Kayser

Got your facts wrong- the 100 acre wood is NEXT weekend (25-26). Might see you there. I'm gonna go fish somewhere else this weekend, even though the level looks about perfect. I fish for the isolation of it, and I doubt there will be much of that to go around this weekend. Rob

It's fantastic- he has a few things that he packed in, but pretty much makes everything else he needs from natures materials. I don't know if I like the door hinge or the lock better. Rob

Historically ranged into Texas, but Florida is plenty warm enough for a released one to survive just fine. Look at the Burmese python in the Everglades- another tropical rainforest non-native that is doing more than fine. Rob

I'm not that big on deer hunting, but will go after squirrels every chance I get. Have been since I was old enough to safely carry a gun. I just don't get as many chances as I used to since I went away to school, and the property I used to hunt back home was sold. But I'm discovering the local conservation areas, one of which has a fair amount of rabbits. It's just hard to find them in the afternoon, and even harder to hit them with a bow (don't have a gun here). Right now, I'm waiting for turkey season. That should keep me sane until duck season is back. Rob

Pink salt is probably preg powder, and is a spice that gives meat a red color once cured/cooked. Morton sugar cure is different.

I would go with the annual permit. It's good until Feb 29, 2012 if you buy it now, and would be handy to have if you decide to come back to MO. As far as the $7 trout permit (additional to fishing license), you only need it to either 1- fish catch and release in the parks in the winter (only winter), or 2- possess trout in waters outside of the parks year-round. So if you don't fish the parks in the winter, or keep trout outside of the parks, you won't need the trout permit. Hope this helps. Rob

If it's any consolation, fishing hasn't been that good recently. Hit the Current this weekend, and it was low, clear, and painfully slow, only managed 20 fish all day. The LP hasn't been fishing well, and I've been letting the fish rest in Mill and Spring Creeks until we can get some decent rain to bring the flow back to where it should be. It sucks about getting run off the creek, but you can park under the 63 bridge and walk down, or park at the gate and walk in (from what I've heard). There are also multiple bridges on the LP (gravel roads) that you can access the stream from, I would just be careful as to where you park, as some people feel that is trespassing. Found that out at Spring Creek- met a landowner while trying to find out where I could legally access the place. Nice guy, but he had leased the land and access was restricted on his portion of the creek. It's better to look around and ask permission first if you can, the people are normally pretty nice if they see you aren't a littering a**hole. On a side note, Meramec Springs fishes pretty well this time of year, and isn't that far off of 44, if you ever need a back-up plan. I hear Blue Springs Creek south of Bourbon is fun as well, but I've never fished it. Hope you can find a decent backup option next time out. Rob

Well, I know someone who would let me take out at the end of highway E north of Rolla (maybe a mile above it), so I was hoping to put in and float down to it if possible. And to answer your other question, Collin C. Davis passed away on Oct 21, 2010, and there hasn't been a day since then that I haven't missed him. Rob

Wait, is there a place where I could put in on the Gasconade and float down to Highway E (Bell Chute Access)? I have been wanting to float that part of the river for a while now, but haven't found a put in. Rob

It looks like a mt. lion to me. Smaller wild cats (bobcats, lynx, etc) generally have short tails. Hence the name "bobcat"- it's because of the "bobbed" tail. The animal in the picture appears to have the outline of a large cat and a long tail. The dark color- the side of the animal in the picture was probably in shadow or it was a cloudy day. As far as the llama that was killed, it sounds like a mt lion kill- half eaten and "buried" for later. Also, cougars in South America rely heavily on llamas/alpacas/etc. (the wild ones) for food. And it definitely makes sense that mountain lions are rarely seen. All the ones that weren't afraid of people were killed off a long time ago. Also, people spend a lot less time in the woods than they used to 200 years ago. Combined with less cats to actually see, and it all makes sense. Rob

I didn't think they charged anything to park or fish in the winter (other than state license/stamp). That's why I fish there in the winter- close to Rolla and free. Rob

"That's not what I meant when I asked if you were gonna mount it..."

I have gotten into them while trolling a local powerplant lake, but nothing over 5lbs. I really wish I could get into the really big ones on the Mississippi River. They put up a fight almost equal to a smallie, and hit like a freight train. Not bad eating, either. When you say pound the big rocks, do you mean drift the wing dams with worms on the bottom, or use something a little more substantial in a little different spot? Rob

Also Mill and Spring Creeks, as well as Stone Mill Spring Branch. But these can be challenging to fish at times.

