Go When You Can Go Or Even When You Can't Go

The lawn mowing, weed eating, laundry, recycling, bill paying, and dishes will all be there when you get back.

Bill and I launched around 3:30 pm to find my outboard didn't want to start.  So, we resigned ourselves to the trolling motor mode of transportation for the afternoon. 

 
It took us a minute to get up to the current and, when we did, numerous failed hookups on fish coupled with numerous successful hookups on rocks and trees told me to just, "Settle down Francis" and be patient. 

The company was good and the catchin' got better.  

.....I think the lawn mowing can wait another week......

     

Smallmouth Tactics for the Fly Fisher

Smallmouth Tactics for the Fly Fisher 

Saturday, June 6th

W/ Plateau Fly Shop, Plateau Guide Service & Ozark Sweetwater Guide Service

Spend a day with the guys from Plateau Fly Shop and Ozark Sweetwater Guide Service and learn the ins and outs of fly fishing for smallmouth bass.  The day will include:

A Smallmouth Presentation by Jeff Trigg from Ozark Sweetwater Guide Service @ 9am
½ Day Guided Float Trip on the James River
Fly rods, reels and 6 flies provided for the day. 
 Lunch Included
Discounts available on additional flies the day of the class.
Space limited to 6 students.

Cost of the class is $150.

Contact Plateau Fly Shop now to reserve your space.

Plateau Fly Shop
2863 S. Campbell Ave.
Springfield, MO 65807
417-889-6548
jims@plateauflyshop.com

Consarnit! Them Fish are Bitin'!

Bill Butts and I spent an afternoon chasing temperates.  Conditions were favorable and the fish cooperative as a front was approaching and the day's temperature reached 80+ degrees.  We were throwing 6 to 8 weight rods and either RIO Outbound or RIO Sink Tip lines in the 250 grain window.  The fish were scattered throughout the system with us catching fishing in depths from 3' up to 12'.  

Three stripers in the boat with this 7# eating a Shuttlecock on the fall.    

The hybrids were very active on Sz 1 to 1/0 chartreuse clousers, Sz 6 Rodney Bait, and a Sz 1/0 Shuttlecock.

I learned / relearned the importance of eyes on a fly.....After catching our biggest striper, an eye fell off the Shuttlecock.  We didn't catch anything for a few minutes, so, I switched to a new fly with both eyes intact.  First cast caught another striper.  Coincidence maybe.  Maybe not. 

  

And, an aspect of the hybrids in relation to the Shuttlecock (or any bigger fly I presume).  The scenario we had fishing a 5' deep run that dropped to an 8' deep hole.  After the Shuttlecock would swing through the run, I'ld allow the fly to sink trying to hit the dropoff.  A very slow strip retrieve would sometimes elicit, what felt like, a whack of the tail or body of the hybrid to the fly.  It wasn't an eat but an attempt of the fish to stun the bait.  If I didn't attempt to set the hook and instead just left the fly (or maybe allow a little line out of the rod tip), the fish would come back and eat it.  Pretty fun action and I think an effective technique when the fishing pressure is high and other boats in the vicinity are throwing Alabama Rigs over your head. 

-Jim     

  

Beaver Creek 04/01

Bull Shoals lake level at 664.29.  Ten Feet above pool of 654

USGS gauge at Bradleyville at 420 CFS and falling, but, still higher than the median value at 310

Water temperature 56 degrees and very clear

Fished from 3:30 to 8:00

RIO Outbound Type 3 Fly Line

Sz 6 JF Minnows, Sz 6 Chartreuse Clousers, Fl. Blue/White Lurchers and Grey 1/80 Ounce Jigs

The lake is high, so, we motored up to the flow and fished amongst the spawners.  The majority of the fish were on the soft edges of the bank in groups of 4-6 with the males pushing the females out into the flow and then doing their business.  We consistently caught fish with a few doubles thrown in, however, there was no "EPIC" bite due to the lack of holding water and the fish more interested in the procreation.  Great way to spend an afternoon in the Ozarks.   

03/29 Fishing Report

Zac and I had an itch to see if there were any striped bass to be caught, so, we headed out Sunday morning for an exploratory trip.  

A 34 degree morning didn't bode well for a temperate bass bite.  

And, a 48 degree water temperature wasn't going to help matters.  While there were no striped fish to be had, the walters were up on the shoals and munching.

A total of six in the boat with three keepers caught on Shuttlecocks, Flashtail Whistlers and Clouser minnows.    

  And, a few whites came out to play in the afternoon.

10 or 12 other boats were out and we never saw much catching going on.  Took off about 5:30 pm for the drive home.    

We'll be back.

White Bass Wednesday

Water temps are warming into the magic zone, so, Mulvaney and I went to check out the James.  

We started the morning fishing deeper water with flow.  

 Mulvaney with a sow that was released.

The action was slow with a total of 8 (or so) whites.  All the rest being small males.

  Let's motivate and get up to the gettin zone.

It got good.  Giggle out loud good.

 

We see Lewis Parnell over on the shoal and offer him a boat ride.

"Heck Yeah", he said.

White bass fishing in the Ozarks is the best.

 Sz 6 JF Minnows, Chartreuse & White Clousers, or 1/80 oz White Jigs.

-Jim

Orso, Missouri

Mark and I went to Orso, Missouri yesterday and had a great day.....40 or so white bass, 20 or so crappie, 8 or so largejaws and two bluegill.  

8 or so doubles during the afternoon

Looking forward to the next month of fly fishing in the Ozarks!