BASS FISHINGBass Fishing Sports Blog

RIVER VALLEY and OZARK AREA — My sons Josh and Matt have become striper-fishing fanatics.

It started when I took Josh on a Beaver Lake fishing trip with guide Brad Weigmann of Springdale. Brad has been guiding on this reservoir in northwest Arkansas for more than 20 years and knows the ways of the lake’s huge stripers.

The tactic we used was trolling live gizzard shad beneath planer boards. it worked. After a prolonged battle, Josh landed a 25-pounder that took his bait. from that moment, he was hooked on striper fishing.

The next may, Matt and I fished Lake Ouachita near Hot Springs with pro angler Bobby Graves of Mount Ida. Bobby and Matt employed a different tactic to catch the stripers in this Ouachita Mountains impoundment – working bucktail jigs over bottom humps. in just a few hours of fishing, the pair landed 15 stripers in the 10-to 15-pound class, a fun day of fishing in anyone’s book. Matt, too, became hooked on striper fishing.

The name “striper” evokes thoughts of an indomitable fish with never-say-die fighting spirit. If you’ve never hooked one of these powerful fighters, you’ve missed out on one of the greatest thrills in Arkansas fishing. Ten- to 40-pound striped bass are caught with astounding regularity in The Natural State, and fish this size are among the most solid fighting adversaries in freshwater. Hook one, and you’re in for an unforgettable battle.

Striped bass are ideal for stocking Arkansas’ large, manmade impoundments. The fish don’t harm native predators because they occupy a separate area, the open water of a lake. and though many anglers still believe stripers feed substantially on black bass, studies show that shad comprise 93 percent of their diet. in this respect, stripers are important because shad aren’t adequately consumed by native fish in large, deep reservoirs. Stripers keep their numbers in check.

Because stripers reproduce only in the Arkansas River, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission maintains populations through stocking. During many years, up to 1 million stripers are stocked in Arkansas waters.

Granted, catching a big striper isn’t simple. it takes knowledge, hard work and hours on the water.

But thanks to the efforts of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, these exciting sportfish are no longer just creatures of the ocean.

The striped bass, once found only in saltwater, is now available in Arkansas’ freshwater rivers and impoundments.

And those willing to make the extra effort can experience fishing thrills galore.

Where can you get in on Arkansas’ rock-’em, sock’em striper action? Today, healthy striper populations are found in at least 10 Arkansas reservoirs: lakes Beaver, Bull Shoals, Dardanelle, Greeson, Norfork, Ouachita, Ozark, Catherine, Hamilton and Maumelle; and four major rivers: the Arkansas, Small, lower Ouachita and Red. here are details on five of these waters many experts consider the best of the best.

If it’s big stripers you’re after, Lake Ouachita between Mount Ida and Hot Springs can deliver. Some proclaim it the Striper Capital of the World, and with good reason. This 40,000-acre U.S. Army Corps of Engineers impoundment has produced several state records. Twenty pounders are common, and 30- to 50-pound fish are always possible.

Deep, crystal-clear, with a floor of rocks, trees and other cover, and plenty of baitfish, Ouachita is ideal for big stripers. one popular method for catching them is trolling with downriggers along the river channel from near the dam to where it is joined by the Small Blakely and big Blakely creek channels. This juncture is one of the real striper hotspots in Ouachita. good baits include deep-diving, rainbow-trout colored crankbaits (stripers prey heavily on the lake’s population of place-and-take rainbows), big bucktail jigs and live gizzard shad.

Lake Hamilton, bordering the southern edge of Hot Springs has the potential to produce some truly huge striped bass, a fact exemplified by two events that occurred in the spring of 1997. on March 21 that year, Jim Robb of Fort Smith landed a53-pound, 9-ounce striper. Four days later, Mike Grissom of Benton caught one weighing 53 pounds, 13 ounces. both fish set new state records.

Hamilton continues churning out good numbers of big stripers every year. It’s a tough lake to fish, with lots of fishing pressure and scads of recreational traffic to contend with. nevertheless, if it’s a trophy-class fish you’re after, your chances are much better here than on most other Natural State striper waters.

Beaver Lake in Northwest Arkansas near Rogers, Springdale and Eureka Springs has given up several 40-pound plus state-record stripers. Dozens of stripers over the 30-pound mark are caught each year, and several usually weigh more 40 pounds.

In spring, stripers tend to go up on the shallow flats early in the morning and again late in the afternoon. on cloudy days, stripers may stay in the shallow water all day, especially if they’re feeding on shad. a good lure is a 1/4- to 2-ounce white or chartreuse bucktail jig. As a general rule, the tougher the fishing, the smaller the jig that should be used.

