NoLuck

I don't argue the fact that poison is poison. How bad they were affected is not really known from what I can remember. Eagles and other fish eating birds of prey definitely took the brunt of the hit. Jd is pretty much right on with the almost wiping out of all game species because of commercial hunting and over hunting of the general public to feed their families. But I think it would be pretty narrow minded to think that it didn't affect other birds and animals. To what degree we don't really know.

I don't think anyone here is saying that DDT isn't a toxin but they are trying to say that there are other circumstances that led to only certain birds being affected more than others. It's kinda like the catfish being more concentrated with mercury than the bass and bluegill. The runoff created higher levels of the toxins in the fish and the birds that ate the fish were at greater risk than the ones eating some seeds or grains in a field. I remeber reading about this stuff back in school but that was along time ago.

From what I remember reading is because the runoff that washed into streams and lakes affected the fish and the eagles ate the fish. Don't know for sure but it seems like I remember hearing that or reading that.

Since this is a cost saving move then will the price of permits be going down?????

The miltary surplus stores sell their ECWS long underwear and they are really warm. The shirt has a zip up turtle neck to seal out cold and keep heat from escaping around your neck. I wear these when it is extremely cold. But, I wear Cabelas silk base layer under that. It is real thin stuff and it does not get all bunched up on you. Some people just overdress and wear their clothes too tight and that can be a major reason that they get cold. Outside of the ECWS wear a good windblocking layer to stop wind penetrating your insulating layers and you will be very comfortable.

TroutFiend, You are correct about the MDC's stance on Mt.Lions. They repeatedly try to debunk any sighting as a yellow lab or a big housecat or a big bobcat. I know a few hunting buddies that have seen them in MO and I have absolutely no doubt that they are telling the truth. The farmer had every right to take this cat out if it was preying on his cattle. I don't think that anyone should shoot one to just shoot it though. Regardless where this cat was ran from by the dogs chances are that this was THE cat doing the damage to his herd of cattle. If we had a big population of cats then I would say that there would be a smaller chance, but with the circumstances the way that they are it probably was the one doing damage.

Looks like TOFU makes some people a little intolerant.

Justin, The bucket sitter comment was meant to draw a mental picture as opposed to the current setting. Either way you slice it, it will no longer be the same as it has been. Why is it so hard for some of you guys to understand that there are some people that like fishing at Bennett and Montauk??? It is the same as a guy who chooses to hunt with traditional bows as opposed to a compound. We all have choice to do what we like to do. If and when I do get the time to get down to some of the other trout streams other than the Current and Meremac. I will be happy to do it too. But with my limited time off and my wanting to catch fish when I do go, I'll just fish Bennett and Montauk. Another thing is some people don't like to see another person all day while fishing. It don't bother me to see a small amount of people as long as they don't crowd you. Most of the fishing I do is with natural stuff. I do use on occasion a Y2K or a brassie, but you will almost never see me fishing the run of the mill trout park lures. I feel that my flyfishing skills would be fine to catch fish where ever I may decide go. Maybe if I had a ton of off time from work I would have a different view of things I guess but, for now I know with an on demand 24/7 type of job I have to limit my scope of places that I can go to. Maybe some time in the future I will have more time like others and my opinions will change.

For the guys that think people fish at Bennett because it is a "Natural Trout Stream".. I don't believe that anyone here is saying they think it is a true natural trout stream. What WAS said was, that the hole in question is one of the most natural looking places to fish at Bennett. Huge difference friends. What I am seeing here is a few people that think they are better than people that fish trout parks. People that fish shoulder to shoulder at the outlets at Taneycomo even feel that the trout parks are a joke too. I guess to each his own. Some people just don't have the time to spend searching for good trout streams or traveling out west or east to fish for wild fish. What is so wrong with people that like how things were at Bennett and the other trout parks??? The highbank hole was or is one of the coolest places to fish to get out of the wind or sun and relax. Shallow water with fish hiding in small pockets of water and somewhat of a challenge to most anglers. A lot of the fish caught in the riffles are more natural acting than any fish at the parks. I just feel that it would be a shame to wipe out the current status of that particular area of Bennett to put in more easily accessible water or a concrete pad and another channeled pool for people to sit on the bank on a bucket and fling a spinning rod. There is already enough places there to do that. But we are just speculating here right? Maybe wrench is just trying to stir the pot a little and get us all riled up for nothing.

