Stoneroller

i know who bought that coosa. =) but i'm not telling, i'll let him be the one to do that. btw, minimum 6 month wait on a coosa at this point, unless you can get lucky and find one in a store. and jackson doesn't cut deal so expect to pay $999 for the elite if you want one this year. can't wait to get a hands on with that boat and compare it to a couple of others. btw, i'm scouting forest park for mt lion dens now. =)

very nice, i like the jig you have.

actually it goes, Dirt is for planting potatoes, Asphalt is for racing. Rally is the truest form of autoracing there is though. Hats off to those drivers as they are head and shoulders above everyone else in skill level and balls.

oh i'm not saying the fish like it any better, i'm just saying i'm not a fan of a shad style crankbait that is simply painted red with some black stripes and the manufacturer calls it "crawfish" or some nonsense. and yes, it's definately for the fisherman appeal and not for the fish. But that being said, light does reflect off of a properly shaped lure differently than a flat sided one, something some of the lure makers have recognized and we are now seeing lures like the livetarget series by koopers which aren't merely painted or stickered, but are actually shaped like the prey item they are supposed to look like. I'd guess profile is probably more important in most scenarios than details, but in clear water with heavily pressured fish it might make the difference, either to the fish or the anglers' confidence. one thing I will say I absolutely cannot stand about the rebel crawfish is the rear hook gets caught between the claws on the lure, many times as the lure hits the water, at which point it's unlikely a fish will take the lure, either because the hook is hung up or because of what that does to the action. For ease of fishing a single hook is always easier and 'better' for landing fish, in my opinion, as the hook up on a single hook tends to be 'better'. Treble hooks tend to catch the outside of a fish's face, or the skin inside the mouth quite a bit and don't seem to always get a firm hold through the lip. Then there are the times the longear eat all 3 hooks on a treble and have them all stuck through their lips, sealing their mouth closed in the process. (See the thread about essential fishing items for discussion on the importance of a pair of hemostats for hook removal.)

Al if you like the reaction bite in clear streams/rivers, you should really give the crawfish crankbaits another shot. I am not a fan of the cranks that are meerly painted craw color, the ones that are actually shaped like crawfish seem to work much better. I'm going to try some of those Kooper Livetarget baits this summer. I'm wondering this, as I've not really seen anyone mention it much. I use jigs or weighted plastics at root wads and such, tossing it up current and letting the lure drift back into the wad. And I primarily try to fish 'upstream' with crankbaits, where the lure is swimming with the current on the retrieve. Which direction do most people tend to fish? Up or Downstream?

try a small lipless crankbait in that situation too. usually some real monster fish are lurking below the school of fish. topwater pop-r can be lots of fun too, especially when a gull has a go at it.

the slider head with either a fluke or a worm used to be the go-to bait for so many pro anglers. it's really dropped off the map for a while now. I started using the slider head with a fluke last year and had some really good luck with it. especially on fish that aren't chasing or biting a hard jerkbait but are suspended. deadly.

lol holy crap! Elk, I'm what's for dinner!

only need 1 lure for smallmouths in streams and small rivers rebel crawfish in "ditch" color. (stream crawfish is ok too) you can take your pick on size and depth range, I like one smaller deeper diver and one larger shallow. I dont waste time throwing anything else usually. I've used tubes, spinners, pop-r's, rapala's and even a jig once in a while, but I find a crankbait matches my fishing style better and (knock on wood) I have yet to be skunked fishing an 'ozark' stream yet. add to that rock bass and longear sunfish will readily take the smaller version and you have the 'perfect' "one" go to bait that can always be counted on. I'm sure others will have a similar bait of their own, I literally throw the rebel crawfish 98% of the time.

early spring I like to use a brown leech, from say now till the water hits mid 50's. trying to 'match the hatch' of any lamprey that are making their spawning runs. once the water hits the 60's and above a deer hair popper. take your pick of things it's supposed to resemble, frog, wounded baitfish, cicada, grasshopper, baby squirrel... and that's pretty much the only two that I'll throw for smallies. I have some crayfish imitations that look pretty real, but i've never had a problem with the other two options so i've yet to tie them on.