Trolling with bucktails is a good way to locate stripers. Start right at the edge of the river channel, and on subsequent passes, work your way into more shallow water. a 2-ounce jig will reach the proper depth near the river channel, but change to smaller jigs as you work your way in. many anglers use downriggers to provide more depth control.

Each year, numerous stripers up to 25 pounds are caught on this 7,000-acre lake near Kirby in west-central Arkansas. Some anglers claim Greeson contains more stripers per acre than any lake in Arkansas.

In spring, look for fish running the Small Missouri River, mixed in with schools of white bass. Work shallow flats and rocky points in the upper end of the lake early and late in the day with topwaters and minnow-imitation crankbaits. up in the day, try working drop-offs near points and flats with jigs, spoons or live baits such as shad.

Sur face-fe e ding st r ipers frequently appear in the Chimney Rock area near dawn and dusk. Once again, minnow-imitation topwaters and crankbaits are the ticket to success.

Lake Maumelle is the largest of Arkansas’ city-water supply lakes. This Small Rock Waterworks impoundment covers 8,900 acres, eight mileswest of Small Rock along Arkansas Highway 10. All those acres seem to hold stripers. Chances are good for tying into a fish up to 40 pounds. Fifteen- to 20-pounders are common.

Spring stripers usually hold in or along the edge of the Maumelle River channel, which runs through the lake’s midsection. There’s only one major bottom channel here, and because the lake is only 1.5 miles at its widest point, the channel isn’t hard to pinpoint.

Pinpointing stripers isn’t always as simple. most usually gather in schools near the upper end of the lake because that’s where shad also congregate. Trolling the river channel with jigs or shad is a good way to catch stripers, but many anglers prefer casting. It’s not hard to follow the channel with a sonar unit, and you can work the edges with jigs, spoons and deep-diving crankbaits.

River Valley Ozark, Pages 146 on 05/06/2012

Print Headline: Arkansas’ finest striper lakes

The Ozarks (also referred to as Ozarks Mountain Country, the Ozark Mountains and the Ozark Plateau) are not that far from Tulsa and offer some of the best fishing in all of America. whether you are looking for a record rainbow trout or a stringer of black or smallmouth bass, the waters of the Ozarks offer fantastic fishing opportunities.The Ozarks Highlands area covers nearly 47,000 square miles (122,000 km). It is by far the most extensive mountainous region between the Appalachians and the Rocky Mountains. The United States Army Corps of Engineers lakes, including Table Rock, Bull Shoals and Norfork, were made by damming the White River beginning in 1911. Fishing abounds in all of these deep-water lakes and welcomes you to come.Highlights of the Heart of the Ozarks waterways.• Bull Shoals LakeOne of five deep-water lakes formed by the dams of the White River basin, Bull Shoals Lake has 45,150 acres of water and thousands of acres of shoreline. Boone, Marion and Baxter counties in Arkansas make up the lake, with an average depth of 75 feet.The massive dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake was dedicated in 1952 by President Harry S. Truman.Many species of fresh-water fish are available in the lake. Campgrounds and boat rentals can be found all along the shores of Bull Shoals Lake.• Table Rock LakeThis Corps of Engineers developed lake has most of its body of water lying in Missouri, while the counties of Boone and Carroll in Arkansas also have a portion. Table Rock Lake totals 431,000 acres of fishing and was built in 1954. Black bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, catfish, perch and sunfish are found in the lake.• Norfork LakeWith 22,000 acres of water and 19 developed recreation areas, the lake has a well-stocked population of bass (large and small mouth), walleye, crappie and sunfish. Fed by the North Fork River, there is also a population of rainbow and other species of trout. The dam was built in 1941 for hydraulic electric purposes. Fishing and other recreational activities followed.• White RiverNationally known as one of the best trout fishing streams in all of America, the waterway boasts near record catches of rainbow trout. Fishing below the dam at Bull Shoals Lake on the White River is unique because the water remains cold enough year round to support the trout.• Buffalo National RiverThis pristine, free-flowing river meanders 150 miles east through the Ozarks counties before merging with the White River at Buffalo City. known best for its canoeing and kayaking, it is also a fantastic fishing option for anglers. There are 74 different varieties of fish in the Buffalo River, while it is best known for smallmouth bass, catfish and a variety of sunfish. due to the low water conditions in the summer, spring and fall are the best times to fish.• crooked CreekCrooked Creek is nationally known as a Blue Ribbon fishery for smallmouth bass. most visitors prefer to fish from the bank, since this spring-fed creek depends on rain and is often too low to float. Shallow pools offer the best chance for landing a big smallmouth bass.when coming to Harrison and the Ozarks to fish, you will need a valid Arkansas fishing license (resident or nonresident) on any of the public waterways. The licenses can be purchased at many locations in the Ozarks. for residents of Arkansas, the cost for an annual license is $10.50 and for nonresidents an annual license is $40.00. you must also buy a separate trout stamp ($5 and $12). One-day and three-day licenses are also available. Visit a retailer or call the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in Small Rock at 800-364-4263 for more information.for more information on fishing in the Ozarks, contact the Harrison Convention and Visitors Bureau at 870-741-1789 or toll free at 888-283-2163 or at HarrisonArkansas.org.

