Outside Bend

Well heck, I'm sure it's laced with mojo.

I think inches would be better than weights- or at least easier. Will there be any catchy hats or shirts?

Nah- there's ramps at both Big Spring & Van Buren.

I genuinely don't understand how you can say all the evidence pointing to anglers' spread of didymo isn't enough, while simultaneously insinuating MDC is in league with boot manufacturers, having absolutely zero evidence backing up that claim. And besides, Orvis and Simms aren't anywhere near the heavyweights of the outdoors/fishing tackle industry. Compare their sales figures (~$280 million) with our friends down in Springfield (Bass Pro ~$2.65 billion) or Cabela's (~ $2 billion). Not even in the same league. And if you compare the money Orvis could make in Missouri vs. its other markets- New England, California, the Rocky Mountains- I'd be willing to bet sales here are a drop in the bucket. MDC could be doing it for a lot of reasons (like trying to protect our watersheds). But just supposing you're right, and that money talks- they're not listening to Orvis.

We could determine whether sockeye salmon would survive in the 11 Point by stocking thousands of them and seeing what happens. Or we could take a look at what we know about their biology and make some reasonably educated assumptions about how such a venture would fare. You're correct that we don't know everything there is to know about didymo, its biology, or the mechanics of what causes nuisance bloom. But we do know the stuff has spread rapidly throughout ecosystems on several continents. There's a lot of evidence showing it's been spread by anglers. We know felt soles can contain live didymo cells for weeks, we know felt soles can transport sediment between streams, and we know felt soles are much tougher to disinfect than other fishing equipment. And we know educating anglers about disinfecting gear, as well as felt bans, work- since the ban in New Zealand, didymo has not spread to the North Island, nor has it spread to any additional watersheds in the South Island. Since the ban, the spread has stopped. In an ideal world I agree that we'd be able to hold off on a felt ban until we had all the information necessary to craft informed policy. We'd know conclusively whether didymo posed a threat to Missouri streams, and whether or not such measures were necessary. Unfortunately, we don't have the luxury of time. And if we get all that data and find out there was never an issue in the first place- there's no reason the ban couldn't be rescinded.

I think their may be a couple paddling groups throughout the Ozarks too. And I'd bet some Stream Teams, canoe liveries, campgrounds, and other folks may be interested.

I don't expect everyone to abide by the felt ban, or disinfect their fishing gear between trips. I'll probably still see folks out on the river with felt soles, just as I still see folks using bait in the Blue Ribbon areas or keeping more than the daily limit of fish. But aside from educating and/or notifying law enforcement, there's really nothing you can do. MDC can't make sure every angler wears rubber soles, no more than MDC can make sure no deer are poached or that every hiker sticks to approved trails. They can create the rules, they can enforce the rules, but that doesn't mean there will be 100% compliance. I readily concede that. But IMO doing something is better than doing nothing. MDC has tried the education route and met with a great deal of resistance. The carrot failed, now it's time for the stick.

To me this seems like an ideal undertaking for one of the FFF, TU, or similar groups in the state. Put together some workshops with local law enforcement, DAs/law types, and anglers- and make sure everyone's on the same page.

True. But the information's out there, and it's not tough to find, regardless of an internet connection. Its up to sportsmen to know the rules of the places they're recreating.

Thems slick Ducky, I think they'd work well on NFOW or 11 Point as well. I finally settled on a pattern, and I've spun up about half of them. Will probably be done by the end of the weekend, ship them out sometime next week. I'm stoked to see what else shows up...

I guess I didn't realize the MDC website and the Wildlife Code are only viewable by anglers.... I guess, to me, it just seems silly to claim MDC has only informed anglers, when the information is out there and viewable by anyone.

...but they ARE telling anglers to do more than buy new boots. The information I cut and pasted is on the same website Chief linked in the initial post. Right under the list of restricted waterways. MDC has put the information out there, and really that's all they can do. They can't force everyone to read it. At some point, anglers have to take it upon themselves to learn about the issue.

That's why they're also asking that you disinfect your boots (and other wading gear) between fishing trips: Next, CLEAN all gear and equipment with a solution of 2-percent bleach, 5-percent saltwater or dish detergent. Allow all equipment to stay in contact with the solution for at least one minute. Soak all soft items, such as felt-soled waders and life jackets, in the solution for at least 20 minutes. If you only fish one water body or if your gear has adequate time to dry between waters, then the chemical cleaning treatments are not necessary. Drying equipment for 48 hours will effectively kill didymo cells.

