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I just wanted to say that even if you do not live in Missouri, I encourage you to please contact all legislators you can. Let them know that you are an avid hunter and\or fisherman from out of state and that one of the reasons you come to this state to spend your money is because of the great management work done by the MDC. Let them know that you are not satisfied with the current state of attacks being lodged against the MDC and that you can and will take your hard earned money to other states that work with their conservations programs. I thank you and so do all of the bussiness' that are supported by your generosity.

I am happy to report that because of my multiple postings on social media of HB955 to get the word out, I was just contatcted and gave an interview with the Springfield News-Leader. He is also making other contacts for a report on HB955 and he hopes to have it in the Friday edition. I think I gave him more than he was looking for in that I went all the way back to the deer farm rukus and why we have this agency assult. I think my best quote was: This is the type of politics you expect in Washington DC not Missouri. We are supposed to be more mature than this.

96 CHAMP, you are too easily impressed. LOL. Seriously, I was very blessed to be able to follow my passion for three decades as an outdoors writer and to spend time around a lot of very fine folks in the process. It's been quite a long time since I've seen Tommy but you don't easily forget someone as open and pleasant as him. Always smiling, humble and willing to share his knowledge. I crab on here too much at times about the direction the BASS circuit has taken and what I see as over-the-top drama, etc. But when I do, it's only because I miss the days when the Tommy Martins, Larry Nixons, George Cochrans and Rick Clunns ruled the world of bass fishing with a gentle demeanor and incredible fishing talent. You never saw a one of them risk injuring a big bass by shaking it violently inches from a camera and yelling "Getcha some of that!!!!" Nor did you see them holding a fish out of water excessively long because they were pretending to play it like a guitar. Shuttin up, shuttin up ...

Almost time to try wiggle wart on those small cuts and transitions in the river.

Fishing today was great! The weather was decent but a little cool. The boat ride got a little chilly! We ran from the State Park ramp down to Long Creek and Cricket Creek. Right off the bat we were catching crappie! Kelland caught her first one ever jigging a swimming minnow on a tree right next to the boat! Most of the crappie we caught were on trees that we could see. We did catch a few on trees that we only saw on the graph. We caight them in 13 to 22 feet of water, with the majority in 18 to 19 feet of water. We did catch one that was in about 2 feet of water. The water temp was 48.2 degrees. I did catch one nice white bass close to a big brush pile in about 13 feet of water.

Agreed! There is no confusion in the language of the bill concerning changing property owners rights from the high water mark to the low water mark. That part is as clear as an Ozark spring. And that is all the leeway a landowner needs to shut down a stream. With a change to the low water mark as the landowner's boundary, all it would take is dropping a log or two across the stream and forcing anyone to the bank to go around the logs, and suddenly you would be on private property. Then we are one step away from the Colorado law where the landowner owns the riverbed too!

Here is one response I have received so far. Britt, I attended a 3 hour hearing on HB 955 Monday evening. There were camp owners and outfitters from all over the state there to hear the bill. Rep Ross has no intention of changing any statute regarding public use of our streams and rivers. His bill deals with clarifying statutes regarding ownership of land adjoining the waterways. There are conflicting rules and laws dating back to statehood that are in dire need of clarification. Before his bill advances, there will be several amendments added to remove and clarify language that might be confusing. To address the MDC proposals, the Capitol liaisons for the department caused an undue amount of grief for several Senators and Reps last year during the debate over captive deer. At one point in a Senate hearing the Director told a room full of Senators they couldn't touch their funding because it was protected by the Constitution. Human nature being what it is, there will be some payback. This has just about run it's course and things are getting back to normal. I'll keep you posted on the movement of 955, but don't be concerned about losing stream privileges, if anything, this bill will help increase them. Bill

When you cast it from the bank and it flies over someone s head it is a fly.

Fished yesterday in zone 2 and caught 15 fish in the afternoon. Nothing big but for the first time I caught fish using 3 different methods in one day. First, free drifting a white or pink glo ball. Then, stripping a brown wooly bugger and then later in the day I put on a Renegade to dry fly fish. Had fun!