Doug Wojcik is hired by College of Charleston

Former Tulsa coach Doug Wojcik has been hired as the head men’s basketball coach at the College of Charleston .Wojcik, 47, previously spent the last seven seasons at The University of Tulsa where he became the all-time winningest head coach in program history with 140 career wins, surpassing legendary coaches Clarence Iba (137) and Nolan Richardson (119). he held a career winning percentage of 60 percent and an average of 20 wins per season with the Golden Hurricane.Tulsa was a breeding ground for successful head coaches who eventually led their future programs to a national championship title in Richardson (Arkansas in 1994), Tubby Smith (Kentucky in 1998) and Bill Self (Kansas in 2008) as well as notable assistant coaches in Tom Izzo (Michigan State in 2000), Kevin O’Neill, Mike Anderson, Billy Gillispie and Flip Saunders.in seven years with the Golden Hurricane, Wojcik took a nine-win squad before his arrival and posted four consecutive 20-win seasons including back-to-back 25+ win campaigns, advanced to the championship game of the Conference USA Tournament in 2008 and 2009, won the inaugural College Basketball Invitational title in 2008 in his third season and appeared in the NIT twice in 2009 and 2010.All of this success came as the program transitioned from its days in the Western Athletic Conference to the more competitive Conference USA. One of the team’s largest highlights of the 2010-11 season was defeating Memphis on its home court to break a 12-game losing streak to the Tigers in the all-time series and capture its first road win since 1971.The Golden Hurricane were the only C-USA squad to beat Memphis at home (one of their four league home losses since 2004-05) and one of only two schools that season to do so next to Georgetown.

During his tenure, Tulsa was one of C-USA’s top defensive teams and ranked among the top defenses in the country. Wojcik developed two future NBA players in Ben Uzoh and Jerome Jordan as well as Conference USA leading scorer Justin Hurtt.he also recruited and developed three of the top nine all-time leading scorers in Tulsa history in Uzoh (No. 3), Hurtt (No. 7), and Jerome Jordan (No. 9).

Topic: Headline NewsFifth Outdoor Classic March 10-11Published Online Feb 01, 2012 – 10:21 AM

The fifth Annual North Missouri Outdoor Classic will be held March 10-11 at the Chillicothe High School. the annual event is sponsored by the North Missouri Sportsman?s Alliance (NMSA), a non-profit organization based in Linn, Livingston, Carroll and Daviess counties.

"over our early years we have been able to bring in some of the top outdoor television hosts in the country and this year is no exception," said Steve Shoot, President of the NMSA. "This year ?Dread no Evil?s? Chris Brackett will be headlining an excellent group of speakers at our Outdoor Classic.

The North Missouri Outdoor Classic features a variety of activities with the designed purpose of making the two-day show a family event.

"There will be a number of booth displays with merchants selling outdoor oriented merchandise, as well as programs and seminars by professional hunters and fishermen," said Shoot. "Our goal every year is to always provide a family event with enough diversity that hopefully there is something at the show for everyone."

Deer hunters can bring their bucks in to be measured by official Pope & Young and Boone & Crockett scorers. There is also a unique Pepsi "Braggin? Wall," featuring the bucks that score 170 and higher by local hunters. Trophies are presented to the top Typical, Non-Typical and Best of Show Buck brought into the Classic.

Joining Brackett in presenting seminars will be Chuck Weldon from Drury Outdoors "Dream Season," television series; Lyle Stokes, a professional catfisherman and catfish tournament series director, as well as being featured on several television shows in 2012; Roy Roper, professional bass angler, fishing guide, promoter and public speaker; and Karl Rice, public relations director for the Missouri Trapper Association. A special guest this year will be 2012 miss Missouri Katie Kearney, of St. Louis.

The Missouri Department of Conservation will also be providing speakers and workshops throughout the Outdoor Classic. in the past programs presented by the MDC included mountain lions, feral hogs, black bears and elk restoration.

"we have always appreciated the support of the MDC and their involvement in the Outdoor Classic," said Shoot. "We?re looking forward to the new information we will be receiving at this year?s event."

The Outdoor Classic will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 11.

"we decided to go the Outdoor Classic into March after battling snow storms and ice the last few years," Shoot said. "we used to hold the event in February, but weather concerns forced us to take a hopefully safer weather month for those who are traveling to Chillicothe."