really hard to tell by those tracks, but no reason to think it's not. i'm also not a scatologist, so the poo pictures I can't confirm, but it's definately domestic dog droppings. did it smell?

would have been fun to surf the wave downstream from it though

Ugly Stick Lite series. they have the legendary ugly stick durability with the softer tip and moderate action you need for crankbaits. $40/rod. got mine at basspro

ok fine, Chief is always right, anyone he disagrees with is always wrong, sooner we all realize that the sooner we can get back to my original point. Even when I say "i'm not saying MDC is lying" Chief still feels the need to ask what I say they are lying about. Can't you read guy? I just said "i'm not saying they are lying" yet you just can't let it go. Always have to have the last word, and always have to be right. What's it like going through life with that crushing burden, always being right? back to the discussion... here's an article from last may out of Indiana. Mountain lion confirmed in rural Greene County A mountain lion has been confirmed in a rural part of Greene County east of Bloomfield as a result of a new Department of Natural Resources policy designed to systematically collect data and evaluate reported sightings of such animals. A mountain lion's presence was verified by Scott Johnson, the DNR's non-game mammal biologist and member of the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife's team that assists in reviewing reports having credible evidence. Johnson made the determination from photographs taken by motion-sensitive game cameras placed in the area after a preliminary investigation found evidence consistent with mountain lion behavior, including an eviscerated deer carcass buried under a pile of leaves. The cameras were set on April 30, and multiple images of a mountain lion were captured at approximately 2:30 a.m. on May 1. Johnson was contacted after a conservation officer from the DNR Division of Law Enforcement received a call from a citizen. Conservations officers helped Johnson set the trail cameras and have been informing local residents of the mountain lion's presence. Mountain lions are known by many names, including cougar, puma, catamount and panther. Historically, mountain lions (Puma concolor) lived in most of the eastern United States, including Indiana. Different published reports cite the last documented case of a wild mountain lion in Indiana as somewhere between 1850 and 1865. The chance of encountering a mountain lion today in Indiana is almost non-existent, but people should be alert to their surroundings. If an encounter does happen, the MLRT points to advice from authorities in Western states, where mountain lions are more common: Do not approach a mountain lion. Give it a way to escape. Do not run from a mountain lion. Instead, stand and face the animal. Make eye contact. Do not crouch or bend over. Do all you can to appear larger. Raise your arms, open your jacket or shirt. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice. Hold children and pets near you. Fight back if attacked using big sticks, stones, or any other available items. "One thing to point out is mountain lions are not stalkers," said Gary Langell, the DNR's private lands program manager and developer of the mountain lion policy. "They don't stalk prey. They tend to pick an active game trail, like a deer trail, and wait for a deer to come by. That's typically why you don't see livestock kills from mountain lions. They lay in wait rather than stalk." The purpose of the policy is to develop a consistent procedure to investigate reported sightings and to institute a formal data collection and storage system. "The objective is to keep the public abreast of all developments regarding mountain lions in Indiana based on the best available scientific information," Langell said. "More than anything, it was prompted by increased reports of mountain lions migrating east, specifically out of South Dakota. Of course, there have been a couple reports from Michigan, and one in Chicago. At that point, it becomes more apparent we could have mountain lions show up in Indiana." Without additional evidence, Langell said it's impossible to say if the mountain lion photographed in Greene County is wild or is a formerly captive cat. The DNR occasionally receives reports of mountain lion sightings around the state, but typically the evidence has turned out to be something other than a mountain lion, has been inconclusive, or has proved to be part of an Internet hoax. Since the policy's inception March 1, 19 mountain lion sightings have been reported. The report in Greene County is the only one confirmed to be a mountain lion. Langell said two reports were confirmed by biologists as animals other than a mountain lion. Sixteen were designated as "unconfirmed" either because of no physical evidence or because photographs provided were of insufficient quality to identify characteristics of any animal type. Prior to implementing the policy, a DNR biologist investigated and confirmed in late 2009 a mountain lion in Clay County based on evidence submitted by a hunter who had taken photographs from an elevated hunting stand. Another biologist investigated a report near Idaville in White County in December, but evidence was inconclusive. Mountain lions are a protected species in Indiana, but state law allows a resident landowner or tenant to kill a mountain lion while it is causing damage to property owned or leased by the landowner/tenant. If the landowner/tenant wishes to have someone else take the mountain lion, that person is required to secure a permit from the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife. For additional information on mountain lions, visit the Cougar Network at http://www.easterncougarnet.org/, or go to www.easterncougarnet.org/Assets/pumaidguide.pdf for an identification guide. see how Indiana talks about Mt Lions? Huge difference in the mantra they use than what Missouri uses.

