Kayser

To clarify, the length limit is 15" Statewide for browns only, as stated in 3 CSR 10-6.535, Section 4, Paragraph A of the MO Wildlife code. Section 4 also states that there are no length limits except for Browns (15" statewide), trout in Blue Ribbon Streams (listed individually), and Browns on Taneycomo (all detailed in separate paragraphs of section 4). Statewide length limit for rainbows is never established, other than for those designated as Blue Ribbon Streams (listed individually). The daily limit is established in Section 1; the wording in paragraph C may lead you to believe that there could be a 1 fish/day rule in Montauk itself, but I think we know better than that. But we have identified the problem, and now would like to voice a concern. Since we all have different ideas as to what a length limit should be on Browns, could we at least come together and push for a statewide daily limit of 1 for browns? Unified movement is the way to enact a change. Rob

Did my flies make it in?

Gotta love a department with a sense of humor. But I still pose the question- why would you not protect the fish in all the waters? Is it an enforcement issue? It's just that there is a far greater harvest potential in the park, with the 4/day @ 15" (and live bait), instead of 1/day @18" outside the park (fly/artificial only). I feel that if there were less browns harvested in the stream, there would be more big ones overall, resulting in a better fishery. Better fishery=more traffic=more tourist money. I don't know, I guess I just don't get why the 1 brown/day rule didn't stay. Rob

Try a Flo-Troll- floating minnow bucket that lets in fresh water while containing your little friends. I don't know how well it would work if you have a lot of them, but it generally keeps them alive for the day when I wade rivers. Rob

From the photo, this occurred at Montauk SP, in the bait water. The browns are not stocked in the park, but are rather stocked at a 6-8" size below the park in the Blue Ribbon area where they grow to trophy size and then swim upstream. The only area they can access is the "Anything goes" portion of the park, so as long as the fish are hooked in the mouth, then he's legal. I do remember the 1 brown/day rule, but cannot find it in the Wildlife Code, General Fishing regs, or the MDC website, so I'm going to guess that it was removed for whatever reason, unless it is posted in the park. So the 3 fish on the stringer are all legal unless somebody proves that they were snagged. Personally, it doesn't make any sense to me that they would remove the brown trout limit. The fish are stocked below the park for a trophy opportunity and protected as such down there, but some move up into the park during the hot weather and suddenly it's open season because they crossed under a cable 10ft above the water. Poor resource management, in my opinion. Rob

Garlic Bread, corn on the cob, sweet potato fries, grilled potatoes (sliced, in foil with butter, add salt and seasoning after cooking), german potato salad (sliced/peeled potatoes, diced bacon w/ a grease roue, vinegar), or my personal favorite- fried bluegill fillets. Some people like salad, but I think salad isn't food- it's what food eats. Rob

I'm using my 8ft 4wt for articulated bugs. Not too bad, just have to adjust how you cast. My friend uses a SLOW 3wt for throwing his, and can cast it better than I can. Roll casting is a bit of a problem, though... Rob

He's most likely a good fisherman, but I would like to see him release these fish so others would have a chance to get one of them. Rob

The problem is that USD is stronger than the Yuan, and therefore fish produced in the US is fairly expensive for the Chinese. Want an example of the production cost disparity? It's cheaper to manufacture all goods in China (just look at where the stuff is made) and ship them to the US than it is to produce them in the US. Then take into account that their poor are poorer than ours, and you soon realize that American-produced asian carp would be out of the price range for most Chinese. Having eaten these fish, I can say that they are actually pretty good, just harder to clean than a crappie. People just don't 1- want to spend the little extra time to take out the bones, and 2- eat a four-letter word. But I really do wish McD's would start using the silver/bighead carp- it's white meat, and it's one fish stock that actually needs to be overfished. I just don't think they have a mechanized cleaning process for carp like they do pollock, and can't produce it as cheaply. Rob

First one looks like a type of stoneroller, while the other is a common shiner.

