Kayser

What mile marker is that at? Rob

Good system. Just wish I knew what Rules 8-11 were... Rob

I remember seeing a restriction on bluegill for bait (shorter than 5") in last years, but it never said anything about other sunfish (green sunnies, longears, pumkinseed). Looked through this years regs booklet and the only restriction I could find is any bluegill or green sunfish over 5" not caught on pole and line must be released immediately. Can anyone point out the page on with the maximum bait bluegill size for me? Rob

Catman- are you after a "gazeteer" ?

From almost all standpoints- especially economical- this makes absolutely no sense. As was mentioned, anglers put in a lot of time and money to improve fishing opportunities, and banning Catch and Release will probably scare a lot of people away from the sport. Also, where do conservation ethics come into play? This is almost as bad as shooting themselves in the foot, and for what, to protect a few fish that get mishandled? If everyone is required to take a class, then why can't proper C&R techniques be taught during that? This just seems like they're shooting themselves in the foot. Rob

Never caught an eel. Might try it soon with all this high water. Best catfish bait that I've found has to be bluegill. Use live fish for channels, blues and flatheads, or as cutbait (a skin-on, scaled piece of fillet) for channels, blues, and bullheads. Best part is, there is an abundance of bluegill in most waters, and you don't need to buy bait! Rob

Ok, so it's just snagging. Is there a season for it? Sounds like fun. Rob

There are SEVERAL fish that you could have caught. I was at Jefferson Lake in Forest Park the other day and saw some yellow bass, so it could be them. However, if it had the larger mouth like a crappie, it could be a green sunfish or a warmouth (if the colors of a bluegill). If it had colors like a crappie, it might have been a goggle eye (rock bass, shadow bass, ozark bass). I can't seem to attach pictures right now, but here are some links to pictures. Just click the site. Green Sunfish- http://www.tnfish.org/PhotoGalleryFish_TWR...llNegus_jpg.jpg Warmouth- http://www.dfw.state.or.us/odfwhtml/frwa/warmouth.jpg Goggle eye (rock bass)- http://www.agfc.com/!userfiles/int_ima...ss_rock_big.jpg Flier- http://www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/images/Flier400.jpg Yellow Bass- http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/images/ywba.gif Rob

Good to know that they're out. I'm gonna take a bag for some when I go turkey hunting tomorrow. I've already got the crappie on ice, just need to clean em. Rob

They are stacked up in the overflows behind some local lakes. At least, they were earlier this week. Didn't see any today with the rain/clouds. Rob

??? I didn't think grabbing was allowed- just gigs/spears, dip nets, and bow/arrow. Rob

Mmmmm... Morrels. The bantering is fun, but as you said, not when people take it too seriously. I think everyone has to responsibility to respect and conserve what natural resources are available to them, whether it be fish, game, forests, or other. Yes, I do occasionally keep fish to eat, from the lowly buffalo to catfish to smallmouth, but I cannot remember the last time I kept any trophy fish. The smallmouth that I have kept have been in the 12"-14" range, nothing larger, and all the rest have been quickly released. I have never kept a trophy largemouth or catfish, either. Also, I do not let any fish go to waste if I keep it. If I personally won't be able to eat it, I will either freeze it for another day or give it to some more than gracious friends. It is my duty to be sure it is not wasted. Everyone has the right to keep any legal fish, and should not be looked down upon for it. The problem arises when they disrespect the resources by wasting it, poaching, or otherwise lessening the quality of the resource directly through their own personal actions. I do not condemn people who legally keep larger and trophy fish, the regulations were installed so that this opportunity could exist. Senseless waste and stealing (poaching) are only things that I will condemn. Rob

Kauabunga, dude! SIU- sounds like a good trip. Thanks for the advice on fishin the C&R section. Rob BTW- Did you ever make it to Kinkaid for walleye/bass/whatever else would bite?

