brittsnbirds

I vote from the Holland dam up to to the spring and from the arch bridge down to the whistle bridge as C&R. That would make some impressive fishing and fish. What do you think Rich?

From the posts it appears that they are stocking different size fish at different times this summer people have reported in the past of catching stockers that were good size. Not having the opportunity this summer to fish BSSP as much as in the past I did not see the numbers. As far as catching fish I've done ok. I do know my techniques have changed. Rich, you don't want me slinging that thing. I'm left handed and it may effect the way you cast. You know knock it out of calibration or something. :€. Gonna try and hit it or Montauk sometime this month or first of August. School starts early this year. Pat

I know what No Lucks secret is..he bought himself a new Winston Rod. Dang i just upgraded to a Sage, now he's got a Winston. Your tough to keep up with Rich!! Thats how your catching all those fish. However I do know that the deep water stripping is a new technique to you, and it sounds like it is paying off. Good Job! I'm at a point after visiting Roaring River a few weeks ago that Bennett isn't that bad off. I remember as a kid that RR was pretty good fishing. And it appeared that it was but the fish that people were keeping were small. The only decent size units were in the catch and release fly zone. But that was short lived when the "vinyl hatch" hit. I couldn't believe it they allow them to float and swim in the C&R area. That is messed up. They won't get me back and I will spend my money at good ole BSSP or Montauk!! Pat

The boss and I are/were headed to Idaho again hopefully to hook up with her uncle and dad in the Boise area. However last night here in Oakley Kansas mother nature showed us what "rock'n" the trailer is all about. We had some crazy high winds here at the High Plains Campground. The boss checked the weather for the next few days and it looks as if there is going to be some nasty stuff due west and north west. So we decided to scratch the Idaho adventure for now and swing down south into the Santa Fe area to avoid the bad weather. I've always wanted to go down there, plus I have heard story's of the Red and Pecos rivers. The boss thinks she is cutting me out of fishing. I haven't told her that there is some of the best in the country down that way. That being said, any suggestions. Looks like for now we are setting our sights on a campground in Santa Fe. Our adventure continues!!

PC, Wow, I'm shocked (not as much as you). After running your A#$ off all over the world and 29 years. Did they dump all the Engineers? If not sounds like some of them will have to go back to work. Good luck. I won't be able to make it down until July. Taking the boss out to the Teton's in our new trailer that she picked out. Pat

I was up in Idaho last year around the same time. The locals recommended dark colored hopper patterns in the riffles. Caught tons of Cutts and bows, mostly small. However I did catch my largest Cutthroat approx 24". Almost too big for my net.

PC- You should have the pattern down after last year. Remember to take the Chartreuse marabou!!

Try a Feathercraft or similar braided leader for sinking line. They have a loop woven in and a small swivel on the end. When I deep strip for trout I use 4# Vanish approximately 36" long tied directly to the swivel. Works great.

We butchered up 5 last night from the LOZ. My buddy and his girl caught 3 on Saturday. I met them yesterday and I nailed a 50 female on the 6th pull. Buddy's friend hit a short male around 12. Didn't get the 2nd keeper till 2. It was nasty yesterday. Cold and rainy. Think I may have to fry a couple chunks up tonight.

Is the limit on the Niangua the same as the Park?

Oneshot- Are they calling River Otters the same thing as we call Muskrats? Pat

Check out NoLuck's post on the BSSP site. He and I have noticed a marked decrease in numbers. There is also a reference to an article about the decline in the number of fish being stocked in the state parks. Info that I obtained at BSSP merchants was that Bennett and Montauk would be ok but the other parks will suffer. However, they were planning on releasing smaller fish. Sweet part about Montauk is the Current River System. Pat

.45? Doubt it unless you get a well placed shot. You would be better off with a .357 +P+! .45 doesn't have enough penetration or umph. The .357 has the speed and impact. Best pistol would be something like a .44 mag or one of the new exotic high power caliber pistols.

FFM- I'm with you the furled leaders have their applications. I've been using several Feather-Craft Furled leaders for the last couple years had only one failure this year. My favorite is their sinking leader with a swivel at the end. Works great on my full sink fly line when stripping cracklebacks and boogers. Before I added a small brass swivel on a short leader then about 3' of fluorocarbon. When I am nymphing I have been using a a short Rio leader then a F-C Tiny Ring then my tippet. If you don't want to spend the money, save your short leaders and tie a tiny ring on and you will be surprised at the performance. I have used the tiny ring with drys as well! Pat