Table Rock Lake Current Fishing Report 3-11-15 White River Outfitters Guide Service First off, I have kind of been under the weather for the past week. Got so bad on Monday I had to go to the walk in clinic for a ZPac. 103 on the temperature, but after the drugs I'm feeling a lot more chipper today. Doc. said I had Bronchitis and had it bad for and old dude. Temperature is now under control and I'll be fine and dandy for our Eagle Rock derby. Think they are calling for perhaps light showers on Saturday morning, but clearing and becoming a beautiful day. Good to hear it. I did manage a trip with probably one of the best fishermen and gentlemen that I have the pleasure to take. Jack Swank from Iowa. Jack is pretty much a kindred spirit and just an excellent fisherman. After reading and watching pretty close to the weekend addition of the CPA, and a quick chat with good buddy Tim Sainato, I thought I had it figured pretty close. Regardless of the lake area and I'm saying that starting at Campbell Point as that is where you really start getting into any type of a deep fish pattern, Jack and I sat out to try and duplicate what the top finishers in the CPA had done. That is if I could figure it out in that area, rather than where they had fished. I did. Boy it is really hard to force yourself to fish like this, and to be as methodical as you have to be to fish like this. You need to be extremely astute on reading your electronics and have the patients to be able to not go crazy with losing baits and hanging up. Here is the deal, swimming a grub deep and fishing vertical to suspended fish in pole timber with a smattering of cedars. A jungle nightmare. Tree tops coming up to the 25 ft. range, so you had to avoid hanging up and it is impossible. It is just how much gear are you willing to lose for the huge rewards that are there. Boat pretty much in 50' to 60' with fish suspended in the 50' to 30' range in that standing pole timber. Most often it is related to channel swings and huge creek or spawning cove mouths. Tim told me exactly where he had caught 27 keepers on Saturday, during the derby, but I never got near it, we fished 40 lake miles up the White River. We used for the swimming a Keitech Swing Impact 3.5 inch Black Shad on a 1/4 oz ball jig head with a 2/0 hook. We also used a Rapala Ice Jig in 1/2 oz for those up and downers Some days you just pick and guess right. Yes you are gong to say I had a lot on current information going in and when you read this you will have also if you can figure it out, and are willing to pay the price. We had a 14 on our first location and continued to catch fish all morning. I believe we finished with 38 fish with 25 very solid keeps. Some nice K's at 18 plus inches. We also had 3 LM and did have the best LM on a stickbait. Surface temp never moved on us from 41 degree's. As I mentioned at the start the bite is extremely hard to detect when fishing timber, cause it is absolutely no different that running the grub over a limb or hanging it up. It will for sure teach you not to set the hook. You do 6 out of 10 times and that bait is gone. The fish just ride the bait or you more often lose it, while your winding. Just continue to wind and when you feel the fish lift up, don't go crazy on the set. Closest to the bank for us today was a nice 150 yrd. rifle shot. Denny and I had kind of power fished up the White the day before and had not done well, I had to make a change and it worked. Not for giant LM, but for sure tournament fish, averaging 3 to 3.5 pounds. Just needed that 6 pound kicker on the stickier to have been a toad sack. Not the type someone will need on Saturday, but for sure some of the best fishing I have had this Winter.

For me, the extra casting distance and the easy hookset from any distance are a huge plus. I have not and will not run straight fluro on spinning. Dang Fluro is so expensive, but clearly better on some bait casting apps. At least on a bait faster, I know the setup will last a year or so. Fluro spool ups have lasted well over a year for me. Three reels with Nano off a 150 yard spool that lasts for over a year on the reel. And that's with me fishing approx 80 days a year. Not too bad. Ham

Atta boy Chief-always read your posts as they are interesting,often quite informative and your profile picture makes me smile! Course that profile of Ness is something also.

