O A F Winter White River Trip 2013

[LittleRedFisherman]

Phil, we were to full of fish to break into it yet, but I bet it will get ate soon, we all seem to have big appetites around here... I have a feeling it might get taken to the Norfork river tomorrow!

[Mitch f]

Love the reports, makes me feel like I was there!

[raise the motor]

Thanks to all the fishermen who posted reports on the trip. I'm sure there are many others who have enjoyed this tread as much as I have.

The strange weather and water compllications made for interesting reading. Ham's report about "sliding down the hill in 4 low" points out the risk of planning a fishing trip in the middle of a blizard. The thought of sliding down a steep wooded hillside with a 21 foot fiberglass boat following is scary. Someone must have thought "what are we doing" at some point.

I gather two things from reading the posts. First, that jigs are the best winter trout lure, and second, that some river sections hold lots of fish and others very few. I assume many of the fish were caught with a flot and motor back routine in areas where you found fish. From my limited time on the White it appears that is the standard approach.

Reading all this makes me want to order some of those zigjigs and consider winter trout fishing. The picture of three men standing in a narrow boat on a swift river is a little scary however.

Congrats on a successful trip. Thanks for sharing.

Joe

[Ham]

What a Great trip! Again, A huge Thank You to Phil Lilly for having the forum and for joining us on our little adventure. I'm sorry that weather forced Phil to bail before LRF and I got back. I wanted to learn from him, but missed my chance.

Another BIG Thank you to Richard Cross for the sample jigs and t shirts and hats. I know they were used and appreciated. I freaking love the Zig Jig.

I'm so happy to meet some ore OAF guys and what a great bunch of guys they were. I'd be more than happy to fish with any and all of them again and I hope we can do so. Wide variety of backgrounds, but we share a love for fishing and outdoor sports. Real good people out there, don't let bad news make you think otherwise.

Gotta run for now, but I really had a great time. thanks to all who made it possible.

[Phil Lilley]

I was expecting the road heading out of the valley to be ice, as it was in the morning and with the rain I thought it'd be really slick. My 2-wheel truck would be sliding all over... But it was clear to my surprise. Could have stayed much later. Next time!!

[Terrierman]

What a great time that was. Thanks Ham for having me in your boat and sharing so much of your incredible knowledge of that river and how and where to fish it. You really have it down. Sorry about the flat tire but we overcame. Riley's Station is a great place to stay for anyone considering a trip to the White. Yeah it was cold and a little windy but that's what they make fleece and gore-tex for. My hands were really all that got cold all day.

LRF, props for a great fish fry, that's a really nice cooker you have. All of the action floating, fishing, cooking, eating etc. was all mighty fine. But the best part for me is the fellowship, meeting and making new friends. Thank you all for coming and including me in. I will fish with any of you any time, anywhere.

We have to do it again and next time it will be my turn to bring and run a boat.

P.S. Nice dog quillback. I enjoyed meeting him too.

[Terrierman]

The picture of three men standing in a narrow boat on a swift river is a little scary however.

Congrats on a successful trip. Thanks for sharing.

Joe

The standing wasn't so bad, it was gotmuddy in the spider seat up on that little deck on the bow that was hazardous. There was one time I thought somebody was going to get wet.

[Terrierman]

Phil, you are too kind for words. I've admired the way you run this site and your business and while we still haven't met face to face, I learned something more to admire about you this morning.

[Quillback]

Well I'm back home now. Not much I can add to the reports, except that I was impressed by now well the Zig jigs and the jigs Phil sells work. I had never fished them in my life until yesterday, and I caught a little over 50 trout in one day on them. But much of the credit also goes to Kyle (Hoglaw) for providing the boat and motoring us to the spots and to Brett (Little Red) for keeping us on the drift with the trolling motor - I just sat in the middle and caught fish

A long list of thanks - thanks to Kyle and Ham for bringing boats and letting us boat less folks fish out of them, thanks to Phil for many things including some jigs and smoked salmon (and for providing a great forum), thanks Richard for the hats and T-shirts, thanks Brett for those tasty flathead fillets, thanks Cody (Gotmuddy) for the great brisket, and thanks Rick (Terrierman) for the wonderful apple crisp.

I had a great time, and met some great people - let's do it again!

[LittleRedFisherman]

Made it home myself guys, and got in just in time for my Sunday school Christmas party. This was a great trip in many ways, all you guys were great! Ham was right about the different backgrounds, but one thing in common, a love for fishing, fellowship, and the Ozarks. Thanks again to Ham and Hoglaw for bringing there boat and putting us on the fish, there knowledge of this wonderful river has a lot to do with the success we had,
Hoglaws (Kyle) call yesterday to make a extra run down before we loaded out made for some pretty good brown trout catches! He's such a nice guy and would love to fish with you again. Maybe next time you can break out the guitar?

Ham (The Jig Master) was better than most guides in teaching me tricks of the Jig, tying knots, and what to look for on the river. A great guy with a passion for fishing, and teaching people. A passion for catching trout like I've never seen, you for sure "stay mad at um" as you say all day long! Glad to call you a friend!

GotMuddy just has fun with whatever he's doing, and great guy and fisherman, awesome brisket the other night to! Looking forward to fishing with many times in the future as we are close to the same waters!

Terrierman (Rick) was great to meet you and thanks for the apple crisp for the dessert to the fish fry, he was bending over backward trying to help me out last night while cooking, got a love a giving soul. Dispite a bum shoulder, he was putting um in the boat so I was told! Hope we can fish in the same boat someday!!

Quilback (Jeff) was a true gent, and one heck of fisherman, every time I looked over I saw a splashing fish, awesome dog to, may let you give my beagle some obedience training...lol.

Phil, we didn't get to visit as much as I liked, but I enjoyed meeting you, and still hearing about how good you are with a jig. Found out what a great and God lead man you are, class act!!

Hopefully we will get a report from Hoglaw and Muddy, they hit the Norfork this morning and left when it was about 22 degrees.

Hope we do this again next year, maybe we need a spring trip or something..

Ham, this last pic if for you buddy, it was on my phone that I couldn't use much while we were there. Glad I could catch it........