brittsnbirds

NoLuck- That far bank up by the gage house is a good little hole. Did you see "Weavers" report about the dry fly action? A guy was hitting them on a #20 black caddis. How bout your recipe for your hybrid? Was the water still pretty dingy and fast? Pat

drath- use the bead and tie up some white mini jigs. It was about the only thing I could get bit on a week ago. Pat

Thanks for the reminder RC, I need to look up the recipe for the G-Bug and get busy also! If either of you guys haven't checked Weavers report, looks like some people were doing a little "dry fly" action on black caddis flys. I had one tied on my 3wt but was having too much fun with that white mini jig. BTW I may try a weekend trip on the 23rd of May. Haven't checked with the boss yet. Very busy schedule in May! Pat

Finally made it back down on 4/23. Started fishing AM of the 24th with rain. Tried several options to include the glo ball. Had minimal success with it as the water was moving pretty good. Finally re-calibrated my drift and changed over to a white floss mini jig and started hammering them. Most of the reports that I read spoke of the fish hanging out in the slack water, I found the larger fish in the faster water and more aggressive. I fished as deep as the drift would let me without getting hung up. Mostly above the Holland dam to the Spring on the far West bank. I caught several nice fish on Thursday and Friday. I was impressed with the clarity of the water. You can actually do a little sight fishing. If there isn't any severe rains the river should look pretty good in a week or so! RC and PC you didn't miss anything on Saturday except the crowd! Don't know when I can make it down again. This month is busy with graduation and moving from school back to my other office at the Station. I will stay in touch! I noticed PC on some previous Niangua posts you were curious about the river. I would like to hit it some time this summer, have only fished it a couple other times in the past but was using a spinning rod. Let me know when you are interested and trying it. Maybe we can tag team it! Be sure and bring that HUGE bag of tricks!! Pat

Terry that Cedar is gorgeous!! I have access to oak scraps from wood working projects here at school from time to time, but no Cedar. Where did you get your Cedar? I think that will be my next project to locate some because it is SO pretty. Plus it can double as a pest repellant!! Good job Terry!! Pat

Just checked the extended forecast, they say there is a 40% chance of rain for Thursday and Friday. Looked at the hourly outlook for those days and there is nothing more than 20% by the hour listed?? Oh well as long as it is semi-warm I can handle a little rain. So the dog and I will be heading out Wednesday after work!! Weavers site said the same as usual, deep and in slack water with bright colors. I also noticed that the water level has dropped approximately 1/2 foot in the last few days. If I read it right. Who knows maybe I can coax a few into rising up by the gauge house!! Woo hoo fish on!!!! Pat

The forecast must have changed since I last checked, darn. I forgot I had a brake problem on the Pop up last time I was down. I've got to get that fixed and am running out of time as I have a full weekend at work. Just checked the weather.com 10 day and your right, it looks like it could be soggy. I don't mind rain but it appears that it will be all week. That doesn't let the stream go down much! Pat

I was down over Spring Break, got down there on the 16th of March. I actually had 2 evenings of DF action on a gray ghost. Also fished a black Zebra Midge just below the arch bridge, ah those were the days. Then it all went to h^**. I look at the gage, what reading is normal? Pat

Thanks, I have the link and check it routinely. Hopefully the water level will drop and stay down so the stream can clear up.

I'm with 3wt. I recommend you go with the 5wt. And I also 2nd Dano's comment, test drive the rod before you buy it. With that said, I recommend you get with an instructor and take casting lessons. There is nothing more frustrating than fighting your cast. The instructor should have rods that you can try out, probably several different weights and actions. You will find out very quick which one works for you. As your skills increase you then can start purchasing the more expensive rods, but I would recommend waiting until your skill level increases. I got my boss into fly fishing a couple years ago. He started with a WalMart special. One day he borrowed my TFO and appeared to be doing better. As his skill increased so did his desire to change weights and actions. He recently bought a little 4wt 9' Scierra from Cabela's for 49 bucks. I thought he was nuts to throw his money away. I watched him the first time he used it and his casting stroke was great. Much better than it was with his other rods. I took it for a spin and fell in love with it. Had I tried that rod when I was at Cabela's and they were on sale I would have bought 2. I currently have a similar one on order. Moral of the story. Expensive rods may not be what you like. One day you may find that a 500 dollar unit is what you want. So far I haven't got that itch!! Just my thoughts. Pat

