Crippled Caddis

Please Guys! The proper term is PETAphiles. Let's give them the respect they deserve every time we refer to them. We'll start a national movement to recognize them for their efforts by doing so! The bottom line with the PETAphiles is that they assign more value to the life of a 'dumb animal' than they do to that of people. A value system unconducive to the understanding of "giving dominion" over the natural world as understood by Christian doctrine. Their minions recently attacked flyfishermen and women on private property in the UK after being repulsed in their attampt to sabotage a grouse hunt. We used to have an applicable bit of terminology to describe such behavior---we simply called them 'the idiot fringe'. Works for me.

Dano has heard the story before, even cast the rod, so he'll just hafta suffer thru the retelling. @ 20 years ago someone gave me an orphaned spinning rod blank that had progressed as far as having a full cork grip installed. It was a bit over 6', ultralight action, a yellow fiberglas that makes you think "Eagle Claw" as soon as you see it. It followed me around for a # of years and finally, to overcome a bad case of cabin fever I finished it out as a flyrod in the winter of '02 just to see what it would be like to make a flyrod from a spinning blank. I just cut off enough cork grip to glue on a cheap black anodized aluminum uplocking reel seat that was on hand, tapered the front of the grip to match a winding check salvaged from an old cane of uncertain parentage and wrapped guides (lots!) on with white silk that diasappeared when Flexcoated. Pretty little thing 'cept for the reel seat and I love fiberglas rods. I lawn cast it with a DT2. No cigar. Tried it with a DT3 and it was OK, not inspiring, but acceptable. Barely. So it languished another 4 years 'til in a fit of boredom late this summer I broke it out again and put a WF4 on it. Magic! I've hardly fished anything else since! I recently broke out a 9', 6 wt. Diamondback to push some weighted nymphs into a stiff wind. Couldn't put the unwieldy, heavy, over-long labor intensive device away too quickly. My hand sighed to hold the little wand again. I guess the story fits the blind hog/acorn profile perfectly, but it sure is great 'when a plan comes together' no matter how ill-concieved and serendipitous in nature. I'm even turning a nice wood reel seat for it. Might get that finished in a few more years.

Anything by Robert Traver and Harry Middleton will be worth the price. But don't neglect John Gierach, Ernie Sweibert, Art Lee, Charles Brooks, A. J. McClane, Harry Darbee or any of the great Pennsyvania chalk-stream specialists. Hemingways' "Great Two-Hearted River' may be considered as seminal to flyfishing fiction and shouldn't be skipped either. The body of (non-fiction) literature concerning the sport is superior to any other liesure activity and if you will search you will never run out of interesting reading. Tom <http://www.flyfishinghistory.com/treatise_prologue.htm> <http://www.flyfishinghistory.com/contents.htm> are two that will get you started.

Quick quotes taken from the site listed at the bottom: War is ordained by Allah, and all Muslims must be willing to fight, whether they like it or not. 2:216 Allah will bestow a vast reward on those who fight in religious wars. 4:74 Have no unbelieving friends. Kill the unbelievers wherever you find them. 4:89 If the unbelievers do not offer you peace, kill them wherever you find them. Against such you are given clear warrant. 4:91 All non-Muslims will be rejected by Allah after they die. 3:85 Allah has cursed the Jews and hardened their hearts. Nearly all of them are treacherous. 5:12-13 Allah has stirred up enmity and hatred among Christians. 5:14 Christians are disbelievers for believing in the divinity of Christ. 5:17 Those who make war with Allah and his messenger will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. That is how they will be treated in this world, and in the next they will have an awful doom. 5:33 Don't take Jews or Christians for friends. If you do, then Allah will consider you to be one of them. 5:51 Christians are wrong about the Trinity. For that they will have a painful doom. 5:73 Don't let the disbelievers think they can escape. They are your enemy and the enemy of Allah. 8:59-60 A prophet may not take captives until he has made a slaughter in the land. 8:67 Slay the idolaters wherever you find them. 9:5 The "Religion of Truth" (Islam) must prevail, by force if necessary, over all other religions. 9:33 Believers must fight for Allah. They must kill and be killed , and are bound to do so by the Torah, Gospel, and Quran. But Allah will reward them for it. 9:111 The only true believers are those who believe in Allah and his messenger. 24:62 Allah will taunt Christians on the day of their doom, saying: Where are My partners whom ye imagined? 28:62-64 Those who oppose Islam will be slain with a fierce slaughter. 33:60-61 Non-muslims will be tormented forever in the Fire. Allah will not have any mercy on them. 41:24 Smite the necks of the disbelievers whenever you fight against them. Those who die fighting for Allah will be rewarded. 47:4 <http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/quran/index.html>