Hmm, I'm supposed to be going down there Thursday. Think they will let people in by then? Better question, do you think the river will be fishable by then? Who cares about sleeping so long as you can fish! Rob

The chain pickerel isn't really a cold water specific species, like northern pike and walleye- they exist in pretty good numbers in Lake Okechobee, FL and other areas across the South. Rob

I have caught some grass pickerel, which don't get very big, but I think there might also be some chain pickerel in there as well. Let us know if you decide to go after them. Rob

#12-16 Beadhead Hare's Ear, Pheasant tail, and Prince Nymphs, and #8 or #10 Black or olive Wooly buggers and Mohair Leeches, are all must have's on the Current. I think the youngest would do best to focus in the faster water(riffles) with these, because the water is usually pretty shallow in those spots. He just needs to walk slowly, and be very careful where he steps (there are loose gravel drop-offs, along with some turtles to step on). If he is going to use the spinning rod, then he probably wants to bring some brown, black, black/yellow and white marabous, white thread jigs, and maybe some glo-balls. There is a USGS waterflow gauge just below the park, and the website is HERE. Rob

If you like getting carsick, then going through Salem is a good plan. If not, then go through Licking. To get to Tan Vat, just take the highway (YY?) out of the park, downstream. There is a sign posted for the Tan Vat access when the road takes a very sharp left turn, and heads away from the river. There are two roads into Tan Vat, separated by a thin line of trees. Take the second gravel road (the high road) into Tan Vat- the other one is usually blocked by a pretty deep pool of water. Rob

I used my extra hour of evening daylight to catch 7 nice crappie and a couple bass on the flyrod tonight. I only kept six of the crappie for dinner one night this week. Rob

I should be down for that weekend. I'll probably be wearing a "Here Fishy, Fishy" hat with a Royal Wulff on it, probably in camo waders and jacket. Should be fishing the Fly-only or outside the park (the Current River.) Black and olive mohairs or woolly buggers, BH hare's ears (#16, especially), PT"S, EHC's, and Zebra midges. You might want some bigger nymphs for outside the park, along with either bead- or conehead streamers. If something doesn't produce, then either change depth, flies, presentation, or location. You should do this every five minutes or so. Rob

Hoosier- I am supposed to be going down 3/20 and staying through the 23rd or 24th. I'm going to be staying in the park with a friend, but I hope to meet you on the river (outside the park.) I should be wearing and "Here Fishy, Fishy" hat with a Royal Wulff on it. Rob

Always a possibility with the rainbows, but they are probably just escapees from the hatchery that either got washed out or got mixed in with the bigger fish and accidentally stocked. Rob

In all fairness, I think it was done to prevent possible conflict between the bait fishermen and fly-fishermen. Personally, I have seen the majority of the youths in the park in Zone 3, using bait to get that all so special first trout, or just have fun catching fish. Fishing is a great way for families to spend time together, no matter what is tied on the end of the line, and this offers a place for those who prefer to use bait, or just never had the opportunity to start fly fishing. And, also, it allows the meat crowd to take what they want, and leave plenty of fish in the stream for the C&R fishermen in the other zones. In my experience, the more experienced/sucessful trout fishermen I have encountered have been fly fishermen, catching a lot more fish than others. Most people in Zone 3 get their four fish and leave. If someone were to come into that Zone and start catching fish in a way that everyone else couldn't, some resentment could form, and that's never good. I once was using a fly rod at Montauk in the bait area, walked into a portion of the stream with someone about 15 yards upstream, and started to catch fish. Almost immediately, he moved into the run on the opposite side of the stream, and threw into the run where I was fishing. After I had caught a couple more fish, and accidentally fouled on his line, forcing me to cut mine to save his rig, the dirty looks made me feel uncomfortable enough to move along. Rob

Webfreeman- Excellent job on the site. Far easier to get around than the old one (no offense to who created it.) As far as the site being trout heavy, maybe someone could post an article on goggle eye and warmouth a little farther into spring. I love these little fish to death, and honestly think that they are overlooked by most river fishermen in the Ozarks. Rob

CW- I thought it might have been, but I didn't see any of the mottling (brown/black camo pattern) that the hogsuckers usually have. Oh well, it is what it is, and mainly, it's back in the water. Rob