I have watching to see if anyone can give a report on the conditions at Bennett? Thinking about going down on the 23rd and returning home on the 26th. Hopefully the weather will hold out. Anyone out there with a recent report. Pat

I checked Chota's website. Looks like they offer 4 styles from $129.00 to $329.00. The Abrams Creek were the cheapest, looked pretty good especially if they are 65 bucks.

drath- You asked what I use for the body on the smaller JD's. Depending on how small I go I will use micro chenille or I will will use the remainder of the marabou (once I tie the tail in) and hurl it up the hook for the body. You can make it as ratty or clean as you want by picking the marabou. Sometimes I just use a little marabou tail and hurl the body and tie it off. That's it. No bead or jig just the marabou. It is a ratty looking little thing but it works. Pat

Rodney- I sent you a PM.

drath- I have never tried that particular combo but I do tie a smaller aka "JD" that I will tandem. Rule of thumb at BSSP, if it's moss green it will work!! I see no reason why it would not! However I have found I have better success when using the real JD green and JD yellow (eyes) than other tints of green and yellow. I just happen to own JD products and have the paint laying around. I would like to know how your experiment goes so keep us posted. Pat

Muleball- Check out Weavers site http://www.missouritrout.com/weavers/report.html. Their info is pretty much dead on, plus they have pictures for those of us that are developmentally challenged. When I was down there during the original flood you could still wade and fish. You just could not wade to places you normally do. The fishing was off but you could catch fish if you went deep. Dark or bright colored Crappie jigs drug on the bottom. Heavy and fat, brightly colored glo balls laying on the bottom also worked. Basically break out your catfishing gear and techniques. BTW- Kind of off the subject but your screen name "Muleball39" rang a bell. I have a close friend that uses "Muleball59" in his e-mail. Did you play ball for CMSU and when? Pat CMSU '78

Looks like there is some good structure as a result of the monsoon. I did not know that much about Montauk. Looks like I will be starting over. That keeps things from getting boring!

Don't mean to sound stupid but what is "Spanflex"? Who is it by, don't remember seeing it. Pat

I have had AT & T, Cingular then AT & T forever. My plan isn't as good as yours we have 4 phones w/ 800 minutes, text and the other stuff. My bill runs around 115 a month. The only place that I have found that I go to and do not get a signal is Montauk. If you go up on the hill to where the blacktop starts ........ but other than that I think they are great. They started the roll over minutes a couple years ago. The thing I don't understand is my wife's uncle and his friend live down at the LOZ, they have Alltel (I think). They get service everywhere! We were standing in the middle of a wheat field in the middle of Iowa one year and they were getting calls. I only got a signal when I got close to town. I don't know how they do it but seems that they barrow towers from other company's or something. Good luck on your quest, would like to hear your decision and why. Just for future referance. Pat

I did not pay any attention to this post when it started until my last outing. Last year my cheap-o wading shoes fell apart down at BSSP. I went to the BSSP store and bought a pair of Hodgeman that were on sale. They wore well with no problems. They were naturally more comfortable than the cheap-o's. When I was down at BSSP over spring break the felt soles on the new ones separated. I spoke with the sales staff at the store about the separation. They advised that there was a 30 day warranty, I needed to call Hodgeman to find out if they had a warranty. I was in the need of boots right then so I thought long and hard about what type of glue would work on "wet" materials. Then it hit me, Gorilla glue. In fact they encourage you to wet both surfaces prior to applying adhesive. I picked up a small bottle and applied the glue with a stick and put a big log on top of the shoe. Next morning it looked like my shoe grew a fungas as there was foam oozing out all around the sole and felt. No problem, I just picked the foam off, trimmed the rest with my knife and viola I was back in business. Moral of the story. I don't recommend Hodgeman boots as they do not have a sewn felt sole. And if you need to repair your soles try Gorilla glue. By the way, are the Chota's that good and are the soles sewn on? I looked on line and read mixed reviews. Some people loved them and some hated them. Pat

rc- I forgot to tell you, may not matter but I was using a 16. Started with a 14 but had better luck with the smaller one. I ended up bouncing it on the bottom, had to adjust the indicator depending on where I was placing it! Good luck!! Pat

I'm with you Ham. How bout the home boys with their sub-woofers kickin'? Now that annoys the heck out of me. I wonder if the park or state has a noise ordinance like some cities do? If you can hear it 30 feet from the source your in violation. FYI the Park Rangers are certified LE officials. They have the power of arrest State wide, but I don't know if it is limited to just State Parks. Now that James Taylor thing is funny!!