The North Missouri Outdoor Classic is a fund raising event for the NMSA, which raises money for the Chillicothe Hunting & Fishing Club and the Share the Harvest program in four north Missouri counties.

Comments?

This past weekend was punctuated by three great events. one event fell small of expectations, however the other events were great. The one event that fell small was, of course, the outcome of the Super Bowl. it was a sad day for new England and our beloved Patriots. The other two events I am speaking of were the Glide Fishing Film Tour and SuperBoo which were both, as expected, great.

Saturday night valley residents were treated to the Northern new England Premier of The Glide Fishing Film Tour. The tour was presented by Tin Mountain with some additional support by S.S. Flies, The North Country Angler and Bass Pro Shop. The films were shown at The Leura Eastman Performing Arts Center at Fryeburg Academy which in my opinion one of the nicest venues in the Valley for these kinds of events. Susan Bean, of Tin Mountain, knows how to organize events like this and always delivers a class act.

If you haven’t attended one of the Film Tours you owe it to yourself to make the effort to go to one. there is a whole new generation of glide fishers out there and much like snow boarders and skate borders they capture their exploits on video. Sometime it can be a small bit like glide fishing on steroids. The sound tracks can be a small loud and the music reflects their tastes and not those of their fathers.

There were a number of films that resonated with me this year. there was one where the star was a yellow Labrador retriever that had it in for tarpon. I will admit I have soft spot for labs. The film on the Missouri River made me lust for a return visit. however, and I reckon most would agree, the best film was “Doc of the Drakes.” This small film tells the tale of a retired doctor afflicted with Parkinson Disease and his attempt to fish the drake hatch on Silver Creek in Idaho. The doctor is accompanied by his guide who tries his best to get the doctor on to fish. Time and time again the doc misses strikes due to his unsteadiness. The guide’s frustration is evident, but the doctor is never discouraged and continues right up to the end. From time to time every angler has experienced days like these without the added distraction of Parkinson and I reckon that everyone of those watching the film could feel the pain. Fortunately, the film does have a Hollywood ending and the doc is rewarded with a huge trout on the last cast of the day.

SuperBoo, the bamboo rod festival, held each winter in Fairfield, Maine, was held last Sunday. This year I made the trip with excellent friend Tom Crowley. Tom is afflicted with bambooitis as terribly as I am. somebody questioned me last week if I thought that SuperBoo was worth going to and I said: “if you’re the kind of guy who gets off on sniffing a bamboo rod when it is first removed from its tube, than this is your kind of show.”

I had a couple rods appraised and found out that I still can’t retire. it was fun to watch the process of how the two fellows that appraised the rod went about things; turns out that the rod tubes were more fascinating than my rods. it is incredible the amount of knowledge you can pick up at these shows. in just a few minutes of watching these guys look over my rods I learned more than if I had read several books on the subject. Every rod has a tale to tell.

Of course the other great thing about this show is that you can really cast the rods on display. I have attended several different bamboo rod gatherings and this is the only one I know of where the whole thought is cast the rods. Needless to say Tom and I had a great time and will definitely be back next year.

Well all and all two out of three ain’t bad, but I sure wish we had a do-over on that game. Maybe next year.

See you on the river.bill and Janet Thompson own North Country Angler in North Conway.

THREE RIVERS AREA — Coach Steve Roberts has a competitive streak.

The new athletic director for the Cabot School District didn’t spend years in the game to just coach his players in football; he believes in coaching the whole person.

Before resigning as head football coach at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Roberts spent nine years of his life making a difference there.

“When I went to ASU, it was rated as the worst football program in America,” Roberts said. “It was a tremendous challenge. we had very few scholarship players and the lowest budget in Division I.”

Roberts led ASU to the 2005 Sun Belt Conference championship, which was the Red Wolves’ (then Indians) first league championship since 1986. That same year, Roberts led the team to the New Orleans Bowl, the team’s first bowl appearance since the 1970 Pecan Bowl.

“We focused on the people,” Roberts said about his team’s turnaround, “by making sure we made a difference in the kids’ lives.”

“We had the highest GPA and were nationally recognized for grade rates of the players,” he said.

His efforts earned Roberts the Sunbelt Conference Coach of the Year title in 2005.

“He teaches them not only to be good football players, but he teaches them to be good men,” said Tony Gilbert, running-back coach at the University of Louisiana-Monroe.

Roberts gives the same attention to his coaching staff as he does his players. in fact, Gilbert credits Roberts for a major part of his career.

Roberts and Gilbert first met when they were attempting to recruit the same player. Roberts was coaching at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, and Gilbert was coaching at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

“We were recruiting the same guy – a running back from Magnolia, Tony McDonald – and because I was at the bigger school, I got him,” Gilbert said.

