Brownsville Tony Loc: Brownsville - Laguna Madre

When I lived in the lake district of Northern Wisconsin near Minocqua we had over 2,000 fishable lakes at our disposal. There was just no way you could ever get to know them all. Some enterprising individual put together a book of maps that was available at the bait shops in the area for lakes that had improved facilities like launch sites, parking lots, etc. Okay, I might be ready to go after one of my bucket-list fish, namely a crappie over 16", and I think the place I'm going to go to is the Bull Shoals area. I've looked at Amazon for a similar book but haven't found one. Any suggestions?

MAS fish Loc: Peoria,IL

Hey BT, although I have never crappie fished Bull Shoals, I have Walleye,Bass, and Trout fished that beautiful lake. I have always worked through the Eastwald family at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock in Bull Shoals. Their guide Del Colvin would be able to direct you on the how , when ,and where for those big crappie and if you wish to use a guide he could also set you up for that. Also you might want to take advantage of fantastic trout fishery and the possibility of a trout of a lifetime in the tailwaters from Bull Shoals dam. Just a thought. If you want to talk to someone there, their # is 870-445-4424 or check out their web page bullshoalslakeboatdock.com
Good luck and post the pics of whatever you catch.
MAS fish

Brownsville Tony Loc: Brownsville - Laguna Madre

Thanks Mas fish, Pending a good surgery recovery period I think we are going to try to take a trip up there and check out the retirement home situation and maybe wet a line or two. we've done some preliminary internet browsing. My top choices are san Angelo Texas and Mountain Home Arkansas. The wife is holding out for Madrid and Lisbon but I think she'll compromise....lol A buddy PM'ed me with a place I can get a two part topo map that supposedly has all the info on it and I've ordered the western portion of it. All the info you sent I've made notes of and I'm compiling a good reference file. I'll find one or die trying....lol

MAS fish Loc: Peoria,IL

Hey BT, the Mountain Home is the area the wife and I are considering. Good availability to shopping and other needed amenities as we age plus many close areas to use for fishing, hunting, sight seeing and other activities. Great area for entertainment also and not far from Memphis, Little Rock, or Springfield,Mo. Good luck in your searching adventures!!!
MAS fish

Brownsville Tony Loc: Brownsville - Laguna Madre

It looks like your consideration list is very similar to mine.....lol I like what I'm seeing so far. Texas does not have a personal income tax which is a great plus but it lacks, at least in my area, for fresh water fishing opportunities. I'm not sure if I have the strength and stamina to do another "project" boat build but there seems to be plenty of opportunities for it if what I see on Craigslist or Marketplace is any indication. Also, its been quite a while since we've faced an honest to goodness freezing temperature. I suppose we could learn to live with it again though. Our favorite, so far, is Mountain Home.

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

If you're a fan of "mountain music"(or just appreciate local craft), while in Mountain Home stop by my cousin's "Dulcimer Shoppe".
Beautiful handmade musical instruments and really sweet folks. Mountain Home would be on my short-list for places I would live, were I to move back to the center of the country. Good luck !

Brownsville Tony Loc: Brownsville - Laguna Madre

That sounds interesting. More notes for my folder.

MAS fish Loc: Peoria,IL

Hey FF, is your cousin in Mountain Home or Mountain View? I have been to the Dulcimer Shoppe there many times and have enjoyed talking with the folk there. The Ozark Folk center is always fun and man do they have some excellent entertainment there too!!!
With being forced to sell my portion of property in Flippin on the White, I still plan on visiting the area multiple times a year and with legal issues with my property here in Illinois, it is a good possibility of an eventual move to the Mountain Home area. My bil also lives just east of there in Horseshoe Bend and that is close to the Spring River with some great trout and small mouth fishing.
MAS fish

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

Aaaah, my bad !!
It is Mountain View. Thanks MAS. Not the first time I've mixed those up...lol

MAS fish Loc: Peoria,IL

Hey FF, no problem, View is only about 45 minutes south of Home lol and both are fun being around. I have enjoyed the area since 1962 when my grandparents bought their property on the White.
A little sad being forced to sell out after enjoying it for 60 years but sometimes evil wins out and as I said we will still visit and enjoy the area.
MAS fish

Davo Loc: South east Missouri

Would there be any catfish to be caught, in mid October, probably bank fishing? Thanks

MAS fish Loc: Peoria,IL

Hey Davo, welcome to the forum. We were just reading an article from radio station KTLO in Mountain Home Arkansas and they reported about 2 fifty pound catfish being caught from Lake Conway on Sunday according to the Arkansas Game and fish Commission. You may want to check into that.
Go to the AGFC app and sign up for the weekly fishing report. It is worth receiving by email.
Good luck and post pics of those bigguns.
MAS fish

Tablerockbass Loc: Table Rock Lake

Hey Fix - is there a dulcimer shoppe in Mtn Home, too? I'm extremely familiar with the one in Mtn View. Just curious.

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

Apparently you didn't read ALL the posts above.....I corrected myself.
My cousin's shop (Shoppe !) is in Mountain View. I have mixed those two up for 60+ years !
Would not surprise me at all if there WAS a dulcimer shop in Mountain Home. The McSpaddens have been quite 'instrumental'(lol) in the resurgence of the popularity of the mountain dulcimer since the early '60s. Lynn (RIP) was one of my earliest woodworking inspirations. He and Larry were(are) greatly talented craftsmen, along with their staff. This discussion prompts me to work in a side trip to the Ozarks on my next visit back to the Midwest (KC area).
I will NOT however, be visiting my childhood-favorite 'tourist town'....Branson. Prefer to remember it as it was 50+ years ago. Absolutely NOTHING QUAINT about THAT town, any longer.....makes me sad.

Tablerockbass Loc: Table Rock Lake

Y'know, I didn't, until I got back on the web. Felt purty dumb then. 🙄
My connection with Mtn View was musical, too, as I sold McSpadden instruments and also hosted dulcimer, bluegrass and folk concerts in my store up near Joplin, MO for several years. Other than fishing and my wife and daughter, that venue brought me more joy than anything. That music brings together a segment of society that is dwindling, our seniors. Many of the wonderful people who attended my events have passed away, as well as several musicians. All it takes is for me to reflect on that time and those people to deeply appreciate this chapter in my life. And, boy you struck a nerve about Branson. We live 43 miles from that, what used to be charming, place, and have to really want to go there to make the trip. We're even season pass holders to Silver Dollar City. Been once. Ugh. Well, I gotta put some blame on covid, I guess. My time in Branson started back when what now a massive retail hub, The Landing, was littered with dozens of little motel units, wrapped around a boat dock. My grandfather was the creel census clerk then, puttering around checking folks' trout catches. A tornado some years back changed the "strip" a great deal as it took out several iconic places. So much change. A huge bypass project took alot of pressure off the major thru-way, Hwy 76, but it's still bumper to bumper sometimes. I should say that the downtown is as you remember, with the "5 and Dime" exactly the same, just fuller. If you're close town, you might enjoy how it feels to be on Taneycomo differently than you ever were, from the walkway next to the Landing. That part is pretty cool, and I'm a hillbilly through and through. Here's one, if you Google The Baldknobbers, the toothless guy in the group was my dad's Empire Gas propane delivery driver. Bringing back lots of memories now.