A Ranger works from 1400 till 2200 during the week. I don't know if another one comes on at 2200 and works till 0700 on the weekend. I know when the summer get's going they will have overlapping shifts with 2 on. They do the same thing a City, County or State officer does, they run radar and are available when needed. But after hours how do you call them? Yep, Rex the park super and Jim run a pretty tight ship as far as payment. They reminded me one an occasion or two. One thing that will get you on their bad side is parking off the pavement. I got my shorts cleaned by a campground host a few years ago when I was unloading wood. I backed my truck off of the asphalt (back 2 wheels), we were working up a sweat getting it off the truck when the Host arrived and was very brash. Something like, "you can't park your truck there". No howdy, how ya'll do'in or anything. It was just straight to the jugular. I tried to explain that I was there for just a moment and you would have thought I slapped his momma. He stomped off to his truck to call the ranger. When Jim arrived he saw it was me (we have known each other for a few years, occupational thing), I already moved my truck, he took me to the side and told me the host gets a little wound up. I told him I would tell the host I sorry and it wouldn't happen again. He told me not to waste my time. I haven't seen that host since then. When I was at Montauk last year it looked like a used car lot at some places. People were on the grass, double parked on the road etc. It just depends on who the Park Super is. FYI I know that 2 of the BSSP Rangers have been retired Missouri State Troopers. They pick up the Ranger job to supplement their retirement. One of the Park Host's this time was also a retired St. Louis Copper. Kind of funny at one time during the "eviction process" there were 4 cops and the Super. Rex even made a comment that he sure felt safe with all the help. I had to remind him that me and the boss were on holiday, not on the job!! Pat

Why is it when some young college kids come down to BSP and other State Parks for Spring break they have to act like they are at Padre Island? It just so happened this past week I had the unfortunate opportunity of getting to see the Park Super and the Park Ranger do their thing. Some young guys from out of state decided they would stay up all night long and blare their music and scream and holler. They were asked to hold it down but only turned the music off. They eventually called it a night and either went to bed or passed out. The next day the Park Super and Park Ranger stopped by. They advised that there were complaints all day about the previous night. They were looking for young men's vehicle to evict them. The young men showed up and left without incident. One question came to mind and I asked the Ranger and Super. Who do we call if there is a problem? The park host, who was just across the road and up a bit, did not hear the racket. Even though his neighbors further up complained. I found out during the week the Ranger works the PM shift (1400-2200 hrs.). The Super told me to call him if there were any issues about the park but to call 911 for a Deputy if it was a Police problem. All in all they did a good job but not having any preventative patrol late at night during the week makes me feel a little uneasy. The last thing I want to do is go to work where I'm vacationing!! Pat

PC- I tried red, rust and primrose but the black with gold rib/gold bead tore them up. I also found them on the breaks behind rocks and where the channel dropped off from the shallow water. I haven't tried tandem however I tried a green soft hackle with a green hares ear trailer. Had several hit's on that set up but never hooked up. Another guy that was working across from me was using a red san juan worm taking a few. The dry action was strange to say the least. I ended up turning them to a gray wolf (I think that's what you call it). Gray and brown furnace hackle tail, gray dubbing for body with gray and brown furnace hackled collar. The hatch was a PED looking unit, definately not what I was slinging. There was one nice one working up against the gage house. He rose a couple of times but never hooked up. Some of the locals that I talked with seem to think it will be 2 weeks for the river to go back to normal level. And another 2 for the water to clear up. It was amazing to see the water above the spring that was crossing to road to be clear and the water coming from the spring like hot chocolate. It should be cleared up by the next time I get down. If everything dries up this week I can get out and do some yard work. Make some points with the boss!! Pat ps sorry for the double post, I must have hit the add twice!