brittsnbirds

NoLuck just thinks he is getting a jump on the big East vs West showdown!! Where you been FFM? Didn't you have some Britts or was that your brother?

Good job fella's. I tried to introduce my step son and 2 daughters to it a bunch of years ago. They had no desire. However I was able to entice my son's best friend and several other kids in the heard. Murdoc, that quote "Thank you for bringing me" is a powerful message. I remember when my son shot his first (hen, oops) Pheasant over one of my Brittanies out in Kansas, i was about 30 yards from him and he was with one of the local guys. The local guy did an awesome job of praising and congratulating him. He also had to explain why he just fed the Coyotes. That night he also thanked me for taking him. When I told him mom she started to cry, right along with me. Your experience will be with both of you for a lifetime times 2. Tearing up as I type this with fond memories of the dog's and my son! Thanks for the memory...

Roger that NoLuck, or stuck in a couped up Police car (front seat) trying to take money from good citizens!! I'm getting too old for this crap! My boss is definately coming down as well as his son. WE need to help him out with his presentation skills. I got him hooked on the fly fishing thing but haven't had a chance to get him out and work with him. Apparently his son was attempting it on his own as well. Going to take him that little indoors fly rod that I bought when I was laid up. Maybe find a couple of youtube videos that are simple and to the point. He want's me to come down to his farm and do some tutoring on one of our days off before he comes down. Will try to especially if he has a pond with no vegatation. I think he will be there for only a couple of days. My thoughts are to mainly work on the basic roll cast and gut fishing with indicator techniques, mending line etc. If I can get him to think about presentation with an indicator then we can go from there. Still haven't got my cousin past off the indicator. When I say something about dry fly's or swinging a bugger he just says "I'm fine where I'm at got d@##$t!" So I just leave well enough alone and keep feeding him mini jigs, gut flys and lost indicators that I pick up on the stream. Haven't had a chance to hit the channel cat pond. May not be able to get in there before the trip.

Sap helps keep the finish, and seal the roof!! Man you need a break, your wound way too tight. BTW how about trading that sage for a 8'6 unit??

Not very many trees in 1. If you want shade go up on the hill! Or get a spot on the west side of 1 so you have afternoon shade. As opposed to getting one on the EAST SIDE!!!! West side has a ridge and tons of trees to block the sun!! But for some reason one particular camper likes 119.????

I had an old guy at Bennett tell me one time "when in doubt throw something green". He followed that comment with the question, "have you ever gutted a Bennett trout? All that you see in their stomach is moss and snails". After years of thought and success I have decided he is partially right. However you will not see the little bugs that they sip down as they don't last very long in their gut. The moss and snails do, takes longer to process. However going back to his first comment. Focus on moss green skuds, midge style or jigs. If you can rip your jigs or skuds out of moss patches that will enhance your oppurtunity's as the fish think its a fleeing critter. I know this because I talk "trout". If you tie flies, one of the most simple and best producers in my book is the marabou hurled hook fly. Just get a size 12 dry fly hook, a couple pieces of olive/moss colored marabou and lead wire. Dress the hook as normal, put the lead wire on up the hook from the bend, tie the marabou in by the tail (with just a little sticking out the back), twist the marabou into a rope into your thread and "hurl" (wrap) it up the hook and secure. One of the best and easiest little fish producers I've used. You can dead drift it, float it under and indicator or strip it. As they tear it up it gets better!! Secret spots? That little bad boy will work anywhere there is moss that you can drift over, under around and through. There NoLuck I gave away my secret!!

I'm down. How have U done so far?

Catch Tim in the fly shop at Cabela's, he has been there many times. Pull a map off the internet and he would probably mark it up for you!!

BTW Jerry you know that Hap isn't in the fly department any longer.

Is that the trout streams in the North East part of Iowa?

Tie up some green, brown and grizzly short woolies with a short red butt. Add some weight to them so they can down a little ways. Get some in line spinners at the fly shop in gold and silver and attached the woolies to them. Thats what I use to use all the time. Rooster tails are good as well. Best bet is the good ole gold head black and yellow jig though. Never can go wrong with the jigs. Problem with rooster tails is the $$. I use to loose them right and left. When I switched to the in-line spinners with the woolies it cut the cost in half. You might also hook a crackle back to the in-lines.

If that is the area up in Northeast Iowa, no. Have researched it a little. There's a young guy that works at Cabela's in the fly shop that goes up there from time to time. He can give you some good info on it. Sounds very isolated as opposed to BSSP.

I figured you were with him Mike. First he hit me with a text complaining that there were no fish in the stream "The least amount of fish I've ever seen down here at Bennett". Then he hit me later claiming he caught a 4 1/2 to 5 lb'r below the dam. Had a story about it and everything. Funny part about that was 1) you or I weren't there to witness it, 2) claims he left his high dollar camera at home and 3) he didn't have his i-phone to take a pic. What new age tech-no nerd would leave the truck without his i-phone?? Sounds a little fishey to me!!! Maybe this will get him to bite!!

Wornica, What time of the week are you going? If it's during the weekend I would definately recommend in the park itself. I have camped outside the park and found it to be too busy for me, especially on the weekends. As far as the BSSP goes, all the imenities work and are usually pretty clean. Except for Campground 1 you are surrounded by woods. I'm a big fan of Campground 5. It is not a reservable CG but usually there is space especially if your dry camping as there are several sites for dry camping only. Plus the dry camping sites are very close to the facilities and Wi-Fi connection. All the sites have a picnic table, fire pit and some are paved. Here is the link to the BSSP site. You can check out the maps or book a reservation. http://www.mostateparks.com/campgrounds/bennett-spring-state-park. Plus they do have Park Rangers, the Park Manager and Host's in the CG's all the time keeping an eye on things. Just wished I was making arrangments to go!! Good luck.

