/21/2013 at 2:31 PM, chub minnow said:

I've been wading LS, BS and Elk my entire life. Never been fined or harassed. I'm also generally courteous and considerate so...........

That hasn't been that case for me.

There's a stretch of Little Sugar between Mo state line and Pineville, where I've been run off in the past.

They left a copy of the state laws on my windshield.

I was in college back in those days, and haven't ever been back there.

I stick to canoe rental places and pay the parking fee when Im wading.

It gives me a piece of mind, so I can fish without worrying over angry landowners.

[remi74]

I think everybody has a different experience. I fished a stream for 15 years. I always waved and said hi to the same old guy for years. He talked with fisherman, etc. this year, he tried to run me off and mention all the trouble he's had by his house and that his neighbor was scared of me fishing behind her house. I spoke with the other neighbors who were surprised to hear he had any trouble and taken back that this old guy and his neighbor were running me off. He was telling me he own the road in front of the bridge and I was trespassing and the land on the other side that I accessed next to the bridge was his neighbors was considered trespassing too. I could go on . . . Said he had my tag number and name, I asked him my name and of course he couldn't answer. Said he was calling Sherriff and I said to call warden too and tell them my name too. So, I called game and fish, Sherriff, and county road dept. I was told I entered the stream properly and not trespassing and the road was county property. However, being in AR, AGFC said to ask permission to fish on stream from land owners.

[ollie]

I've only encountered that problem twice in my lifetime around here. Once on a very small creek that a few will know about if I mention it, but point is this place got trashed every weekend by locals and the property owners finally had enough. I can understand that and I think since it was non-navigable they had every right to run me off. The other time was on Indian and a landowner got after me with a shotgun. No shots fired, but I left peacefully. Found out later from another friend that lived close by to the landowner that he was indeed growing pot. He said I was running his cows, but I wondered why none were even around. Now I just put in at a different place and float by his property without problems.

[remi74]

No trouble here. Just access legally. I make calls every year to county, MDC and sometimes sherriff's dept. to ask questions. I haven't had any run-ins with anyone but keep my butt covered with phone calls. I run into anglers every now and again who access from same points and never had trouble other than saying to keep the area clean. Seems some landowners like to post and even put fencing where they shouldn't but as long as you stay on stream . . .