Oh, I get it. Getting offended at being labeled a spam(mer?) makes one a hypersensitive individual. But getting your panties in a wad over three messages on an internet fishing forum-that's pretty legit. Now that I've thought it through...it makes complete sense.

Rainbow trout, brown trout, striped bass, northern pike, smallmouth bass, and walleye are all native to North America, too. But moving them from their native range into new environs can cause a whole lot of trouble for an ecosystem. That said, there are some areas in Canada where didymo is native and has been known to exist for almost a hundred years without any issues, but for some reason has become a nuisance in the past 20 years or so. I don't have the time right now to really listen to the podcast (or get into a three-page discussion of whether it qualifies as spam), but I'll get on it this evening. Thanks!

Yuk bugs work real well as crayfish imitations, too. Basically a woolly bugger with a squirrel-tail tail, and some rubber legs sticking out the side.

It's effective, I've also used herl bodies on stimulators and done pretty well. You may want to reinforce the body with tying thread or a rib of some kind, as herl is fairly delicate stuff.

Good read Al, and great fish Saluki! I didn't fish as much as I would've liked in 2011, lots of long workweeks cut into fishing time. But probably my favorite was the handful of times I went down to the Current and fished the Cicada hatch- ridiculously big fish coming up and slurping big gaudy dry flies is always fun

Like I said, things happen. Releases don't always go according to plan. But I think if you're not taking the fish home, you have an obligation to release it unharmed. Regardless of whether you're fishing in a washbucket

Perhaps the males aren't looking for females. They're young, curious, perhaps feeling a bit experimental, shunned by their parents out west...perhaps they prefer the company of other males. Hey- there's as much evidence for it as there is for a breeding population in the Ozarks

If you feel releasing a fish unharmed is emasculating, that's your prerogative. IMO it's like giving a guy @!#@ for wanting to make a clean kill. There are lots of ways to release fish- some are easier on them than others. Fact is, setting them on dry gravel, leaves, grass etc isn't doing them any favors. Sure, you can use that technique on every fish you catch- just as you can take pot-shots at every duck, deer, or turkey that wanders your way. But just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Maimed and injured wildlife does no one any good. That said, accidents happen. Just as in hunting, things don't always go down according to plan. Mistakes are made, and everyone's fallible. I've had my share of boned releases, just as I've blown shots or unnecessarily injured game. It happens- and whenever it does happen, I try to learn from those mistakes.

Bingo- it's not all about chasing tail. Self-preservation plays a big role, too. A juvenile lion isn't going to be able to breed if it's constantly competing with bigger, stronger, older males for food and territory. They'll strike out for areas with lower lion densities- regardless of whether there are females in those areas or not. Live to breed another day.

I looked it up- Brian Munzlinger. Serves several counties in the northeastern part of the state. Member of Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Corn Growers’ Association, Missouri Soybean Association, and the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, and the NRA. I couldn't find anything on his website about his involvement in conservation-related programs or organizations. Here. Bill Text It looks like it'll be put on a statewide ballot, though. So there's that.

Perhaps if it were just an increase in MO I'd be more skeptical, but lions are showing up in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Georgia, Indiana, and several other states. That'd be some conspiracy. And if you're going to go through all the time, risk, and expense of creating a clandestine cougar-stocking program, why would you refuse to enforce regulations designed to protect those animals? Why would you let every amish hunting party or sixteen year old kid shoot threaten the success of your double-secret program without any sort of legal action? If re-establishing mountain lion populations was so important MDC would be willing to go behind the public's back, I assure you prosecution of the folks shooting those animals would be a serious priority. It'd make a great Austin Powers bit. But it all falls apart when you take the time to actually think about it.

Some job of shutting up, if "all that herd about it," assumed MDC played a role To my knowledge critters like lions have to be tracked with an external radio tag, usually attached to a collar. Unless the cougar was sporting some jewelry at the time it was shot, it's pretty unlikely anyone at MDC knew where it was. Much more likely that someone he told tipped MDC off for the game thief anonymous reward deal- criminals tend to be a notoriously untrustworthy lot