Well if your parking it! They would look real good on the Wildwood. Better than those funky white spoked units I have!!

Have the fix for your chocks. I have some mason blocks I'll trade ya even up for those wheels!! : )

Mike, On the way to LOZ we noticed south of Sedalia they had much more snow than we did south of KCOM. However it was spotty. Saturday morning was cool, humid but the crappie were biting a little. Not too many in one spot so just hobled from dock to dock fishing in the cables and down the sides. They were scattered all over from 20' to 6". No particular color of jig worked better than the other. Between the 3 of us we came close to limiting out. Mostly females, nothing huge. Sunday, was not good. Better weather but they were scattered even more. Found one 2ndary point around docks that held a few, but mostly males. Some up to 11". Left all the fillets down there by mistake. Will have them delivered next week after they go back this weekend. Rich, I would bet the underside of your trailer is sealed with a fiber type material. Possibly insulated as well. Unless you tear the material you can't get to the pipes in the floor. Good for insulation but a PITA to mouse proof. So far I have used nothing but Bounce dryer sheets ALL OVER the inside of my trailer and have good luck. And I live in the woods. Also have Sam and Blue to keep the infestions down. But they have become a little rotund over the years and I doubt their effectiveness!! FYI you will probably use the pooper eventually, just don't fight it. After we fry up a bunch of fish and wings etc, and the middle of the night hits. You will use it!!. That's what its there for, you have to treat it for the P so just number 2 in it!!. However you don't open the valve until you get ready to leave. You have to have volume to flush it out. You don't leave the valve open like a regular sewar. The stuff won't go out enough. That's what they recommend in the users manual!! Just use lots of water, wait till it gets about 3/4 and pull the handle. Close it, put more water in it with a cap of stuff and viola back in business. And don't let Mike go in there unless the super fan is running!!!!!

Mike aren't you older and wiser? I believe you. Hopefully it will be this year sometime around the 3rd/4th week of August!! Wonder if the copper color will be the ticket again? FYI on the boot. Going good and I'm more mobile. However once I'm up on it for a while I have to find some "cold water" to soak it in!! Sweet, I know the perfect forumula for that operation!! Rich, why spend sooo much money on a poop motel and not use it? Have them hard pipe it to the septic. Put a little blue in the tank, use it and pull the handle before you leave. Close it up and put a little more water and blue in it and you will never know it's there!! I leave mine with liquid in it treated here at the house. Don't know if I told you Rich, got my schedule. 0600-1800, everyother weekend 3 days off. Work 14 to 15 days a month. I think it will work. So does the wife, that is a needed sell.

Decent trip considering mother nature is all jacked up! Fished off the docks at a buddy's place at the 36mm. Saturday it spit everything it could, but caught some Crappies. Most were legal but not too many over 11". Saturday only 1/3rd if that were males. Rest were females. They were in 8" of water to 20' of water, very spread out no consistent patterns. Sunday sucked. Fish were very scattered. Caught more males yesterday, and again they were spread out. The females eggs were fairly bloody. Would guestimate that this week will get them going!. All in all great trip getting out.

I want to take a minute to thank the wonderful people/person's that are responsible for putting this site together and maintain it. During the past 2 1/2 months I have been laid up at home, on crutches from an injury that occurred at work. This website has given me entertainment, instruction, networking and camaraderie with other anglers. Whether it is fly fishing or pan fishing. I was able to review the different posts on this site numerous times in the day and read about what other OAF members had to say. Not only has it afforded me the luxury of meeting other anglers on-line it has also allowed me to expand my fly fishing circle personally. As a result I have met some wonderful people who enjoy my hobby and passion as much as I do. And that circle continues to grow. Thanks again for providing such a valuable tool and resource to me!! Pat McKarnin Cass County Missouri aka "Brittsnbirds"

Here's mine!

How about a report today on the Crappie's. Friend has been begging me to come down, finally got time but now mother nature isn't helping. Will be down this weekend. Wondered if they will still be near the banks? Really doesn't matter as I need to get out. Been cooped up with an injury. Thanks.

Iade a fatal mistake and watched some YouTube videos of a guy named Wise. He was tying some articulated patterns. He even included his pretty wife and his son. Well I had to get some more materials and get after it. Then I had to order a bigger streamer box! Does it ever end???

Well Jerry your a little ahead of me. I'm hoping in 4 1/2 years I can hang upy holster. Will be 62 and get the Obama care!!

Sweet, did I tell you guys, got a kitchen pass to LOZ this weekend with a buddy who has a home down there. Actually the the "nazi" nurse is kicking me out!! LOL. Hopefully catch what is left of the the Crappie spawn. Still hobling around but what does it take to fish for crappie. Nice dock - check, lawn chair - check, crappie beds under said dock - check, plenty of crappie jigs - check, ultralight rod/reel - check and a trunk monkey to run up and down from the house to supply me with plenty of snacks and livations - 250lbs of check!! Now if the crappie will just hold on and wait I will be on like donkey kong. Better yet if I can quote a well known star "happy, happy, happy" Phil Robertson (Duck Dynasty).