Kayser

#1- Exactly where are the goggle eye? #2- Does catch and release apply to just to trout, or to all other species in the park during that time as well? Rob

Yep. 8am-4pm, seven days a week. Rob

In response to it being a very wet year, St. Louis is 25.5" above normal for precipitation in the last 365 days according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. My guess is that the springs in the ozarks might finally be able to recharge with that much water available. Rob

A limit of mallards, and things aren't going yet? Man, now I'm really looking forward to this weekend. Rob

If that's the undisclosed location I'm thinking of, then I always thought it should hold a fish like that. Nice pics, good report, great fish. Rob

That's why I generally stay away from Meramec. As for kids, Montauk is a great place. If you want to teach them to fly fish, there is a deserted riffle in the bait area below the handicap access in the campgrounds. The fish are easy to spot and eager to eat most nymphs that you put in front of them. And when they get bored with that, the naturalist puts on a lot of programs. Rob

You're also forgetting the spring fed streams in the ozarks, like the current and 11 point. They've (as in MDC and random grant studies) actually been doing some studies recently, and found very few native fish species, and no juvenile hellbenders or hellbender eggs. Apparently big trout really like the smaller hellbenders that are needed for a successful breeding population. They also have a tendency to outcompete, eat, and generally displace most native species where they are introduced. In short- trout are an introduced species and people just tend to look the other way on an introduced species if they really like them, despite harmful effects on the environment. Rob

I've had good success on bigger fish in the C&R at Montauk dead-sticking (thats dead drifting with a taut line, no indicator, and rod held high) a #4 rabbit strip leech. Best day was 6 fish between 16-20" on 10 casts, broke off on the hookset on two of those casts. Also hooked about a 7# rainbow in the fly water doing this a couple weeks ago, but logjams and 2lb test dont mix. Rob

What exactly is your facebook site? I'm craving more pictures but dont want to add a complete stranger by accident. Rob

Nah, the catch and release section was clear by comparison (read cloudy) and seemed to be fishing well- i saw several people hooked up, with multiple doubles. I, being a poor college student, decided to fish the bait area just below this for something I could eat, and caught two on black mohairs. Then the water was flowing from the main river to the spring branch across the "island" with about a 4ft difference in water level, effectively blowing out the stream past that first hole. It made a pretty cool waterfall, though. But dont you just love being woken up at 5:30 am to pack up with dead trees falling around you? Adds some excitement to the trip. Rob

Noted. I'm fully stocked on big streamers and san juans, plus a little fur/foam mouse I tied last night. Looking forward to some solitude outside of the park today. See yall on Sunday... Rob

I didn't know it was a one-prize-only rule now. When did it go into effect? Anyways, it ought to make the drawings a little better for those who get a tagged fish (and for those who don't). Rob

Like it or not, they are in the Mississippi River drainage. They are a major problem in the Illinois River and they are worried that the fish will get into Lake Michigan and ruin the fishery there. But don't be fooled, because these fish are a major problem in almost every river connencting to the Mississippi. The only fish it seems that these carp haven't harmed much seems to be the catfish. Rob

I know about the tourney. I was kinda hoping that I could get a tagged fish and get another good hackle cape (my dog ate the last one.) Hoping for some good prizes this year. Rob

The best way to fish them is with a perfect dead drift. You normally need to mend to do this. If you don't, your line will drag through the water, the fly will move unnaturally faster than the current, and it will come up in the water column. Basically, it doesn't look right to the fish. Otherwise, you can try using a dropper rig with a dry as your indicator, or with another nymph in front of the midge, but you still need a good drift. Rob

Headed down on Friday after classes. Will be fly fishing (don't know where exactly) and wearing a grey/green baseball cap that says "here fishy, fishy." Say hello if you see me. Rob

Do you mean Reading's? Well, if I ever go down that way (which I hardly ever do) I'll restock there. Thanks for the info. Rob

Are there any fly shops in or near Rolla? I'm starting to run low on a few things, and the selection at Montauk lodge is kinda limited and a little overpriced. Anything close, or should I just wait til I get back to St. Louis to hit Hargrove's? Rob

34. Turn 19 in two weeks. The 6 and 8 looked a lot alike. Rob

I was just down at Bull Shoals Lake last weekend, and trees that had acorns, squirrels, and a flying squirrel in it are completely bare this year. Most of the oaks in IL were bare when I went squirrel hunting a couple of weeks ago, too. Rob

Agreeing with Dano here- its starting to get a little out of hand. But on a side note, who honestly cares what religion Obama is? I think people make too big of a deal out of it. Though I do have to admit I found it somewhat funny when he was caught in a lie about attending the "sketchy" sermon given by his minister. There were several sermons similar to that one that no one took notice of that Obama attended, but he kept attending services there. But as soon as it got some press, he quits attending. At least that is what CNN news channel told me... If Obama keeps changing his opinion on things to win over different crowds, I think he's gonna get hung out to dry. Personally, as a resident of Illinois, I feel that Obama has failed to represent me and my interests in the US senate, and that McCain would be more likely to appropriately represent me as the leader of this country. Not asking you to see things my way, but to at least look around, Rob

Haven't seen any acorns on the trees this year, whether its the pinoaks in my yard or the whites and blacks out in the woods. It seems like that late frost this year might have killed off all the acorns. If so, what does this mean for MO wildlife like squirrels, turkeys, and deer that depend on the acorns to get them through the winter? Rob

Caught sunfish shallow on shad-raps, and lost a 2-3 lb spot at the boat on a jigging spoon. Went below the dam for a while, and caught a few swinging crawlers through eddies. Saw some nice browns come in on a guide boat, sealed up in Ziplocs. Rob

Those map links don't seem to be working anymore, but you can find the maps on this site by scrolling down: http://www.mdc.mo.gov/fish/sport/trout/areas.htm Rob

Browns spawn in the fall, the bows spawn in either spring or fall depending on which species. I think the Missouri rainbows (the cross-bred strain developed by Missouri fish hatcheries) are spring spawners, but I could be wrong. Rob