brittsnbirds

I suspect 8/0 olive or lt. olive thread for the body. A 20 or smaller dry fly hook. Creme or dun hackle to size for collar and same for tail. That's how I tie them. Also try the same pattern with a parachute rather than the collar. It drops the fly down a little and appears to be an emerger.

Rich, IM JEALOUS!! Pat & Dixie

Not to hi jack this thread..... Wondered how Jerry was doing. Last time I heard things were going better! Like you said Rich, plus they don't post as frequent. Brenda spoiled us!!

Well when you show up with your old school diesel ton and a half pulling a billion foot long goose neck that is loaded with a billion horsepower pump.....heck yea they will say something!! where you been?

FYI it's back to a still picture!!

Nothing in the world aggravates me more than being forced to listen to some "citizen's" phone call in a restaurant or anywhere else for that matters. But to have some moron whip out his phone while your up to your hips in a trout stream. It's one thing if they move on by themselves but they just stand there like they are in their living room. Have you ever listened they talk so loud everyone within a 1/2 mile can hear them. Give it a break the darn thing is up against your mouth. That makes me want to ask to borrow their phone and give it a chuck down stream. Leave the darn thing in the truck!! If you are so important or there is such impending business to be taken care of then either stay home or in the trailer!! Off soapbox!!

Hmm, sounds good let me check out a couple things..

Just in case I go back up to the Northwest possibly for Salmon, Pike etc., also for big browns down at Tanyey. Use it for a bass rod as well. Would like to keep it under $200.00.

Struggling with getting a 8wt to add to my arsenal. Do not want to spend a bunch of dollars but want a decent rod. Any ideas??

Reading all the comments about the different preferances brings to mind the term "Practice, Practice, Practice". As far as one gun over another, a lot of your ability to hit what you are aiming at is confidence. If you are not confident that your weapon will go POW or not, then you should not be putting yourself into a position where you need it. If you are not proficient with your weapon and you do not trust it, then don't carry it until you are. Again "Practice, Practice, Practice". Not only does it make you a better shot, it builds confidence both in your ability and the weapons performance. All guns (unless they have been worked) need a break in period. I have shot thousands of rounds through my Sigs and they did not start performing properly until they finally got broke in. I recently picked up a Glock 36 and am reluctant to carry it (off-duty) until I put a few hundred rounds through it. As far as caliber, (IMO) the best round that I use to carry was the .357 mag in a wheel gun. If I had the money to burn for ammo I would dump my .45's and go to the .357 Sig round. I have heard and read that it is a very good little round. As well as a .38 super for my back up!!

San Juan of sort I hope??

Been avoiding this topic until today and could not resist reading. You guys sure bring back memories. I'm the proud owner of 3 Britts (brittsnbirds). My 2 Males just turned 14 and the little girl "Dixie" is the daughter of my stud, she turned 6. Last fall she had knee surgery then around Thanksgiving she came down with Pancreitis. I learned a big lesson, do not give your dogs any pork!! That one cost me BIG, just about lost her. I use to hunt up in Iowa until that hunt dried up. Dixie was just coming on when things went south with the people up there. Broke the old dogs in on Roosters in the Russell Ks area. That too was a good hunt until the guy we hunted with moved. Very nervous about putting Dixie back in the field with her $500.00 knee. Every once in a while she appears to hurt it. Checked it out with her vet, he says everything is tight. Once the old dogs are gone I may get the Benelli out and tune Dixie up and try it again. Keep up the post's. It feels good to read about your adventures!!

Nope, actually it did not work out for me to go down. My loss it sounds like!!

FFF, I was thinking about hooking up the trailer and heading down in the morning for a 3 day. Haven't approached the BOSS with it yet. Usually she is in the "re-charge" mode and doesn't want to be bothered after Thanksgiving. We will see. It's going to be nippy!!

PC, I know they are southeast of you down in Linn County. My sister-in-law watched one a couple years ago on her farm one morning. It was in their garden prowling around, within 20 yards of the the house. She called for her husband (retired photographer) to bring his camera. Apparently the cat's hearing is very intense, and it took off to the timber. She called me and descibed the unit. I thought it was a Bobcat by her description but she said it had a very distinct tail "as long as cat was". She pulled up some pictures on the internet and verified it was a Mountain Lion. They later called the Kansas Dept. of Conservation. They weren't interested and discounted her claim. My brother in law took some pictures of its tracks in comparison to his dogs, much bigger!! So there you go!!

Jerry, It's silver 2500HD with a cover. Look for the Irish flag. And Dixie will be with me, don't leave home without her!! Rich, I got a Winston Vapor 8'6 5wt. I really didn't need another 5 wt but I couldn't resist. It was used but the owner took great care of it!

I got a 8'6 5wt Vapor from a guy that lurks around on here. Come to find out he is a local. I might see you several of us (?) will be there the 20th till 24th.

If that is the case then stay with what you are doing or give them another split shot. Going smaller tends to cause them to ride higher sometimes. As well as going smaller on the tippet. You will also notice the hookups will be less as well. Smaller hook equals a smaller amount of bite! Unless your NoLuck and you have the eye of an eagle and reflexes of a Cat!!

I can answer that, 18 and smaller!! BTW Rich your not the only one to own a Winston now!!

