Finally adrift again...

With a half-ass drought starting to take hold of the Ozarks over the past month or so, float trips have been non-existent. All of our smallie creeks are so low that even floating with a canoe or kayak is questionable. Our tailwaters have reduced generation to a minimum, releasing just enough to keep water temps somewhat in check. With no rain in the extended forecast, getting the skiff out on the water and getting some time on the sticks was looking pretty bleak...

After a couple of weeks of doing the M-F daily grind of being a responsible adult, I'd had enough and needed to go put some hooks in a few fishy faces. On friday afternoon, I pulled up the website of those who I'd like to kick in the face to check the weekend generation schedule for our local tailwater, the Lower Illinois River. The schedule wasnt exactly ideal (typical) but on sunday afternoon we had a window of water that would allow us to float.

On sunday morning, I made the normal round of phone calls to the crew to get a day trip set up. Luckily, DonnyB was on-board for an afternoon float to chase some trout and stripers. With the thermo reading a nice 102, I hooked up the Clacka and pointed the truck for Gore, Oklahoma where I would meet DonnyB. We made the necessary shuttle drop off at the take out and then headed for Tenkiller Dam to launch the boat. As expected, the looks we got in the parking lot at the dam was pure comedy as you dont see too many drift boats around Oklahoma. I got on the sticks first and pointed the boat downstream for our 6-mile float.

This was the 1st time we had floated the LIR and I must say, it was pretty sweet. At 1800-2000 cfs, it really transforms into an awesome tailwater as far as how the river is laid out. Reminded me of the Norfork tailwater in Arkanasas as far as its size and character. Lots of good water to fish from the boat as well as a few islands and nice shoals to get out and wade fish if you like. It was sweet to see such a cool river to float that is so close to home. Sadly, as far as the fishing goes, it was very.....so so? We didnt expect the fishing to be lights out by any means so we were happy with what we got. We put a handful of rainbows in the boat in the upper section while sticking a baby striper and a small largemouth on the streamer stick in the lower section. Nothing to exciting but enough to make the float worthwhile...

Until next time, keep chasing the dream...

Mr. Wise does it again. Our local fly fishing superstar...

Brian Wise has been throwing down some sweet fishing vids from over on the North Fork of the White River for a while now. He just recently dropped his Spring 2012 video on us and, once again, he brought us some sweet footage along with some cool tunes to go along with it. If you wanna see what the Ozark fly fishing lifestyle is all about, check out his other vids on YouTube after you check out his latest work...

Bass boat? What bass boat?

From my previous post, you can figure out that the Oklahoma side of CTD has been sucking the hind tit as far as getting on the water and putting some hooks in in fishy faces. We all have our reasons and they all suck in their own way but thats life and we have to deal with it. Well, just across the state line in Missouri and Arkansas, our other CTD fish geeks Corey and Joey have been doing some serious bass fishing. I'm not talking about a big fancy bass boat and a flippin' stick....they have been chuckin' big nasty bass bugs with fly rods and kickin' bass! Sorry for the stupid catch phrase, I couldn't help myself...



So our Eastern brethern have been putting us to shame on our local smallie streams with tons of good fish with most of them coming on topwater bugs! Fly fisherman talk about all the awesome "takes" we experience while fishing for various species but not much is better than seeing a big wild Ozark river bass crash a topwater bug. I'm excited to see what the rest of the summer brings us...

Until next time, keep chasing the dream...

Summertime Blues...

Well summer is officially here as of today. With summer brings all kinds of different fishing opportunities in the Ozarks. The topwater bite for smallmouth is in full swing and sulphurs r popping as well as the start of the terrestrial bite for those wanting to chase trout. What are we doing here at CTD? Not a flipping thing!

Luckily the extended CTD crew (JoeyC and the Professor) are still sticking topwater hooks in some smallie faces from time to time but other than that, the Okie members have been stuck with our "adult responsibilities" so we basically suck.

When we will be able to go chase the dream again? Who knows...

I'm sick of it...

The next generation...

Ever since I have bought my drift boat, I have been waiting for the day that my 2 little girls were old enough to go on a float with dad. Well, yesterday, that dream came true as the wife and I took the girls for a float down the Upper Illinois.

The weather was great and the flows were awesome for our lil' 3 mile float on the middle section of the river. The girls did really good in the boat and absolutely had a blast. My youngest, Ella, even got on the sticks as she sat in my lap while floating. I couldn't of been more proud or content as a dad yesterday. I didn't want this float to end...

The time has come...

There r a few events here at CTD that we are always waiting for from year to year. The 1st float trip of the year which coincides with the opening of the C&R section below BSD on the White River, the spring Current trip, the start of hopper season, and a few other events to just name a few. The "event" in the last couple of years that we have started to look forward to the most is the start of the topwater bite on our local smallie streams. Not much can top a big smallmouth crashing a popper on a small stream.

Well after a few long winded and excited texts from our local smallie creek ninja, JoeyC, I think that time is here. He hit up one of our local smallie haunts for an evening this week and was greeted with an epic night of topwater action.

We all hate and envy him for it...