Well I went on my annual trek to the Buffalo and White Rivers last week.

We started out on the Buffalo River in canoes to go get some smallmouth. I had four ultralight rigs set up with a jig, crank bait, spoon, and spinner bait. I was really proud because I had spent an extra 30 minutes at the launch getting my canoe set. We were going for 3 days and I wanted the perfect setup.

I had two big coolers in front of me with a really heavy army tarp over that. It made a nice flat table and I had all 4 rigs laid out and strapped down with a bungee.

The first rapids I come to I switched my paddle to the other side and swatted my brand new Wally Marshall rig right into the water! Forgot to strap it before the rapids came.

I pulled over and was out in the middle of the river under the water trying to fight the current and find it. Never did, but everyone sure got a kick out of watching me do that.

We set up camp and I woke up and needed to use the facilities (trees). Well, the zipper on my tent caught fabric and it was so bad I had to cut out! Now I am sleeping with no tent flap and worried about bugs. Why worry? I woke up at 3:30 am to a brisk 49 degrees and a dang crazy deer snorting right in my freakin tent!

The next day, I discovered a hole in the canoe and we had to take all gear out and turn the canoe backwards to get that end clear of the water. Sure made padding in the wind an adventure. I felt like I was on the teacups at Disneyland.

The fishing? I caught about 100 dang warmouth or goggle eye or rock bass or whatever the heck you call them and no smallies!

We then head to the Whote River for trout and I was catching the rainbows lights out. Then I got my spoon hung on a limb and pulled back. Next thing I know I have two of the three hooks on the treble buried in my leg past the dang bend in the hooks (pictures soon). They were so deep I had to go to the hospital (drove myself) while everyone else caught fish.

They put my lure in a display case full of baits they pulled from people. My dad's lure was in there from 6 years ago and now they have ours together! What a father / son moment!

Can't wait to go next year.

Great story coach - You guys will be laughing about that for years to come.

Hey...next year when you go, give me a call/invite. I'll be sure and float the river on the other side of the state

Seriously...would love to make that float with you if you go back. I've got a 17' Old Town that loves to float.

coach just think of the memories ya made .... LOL .... and the smile you had to have put on the faces of those that were with ya! No fun now, but will more than likely become a campfire story by next year.

Great story!

And I enjoy eatin' as much as I do catchin', and those goggle eyes make some good eatin'!

I've buried two of three trebles in my leg too, just like you did. I was at my camp, alone, and I cut the hooks apart, then used Coors for anesthetic (and courage) and pushed them through. The headache the next morning was brutal! Next time I'm headed to the emergency room like you.

Hey Coach- I had to go to work those days. I would trade with you anytime!!!
Thanks for the tale, and hope you heal up quick.

Good story.

If I'm fishing with you I'm in body armour

Sounds like a trip I made up that way as a teen. One flat tire, one Texas special speeding ticket, out of money, out of beer, out of food...it was a blast.

Thanks for the story!

Hey DJ,

I might take you up on it. They want one more guy so we have 6 altogether. If we have six, we are going to split into two groups of 3 and use a coupe of nice flat bottom jon boats to motor up and down the rivers and ditch the canoes.

It looks like if we can get that done we would spend all our nights in the really nice cabins at the trout resort and canoe on a day trip, but then the rest of the time we would have jon boats and do trout and smallie fishing.

If I told you how cheap it is for about 6 days you would slap yo mama!

Interested?

Great Story!!

been there before, hate having to get hooks cut out, not very pleasant.

Of course I am interested. I have a small boat (the one you and Bill fished out of) and a 17' Old Town canoe...

Funny story Coach. ANy size to the Trout that you caught? Any Browns?

I caught one brown about 14 inches. They had a flood abut 2 months ago and the water went from 4 feet to over 40! They said it took six weeks to get back to normal, then they had to start letting water out of Bull Shoals Lake. Well, that raised the water right back up when we were there.

Hey Coach-
I'm making the same run you just took in July. I'm going to wait till it get's real hot and humid. We're floating the same two rivers. One of my favorite places on Earth. Hope to stay out of the emergency room, though.
Peace---Jethro

I have done it then and had to drag the canoes through some places. Who do you use to outfit and stay with?

I recommend Danny Dillard (Dillard's Ozark Outfitters) www.dillards-outfitters.com for your canoes and Miles and Michelle Riley (Riley's Station on the Rivers) www.rileysstation.com for the best cabins around.