A couple years ago my son lived in Sandpoint ID which is in the upper panhandle portion of the state. The wife and I drove out to see the boy and spend a few days with him. I did as much research as I could and fished the Coeur D'Alene, Kootenai, Moyie, and several other upper state rivers/streams. This was in late July and August when the terrestrial patterns were just starting to take off. I picked up some very dark brown elk hair colored hoppers in size 10 as well as some big stone fly patterns. The hoppers were the hit and only was able to catch a couple on the stone flys. I blame that on execution. I was only able to wade fish but was told the best fishing is floating as you can cover better water. Sometimes up there the wade fishing is very difficult as there are many medium to large, very round and slippery "bowling ball" rocks. Making it very difficult to walk. I eventually located a birch stick that a beaver stripped for me and utilized it as a staff to keep my balance. One thing that I found strange was on most of the streams that I mentioned the locals and guide shops recommend that you keep all bows (rainbows) or throw them out on the bank. They consider them an invasive species. I mainly caught cutthroat and brook trout with several bows in the mix. Not any huge size except one cutt that the guys at the Orvis shop were impressed with (picture). They said he was a lunker and it was surprising he was still in the river? Questioning their comment I wondered what they meant. They said the larger fish go down river to the lakes in the later part of summer. Having no prior knowledge and nothing to measure their honesty on I took their info as is. I was unable to corroborate their comments and wondered if I was fishing in one of their Guided spots. I will tell you when you float a large hopper through a riffle into a hole be ready because those little Idaho trout are vicious!! If your only up there for a day or two, especially where he is (East side near Yellowstone) spend the money and get a guide. It will be worth it. One other thing that I had to worry about was the locals, bears. The fly shops recommend that you carry bear repellant, I did, Sig Sauer P220 .45. Nothing like packing a .45 in your waders trying to fish I only found signs but never saw any, just a couple of Elk and an Eagle or two, awesome!!

People will probably laugh and this will give away my amateur status but I use whatever is cheapest leader in 9' length in a 5 or 6x. I tie (what I call) a English ring on and tie another 2 or 3 foot of Vanish fluorocarbon in 2 or 4 pound. I buy it in the mini spools and re-spool empty tippet holder with it. I've looked at the size and it compares to some of the other fluorocarbon tippets. Seems to work for me!!

Well that settles that. I guess I will start packing my Glock 45 again when I fish. Had to in Idaho for bears! Just remember "dead men tell no tales" and you only have to pay for them once!!

Wow, many different opinions here! Almost afraid to identify my profession. If I'm not mistaken there is a difference between Park Rangers, Park Management and Conservation Officers (game wardens). My understanding is the Park Manager (Eric I think) is responsible for the upkeep of the campgrounds and the park in general. Park Rangers, who are Missouri Certified Law Enforcement Officers are responsible for violations in the park. Such as speeding, illegal parking, peace disturbances, fights and so on. Conservation Officers (Missouri Certified Law Enforcement Officers) are responsible for violations of Missouri game laws. I would also go out on a limb and say that there is only 1 Conservation Agent for each county. That means they have to respond to all complaints night and day in their respective county's. They also get pulled to other county's when they have special investigations like monitoring floaters on the Niangua or any other stream in Missouri. I know from talking with several Park Rangers over the years that their job is much more political then mine. It is frowned on from their management to be too over zealous with violators. They (management) encourage the Park Rangers to warn and educate the public (their customers) rather than write violations. I know several Park Rangers (retired) that were retired from other agency's (Missouri Hiway Patrol for one). They have the experience and were very good at what they were doing. If you want to contract out to Dallas or Laclede county Sheriff's office for patrolling BSSP then good luck. They are undermanned and way underpaid. I would guess that they are lucky to have 2 deputy's on any one shift at a time. I would guess the norm is 1. If you are upset with conservation violations your beef isn't with the Park Ranger. Rag on the Conservation commission. If your not satisfied with the amenities of the park then stop by the shack at the bottom of the hill and ask for the Park Manager. If your upset about speeders, loud noise, or someone parking illegally in the handicapped spots contact the Park Ranger. I think the biggest misunderstanding is that Park Rangers enforce the fish and game laws. Theoretically I guess they can but they defer violations to the Conservation Officers. As far as the comment about putting our lives on the line. Thanks NoLuck, I appreciate your comment, considering I have been at it for almost 30 years. And by the way, business is booming!!

III Trout Bum, Several years ago I was down at Parker. Stopped at a old partially restored homestead on the left (North?) side of the road. Walked down the drive approx. a mile to the farm. The park service had some information signs and pictures of the old place as well as the family. Do you know anything about this place as it drew my attention back then and I think about it and the lifestyle often. On another note. If you make the drive to Parker be sure your vehicle is in tip top shape. My truck was in good condition when I went down. However the unimaginable happened. The fuel pump decided to die on the sand bar. I walked out at 10 o'clock at night to the blacktop. Felt like it took forever. Met some really nice folks that lived on the south side of the blacktop/curve. The lady (Julia, I think)worked at the lodge as a waitress and her husband had some draft horses cross. They gave me a ride back to my trailer. Next morning I walked up to the lodge where a young man that worked in the shop hooked me up with his brother who had a tow business. We retrieved my truck (with no additional scratches) and he towed me to the Licking Chevy dealer who installed the new fuel pump. Luckily the mechanic at the Chevy shop was also a pretty good electrical mechanic as the original problem was found to be a faulty ground to the fuel pump causing it to burn out prematurally. All in all a good trip but I'm still a little nervous about heading down there again! I frequently review my pictures of that trip as it is the most "back to nature" trip I have made trout fishing Missouri!

I think there is a movie about that??? Griswalds or something, Christmas, funniest thing I have ever seen. Especially when the storm sewer starts glowing. Thats when we call NoLuck in with his blaster and have him clean it out!!