I think I'd like to try the slabtown to 6x. I've been past Slabtown before on my way to Paddy Creek Wilderness, but never stopped. How do you get to 6x? Rob

I'm in Rolla and have been wanting to fish the Big Piney for about 3 years now. Do you think I could pull off a single day float on this stretch, or would that not leave enough time for fishing? I think if I start around 7am where you put in and maybe take out at 6 crossings, it might be possible. Ideas? I really want to get out on a decent smallmouth float while staying away from the crowds without using a shuttle service. I really need something to focus on instead of school, and planning a trip would be perfect. Rob

Backing bulks up the arbor of the reel (circumference), and you can pick up more line per turn of the handle. This is also why you want large arbor reels for big-run fish- easier to pick up lost line. And I would recommend backing if you ever want to use the dogwood for warmwater fishing (like me!)- you never know when you'll accidentally hook into a monster catfish or grasscarp while bluegill fishing. Also, if you ever want to practice longer distance casting, then you want backing to get you that little extra length. Rob

In the mail. Really hope I did this right (first swap). I have an envelope with proper shipping that contains a hook box filled with flies, and an indentical envelope (self addressed) with 4 stamps on it for the return of the flies. That seem right to everybody? Rob

On a side note, has anybody noticed a large amount of the yellow worm parasites in spotted bass meat? Seems to be a big problem with them on the Bourbeuse, especially with bigger fish. Rob

Something with meat in it, smelly is better. I'm personally a cut bluegill fan- lasts through several fish, and doesn't make you want to vomit (magic bait, 3-day-in-the-sun livers). But the spot has always been more important for me than the bait. Rob

I'd go for it. What can it hurt? Just gotta go a little bigger than their orange counterparts.

Flies are done. How should I go about shipping them, and where to? I have an empty dai-riki box that I'm going to put them in. Rob

Rivers follow the pattern of "riffle, run, pool." Riffle is the shallow, fast, broken water, run is the transition zone with slightly deeper water, but still moving water, and the pool is the deeper, slower water. A complex can take 50 yards (smaller water, steeper gradient), or a half mile (Bourbeuse). If canoeing, try getting through the riffle, but beach it on a gravel bar to fish the run, then hop back in to fish the holes. Different fish hang in different spots and relate to different structure. Smallies like the more oxygenated water just below a riffle (with current) and rock cover, as do most minnows and crayfish. Largemouth like slower water with wood cover, as do spotted bass (big logs) and crappie (tree tops). Goggle eye prefer current and brush in slightly deeper water, and green sunnies like rocks, water willows, and brush in pretty much anywhere in the river. Doesn't mean you won't find them in other places, but I hope this helps. Rob

Awesome! Gotta ask, what was that last song in the video?

Just be ready to portage a few times in the first few miles- there used to be several holes that you would either have to get out and push a canoe through the trees, or just take out and carry the boat around if it's too deep to stand. At least, that's how it was before the big floods this year. Rob

Really don't know- just bought some big football-head jigs a while back and put a 4-5" green pumpkin crawbug on the back of it. Thinking 3/4?

Mid lake, on the bluff side. Rob

I caught a 21 lb top 5 just messing around on some docks in between the crappie and catfish bites. 10" worm, or a BIG jig was the key to success, on a main lake point, at the roll-off to the creek channel, next to the roll-off into the main lake. Anywhere from about 5-25' of water, just work the flat and ledge throwing to the bank and dragging towards the middle of the cove, and they were there. This was midday, too. Rob

Well, I might give it a shot in December then, but I get poison ivy too bad to even risk it til then. But I'm graduating from Rolla then, and will be busy duck hunting or dealing with finalities of my undergrad around that time. Then I'll probably be off in some far-flung corner of the country after that, or working at the very least (I hope). But I'll definitely try to hit you up for that guided trip then- just gotta go get some snack cakes... Rob