Thanks SmallieBigs! I've had some property disputes with land owners around mineral fork a time or two while wading so this is something i'm passionate about. The worst part about area's like that is the locals usually tend to do more damage then people coming and fishing and floating. I haven't heard anything from either senators office but Ben did call me today. I don't have much to add really. Most of the people who are showing support tend to be surveyors and a group from bridgeton landfill. It seems at this point the bill isn't being bought by many people and the consensus is that it looks to have an up hill battle. Mr.Harris told me today that if it goes for a vote its looking like it would be the beginning of next week but there's no certainty that it even will go for vote(maybe shot down by the chairmen of the committee) i should hear back from him in about a weeks time.

The movement of the bass in Table Rock lake is for sure a thing that is extremely hard to understand. Starting in the Fall they move up and feed fairly heavy along the shoreline, then by October back quickly out to the long flats and are available on a big jig. Then as the Eagles come down following the ducks in November they pick up and move to the deep guts and channels. Come usually around Valentines day they leave the deep stuff and move out on the main lake and scatter like crazy. You can find them from 90 ft. to 2 feet depending on the day. March usually finds them moving up and starting to ease back into the creeks and pockets they had occupied in the Winter, only shallower. Right now they are main lake or huge pocket fish wanting depth and cover. last year fishing that kind of cover with an A-Rig huge bags were caught. This year they started it off with grubs. Same places just a different technique, however it is the same as years past prior to the rig. That deep bite is very fickle however and a couple more warm days and they will be swarming and gone from the 60' stuff. Last year on this week, I was catching huge numbers of White Bass up the Kings. Every year is different.

That sounds like a problem that will solve itself if left alone. :-)

Fished the lower meramec yesterday afternoon and got outfished by the guy in the back of my boat. Water temps were between 45-46. Never found any black bass but caught a few whites and wipers.

Chartreuse/white, gray/white and purple/white always seem to be the ticket for me. If I had to chose one fly to fish with for whites it would be chartreuse/white.

EXCELLENT JOB!!!! Keep it up Smallieguy.....we need as many Missouri residents like you as we can get. The only way to get through to these aholes is to show a massive indifference from the constituents to this proposed legislation. If you like to float and wade fish then you should be doing anything and everything you can to contact these douchebags and let them know how you feel about this. I am right there with you Smallieguy, I'm sure I am annoying some of my friends and certainly am pestering my state Reps and Senator about this bill and I really don't care. I'm old enough and have seen enough to know when smoke is being blown up my butt.......fight the good fight for what you care about......we are not the problem.....we clean streams and manage the corridor and try to help and volunteer when we can to support our favorite streams and if your not, well that's okay too. My point is river fisherman like us have extreme passions for this stuff, to a fault in a lot of cases, especially me......we are not causing the problems on Ozark streams, we are the ones who are trying to remediate where possible. Don't believe the hype from the response this guy gave......it's very typical and rehearsed. This bill is garbage and was written that way for a reason.....very ambiguous and incomplete.......why would there be outfitters and campground owners from across the state in Jefferson City to voice their opposition??? I invite anyone and everyone to take any form of action you choose to oppose this but, for Christ sake do what Smallieguy is doing....it can't hurt......otherwise I am gonna be one of the biggest law breaking stream walking freaks in Missouri ....screw them

Definitely agree with the "close to the bottom" approach, as well as a light to even ultra light setup for straight tied jigs. Last weekend we had a great trip, albeit a bit slow on Sunday, but I was consistently catching fish just down from the Cooper launch on a straight tied 1/16oz Lilley's orange head/brown setup with 2# flouro on the whole spool and ultra light 6'6" browning rod. First time trying lighter straight tied jigs in no current, and I was shocked at how light the bite really was. Once I knew what to feel for, I caught fish steadily through around noon. Others in my boat with a slighter heavier setup just couldn't feel the subtle change on the jig. Sometimes just on the first pop up it was just a tad heavier. Definitely a fun way to catch them down there. We also saw a lot more browns than in previous years. Only a few decent sized, but caught close to a dozen in 3 days compared to one or maybe two in prior weekend trips.