Not long after that, Gilbert found himself seeking another coaching job, and in 1997, Gilbert said Roberts hired him to coach defensive backs at SAU. Gilbert worked with Roberts for 15 years.

“It was my first year to coach defensive backs, and Coach Roberts allowed me to coach those guys,” Gilbert said. “He’s a fantastic man and a fantastic coach.”

In 1997, Roberts led the SAU Muleriders to their first Gulf South Conference Championship, and they made it to the Division II national playoffs for the first time.

Roberts left SAU to coach at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La., before going to ASU in 2002. he left ASU in December 2010.

Twelve of Roberts’ former players are now playing in the NFL, and many others have gone on to successful careers in business, teaching, coaching and medicine.

“I’m pleased to be in Cabot,” he said. Although Roberts said he misses coaching, he welcomes the change in his career.

“It’s a lot different,” he said about being an athletic director instead of a coach. “The stress level is certainly a lot lower. I still get to work with coaches and have an impact on their lives. … I try to interact with them as much as I can and to try to run a program to maximize time and resources to provide the best possible experience for our students.”

Roberts graduated from Joseph T. Robinson High School in Small Rock and attended Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia on a football scholarship. he graduated cum laude in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree in math and physical education. Roberts went on to get a Master of Education degree at SAU in 1989.

Although he had planned on going into a mathematicalrelated field, he said that during his junior year in college he felt a calling to become a coach.

“I learned a lot of valuable lessons throughout the years,” he said. “The vast majority of young people today are tremendous. They are outstanding leaders, they are innovative and creative, and those kids don’t get enough publicity.”

With Roberts in Cabot are his wife, Sherri, and their daughter, Abby. When he’s not running the Cabot athletic department, he said, he enjoys spending time with his family, bass fishing and hunting.

Staff writer Jeanni Brosius can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or .

getting to know Steve Roberts Birth date: Oct. 13, 1964 Occupation: Athletic director for the Cabot School District Hometown: Small Rock Comfort food: White beans, cornbread and fried potatoes something most people don’t know: I love to read – mostly historical fiction, thrillers and the Bible.

Most influenced by: My family

Three Rivers, Pages 119 on 12/18/2011

John Ignatius Brown Sr. 88, of Saint Joseph, Missouri, passed away Thursday, November 10, 2011 at his home.

He was born January 19, 1923 in St. Joseph, MO, son of Mary (Woods) and Howard J. Brown. He married Helen Cogdill on June 26, 1943 and they shared 68 years of marriage together. He served in the Army and is a veteran of the World War II during the war he received the following awards and medals; 4 bronze stars, Excellent Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, WWII victory medal, combat infantryman badge 1st award, Philippine liberation ribbon, and the honorable service lapel button WWII. He worked at Dannon Mills, Farm Arco, CAM and retired after 12 years from the St. Joseph Police Department in the maintenance department. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling, and golfing. He was a switch hitter and pitcher for softball, he also enjoyed playing his bass guitar, and he loved country music. John was a member of VFW post 6760 and the Faith United Baptist Church.

John was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Howard E. Brown, and William G. Brown, two sisters, Jesse Higbe, and Elsie Valeu, and a grandson, Jason Brown.

Survivors include his wife Helen J. Brown of the home, 2 sons – John and wife Norma Brown Jr. Jack and wife Ruth Brown; 2 daughters – Nancy Brown and companion Billy Joe Huff, and Sandra Donelson all of St. Joseph, MO; 2 brothers – Charles T. Brown and Robert J. Brown all of St. Joseph, MO; 5 granddaughters – Tammy Brown, Tracey Weyer, Angie Wuest, Jada Brown, and Debbie Adkins; 5 grandsons – Johnny Brown, Steve Brown, Shane Brown, Troy Brown, Charles Donelson Jr.; 14 – great grandchildren; several – great great grandchildren; as well as several nieces and nephews .

Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 AM, on Monday, November 14, 2011 at Faith United Baptist Church 8400 S.W. V. Highway, St. Joseph, MO, with Pastor Randy Harr officiating, The family will receive friends from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Sunday at the Rupp Funeral Home. Friends may call after 11:00 AM Saturday until 5:00PM at the Rupp Funeral Home. The Interment will be at the Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials are requested to the Faith United Baptist Church.

Online condolence and obituary at ruppfuneral.com.

Dakota Recreation Report

Thursday: Bighorn sheep season closes.

Friday: Deer gun and E3 and E4 any elk extended seasons open.

Saturday: Bobcat season opens.

Sunday: Daylight Savings Time ends, set clocks back one hour.

Monday: Woodcock season closes.