[quote name='Brian Sloss<Do you mean everything you just said? You have just stereotyped every muslim as an intolerant killer if they are devout. Would you want to be judged by the actions of the worst of your religion? I know I don't. Get back with me after YOU'VE studied the Quran.

Perhaps a look at an alternate future predicated on the Democratic desire to 'cut and run' from the Near East might fuel some thought. A look at plausible results of that policy may be read here: <http://therant.us/staff/kraft/10242006.htm> ******************************************************************************** "Experience teaches us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purpose is beneficent. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding."----Justice Brandeis ******************************************************************************** * "The majority of pacifists either belong to obscure religious sects or are simply humanitarians who object to the taking of life and prefer not to follow their thoughts beyond that point. But there is a minority of intellectual pacifists whose real though unadmitted motive appears to be hatred of western democracy and admiration of totalitarianism. Pacifist propaganda usually boils down to saying that one side is as bad as the other, but if one looks closely at the writings of younger intellectual pacifists, one finds that they do not by any means express impartial disapproval but are directed almost entirely against Britain and the United States".--George Orwell

Steve: With no intention of being argumentative at all the COE spinmeister quoted in the BB article Dan posted sez: <the Corps is working to complete an environmental impact study>, leaving one to wonder where the truth lies between the two extremes. Anyone know how to find a definitive answer to that? This also begs the question: If COE does initiate minimun flows just how effective will they prove to be without the aerators that AGFC has offered to purchase but that COE has refused to install? Are the fears of many justified that more oxygen poor waters will be detrimental rather than helpful? I recognize that more water going downstream implies more turbulence which should act to entrain more oxygen as well as release nitrogen and possibly even help to oxidize and nuetralize other undesireable constituents of the lake waters, but will it be sufficient without the aerators to improve the DO and overall water quality?

I think I may be the friend Dan referred to in reference to suing the COE. From years of experience at butting my head against the stone wall that is the COE let me interpret the following statement for you: <Currently, the Corps is working to complete an environmental impact study that evaluates the impact of minimum flow on Norfork and Bull Shoals lakes. The study may be released early next year, after which more public input will be gathered, said P.J. Spaul, spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District.> Let's word that to understand exactly what he is really telling us, but first let us note that they have already managed to delay that report by several years at this time. Currently the Corps is working to (NOT) complete an environmental impact study that evaluates the impact of minimum flow on Norfork and Bull Shoals lakes (THAT WILL SUPPORT OUR FOOT-DRAGGING). The study may be released early next year (IF WE CAN COME UP WITH ENOUGH PLAUSIBLE LIES TO SUPPORT DOING NOTHING), after which more (DELAYING TACTICS WILL BE INSTITUTED), said P. J. Spaul, (SPIN DOCTOR & APOLOGIST) for the U. S Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District. Allowing the COE to conduct the impact statement is the functional equivilent of giving the keys to the chickenhouse to a pack of coyotes. They have been caught in bald-faced lies so often in impact statements and cost/benefit analysises that it would be extremely disingenuous to consider it as other than official policy. It is endemic with every proposed project. Without exception. But that is only from personal experience. If you really want the truth get the book, "The River Killers" and read it. Sorry to say I've never been able to finish it. The full picture makes me far too angry for my health. The relationship between COE and power generating interests is so incestuous once one sees the full picture that there can be little hope of getting anything done in the public interest if it interferes in ANY fashion with the generation and sale of electricity. Asking for water that does not contribute to generating money is THE cardinal sin from the viewpoint of the COE and their masters. Simply stated: without court orders it ain't gonna happen! And even then they'll keep it in appeal in perpetuity if allowed to do so by the court. Bear in mind: The waters and waterways of the nation are public domain, that is---they belong to the people, yet through federal legislation the power generating entities and their servant, the COE, has been given free rein to use YOUR property to produce a product that they then sell to those from whom it was stolen by Congressional decree for huge profits. Theft by conversion is still theft even if approved by Congress. If that doesn't make you angry check your blood pressure. You may not have any. Tom