Smallieguy; I am hoping to be down there the same week during the week so basically the same days. I plan on float/camping from as far up river as water levels will allow and floating down to Alley Springs. Keep an eye out for a green square back canoe and give us a holler!! It will be my first trip on JF as well, but it's been on my bucket list long enough and have my heart set on it this time. You may be more experienced with smallmouth fishing so maybe we can help each other out with what is working. And good advice on plans B and C. Anything more in the forecast besides the usual afternoon pop up showers, and I will be rethinking the camping out plan. But very excited about the trip for now.

BOOM! NICE BROWN, HAM!

Size is more important than color, but Chart/White or Gray/White is hard to beat. Pink/White is great in murky water, as is Black/chart.

wt 39-40 654.2 overcast,calm,light rain 4-6pm deep docks adjacent to shallower spawning areas 3/8 oz. homemade underspinners for sale here's the biggest one, 4-11

Speaking of knots --- I found a web site that REALLY helped me... they have 1000+ knots listed by category and they animate the tying of them... This is the link for the fishing knots... http://www.animatedknots.com/indexfishing.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com I'm 70...Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks????????

Thanks for the info much appreciated

I caught a bunch of Males yesterday 16 to 17.5 inches I know they are males as I had to wipe my boat down yesterday messy little teenagers lol.

Really good discussion, For me I would love to see the Banks from twin bridges all the way to the end of the line at the start of the white river turned in to CRP / Riparian habitat. Loose the dam at Fayetteville and dredge up all the silts. I know it wont happen but sure would be a beautiful float trip and clean up the lake.

I hear you Champ. The young guys seem to have forgotten how to play and land a fish. They rush it to the boat and then let it flop on the carpet or bear hug it. All the emotional antics might have been genuine at first, but now it is like the Who smashing guitars at the end of every show. I had to turn off the coverage of the Classic. I think they mishandle the fish and draw out the weigh ins excessively. Look, I'm pro tournament fishing and I have a hard time defending a lot of the stuff that goes on.

Glad to hear you guys are trying it in the cold water. I do it too. my favorite time to fish. Here is a little something from the old guy. When the water is below 40 degrees the sun is your friend. Try to find banks that it hits all day long. A jig might catch them but a Jerk Bait is probably as good of a choice. If the bank has big rock remember that they soak up heat. Kind of like you standing next to a metal building on a sunny day. If you can get a couple of sunny days in a row you might be in good shape. Also remember that the temp you are reading is on the surface. That does not necessarily have anything to do with the temp 40 feet below the boat. Might be 43 or 44 down there. A digital thermometer on a long cord that will give you a temp at boatside could be a good investment. Just two degrees more temp above this 40 degree thing is huge. If fishing in the sun and clear water take advantage of a shiny Jerk Bait. L-O-N-G pauses between Jerks, slack line before and after Jerks. I honestly put the rod on the deck sometimes and just watch the line. One good thing is that in another week this probably won't apply. Good fishing is close. On the other hand ALL FISHING is good fishing. Walcrabass

The stupidest part to me is the amount of money invested in them (I forgot the amount, but I read an annual report years ago and remember it being freaking crazy). All of this $ for a season that only lasts 5-6 weeks per year, and boosts nothing in a community aside from beer sales. Then they slap a length limit on the SNAGGED FISH so after a few good days you'll find dead spoonbill (and catfish) along the banks everywhere, that only coons, turtles and buzzards are allowed to touch. Then they go all crazy nazi about what you can/can't do with the eggs out of the stupid things. Yet the WP and MDC agents turn a blind eye to all the boating violations that go on during this time...ya know, like 6 fat boys, drunker than Cooter Brown, in a leaky 14' unregistered jon boat, with no pfd's, on a tailrace. Did I mention that they spend insane amounts of our money to maintain this "fishery"? Money that could be better spent protecting our native fish IMO.

