Outside Bend

I pick Andrew Jackson for closest US dictator

And Canada's one of the world's largest uranium producers. AND they have government run healthcare! AND they use the metric system! We better watch our neighbors to the north friends, I smell a plot.... Seriously though, it's interesting some of the folks most suspicious of Big Government and Big Business blindly trust the very same entities to safeguard the public against the issues surrounding nuclear energy (particularly waste disposal) for decades, or even centuries. I'm not sure I'm willing to take that chance. Aside from the issue of where to store reactor waste, I guess I just wonder if the cradle-to-grave costs of nuclear energy- economic, political, and environmental, are worth the trouble.

Reminds me of a Tellico Nymph, it ought to work pretty well!

I spent most of the day about three-quarters of a mile below the access. Caught a number of wild rainbows which was nice, all topped out around ten inches. Buddy caught a pig of a brown on a caddis larvae, and the thing had a bright yellow glo-ball stuck in its upper jaw Good day though, especially when you compare the weather to what's outside now.

And Ameren didn't forsee the Taum Sauk failure either, although there were signs of trouble long before the dam failed. I'm not opposed to nuclear energy, but if we can't trust them with the little stuff, how are we supposed to trust them with the big stuff?

It depends a little on the species, but Tordon ought to work. If the bark's not too thick you ought to be able to make a subtle slit in the trunk and just spray it on, or you could inject it.

Just checked- about seven inches of snow in the backyard here in Columbia, visibility about 200 yards as I look out the window. The dog's loving it. I'm ready for spring- maybe I'll check out some seed catalogs for this year's garden. Stupid me forgot to get beer when I was at the grocery store last, but I do have about half a bottle of Woodford to keep me warm Stay safe out there guys.

Good read Al, I must've missed you at Tan Vat- we got there around 8:30 and left around 5:30. Our day was pretty off and on- a few fish here and there, but nothing really consistent. Glad to see you had a good trip!

Slid down to the driveway and found my newest issue of The River Hills Traveler- inside story says MDC is doing a follow-up survey for the folks who completed the last one. It'll also apparently be available through BASS, Smallmouth Alliance, & Ozark FlyFishers. About 12 pages long, with questions about both smallmouth and goggle-eye, and deals with issues like C&R & alteration of management regulations. Looks like the Department also wants to do some studies on harvest rates & movements of smallmouth and goggle-eye in Ozark streams. It sounds interesting, and I'll have to see if I can get my hands on one. Has anyone seen the new survey, or heard anything through Smallmouth Alliance or anywhere else? Smallmouth, Goggle-eye surveys in mail soon by Jo Shaper By mid-February, 10,000 to 11,000 angler surveys will be in the mailboxes of smallmouth bass and rock bass enthusiasts, soliciting comments for the Department of Conservation, according to John Ackerson, MDC fisheries biologist and project coordinator. "We're looking for a statewide perspective on smallmouth and rock bass anglers," Ackerson said. Last October, the department sent out approximately 100,000 postcards to anglers from the fishing permit database, asking of they had done so in 2010. "We're pretty pleased with the 10% return we got from this mailing," Ackerson said. "These anglers will be receivin the more comprehensive survey related to these species." Survey copies will also be distributed to members of fishing groups such as the Federation of Fly Fishers, B.A.S.S., and the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance, which are specifically targeted towards these species. Traveler obtained a pre-distribution copy of the angler survey. It's about a dozen pages long, with questions equally divided between the two species. The survey asks for geographically and catch-based statistical data on fishing both in special management areas for these fish, and statewide fishing during 2010. The survey also samples angler attitudes about catch and release, no-take seasons (both current and proposed), and presents some multiple choice management questions on fish length and possible alteration of statewide and special management area regulations. Ackerson said, in addition to the survey, the department has proposed a number of research projects, as yet unbudgeted. "We'd like to find the harvest rate on these fish." he said, "and to do so, we'd like to set up a reward tag system in order to gather that sort of information. We also want to radio tag some fish, and do migration studies. We know that both smallmouth and goggle-eye use Missouri's large springs on the Current during the winter, but we don't know where the fish come from, or when they disperse. We're working to set up a joint project with the [National] Park Service and do fish telemetry on the Current River to find some of these answers," he said. Last November, MDC fisheries Chief Chris Vitello, Brian Canaday, Ozark Fisheries Unit Chief, Fisheries Biologist Dave Myers, and Ackerson addressed the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance in St. Louis, getting a taste for what the response to their survey may be. Vitello said the department look sat age and growth rates, food availability and population on specific stream segments to determine length limits and keep numbers. He emphasized that this is quite variable and t he most scientific method of management was tailored to local conditions, not generalized statewide. Higher length limits and fewer fish kept currently are in effect on 358 miles on 12 special Black Bass Management stream sections. Those regulations were established in the 1990s. The department is currently reassessing best management practices for the fish for the future. A similar set of regulations is in effect on six streams in regard to goggle-eye. The surveys are post paid, and Ackerson asks that people return them as soon after receipt as possible. "We don't have a target date for compiling the data yet," he said, "but we hope to have a preliminary summary report by sometime this summer." Smallmouth and black bass management summary reports can be found at www.riverhillstraveler.com/blackbasslinks.php

Just received DaddyO's bugs, couple more packages and I'll be ready to send everything out

Clearwater has some pretty good white bass fishing in the spring, I'm not sure how it is for largemouth though.

Great fish, and nice to hear it's still out there

I'm not sure if Little Piney would be MDC's or Forest Service's jurisdiction, as far as habitat improvements are concerned. But I agree it'd be nice to see something done to provide better trout habitat there. OTF- I was bored with brown trout, so I went with Dr. Teeth

I know they've done some willow plantings and other stream remediation on Mill Creek in Bohegan CA. You may want to get in touch with mid-MO TU, a number of MDC guys go to those meetings, and they're pretty active & in touch with MDC happenings.

I'm not sure Bernie needs any help showing off those fish

Leonard's bugs came in today, and they look VERY fishy. Might have to make a trip to the Current tomorrow and test 'em out

I believe there's peacock bass, too.

Great report- checked out your blog and I really dig the photos. Mind my asking what camera you're using? Mine's on its last legs and I'm looking to find a new one before spring

Nice photo!

Maybe it's just semantics, but to me private citizens like Gore earning money from investing in green technology has a different connotation than politicians, in a position of authority, being given money by the energy sector to support their point of view. But I do agree with you JD, neither side holds the absolute truth. Trust the facts, not the rhetoric.

Way cool, I'll have to check it out. Congrats!

If The President had received millions from energy companies and at the same time was telling me not to worry about greenhouse emissions, yes, I'd be suspicious.

A lot of the third-party stuff is pretty interesting Wayne, and it's certainly possible the current period of climate change has nothing to do with our use of fossil fuels. But I guess that'd be an easier pill for me to swallow from a different messenger. I googled Marc Morano, and it seems as though he's worked for a lot of folks who get a lot of money from the oil and gas industry- I can see why he would have a vested interest in debunking global warming science. When the source is that biased to begin with, it makes me awfully suspicious...

Again, that isn't what happened, that's what Rush and Sean told you happened. If we want to talk about folks who disseminate made-up information to further their own agenda, those two folks have pretty much cornered the market. If we want to have a discussion on global warming science, we ought to base it in reality. Just sayin'.

Sorry Kevin, I've already received flies from a number of folks, and the deadline's only five or so days away, so we won't be taking any additional participants this late in the game. I wouldn't be opposed to doing another in a few months though, and you're more than welcome in the next. Thanks for your interest, though!