<I have met the enemy and we are them.> Pogo spoke with great wisdom. I suspect I've persecuted the trout on the upper Norfork for the last time also. <I'll join the chorus for closed October through Feb or at least barbless artifical lures only above the new boat ramp. Could there be some habitat improvement projects to give the trout more holding areas ? Could something be down to revitalize the gravel?> Read the threads here and on John Wilsons' Ark/Mo board concerning the problems that beset the river. There is much to be learned. It is questionable that any regulation is going to help. Certainly it would be the best course to prevent further stressing the fish by catching them. But the political reality (make no mistake--it is a political problem of the first water; no pun intended) is that it's not going to happen until it is already too late. The problem is the very water itself. It is so degraded that it is not conducive to healthy aquatic life. Unless or until that issue is addressed all else is moot. Until such time as the fishermen and the public at large make life painful for the political structure of the state of Arkansas, and I mean extremely painful, there will be no improvement. Perhaps the single guiding light we should adopt if we would do something of value is "Throw the basta**s out". Nothing gets a politicians' attention like discovering his sinecure is endangered. This is the ugly reality of the situation without the view through the rose-colored glasses. The expertise and will to remedy the problems already exists within our fisheries personnel. The will to unshackle our fisheries scientists and give them assistance doesn't exist in Little Rock. The political infrastructure in Little Rock shares bedspace with the business interests of the state. It is a fact as old as Arkansas politics. Does anyone truly think there was any other reason it took ADEQ so long to make a half-hearted response to the Overlook Estates debacle? Until we stop thinking of it as a fisheries problem and take it on as a political football absolutely nothing will be accomplished. Commit the foregoing sentence to memory. I'm starting to understand the frustration that has led Fox Statler to tell us all to go to He77.

From my piece entitled 'Watching An Old Friend Die' that Dano posted: <The serpent that lies in wait for the fisheries isn't even too closely related to the surrounding geological features of the wartershed. It is our own activities that, quite literally, poison the----waters> While reading international scientific news this morning I sumbled across an article that is highly pertinant to the problems facing our reservoirs and the coldwater fisheries in their tailwaters. It concerns the dead zones in the oceans of the world. <Pollution-fed algae, which deprives other living marine life of oxygen, is the cause of most of the world's dead zones that cover tens of thousands of square miles of waterways. Scientists chiefly blame fertilizer and other farm run-off, sewage and fossil-fuel burning. Those contain an excess of nutrients, particularly phosphorous and nitrogen, that cause explosive blooms of tiny plants known as phytoplankton. When they die, they sink to the bottom, where they are eaten by bacteria that use up the oxygen in the water. "The low levels of oxygen in the water make it difficult for fish, oysters and other marine creatures to survive as well as important habitats such as sea grass beds," U.N. officials said. "These areas are fast becoming major threats to fish stocks and thus to the people who depend upon fisheries for food and livelihoods."> Consider for a moment: If the above statement is true, as I'm sure it is, how much more serious must the problems be in our reservoirs. Oceans provide a huge dilution effect to the manmade toxins entering them from the rivers of the world while our lakes on the other hand concentrates those same toxins. Note particularly the line " Scientists chiefly blame fertilizer and other farm run-off, sewage and fossil-fuel burning." and consider the huge amounts of petroleum based chemical fertilizers that are spread wholesale on the farms and pasturelands that comprise much of the watersheds of our lakes. Those lush, picturesque pastures that you admire on your way to your favorite tailwater come with a price. As do the many suburban lawns of which so many of us take such pride. And consider too that hardly a river drains to the sea that doesn't have one or more lakes that function as a sediment basin to remove a significant part of the poisons before they cam escape to the oceans of the world. Where does common sense tell you the greater problems are concentrated? Ugly mental image isn't it? Tom The full article may be found at: <http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2006/10/20/deadzone_pla.html?category=earth&guid=20061020143030>