Thanks chief and Britt for the updates. I put some word out through social media and already have several people sharing the info. I include ways to contact Rep Ross should anyone live in his district or if anyone felt so inclined to speak with him. The response did seem like a bit of a blow off to me as well but here's hoping that it was sincere.

Lurked for a while. Finally signed up. I'm Brandon. I live in Memphis and spend way too much time at work thinking about fishing and way too much time fishing thinking about work. Go figure. Addicted to fly fishing for the past two years. Would have a brown trout for a pet and a chandelier of sex dungeons and rubber-legged wooly buggers if my wife would allow it. I'm slowly winning her over. Mainly fish the Little Red and the Spring. Cheers.

Thanks Ham. I have been watching the generation patterns. I'm used to fishing Taneycomo, so I understand fishing tailwaters. Seems like they've been running water heavy for an hour or two in the morning. I'm really just not used to how the releases relate to wadeable water on the Norfork.

Right now I am using bass pro floro that I bought on clearance. Seems to work fine but have only used it vertical jigging. I have had good luck with p-line on my spinners. Just trying the floro because the price was right! She was low and should warm quick with a good warm rain or two. That sun will warm that mud up quick!

I use a mh spinning rod for trds...and fish them on a tighter string to feel the take , the split second. when you have zero slack in your line and a fish picks up a dead sticked trd , that split second

Thank you for the kind words. I have been thinking about this effort to restrict river access. I cannot imagine not being able to float and camp on our rivers; its one of the most important things in my life, it is what pulled me through hard times, its one of the few thing Im good at, its the reason I want to live in this state. I thought Id share one more picture from that trip. This is my favorite Ozark canoe rental. We love you Cindy, cant wait to see you this year.

A lot of innovation and influence in the industry because to the attention they paid to just like the gun line that has the same name it was in many peoples opinion one of the best rods made. I believe Smallie is right though so Basspro might have something.

The Crossfire really throws the jigs well. It is a light Rod not a UL. I've caught some real nice fish on it. A Second generation Crossfire Rod is in the works. They are working to shave a little weight off of it with a crisper blank as well. The Brown/ Orange , Triple Olive, Olive/orange, and Olive/ginger have been my best smallie colors. I've never tried the Chart/White. You may already have a perfect Rod for the Zig Jig. I can say with the utmost confidence that you won't go wrong buying some Zig jigs.

West Fork of the white definitely needs mitigation. Ag runoff, stream banks caving in, trash, etc. Which agency would take appropriate action?

I know Lancer. You are correct. The original question however, was about brand, not skill. However, I think an 8 wt is too much, Yet, if you are comfortable with that rod and have confidence, then by all means... My point being, effort and stick to it of ness is more important than brand and size.

Maclin will provide a deep threat for the chiefs. Unfortuantely the Oline can't block anybody long enough for him to get there. They have got to find some Oline help either thru free agency or the draft. as good as Maclin is, he isn't the solution to the chiefs WR woes all by himself. They really need another quality wr to put on the other side of the field. They have a bunch of draft picks, and could probably find a way to move up and land Amari Cooper, but at what cost? Those picks they have to give up may be 2 0r 3 lineman that they can't afford to miss out on. Then there is Dorial...oh lord. The second I heard they were signing Maclin it made me think they were going after DGB. He and maclin already have a relationship from the recruitment of DGB to Mizzou. Maclin was adopted at a young age into a football family just like DGB. You couldn't draw up a better mentor for Dorial. we will see what happens I guess. I am still a firm believer that defense wins in Kansas City. And SS Landon Collins from Bama would probably be my ideal first pick for the chiefs.

Mine today were 20-22 feet, but lake is super low, so normally 26-28 foot locations and still in winter pattern. 38 degree water on main lake. It will be soon, but it's still cold water!!!! Broke thin ice at cedar ridge w I put in this am.

I saw that Dylan from on here won the box of flies! That's awesome. I snagged the one from the Midwest drift in the iron fly part of the night, have to try and get a pic of that up, some really good flies in there. Good Chatting with you Billet!