Nov. 13: Sandhill crane Zone 1 closes.

Devils Lake elevation, Nov. 2: 1,453.47 feet above mean sea level (msl).

Stump Lake elevation, Nov. 2: 1,453.6 msl.

Lake Sakakawea elevation, Nov. 2: 1,841.7 msl; 26,000 cubic feet per second average (CFS) Garrison Dam daily releases.

N.D. Game & Fish Dept. Dist. game wardens: No reports from the Devils. fewer anglers on area lakes and rivers but those going continue finding a nice fall catfish bite using suckers. Some walleye continue biting on the Red River in the Fargo area with sauger activity farther north. Missouri River remains good for walleye and salmon. not much activity on Lake Sakakawea.

Coal Mine Lake, Anamoose: Lake closed until it ices over for ice fishing.

Devils Lake, Ed’s Bait & Tackle, Devils Lake: not many anglers on the water but those going are finding continued walleye activity. try jigging rock piles, structure and the bridges or pulling crankbaits along the Golden Highway or Pelican Ridge on Pelican Lake.

Devils Lake, Lakeview Lodge, Devils Lake: Pelican Lake good for walleye pulling crankbaits along old shorelines and rocks.

Devils Lake, Woodland Resort, Creel Bay, Devils Lake: not many anglers out and activity has slowed a small. try spinners with nightcrawlers along the Golden Highway.

Goose Lake, Harvey: Continued honest for walleye, perch and northern pike.

Harvey Dam, Harvey: Honest to good for northern pike.

Jamestown Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper stop, Jamestown: not much activity.

Jamestown Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Limited activity with upcoming deer season.

Lake Ashtabula, Bayshore, Valley City: a few anglers remain on the water with honest success. Also try shore-fishing near the bridges.

Lake Sakakawea, Cenex Bait & Tackle, Garrison: Missouri River remains good for walleye. Limited activity on Lake Audubon with the few anglers that are out finding slower walleye success. Lake Sakakawea silent.

Lake Sakakawea, Scott’s Bait & Tackle, Pick City: Missouri River remains good for walleye with some trout and salmon mixed in, along with smallmouth bass, sauger and northern pike. try the chutes as well as down river jigging with plastics or live bait. best success is in the evening and at night. Most walleye are nice keeper sized with some big ones mixed in. Lake Sakakawea silent but with cooler, stable water temperatures there should be a fall walleye bite. try the bays from shore or long-lining from boats for salmon.

Missouri River, Dakota Tackle, Bismarck: Cherry Lake producing small northern pike but sort through for the occasional keepers.

Red River, River Keepers, Fargo: Nice-sized walleyes and quick northern pike bite continue on Red River in Wahpeton area. Limited activity and reports from the Fargo area.

Pipestem Reservoir, Dan’s Sooper stop, Jamestown: Limited activity.

Pipestem Reservoir, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: not much activity.

Spiritwood Lake, Dan’s Sooper stop, Jamestown: Some shore-fishing success.

Spiritwood Lake, Pioneer Bait Shop, Jamestown: Limited reports.

N.D. Game & Fish Dept. game wardens: Pheasants remain scattered in pockets in the southeast but harvested corn and CRP edges continue producing the best numbers. Dogs and patience in finding birds is a must with fewer birds generally throughout the southeast. Richland, Sargent, and Dickey counties remain better than Ransom and Barnes counties with better activity reported farther west and south. best waterfowl success is with field hunting in harvested cornfields but with abundant ponds, most migration is in central and north-central N.D. with the U.S. Highway 281 corridor being a good area. All deer units remain open, including those units with some pockets of EHD deer losses. Swans and other waterfowl, including snow geese, moving into the region in McLean, Ward and surrounding areas. Some local ducks went out. Light hunting pressure. Honest deer numbers for the opener. Be careful and be sure to follow your shots.

Lonetree WMA, Harvey: Upland hunters continue finding poor success. good number of local ducks in the area with more snow geese starting to go in.

North-central N.D.: not much for waterfowl yet with continued warm weather.

Northeast N.D.: Ducks and geese are scattered with some migrating birds moving in, including some light geese. Hunters finding honest to good success.

Southeast N.D.: Continued good waterfowl success.

West-central N.D.: Honest numbers of ducks and geese in the area with some lesser Canada geese moving in. Nice numbers of snow geese along the northern tier of McLean County. Hunters are working harder for pheasants but are finding some areas with honest numbers.

Numbers to know:

N.D. Game & Fish Department, main Bismarck office: 328-6300; website: (gf.nd.gov).

N.D. Game & Fish Department, Jamestown office: 253-6480.

RAP, Report All Poachers: (800) 472-2121.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bismarck, website: (fws.gov/northdakotafieldoffice).

