SilverMallard

Perhaps I should have used the terms "street crime" vs. "domestic crime." Rockaway...being low income...has it's fair share of domestic problems to be sure. But the cops rarely get involved and it is not a "public" nuisance affecting the economic life of the community. That's what I meant. Branson and Hollister on the other hand, have had parking lot shootings, stabbings, muggings, and a TON of auto burglary/theft over the past few years...a geometric proliferation of "street crime" according to the law enforcement people I have spoken to. No, Phil, I don't think it has come down to that. But as you know, the folks in Rockaway have spent a lot of years and a good chunk of what little of their personal fortunes they have researching econ revitalization of RB. And they are convinced it is their only VIABLE option that is actually on the table. NO ONE ELSE has presented them a real option and pledged to spend tens of millions of dollars and provide 1000 yearround jobs with benefits. Give us another competitive option and I'll be right there beside you voting NO on gambling at Rockaway. Also, I wonder how many of you fellas ever fish down by Rockaway. I'll bet very few of you. And that waterfront we're talking about is ALREADY DEVELOPED. Just like Branson Landing, we're talking about RE-DEVELOPMENT of a blighted eyesore. So that whole argument doesn't wash.

You don't have to "sneak" up on park trout. LOL You don't even have to sneak up on Crane Creek trout. You just have to be a little gentle with your approach. The smaller and clearer the water is...and the brighter the sunshine...the more slowly and gently you should approach. But you certainly don't need to belly crawl up to the stream around here!

Well, the logical answer to your question has already been given by two other people. So I won't belabor the obvious. But NO...I did NOT say Rockaway Beach has a high crime rate. I said BRANSON and all of Taney County has a rapidly increasing crime rate that is resulting from a rapidly increasing population. In point of fact, the county sheriff's patrol units spend way more time in Branson/Hollister than they do in Rockaway Beach...and I mean on calls, not patrols. Rockaway is low income. So they have a drug problem, a domestic violence problem, and a child abuse problem. 99% of that takes place in the shacks and mobile homes. The cops rarely get called. Not much violent crime in Rockaway. There's been more in recent years in Branson and Hollister than there has been up there. And I would be more careful of leaving my keys in my car or a window down in Branson than I would in Rockaway Beach.

St. Charles is but one example of how a city can benefit from a casino without all the scare-tactic negative impacts the anti-gambling crowd uses to try and keep it out. I also have lived in St. Charles for a total of about 5 years since the casinos first came there. Alton, IL, right across the Miss River from there, has also actually gotten BETTER since the casino came to town. I especially love the "prostitution" scare. These are two separate issues. You can legalize gambling and still control prostitution. The fact is, prostitution is LEGAL in Nevada...where most of the negative stats come from. If we want to discuss the legalization of prostitution, then let's discuss that. But the notion that gambling = prostitution is just dumb, dishonest, and worn out. As for "the bad elements," Newsflash: ask any law enforcement officer in Taney County that knows you well enough to be candid with you. They will likely tell you that crime rates have been exploding in Branson/Taney County over the past couple of years. Property crimes and domestic violence mostly...with auto burglaries/vandalism/theft leading the way. Even our game wardens are spending over 1/2 of their time nowadays backing up traditional law enforcement activities because our municipal and county agencies are overwhelmed. And we don't have gambling. So is it Titanic, AB Theater, Home Depot, Branson Landing, and Target that have brought the crime? Maybe it's all Bass Pro Shops' and Victoria's Secret's fault. Or maybe...just maybe: more jobs = more population = more crime. Bottom line is though we're already getting the crime spike, we might as well get the jobs w/benefits, yearround economic activity, and revenues that are supposed to come with it!

I'm not divulging my secret weapon until we get about 10 more patterns on here, fellas. :ph34r:

I fish the banks, guys. If you're not in a boat or throwing stick baits, that's the key. I'm a fly fisherman. I work the slow water pockets and deep seams along the banks. You have to think like a big trout. In other words, find good places where a big fish could lay in wait without spending a ton of energy fighting heavy current adjacent to faster running water. When the water is running, these fish don't wander around like they do when the water isn't running much. They stay put and wait for food. But they are MORE likely to strike at whatever comes by. They will be hugging bottom as Bill says. So you have to get DOWN and bump the bottom. That's why I use the heavier flies. You're also more likely to be fishing close to or in some cover/grass. So I go up to 5x tippet...minimum. I carry 3x for this reason too, but mostly get by with 5x. And if a good fish gets out in the current, you're in for a big fight.

I don't catch as many fish during heavier generation (2 or more), but I catch BIGGER fish and still enough to keep it interesting.

I have been fishing the Spring annually since I was about 7 years old...with a few years missed here and there to fight wars and other irksome little dalliances. Lassiter is good if you catch it when the bait fishermen aren't too thick. I like fishing there. It's pretty easy wading by Spring River standards. Dam 3 has some good spots, but I tend to go down below at the end of the park. Wading is a bit tougher, but not bad. You just have to pick your way through all the boulders. No big deal if you don't get in a hurry and watch where you're going. That's the big problem with the Spring to me: it's S-L-O-W wading. So you can't cover a lot of water very quickly. If I find a fair concentration of fish, I stick pretty close and approach that beat technically. Overall, my best fly there is a #18 beadhead Zebra Midge...red or olive. This is me fishing Lassiter right after 4th of July a few years ago.