Are you kidding me??? Jim Rogers has nothing but your best interests in mind at Bennett. I mean, why in the world would he want fly fisherman to be pushed away from Bennett??? I mean we don't bother them people at the store for anything other than a tag....... We do spend money in the campground and maybe a little at the lodge when we don't feel like cooking ourselves. But man those spin fisherman and newbies just bug the heck out of them buying new stuff and souveniers and tackle and lures and snacks and renting cabins and......... Wait a dang minute here. Maybe he would have an interest in bringing in more regular Joe trout fisherman instead of the seasoned guys and gals that tie their own flys and come with everything they need for a weekend or longer stay.

How many fish that were put in the spring were bought from other sources other than their own hatchery?? I know that local vendors told me that they were actually buying them small fish that were being stocked this past season. If they can produce their own fish it would be a money saving deal in the long run. From what I remember they had more room in the existing hatchery that was not being utilized. I believe they had some leaks and such and that may have been why the open pools were not being used though.

Wow what a shame..... Over the years I have watched this place become nothing more than a City Park. The highbank hole on down to the bluff has been the best fishing at Bennett for the last 10 or more years. The next thing you know they won't let people wade there. Hell they may as well put benches and concrete from the Spring all the way to the river. I saw that marker there when I was down last and had my fingers crossed that they wouldn't do something stupid like this. I guess I'll have to start looking for a place to leave my pop-up down towards Montauk now. I always liked fishing at Montauk more anyway. But, the highbank hole and on down to the bluff the last few years has pretty much been a zoo though. I never seen so much visual combat and posturing as I have seen in all my years of fishing there. If you fished it on off peak times it wasn't all that bad, but look out on the weekends and vacation days of summer. Who knows maybe we are all just jumping to conclusions and this will be the best place to fish at Bennett and they will bury the pipes under some natural looking stones and make it look like a spring coming out from the rocks.

Welcome to the fly fishing world. I sure am glad I never got the gear head bug myself.

Yes they stock more fish before the C&R season. I think I remember them saying that they put a few bigger ones in too.

Friday ain't gonna happen. We gotta do a concrete garage floor so it can be recoated. I may try to get down Saturday if all goes well.

I'm still trying to figure out the work schedule for that week. I would love to make it down but some last minute stuff has been coming up.

Thom, I have been buying them at Hargroves. The last bunch I bought at Larry's at Bennett. They had a box of 100 so I went ahead and grabbed them.

2499SPBL Tiemco for scuds and midges both. It has a super sharp point and comes barbless from the get go. Wide gap and just an all around awesome hook. Try it you will never use another 2457 again. Honest to god. Rich

The reason your hurting is you don't fish enough Jerry......LOL You know what they say, use it or lose it. Same goes for just about everything we do. I rode the Mtn. bike the other day and my legs were sore for 3 days after. I have not heard of much of anything on the schedule for Nov. so I may try to make it down opening weekend. My bowseason has pretty much been a bust. I guess I need to find some guys to go into a lease up north someplace next year so I can have someplace and someone to hunt with. My hunting buds all but are nonexistant now. Too old and too lazy to get out there and just do it. Talk at you soon, Rich

Glad to see that you got away to do some fishing Jerry. I was debating about going down Friday eve after work but all the forcasts called for rain all weekend. They sure screwed that all up. It was too warm to go bowhunting so I ended up doing absolutely nothing. Had I known that it wasn't going to rain until Sunday night I would have been down there camping and fishing. Oh well. The winter season will be here shortly, and I'll be down. Maybe down the first weekend of C&R.

Yeah I looked back a couple of post and saw that. I was at work on break and I just happened to look on my Iphone to see what was up and saw that you posted you bought a Winston without reading all the posts. That Vapor is supposed to be a fast action and I was looking more towards a medium action and a real light weight rod too. I'm convinced that the quality of the Winston rods is much butter than any Sage I have had yet. I still like my Z-Axis but the rod just doesn't meet the same quality of the BIIT rods I have. I have yet to break off a fish yet with either of my Winstons other than when I tied a poor knot. That is fishing with 6 and 7x tippet too. I wish I could meet up with you guys this weekend but I am bowhunting and I have a wedding that some dummy at work decided to get married during bowseason. Then my boss calls me at 2:30pm and tells me to stay by my phone all weekend too when he knows I had plans from 2 months ago. I was hoping for a little slow time this fall but so far that hasn't happened. Have fun guys, Rich

Really?? Good for you Pat. I liked my 3wt BIIT so much I bought the 4wt 8'6" and I really like it too. What did you get Pat??

I have seen people putting jackets over their tags when it gets a little chilly outside. Don't be so quick to assume they didn't have a tag. I have seen people fishing out of ignorance and probably flat out refusal to buy tags too though.

The 4wt is pretty awesome. But it is not the same as the 3wt though.

I would tell all of you guys but, I was told by "Certain Individuals", that they would injure my extremities if I did.LOL