Devan S.

I put out some Suet today....love watching the birds up close.

I try to combine rod/reel efforts into multiple categories so this may not be as appealing to you. I use Pflueger Presidents(25 size) with browning air stream rods. This rod effectively does triple duty for me. I realize this isn't micro but I want the bigger spool for ease of line coming off and distance. -Trout jigs-light mono -Crappie jigs with braid -drop shot crawlers for gills

Not at all. I think you have just about dialed in the big fish and you want to protect what you have learned. No harm or foul in that at all. It is a small fishery so the opportunity is there that it could be overrun. I've tried down there a dozen times and I'm just not willing to commit completely. I know one day though I will run into a big one just on pure luck. I do think your jealous that Bill says its getting good and your not here to fishing it though.🤣

I didn't think Bill was very much more specific than Travis has been with his reports and pictures from back at the end of November. Heck a quick cruise though the lower Taney forum and a guy could have a good starting point. Still doesn't guarantee your gonna find em on any given Sunday.

I didn't think it was that big of a secret that lower Taney had bigguns?

I'm jealous of the sleeveless bulls shirt and fanny pack.

Just a follow up on this. I sent the COE an email last week asking what all they needed to get me a pass. Had a voicemail on my phone from them. Called back this morning and the lady in the office just took my CC information over the phone and they will mail out my pass today. Easy Peasy.

If its the "wild stream bred" genetics that make them better fighters and pretty fish then wouldn't the same premise apply to all the wild stream bred fish in the state? Every <12" fish I caught from all the other blue ribbon streams flipped and flopped just like RR or Taney <12" fish. Go to the Current, 11pt, and Little Piney. All streams with White Ribbon sections(and a trout park) right next to the Blue Ribbon sections. Fish the line between and tell me if you can tell the difference in genetics between a "wild stream bred" fish and a stocker that's been there 6+months. I'm not calling for multiple tens of thousands of fish monthly like the white but surely a one time stocking can help without making all the fish in the stream a bunch lazy non-fighting, inbred mutts?

So what stream side genetic testing kits are you all using on these fish? Why are these trout any "better" than any other that's been in the public waters of our state 6+ months. Every bit of this non-sense is in ya'lls head purely because MDC has made a big deal of the blue ribbon streams. If you poach river bass to extinction, you beg for stocking to replace. Somehow though with "Stream bred" rainbows and a million year flood and we cant alter the genetics on a one time basis? If MDC was to go in the middle of the night deep into winter and stock 25,000 fish along the river. I bet NOT a single person would be the wiser.

They've been running water all day. Figure I would go down and nose around before the wet stuff moved in. Really was more or less scouting where to go and how to fish during the high water. Found I can carefully fish downstream at parkers. River is obviously wider running 3800 cfs but I can really sling the bigger jerkbaits and get out there. Had one good follow and this little feller.

Cutting it close but here is mine. Caught this afternoon.

I believe the US/Mex border is closed to non-essential travel or at least was. Not sure how that will/would play into it. I am also not sure how to technicality of crossing the border on the lake is handled. As others have said the border can be a rough area. Coahuila-where Amistad is located is generally safer than Tamaulipas-where Falcon is located. Although Falcon is a more rural area which is generally safer than say Reynosa or NL. If it were me, I'd probably pick Amistad. Purely based on the safety, location of Del Rio(which has an airport if you care), and the amount of the lake that stays in the US. I've been to Amistad 2 times while travelling for work(I'm in that area 3-4 times per/year). Both times were to explore in some down time and eat at Cripple Creek steakhouse on US-90. I keep saying that in the future I will take a pole and bank fish but I haven't yet. I will say this, If you you go and drive, once you leave San Antonio either South or West have a full tank of gas and be prepared for many miles between functional towns. If you intend to drive this leg after dark be prepared for massive amounts of deer along the road.

I know...I know....I do need the practice though.

I prefer to avoid drifts all together. Only use stuff that you can strip. I want to catch the fish that want to be caught.....not spend half a day trying to coax one fish to half heartedly take a nibble.

Maybe its all the day drinkers floating and peeing in the water that's warming it up too much? Maybe they should close the entire stream from April to Nov. to prevent casual floaters peeing in the water? Maybe MDC should dump semi loads of ICE into the warm water sections to cool it down?

I can tell you there was no sign at Dam Site at Beaver last week and there was a stocked fee box. I just rolled on through.

I should have just looked it up. Thanks for the heads up to both of you. https://www.swl.usace.army.mil/Business-With-Us/Day-Use-Fees-Annual-Day-Use-Pass/ First sentence says it all: "Day Use Fees are once again being collected throughout USACE" I have been awfully darn lucky the last 2-3 months or more then.

Are permits actually required anyways? I know I tried to buy one back in June or July and was told day use was free due to COVID and they thought it would remain that way for the foreseeable future?

MDC stocking trout to feed the AGFC stocked striper. Interesting proposition.

Dang that rainbow looks like its a crossbreed football.

I did not. Did the MR340 and it has for better or worse cured me of about every non-stop paddle trip desire other than the buffalo complete. My goal was to start in late October/early November. COE campgrounds would mostly be closed and camping only by real campers not the weekend warriors. Even in early May you will likely run into a few people and a real high risk of high water/flooding and/or severe weather. All can be worked through with proper planning obviously but I'd rather minimize pain/misery from external sources. Starting at Beaver Dam vs. Beaver is really only about 12-15 miles added and it will likely be the only sections where you have any current(if you time it right with generation). My plan was something along the following: Day 1-Beaver Dam to Eagle Rock COE- 20-25 miles Day 2- Eagle Rock COE to Campbell Point COE-20-25 miles Day 3- Campbell Point COE to Kimberling City Bridge- 15-20 miles Day 4- Kimberling City to the Table Rock Dam- 10-15 miles I had the added benefit of having 2 people in a canoe which means you can take some breaks and move non-stop. We tried to limit it to as short as possible as we wanted to minimize vacation. It was less about seeing and experiencing and more about doing it.

Once upon a time I had actually planned out the exact trip your going to take. Plan was to paddle from the base of Beaver Dam to Table Rock Dam. The COE campgrounds line up nicely for use. However depending on the time of year you do it there may be issues with booking them correctly and the commitment that comes with having to paddle so many set miles in a day.

2 of the best engineers I work with on a day-to-day basis have zero degree. One is an engineering manager and the other is a lead manufacturing engineer. Engineering degree gives you the fundamentals, on the job shows you practical application. Both in this case have worked their way into their positions. The difference is they have both been with our company 30+ years and have a ton of on-the-job training.

I cant think of anyplace this isn't the truth.

But did he learn that in college? Or did he learn that kind of stuff during residency with another trained doctor looking over his shoulder. I've never been but my guess is outside cadavers med school doesn't involve much in the way of surgery. I look at college as a piece of paper that says you have the basics and fundamentals. You got them (suffered in some cases) put in the time and work to get them. Now your first employer knows your committed and can train you to actually do the day to day job stuff.