If we're talking about an angler standing on his dock or the shore immediately adjacent to his dock, I side with the concessionaire. If we are talking about anglers in BOATS trolling up and pitching jigs along the docks, I side with the fishermen. This is actually consistent with the principles in the Freedom of Navigation Act, which applies to all waterways under federal jurisdiction.

I have heard tell that PDT below the lake is a GORGEOUS stretch of river for floating with almost nobody on it most of the time. I also hear it's pretty good smallie fishing. But these are just rumors. Anyone care to expound from personal experience?

I have a buddy who is just simply a top-notch outfitter in Patagonia for trout and salmon and on the Ibera Marsh for Dorado. Both are in Argentina. He is VERY cost-competitive and truly considered one of the finest anglers and guides in South America. If you are considering heading that direction, shoot me a message. I'll post some pics and stuff on this thread from time to time with updates I get from him.

Alright guys...I showed you several of mine. Now it's time for y'all to show me yours.

Yup...sneaking around. Little "night and fog action." I ain't tellin'. I'll swallow my cyanide pill of you torture me.

Yes, Phil...two Springs ago, I think.

Fly-fishing from the roof of a duck is a hoot!

:ph34r:

Pssst! Dano... Give up the WB for a size 12-16 beadhead PTN, rainbow egg microjig, pink thread microjig, or white thread microjig under a bigger strike indicator and on 5x tippet when they turn on 1 full or 2 generators in fast water. You'll do a LOT better once you find the "generation" feeding lanes. When they turn on 1 at less than 100%, just stick with what was working for you before that. But realize, the feeding lanes and seams and pockets will change some. I have caught almost ALL of my 20" + trout on Taney during 1-2 generators.

That law is on the books for protesters and enviro-terrorists and such. It isn't going to be enforced against a fisherman unless he becomes a "fixture" about it. Seems to me there might be a little island campout high-water fishing excursion in the near future for some. High water fishing along those islands can be pretty spectacular and yields some large fish and big fights! Take some grub, some sunscreen, some adult beverages, and a PFD. A good 6-7 wt rod w/some big heavy flies and 5x tippet. A couple of guys could have the whole place to themselves all day in July - Sept!

For your typical trout or panfish...even smallmouth bass...I don't think the reel is much of a performance factor. I use those $40 Okuma Airframes mostly. And I have zero complaints and a lot of praise since they're less than $40 each. I spend more on a fly line than I do on a reel. Now, when I bought a serious saltwater gamefish rig, I went with a $300 reel. Tarpon, Salmon, Dorado, Steelhead...different story!

I use a 6wt for smallies and have never had a problem. But I did lose a Walleye once. Also had a huge trout spool me once on that rig...which has a click n pawl reel. My 8wt TiCrX was acquired for Dorado and wading saltwater. It's also a good salmon rod. If I were targeting lunker largemouth bass I would use it also.

Yes...I mean more rod than you need, both in price and capabilities. The TiCR is not AS fast action as the TiCrX, but it's close. And I've read a LOT of guys saying that the TiCR or TiCrX is hard for them to cast. Personally, I have no problem with it. But like I said, I got the 8wt TiCrX and a good TFO saltwater reel for wading saltwater. That's a far cry from bass fishing! I use a med-fast 6wt on smallmouth and white bass.

The moose mane is used for the body. You pick one white and one dark strand of hair and then wrap them side by side. Works great...both constrast and segmentation (texture). It's easy to use also. It's pretty much an Adams variation...no wings.

That pic IS of the mosquito midge. Note the brown/white "barber pole" moose mane wrap of the abdomen? You can order hackle in size 16-22 pretty easily. Most shops don't stock much of it though. And it is expensive!

I'd go with the TFO 9' 7wt Professional Series for those applications. The TiCR is fast...very stiff by comparison. And much more expensive. I have 2 4wt and 2 6wt TFO Pros and an 8wt TFO TiCrX. The 8wt TiCrX is a good salmon/steelhead/saltwater wading rod. I think the 7wt TiCR is overkill for bass fishing, but the Pro would be just right. And it's much easier to cast. AS for reels, TFO has some GREAT new offerings! Don't neglect to look at them. But I would also not be afraid to slap an Okuma on there. Both are very economical choices with lots of bang for the buck. The Okumas are cheaper, but the TFOs are much nicer. Stick a SA Mastery series bass line on there and you're good to go for topwater action. If you want to get down, then you're gonna need a fast sinking line...which can be a killer on suspended white bass.

Mosquito Midge Hook - standard dry fly sizes 12 - 20 Thread - black Tail - grizzly hackle fibers Body - light and dark moose mane wrapped in alternate color bands Wings - grizzly hackle tips Hackle - grizzly I always carry a few of these too: Midge - Cream Hook - dry fly sizes 18 - 28 Thread - white Tail - cream hackle fibers Body - cream rabbit dubbing Hackle - cream hackle Comments - black, ginger, gray and olive midges are tied the same except the colors are changed as appropriate. *especially cream!