Tags: outdoors, fishing

It is the final day of the 2011 FLW Championship at the Missouri River near Bismarck, ND. Tommy Skarlis is leading the last ten boats standing by nearly five pounds. ?I?m fishing down by the Beaver Bay Bridge. there is a hole down there and these fish are sitting in about 30 feet of water and they are suspended about 10 feet above the bottom. I?m fishing with a 3/8oz jig, you put this down there with a Berkley Gulp 3 inch minnow,? Skarlis said.  ?Color doesn?t seem to matter, as long as it looks like a smelt or a shad. if it is dirtier water I am using a Citrus Shad. You just hold it there.?

Skarlis also found out Sunday morning that there will be one less boat on the spot than expected. ? I just got informed by Keith Kavajecz that he doesn?t reckon he can catch me so he is going to leave the spot alone.? Kavajecz dominated day one on that spot bringing in over 26 pounds. he is nearly ten pounds behind Skarlis. ?You know what, most of the stuff I?m fishing with Keith Kavajecz and Gary Parsons designed,? commented Skarlis.

?You know, I never dreamed I?d be a pro fisherman and I?m humbled and honored to be in this position. I?m excited.? he figures he needs two 18?s, two 19?s and something over 20 to secure his spot. Anglers can only put five fish in the boat today and will weigh those five.

After the tournament, Skarlis won?t be slowing down. ?I have a lot of work to do when I get home. my seven year ancient son Jake, we have a youth tag burning a hole in his pocket. I miss my boys, I miss my wife, I?ve been on the road 20 days.?  he still has a couple tournaments a wedding to attend in the next few weeks.

Dean Arnoldussen is in second place and fishing about five miles upriver. ?The other day I only put in four gallons of gas,? he laughed. ?Tom is going to be very hard to catch. he has a five pound lead on me, but I still want to stay in the top five. I don?t want to come in with three or four fish.? Arnoldussen is hoping to get the right bites early so he doesn?t have to make some tough decisions. ?I watch my Humminbird and a lot of times I see them down there and bump them, but they don?t bite until I come back later.?

Burning more than four gallons of gas today will be David Andersen, who is in fourth place. he will be hitting his milk run that is about 30 miles north of the landing. he is pulling lead and plans on giving each spot a little bit of time. ?One pass might have little ones and the next pass will have huge ones. It?s a gamble if I wait for the huge ones to show or or if I gl looking for them.? His rule for the day is that nothing under 20 inches goes in the well, but that can change as the day goes on.

Dan Stier will be keeping Tommy Skarlis company by the bridge, since he believes that is his best opportunity for huge fish. he is willing to put fat 18 inchers in the box.  With several spots he could hit and several proven ways to catch them, it will just be a matter of how the day goes that will determine his next go.

Kevin Carstensen will start the day trolling on the left side, about two miles upriver. ?Today I?m going to start out trolling lead core. I have another spot I want to hit where I found smaller fish the first day, but I have a feeling that is where the larger fish have went to.? Crawfish colored jointed Shad Raps and purple tiger Flicker Shads have been top producers.

Tom Kemos is looking to delight in the 77 degree day with SSE 15mph winds. ?I?m far enough back this morning that there is really no pressure on me. I?m going to go out and delight in a excellent day on the Missouri River,? he said.  ?I am going to make a slight change. I started to notice a lot of bait fish and other fish busting in shallow water. I realize a lot of them are white bass and pike, but they are eating the same things as the walleyes. I?m going to spend about two hours pitching cranks and jigs shallow.  Yesterday I stumbled, today I?m fishing for pride.?

Join us for the weigh-in beginning at 5pm today. All ten pros will be on stage and they will weigh in reverse order. mark Courts will weigh first and Tommy Skarlis will weigh last.

tony garitta Published: Friday, October 21, 2011 at 2:04 a.m. last Modified: Friday, October 21, 2011 at 2:04 a.m.

I always thought potatoes were for boiling, baking, frying or for KP duty, but I never knew that they could be utilized as long-range projectiles.

At the recent Southeastern Outdoor Press Association conference in Branson, Missouri, this writer had his first encounter with a potato gun, a cylindrical device that propels pieces of potato remarkable distances.

Also known as a spud gun or spudzooka, the potato gun served as a fund-raiser for SEOPA during the organization’s Shooting Day at an outdoor range between Branson and Springfield. for five bucks, the vegetable gun holder got two attempts to shoot potatoes at a small target that eluded most of the sharpshooters of the day.

I don’t know if the potato gun is a “southern thing” because my computer research revealed that its origin is debatable, but I do know that this Connecticut Yankee never heard of it until he watched it in action at the shooting range and marveled as experienced shooters yelled and jumped about like kids as they sent potatoes flying in all directions.