Pleasure was ours too. Have not forget an e-mail you will be getting. Got to visit with Lancer also. White bass day was neat at Plateau fly shop. The talk by the fellow from MDC about the striper plan for Bull Shoals was interesting. Bill Butt's talk was good as always. A bit nosy in the venue where the talks were held but it was tolerable. We did not stay for the iron Fly, BilletHead

Even if this bill dies in committee there's no doubt the efforts to rob the citizens of Missouri of access to their streams will continue. I appreciate the efforts of everyone trying to get the word out and rally the troops. I'll do my best to make my position known to my representative every time these thieves try to kill our way of life. One thing is certain, if something like this comes to pass I'm doomed to a life of crime.

agreed....I do it all the time.....it scored me access to a private access on the Little Piney that is awesome but, I'm not the biggest fly fisherman in the world so I rarely if ever take advantage of my friends land.....but he also has two other farms one on the Mineral Fork and one on the marginal stream that flows into the river that begins with a G. I have had access to all three for years because I was caught picking up trash at this guys land on the Little Piney....I also give this gentleman a gift certificate to Citizen Kanes steak house for Christmas every year just to stay in contact.

I fully realize that it is highway right of way, however in many places the actual right of way is not a very useable place to launch, either a small boat or even canoe. The adjacent owner may well have a better place close by. Besides even grumpy landowners appreciate being asked by a polite individual, never know you might make a friend with good creek access and even good places to turkey/mushroom hunt. Park at the bridge, take along a trash bag or two, and pick up the trash etc. if the adjacent landowners come out to talk to you, well you are already in good standing. If not put the trash bags in the back of your truck when you go talk to him, explain that you like to fish and didn't like seeing all the trash there, amazing sometimes what that little bit of positive energy will do.

I paid exactly 1550 for my 79' 16 ft Shawnee with a decent trailer and an '88 yamaha 9.9. Honestly I don't know if it was worth that much but the guy started out at 2000. I have already been offered 1700 for the boat and trailer (probably should have sold it!) All I did to mine was flipped it over, filled in some scrapes with fiberglass filler and slapped on a coat of paint (which is pealing off). I painted and sold the '88 yamaha because it had been used very hard and bought a very nice '88 Suzuki 9.9- actually made 50 bucks on the deal but I had to redo the cowling. I still have less than 2k into the rig (paint, fiberglass and registration) and I think I could get my money back out of it pretty easily. All in all I have had a lot of fun with my Shawnee and I've caught a ton of fish out of it. I'd recommend getting one if you're willing to put some work into it- I put a bunch of hours into mine.

We weighed that fish on Friday night at the Agfc office in Mountain Home. The fish was caught on an artificial lure from the bank by a gentleman that was fishing for trout for the first or second time in his life. He was not on a guide trip.

Life in "Gravi" ain't for everybody but it does tend to grow on ya. Most folks land here for various reasons and just kinda get stuck. The fishing is good but not really any better than other arms of the lake. Far from quiet during the Summer thanks to a growing number of party spots, there is certainly no shortage of loud oversized watercraft. And sadly there is not a single bank you'd consider picturesque in the entire Gravois arm. Homes along the shoreline range from Plain to downright Ugly in most areas, with houses built so close together that folks are able to smell what the neighbor is cooking for dinner. The wildlife is mostly half-tame,inbred and retarded, resulting in more deer/turkey/squirrels/ect being killed with vehicles than rifles and shotguns. The roads suck, and the lawmen treat everyone as if they are fresh out of prison.....So if by chance you ARE then you definitely won't feel "picked on or discriminated against". If your wife likes to shop then be sure to keep plenty of gas in her car and a fist full of 5 dollar bills in the console for the Toll bridge cuz you can't buy anything here but tater chips, cigarettes, and day old bread. And no we don't even have a decent tackle shop. Wow, responding to this post has really been a dose of reality for me. If you decide to buy a place in Gravi I think I have one for sale.