TR: Lower Illiois (OK)

Sorry to interrupt the (non-partisan) political posts...


Just got back from a half-day of fishing the Lower Illinois River.
For those of you familiar with the layout, I fished from the Rock Wall
back upriver to about 150 yards from "bait and bucket" point.

Wed. afternoon, cold and just a slight breeze - out there pretty much
by myself. Caught 'bows by the hatful, from 12-15". Caught a couple
that ran around 18", about 60 fish in all. Nice half-day.

Observations: had to watch people upriver unload cars and drag
buckets and plastic lawnchairs to the river to fish with powerbait;
about froze my a## off when it got to be 1:00; hard to make yourself
move and try new spots when you're catching fish on every other cast.

But a lot of fun to be stripping fish in one after the other while the
Zebco folks have their fat asses parked on their white plastic buckets
wondering why their powerbaits aren't working.

Caught one nice fish with a spark-plug size crankbait hung in its maw
with at least a 20lb test leader loop connected. Couldn't dislodge
the thing without killing the fish so I did what I could for it and
then let it go. The lure seemed to be rusting....hopefully it'll
come loose naturatlly. How the hell do you break off using that rig?

Going to Beaver and the White/Norfork tomorrow+Friday. May also try
the Taneycomo tail waters around Branson, Mo. Also went to Roaring
River(MO.) last Sunday and caught tons of fish including a couple of
very nice browns in the Catch-and-Release water.

I've got pictures of the areas and some fish. If you'd like to see
them or another T/R after I get back, let me know.

--Chuck

Chuck: Thanks for the trip report. If you like that area,you might
want to check out The Smallmouth Rendezvous on Friday and Saturday of
the first weekend in May at Tallaquah, Ok. This shindig is put on by
the Northeast Oklahoma Flyfishers Club of Tallaquah. I am one of the
few that has never missed this event. These guys think it is their job
to take you out fishing and get you on some good fish. You can get
their web site from googeling their club.

Big Dale

"Charles Crolley" wrote in
message ...

Sorry to interrupt the (non-partisan) political posts...


Just got back from a half-day of fishing the Lower Illinois River.
For those of you familiar with the layout, I fished from the Rock Wall
back upriver to about 150 yards from "bait and bucket" point.

Wed. afternoon, cold and just a slight breeze - out there pretty much
by myself. Caught 'bows by the hatful, from 12-15". Caught a couple
that ran around 18", about 60 fish in all. Nice half-day.

Observations: had to watch people upriver unload cars and drag
buckets and plastic lawnchairs to the river to fish with powerbait;
about froze my a## off when it got to be 1:00; hard to make yourself
move and try new spots when you're catching fish on every other cast.

But a lot of fun to be stripping fish in one after the other while the
Zebco folks have their fat asses parked on their white plastic buckets
wondering why their powerbaits aren't working.

Caught one nice fish with a spark-plug size crankbait hung in its maw
with at least a 20lb test leader loop connected. Couldn't dislodge
the thing without killing the fish so I did what I could for it and
then let it go. The lure seemed to be rusting....hopefully it'll
come loose naturatlly. How the hell do you break off using that rig?

Going to Beaver and the White/Norfork tomorrow+Friday.

I'll be on the Norfork (Ozark County, MO) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
myself. I'm taking two neophytes for their first fly fishing experience.
I've already agreed to make an afternoon trip up river (around Hammond Camp)
so they can do a little smallmouth fishing. I'll post a TR when I get back.

Mark

"Charles Crolley" sez:

Observations: had to watch people upriver unload cars and drag
buckets and plastic lawnchairs to the river to fish with powerbait;
about froze my a## off when it got to be 1:00; hard to make yourself
move and try new spots when you're catching fish on every other cast.

But a lot of fun to be stripping fish in one after the other while the
Zebco folks have their fat asses parked on their white plastic buckets
wondering why their powerbaits aren't working.

ROTFLMAO!!!! Way to go Charles!!! Love it when this happens!!!
Thanks for sharing and please do it again!

John