Internet sources indicate that the potato gun is often home made with PVC pipe and has a combustible chamber employing hair spray, which is ignited with a spark as a firing mechanism. Other potato guns are powered by compressed air and fired with the release of the air. The most powerful ones use a compressed air fuel mixture and are more dangerous to operate.

The laws on spud guns vary from area to area, so check with authorities before you construct your personal potato launcher. The propelled potatoes can also cause serious injury, so the gun should be used with care.

The homemade spud gun has been described as a “rite of passage” for young boys, so I missed out on this critical step to adulthood.

While SEOPA boasts of a number of sharpshooters, the winner of the potato gun competition was Jonathan Peoples or “J.P.,” the recreational director from Fontana Village Resort. he was one of the few to hit the target with a potato, though he donated $25 for five two-shot attempts to do it. of course, his reward was a makeshift Mr. Potato Head.

J.P. was at SEOPA with sales and marketing director Darlene Waycaster of Fontana Village Resort to encourage SEOPA board members to hold a SEOPA conference at Fontana in 2014, where SEOPA originated fifty years ago. to their delight, SEOPA accepted Fontana’s bid.

When J.P. was asked if he was going to incorporate a spud gun shoot as part of the recreational activities at Fontana Village Resort, he hesitated and said he would have to give that form of entertainment more thought.

Billy Marshall of Lexington and Keith Davis of Denton won the Mt. Carmel FWB Church Men’s Service Organization Bass Tournament at High Rock Lake Saturday.

The two anglers scratched out a five-fish limit catch of 15.39 pounds worth $1,250 on a sunny and breezy day with the lake on the rise, conditions conducive to a tough bite. The Lexington team of Dwayne and Jimmy Hughes placed second with 13.68 pounds and shared $500. Todd Shoaf of Linwood and Tony Waterhouse of Lexington claimed third place with 12.52 pounds, winning $250. Chris Chimiak and David Pitts, both of Winston-Salem, took the fourth-place prize of $100 with 12.51 pounds.

David Farrington of Greensboro and Jerry Davis of Lexington had the big fish of the day, a 5.25-pound bass that paid $224.

Carl Benton of Yadkin Team Tournaments conducted the weigh-in and was stunned by a stocky, ill-proportioned bass barely 15 inches in length that weighed more than 3 pounds.

Randleman’s Mike McDonald placed third with 42-07 and won $8,839 at the Sept. 29-Oct. 1 Everstart Series Northern Division event at the Potomac River, Marbury, MD. Chris Baumgardner of Gastonia placed 41st with 22-08 and banked $972.

The North Carolina team of James Landon and Terry Goforth placed third at the Oct. 15 Carolina Crappie Association tournament at Fishing Creek/Stumpy Pond, S.C. their weight of 9.13 pounds paid $288.

The circuit’s next stop is Nov. 19 at Jordan Lake.

Tony Garitta is a fishing columnist for The Dispatch.

I fish from shore but i sometimes fish from a boat. I mainly fish for largemouth bass in Blue Springs, Missouri but sometimes crappie whatever wants to bite so what should i use a spinning reel or a baitcasting reel?

Baitcaster:

1. used by many bass fisherman because it can be casted very precisely if you are experienced with them. for example, if you need to drop the bait in a very limited space such as among trees, by logs, or around other structures, a baitcaster is the smarter choice.

2. Releases line in a straight formation instead of a circular formation, making less friction, which many people believe helps you to cast farther (of course, the higher the quality of the reel, generally the smoother and farther it will go).

3. if you are a weekend fisherman or a go-once-in-a-while kinda guy, then a baitcaster may not be right for you because it takes alot of practice and use to really get accustomed to a baitcaster. if you haven't used them alot, you will more than likely get backlashes even with a good braking system.

Spinning Reels:

1. Simpler to get accustomed to than baitcasters

2. Hardly have to worry about birdsnests

3. Usually used when fishing with lighter tackle because baitcasters can't cast light gear too well.

todays spinning is just as good as todays baitcaster they can both handle giant fish and both can cast very far but to get a caster to cast your specific lure far you need to constanly change the magnetic drag and thumb the bait while its in the air so for beginners the baitcasters might not cast as far as the spinning and dont believe that baitcasters are more for heavy duty cuz ive used spinning on very large tarpon with ease and amberjacks and tunas so go with spinning its simpler and its just as durable and powerful if not more than a baitcaster of the same class i would also place some powerpro braided line that would alone would make your whole setup more sensitive

I use a spinning rod and reel for all my fishing. for crappie I use an ultra light outfit and for bass and huge pike I use a med heavy outfit.

Can't go wrong with a spinning Pflueger reel.