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Ozark Mountain Fishing Adventure
Ozark Mountain Fishing Adventure
Nate Hagen is feeling the pressure. It’s 6:29 a.m., and in less than 60 seconds the trout siren at Montauk State Park in Salem, Mo., will sound. Dressed in flip-flops and a T-shirt with the arms cut off, Hagen, a small-town preacher from Illinois, is watching over a small army: his wife, Vicki; their three sons, Jarrett, Patrick, and Brandt (all under 10 years old); and longtime pal Bill Holeman. They’ve claimed a coveted position at the Social Hole, a slick, mossy pool just a few hundred feet from where the Current River bubbles out of the ground.
“Come on, honey,” Nate says to Vicki. “We just got one minute left.” “Calm down, honey,” Vicki replies. Her face shaded by a straw cowboy hat, she sits in a camp chair surrounded by kids’ fishing rods, boxes of Little Debbie Nutty Bars, and a block of Velveeta. White-bread crusts are heaped at her feet. Her mama cut off the bread crusts for her own cheeseball baits, Vicki tells me, so it’s only fitting that she do the same for her kids. Vicki simultaneously unsnarls a fish stringer from Jarrett’s legs, rigs three hooks with cheeseballs, and ties a “gut bug” to another line. At Montauk, trout are cleaned streamside and the heads and entrails flung back into the water. The gut bug, a small jig tied with red and white feathers, mimics, I learn, a piece of trout bladder or a chunk of stomach.
Photo by Colby Lysne
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Photo Gallery Comments (17)
Good read, great photos.
Great job Eddie, I love the way this turned out!
Loved it guys, turned out great!
Brian Wise
Interesting story, good read.
P.S, don't ever come to the Ozarks. All of our rivers and lakes are dry, and there are no fish at all here anymore. Its a real shame..............
I mean it, seriously. Catostrophic drought statewide. Every single river dried up, and killed every single fish. The USGS gauges might say that the rivers around here are actually high, but you cant believe those! lol
Read the article in the magazine, wished I were along. At least TE Nickens didn't have gators trying to share the boat as during his panfish safari down south some time back. Great article, keep on looking into backroads America, most of us live there.
I haven't been to the Ozarks in about 7 years and this story has rekindled some memories that make me want to go back some kinda bad. Catching smallies and trout on the same drift is a trip. I remember those pools where you could swim and 50 feet downstream it was so cold it would take your breath away.
Love the article. Need more content on the average joe, everyday, real world enjoyment of the outdoors.
Wait a minute.....Is that 'Jim in Mo' to the far left???
Love the article, love the Ozarks. Haven't been to Montauk in a while, but hit the Niangua this March and killed the trout. Gotta get back!
I'll say this, the article does capture the essence of the Ozarks...
But there a few good trout streams that didn't talk about. I'm glad
Sounds like a wonderful trip. Last time I was in the area, we went to Lake of the Ozarks...next time I'm thinking float trip. According to ozarktroutfisher "we wouldn't like it" LOL That's my phrase after bragging up a good trip..."you wouldn't like it"
007 - Shoulda been there for the gator incident. Nickens and I still joke about our reactions to that situation. Good stuff!
I wish i could have the chance to go to the ozarks the fishing in NC is getting old
I just fished the "social hole" at Montauk last weekend. That place is sure a zoo. The fishing was crumby too, I only caught one fish there before I got super frustrated with all the rude people and went to the C&R area, where I had a rocking good time catching big rainbows.
Heading to the Eleven Point next week.
I just fished the "social hole" at Montauk last weekend. That place is sure a zoo. The fishing was crumby too, I only caught one fish there before I got super frustrated with all the rude people and went to the C&R area, where I had a rocking good time catching big rainbows.
Heading to the Eleven Point next week.
Ozarktroutfisher, you need the Carolina Puff Ball! While at Montauk Eddie and I invented the sure fire way to catch trout park fish. Around Montauk you can find the "Secret Bait" and then get some orange power bait. Put a small ball of power bait on a smal hook and then ball the secret bait around it.
Cast upstream of your desired fish and jerk the line. The secret bait makes a cloud of food and the fish will go nuts. Then guide the remaining power bait to the fish. Bam! I concepted it and Nickens manufactured and field tested it.
Disclaimer: colbylysne not liable in any way for any trouble this could get hime in.
Post a Comment
I mean it, seriously. Catostrophic drought statewide. Every single river dried up, and killed every single fish. The USGS gauges might say that the rivers around here are actually high, but you cant believe those! lol
Good read, great photos.
Great job Eddie, I love the way this turned out!
Interesting story, good read.
P.S, don't ever come to the Ozarks. All of our rivers and lakes are dry, and there are no fish at all here anymore. Its a real shame..............
I haven't been to the Ozarks in about 7 years and this story has rekindled some memories that make me want to go back some kinda bad. Catching smallies and trout on the same drift is a trip. I remember those pools where you could swim and 50 feet downstream it was so cold it would take your breath away.
Loved it guys, turned out great!
Brian Wise
Read the article in the magazine, wished I were along. At least TE Nickens didn't have gators trying to share the boat as during his panfish safari down south some time back. Great article, keep on looking into backroads America, most of us live there.
Love the article. Need more content on the average joe, everyday, real world enjoyment of the outdoors.
Wait a minute.....Is that 'Jim in Mo' to the far left???
Love the article, love the Ozarks. Haven't been to Montauk in a while, but hit the Niangua this March and killed the trout. Gotta get back!
I'll say this, the article does capture the essence of the Ozarks...
But there a few good trout streams that didn't talk about. I'm glad
Sounds like a wonderful trip. Last time I was in the area, we went to Lake of the Ozarks...next time I'm thinking float trip. According to ozarktroutfisher "we wouldn't like it" LOL That's my phrase after bragging up a good trip..."you wouldn't like it"
007 - Shoulda been there for the gator incident. Nickens and I still joke about our reactions to that situation. Good stuff!
I wish i could have the chance to go to the ozarks the fishing in NC is getting old
I just fished the "social hole" at Montauk last weekend. That place is sure a zoo. The fishing was crumby too, I only caught one fish there before I got super frustrated with all the rude people and went to the C&R area, where I had a rocking good time catching big rainbows.
Heading to the Eleven Point next week.
I just fished the "social hole" at Montauk last weekend. That place is sure a zoo. The fishing was crumby too, I only caught one fish there before I got super frustrated with all the rude people and went to the C&R area, where I had a rocking good time catching big rainbows.
Heading to the Eleven Point next week.
Ozarktroutfisher, you need the Carolina Puff Ball! While at Montauk Eddie and I invented the sure fire way to catch trout park fish. Around Montauk you can find the "Secret Bait" and then get some orange power bait. Put a small ball of power bait on a smal hook and then ball the secret bait around it.
Cast upstream of your desired fish and jerk the line. The secret bait makes a cloud of food and the fish will go nuts. Then guide the remaining power bait to the fish. Bam! I concepted it and Nickens manufactured and field tested it.
Disclaimer: colbylysne not liable in any way for any trouble this could get hime in.
Post a Comment