Hi jscheetz, Seems like you've figured out the true ethic of fishing! It's people like Leonard (who I've never met yet know quite well through others of his blessed ilk) who best exemplify the brotherhood of the long rod. Treasure those like him and pass it on. And if, in your musical peregrinations, you run across Tony Bean around Branson tell him the old Saddle tramp said Hello. And see if you can induct him into the brotherhood. Tight lines & screaming reels, Crippled Caddis

[quote:I am good friends with all three. Worked for one, dated anothers daughter, and turkey hunted with the third.> I readily admit that I probably don't know the gentlemen in question as well as you do. I also admit that I like all three of them. But if you are as familiar with what goes on on the river as your post would indicate then you know as well as I do where it originates. If you are conversant with any of the local law enforcement personnel then you know the locations of most of their calls to deal with troubles also. <If you want to get onto someone. Get onto Howard. His place is the main reason there are so many problems on the river. He should be fined. He's the one letting strippers perform on his deck. He is the one handing out MJ to everyone. He is the one who plays loud music and caters alcohol to minors. Before you start blaming people. Get out on the river for yourself on 4th of July or Memorial day weekend and watch where the trouble is. Its at saddler falls. I'm not really sure which land owner/s owns the rocks there but it the wanted to enforce no tresspassing laws they could substantially decrease the ruckass on the river.> An excellent point. That too should be addressed by the authorities. <By the way neighbor, you and I are probably friends too. I'm not trying to piss you off but I don't like it when people talk about my friends. If someone was griping about you I would probably take up for you too.> I appreciate that in more ways than one. Our only difference is that you view the thread as a personal attack on your friends while I view it as a dispassionate look at the trouble the river is in and where the problems originate. My fealty is to the river. Your's lies with your friends. That is often commendable, but in this case it does the river no good. Ultimately every one of the individuals, and perhaps yourself, depend on the river for their livlihood. Defending the resource is no less in their interests than it is in that of the users. Perhaps even more so.

I suppose 2 out of 3 isn't too bad. I am familiar with all 3 operations and am acqainted with all three owner/operators. You are correct in the case of Spring River Oaks. On Tuesday morning I took 'Watchers' suggestion and contacted the Arkansas Attorney General's office through the link he posted above. Late that afternoon I was contacted by phone by a representative of the AG's office, Ms. Heather Richardson, who handles environmemtal concerns for the AG. Ms. Richardson was only too familiar with the problems on the river. She and her husband are (I take it from our conversation) avid canoists. They were more than shocked by what they witnessed on the river and in camp that weekend. They were privy to the riot at one of the campgrounds cited above that require the presence of 2 local officers and 4 state enforcement personnel. Our conversation produced nothing new. As several have already stated on this thread it isn't the absence of applicable law and statute that lies at the heart of the problem. It is the absence of the will to enforce the existing law that is the crux of the problem. And so long as the area exists to a large degree off of the profits realized through harboring the lawless element that creates the problems then no effort will be made to uphold the law. In short it is a political football and everyone in a position to contribute to alleviating the situation doesn't want to get anywhere close to the ball. Until such time that the general public demands enforcement nothing will happen. Just don't look for the good 'burgers' and 'Churchmen' of the area to lead the charge because it is NOT in their vested interest to do so. Ms. Richardson voiced willingness to discuss it with anyone who wishes so if you think you have something to contribute or just wish to relate more, perhaps pertinent, information to her contact her through the link above or by phone.

True indeed. And there's the rub. Local enforcement ain't gonna happen! The previous Fulton Cty. Sheriff flatly refused to patrol the river. Too few personnel. If I recall correctly that was the reason that what little on-site enforcement that exists is by AGFC game wardens. The only thing that will correct the problem is creating a federal status for it that includes regulatory enforcement by on-site employees. It isn't going to happen at local level and I don't know of an existing state program that could have any bearing on it that includes law enforcement. Under existing conditions it will remain a private feifdom that generates profit at the expense of the public weal.