NoLuck- Like I told you I stayed down until yesterday (Tuesday). It got very crowded. The fishing wasn't any better. I did some investigating as that is in my blood. Spoke with several people that have a vested interest in the park ($$$). Apparently during the meeting before the opener, the hatchery manager "Mike" led several locals to believe that Bennett and Montauk would be OK this year but the other parks are going to show significant reductions in numbers as well as size. In fact there was a mention that they were going to release 11" fish to meet the demand. My question was why is there such a shortage? Their response was that they used 50,000 plus fish to stock KC and St. Louis lakes from Bennett, RRSP and Shepard of the Hills hatchery's. I thought they did the same thing the previous years. Still unknown why there is a shortage. The buzz around the stream about the shortage of fish was "the floods", "too warm water", "economics" and one very disgruntle gentleman complaining that the Hatchery Manager "Mike" ruined Montauk so they sent him up here 4 years ago, now he is doing it to BSSP. Bottom line, there definitely is not as many fish as in the past. During my investigative quest, one of my sources even admitted that they do not stock all the normal locations every night. I thought they stocked the normal access points every time. Apparently that is not the case. Several people encouraged me to write the Conservation Department. That may be an option. This may finally force me to head south and see what is happening down there. Pat

edward- If times are really hard the JD is definitely my "go to". My technique is with a fly rod but is basically the same as with a spinning rod. I use nothing bigger than 2lb mono or 4 lb fluorocarbon with as small an indicator as possible. Mend the line upstream, twitch it a little every once in a while. Sometimes I cast it straight across the stream let it float then swing until it is directly below me. You just never know. If you are catching them on a white floss you can catch them on a JD. Also try the "brown roach" and "bedspread". Are you buying them down at Bennett? If so they should be the right size. If not they may be too big. Pat

Oldschoolcane- Send me an iim and I will send you back an Excel document that I put together. It is from last years posts on Weaver's fishing sight with all the fly's, sizes and colors. That should give you a idea. If not overwhelm you. Pat

B-Ray, Hit me with the link to your source for the rubber bands. Are they like the ones my kids had on their braces? Pat

ffm- If we ever get to fish together I will show you how to fillet trout and you WILL NOT find a bone!! The key is scoring the fillet's correctly and HOT oil. The way I tell the oil is ready, I throw a "strike anywhere" match into the oil. If it lights it is ready!! You've got me salivating. Pat

I have. They work ok, if you move them up and down without undoing the half hitch they will cut into the black plastic. I also use the Palsa indicators but dislike it when I have to adjust due to them leaving residue. The Thingamabobber floats very well. Pat

rc- Isn't that typical of those type of guys? Talk trash then high tail it for another part of the country. Looks like you did ok. I like the talk about hammering the soft hackles. I will be down in another week to check it out. Rich- Be careful and remember why they file the front sighs off of guns and get their serial numbers before you take them with you as bear protection! Pat

TFM- Did you say the SA rep was there? If he gave you another rep's name and number that had that area, what the heck was he doing? Bottom line he should have taken the bull by the horns and bucked up another line for you. Especially if you had a box of Rio in your hand (hint, hint). I haven't had a problem with my SA. I use the overweighted grand max I think. I also use Rio with the double tapered head for all of my nymph fishing as it roll casts much better. Only words of encouragement that I have for you for longevity of your investment is clean and treat your fly lines. By the way, did you know that Cabelas' fly lines are made by SA? I didn't know that until this past weekend when I spooled up my new 3wt outfit with it. It was much cheaper than Rio and the SA. Big question as far as fly lines go is what is your intended use? Dry fly fishing, scud/nyphing, terrestrials, or 1 rod and all around fishing? Unless you are trying to punch 40 or 50 foot casts across the river then you can get away with a decent double taper fly line. When you start to see wear on one end just peel it off and switch ends, (double taper). Then you get another year or 2 out of your line. For what it's worth. Pat

Ok Cricket. I think we are up to 5 or 6 inches now. Hopefully it will all be gone by Thursday next week (as well as the human hatch). Will be down for the annual Spring Break run. Pat

If you all remember last year. Cool weather, then 70 plus temps, tornadoes, then frigid conditions all within 12 hours. I have 4" plus up here in beautiful Cass County Mo. First time this year I have had to push snow with the tractor. Hopefully the last! As far as the 50 plus fish. I'm not sure what the DNR calls it but I tend to refer to it as "poaching". And the penalty for poaching in some cases and states requires the forfeiture of ones vehicle, hunting/fishing gear etc. You think some of them would think twice if the DNR would confiscate their high dollar Winston/Orvis/Sage rods, waders, vests (including flies) diesel truck and the 5th wheel. Sorry I got on Dilla's soap box. But honestly is it not the same as shooting deer at night or out of season. Major violation of the law. I'm a firm believer that if the punishment were severe enough then the crimes would not be committed as frequently. I personally know of some attorneys that go down and fill their coolers. But that is another story of the "good ole boy" network. Rant off. Pat

Dilla- I love your little unit!! I would love to pick one up but $$$ is tight. What is the going price on one like yours? Pat