Right on, oneshot. I run one of those on the local ponds for crappie and bluegill. Clean up on the bass, too. As far as my stability- does it matter? Most people on this forum aren't all there, anyways. Yeah, I had a mohawk, but it was all in good fun, and I had my fun with it. It's gone now, but at least I had the guts and dedication to actually go through with it. Besides, you should've seen some of the looks I got while fishing on the Current and at Bennett- entirely worth it. On a side note, I would like to add that I fell in love with sit-on-top kayaks this summer. I went fishing for bowfin (dogfish, grennel, etc.) as well as redfish over the summer while working in NC, and absolutely loved the stability of them. I could stand in the kayak, giving me a fantastic vantage point in the salt marsh, while being able to go over and through a lot of dead cypress in the backwater creeks. Also was able to cast a fly easily while standing up in it. The only thing I didn't like was how the bowfin liked to jump into the kayak with me, but that might have been a different issue... Rob

Initially, I thought this thread would be an enlightening compare/contrast thread showcasing the different advantages for the different watercraft commonly used in MO. Now I can see it's just a bunch of immature morons arguing over FISHING. I hope you can all take a minute and realize the utter inanity of that fact. I doubt any person on this forum would turn down an opportunity to go fishing (methods within the law), whether it be throwing artificials for bass from a jet boat, flinging flies for trout from a drift boat, bank fishing for carp, or chucking some impaling device from a canoe or kayak for dinner. So let's get back to what is important here- catching fish! Whether it's for fun or food, relaxation or dick measuring, who cares? We all fish for different reasons, but we all love to fish. Rob

There is a time and place for everything, but I prefer the quiet and ability to slide through/under a blowdown that a canoe offers. In the places that I fish, I wouldn't like to see jet boats, and personally don't think they can navigate it (trees). Also, I like being able to buddy up to a rootwad silently and pull out goggle eye all day long. On the Gasconade and Meramec, go for it. Just try not to run them in shallow water and scar the gravel- that does more harm to future fishing than you could imagine. On a side note- jet boats are better for covering water and finding bass, but for panfish and catfish, you need to be slow and silent, and you can't beat a canoe for that. Rob

9/10. Mixed up the mayfly spinner/dun question.

I've started fishing Mill Creek and the Little Piney fairly regularly since I've gone to school in Rolla, and am willing to say that I've caught my fair share of wild fish (with some big ones thrown in) from both of those streams. Secondly, I've probably fished the Current more than is fair in that same stretch of time. In the course of my fishing, I've been able to catch a good amount of the 8" and smaller rainbows from the Current, and can actually find spots specifically for them (a couple good ones below Tan Vat). These fish are short and pudgy with very few spots, have parr marks, bright red fins with red tips on them, and very little damage to the fish overall. I have also caught similar sized fish from inside Montauk- all lacking parr marks, with damaged fins, snub noses, and heavy spotting. The fish from outside the park remind me of the Mill Creek rainbows the most, especially with their holding preference in the river- they definitely hold in different spots than the larger fish (which accounts for a lack of them in shocking surveys) as well as the small fish from inside the park. This, along with a long conversation with the local MDC fish biologist leads me to believe that there is a decent population of wild rainbows in the Upper Current. As far as the pristine stocked fish in Taney- who knows? It could just be a little different strain stocked in there compared to the rest of the state, or a different raceway design, or something. Rob

The red cedar isn't native to Missouri, but rather an invasive species. The forests used to burn regularly, which is what the pines were adapted to and relied upon. Most areas of cedar used to be open glades (rocky grassland) which was a home for most of the state's reptiles, as well as the roadrunner. That's right, roadrunners are native to MO. It's my opinion that cedars should be cut and/or burnt on site, with regular underbrush management (controlled burns). It's actually one of the most effective tools used in the western states, especially CO. End rant... Rob

I've put about 70 8-9" bluegill in the bucket over the last three afternoons of fishing. My best fishing is usually from October through December (January, if I can ice fish) with November being the best month. Just downsize your presentation (1/80th oz red jigheads with a waxworm) and look a little deeper. Brush helps. Rob

Definitely classifiable under the title of "memoir." I would imagine, with a little more elaboration, it would surpass Norman Maclean. I hope you publish a full work someday, or better yet, I get to fish with you. Rob

Definitely gotta agree with the BFMV and Offspring (favorite band, have discography and concert exclusive shirts), as well as Avenged Sevenfold, but not a big fan of System of a Down or FFDP, and haven't really heard Volbeat. Think I'm gonna go check them out. Rob

Flashy minnow patterns like a crystal minnow, or some type of woolly bugger. Stacked blondes, decievers, and clousers should work as well. Hope this helps. Rob

From what I've read so far, it seems that there is a mix of classic rock, southern rock, more recent mainstream "rock," some bluegrass, and a definite taste for the 60's-70's stoner rock. Now there really isn't anything wrong with anything listed (except Nickelback), but I'm mainly classic/southern rock (Allman Bros., Marshall Tucker Band, Charlie Daniels Band, original Skynyrd) when I go fishing. But I'll always be listening to something punk given the chance- Bad Religion, Social Distortion, Sum 41, Flogging Molly, and most notably- the Offspring. Also, the more recent Red Hot Chili Peppers stuff is pretty mellow and gets me in a good frame of mind. If these bands sound odd to you, just remember- I had an 8" mohawk for 3 months up until yesterday, and had no problem fly-fishing with it. Rob P.S- rap isn't music, hence its not being mentioned in this post.