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It lives in MO too. Species Profile: Arkansas Chocolate Tarantula | Crotaphytus collaris Scientific Name: Aphonopelma hentzi Common Name(s): Arkansas Chocolate Tarantula, Texas Brown Tarantula, Missouri Tarantula, Oklahoma Brown Tarantula Left Photo- Male Chocolate Tarantula by Kayla Sayre, Bella Vista POA Right Photo- Female Chocolate Tarantula by Mothore Identification: The Arkansas chocolate tarantula is the only known tarantula species in Arkansas and the most prolific tarantula in the south. It is also the largest species of spider found in Arkansas. Females live a reclusive life, but mature males can be found searching for females in late summer and early fall. Like all spiders, they have a large cephalothorax (the front body segment where the legs attach), which is a lighter brown on top, and a fleshy abdomen (the “butt”). The body of females averages two inches in length, with a robust, heavy body and shorter legs. Females’ hair is lighter brown and denser than males’. Mature males have a skinnier body, approximately one and a half inches long, and longer, lankier legs. A sexually mature male has a darker and more distinct copper-colored cephalothorax. An immature male comes in various shades of brown, grey, and red, with individuals becoming more vibrant after a molt. However, the chances of seeing an immature male are very low. Like trapdoor spiders, tarantulas have large fangs that point downward, in contrast to other spiders, which have fangs that point inward toward each other. Females have larger and more robust fangs. Females and males fling the hairs on their bodies as a defense mechanism, as the hair irritates the skin and respiratory tract and deters predation. Range: The chocolate tarantula can be found throughout Arkansas, except in the southern portions of the state, specifically in the Mississippi Delta. Across the United States, it can be found in areas from the Mississippi River into New Mexico, north into Colorado and Missouri, and south into Texas and Mexico. Ecology: Arkansas chocolate tarantulas are highly solitary spiders. Females and immature males live exclusively in burrows and are rarely observed. After reaching sexual maturity, males roam between June and November to find sexually mature females in their burrows to initiate reproduction. Being so highly solitary, tarantulas treat anything that infiltrates their burrow as food. This leads to interesting dynamics between females and males. Males need to protect themselves from females, as females will actively try to kill males before copulation can occur. Males have tibial hooks on the inside of their first pair of legs that hold females’ fangs at bay while they fertilize eggs. After fertilizing the eggs, males do their best to escape before being eaten by the female. Often, males are killed and eaten after copulation, if not before. In the spider world, it is common for different species to have different feeding strategies. The most common is the creation of a web to catch unsuspecting insects. Another strategy in grass or brush habitats is to build an elaborate web in the shape of funnels that shepherd unknowing insects to their demise inside a spider’s burrow. Some funnel webs employ trip-wire-like threads that connect to the burrow entrance, alerting the spider when prey is close. Tarantulas are ambush hunters that lie in wait for insects to cross their path and then pounce without using webs to trap prey. Females and males (outside of mating season) wait in burrow entrances for food to come by the entrance or inside their burrows. The Arkansas chocolate tarantula has a vast distribution across the desert southwest into the southern region. Specifically in Arkansas, it prefers marginal, rocky, and open habitats. Like the collared lizard, they are often found in open glade habitats. Glade habitats are decreasing due to strict fire control policies, and would increase with more prescribed and controlled burns. With a decrease in prescribed burns, woody vegetation encroachment into glade habitats has increased, resulting in changes in diversity within these habitats. Special Notes: You can find male chocolate tarantulas in Bella Vista in the late summer to early fall, questing for the burrow of reproductive females. Males can be found along forest margins or in rocky glade habitats. Females are rarely, if ever, observed. Most information on their body shape and reproductive habits is based on observations made on males. If you see these special spiders out in your garden or yard, know they are gentle giants. They look scary, but they will not hurt you in any real way since their venom has no dangerous effects on humans.

What're we talking about here? We had corn and a hankering for chowder. Winged it and we liked it but would tweak a couple things next time

Now that the weather has cooled off, I like to get out now and then and walk the bank and fish. With the water level at 1120 there are miles of bank around the lower lake you can walk and fish. No boat to tow and mess with, just need one rod and some ned baits. I banked a couple of keeper sized smallies on the ned and had a couple get off. They were off the bank a bit in 15 FOW or so. Hard fighters on the light rod. Pulling drag and jumping. Should get better as things get colder.

Nice smallies. I got out yesterday, last trip for the year. Put in at prairie Creek. Found them schooled up on main lake structure. Spot locked and got about 30. Mix of smaller striper, LM and spots. Didn't move the boat. Here was the graph. Fun day

@Quillback We have seen them several times right around Branson. Weird seeing one "running" across Rt 65 late at night.