If people would stick to adding either their opinion or more facts to threads instead of spending their time trying to tear down, villify, or otherwise intimidate or bully other people, then maybe threads wouldn't have to go there. I don't troll other people's threads and try to hijack them with nonsense, maybe if everyone conducted themselves in that manner we wouldn't have as many 'disagreements'.

i'll try to find the exact link, but it was either nebraska or south dakota that has confirmed breeding populations and have had 25 confirmed sightings in the past 5 years, that's an average of 4 sightings/year. We've had 4 in 3 months, using your term.. going under that assumption, we'll have 12 sightings this year alone, in 2 years we'll surpass a state with confirmed breeding populations... I'm not saying the MDC is lying or purposefully trying to mislead people, although that arguement could be made in light their recent elk plans, I'm saying they need to take a long hard look at what they are saying, clearly there are mt lions here, and I think the public would be better served if they said something like "no breeding populations, but occassionally individuals are observed."

i'm going to clarify one last time for those who still dont get it. The FACTS are in the articles that MDC releases and I have reposted. It's my opinion that MDC needs to do a bit more data collecting before trying to sell everyone on their assumption that we dont' have breeding populations based on the fact that nobody has called up with a litter of mt lion kittens under their shed. not that I or anyone else on here should have to justify, or repeatedly point out their opinion to anyone else. and cgb, you clearly have no idea what a personal attack is. Troll someone else's posts with your nonsense. you have yet to add a single useful tidbit to what I posted other than to bash my opinion.

I laughed so hard tears rolled down my face. You have the right idea when it comes to what a forum really is.

it's funny how every single post I see from you offers nothing but critism of others. Tell me this, how many years of higher education do you have? what degree do you have? I have a B.S. in Zoology, that's the study of animals, NOT the study of zoological parks as you probably think it is. So before you hop on your little high horse and try to get all psuedo-intellectual, you better just check your facts. We've had more sightings in the past 3 months than some of the states that have established breeding populations have in a year long period. Google it if you want to check those facts. bottom line, if you are going to get on here and tell me to produce facts for my opinions, which i clearly did by posting MDC's sightings, you'd better have something worthwhile to add to the conversation other than just being socially inept.

OK for those of you who might be a little slow and/or chemically imbalanced, the fact that this is the 4th confirmed sighting inside of a few months, and considering how far away from known breeding populations some of them have been, I stated that I'm starting to see holes in MDC's mantra of no breeding populations in Missouri. Those are the facts, capped with a statement that is clearly my opinion. Is that clearer for you or do I need to draw some pictures?

de nile. not just a river in africa. it's not a theory when there have been 4 sighted in the past 3 months, only 2 of which have been sexed because they were killed. i dont have to establish any conspiracy, i'm posting MDC's facts. funny how in the same stroke that you attempt to label me as someone who isn't producing facts, have no facts of your own to state. Thanks for playing.

http://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/linn-county-sighting-confirmed-be-mountain-lion JEFFERSON CITY Mo – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has just confirmed a mountain lion sighting in southern Linn County along the border of Chariton County. A landowner in the area contacted the MDC on Feb. 15 with two photos of a mountain lion taken Dec. 29 by a trail camera on his property. “The photo is clearly of a mountain lion and we have confirmed the location,” said Jeff Beringer, resource scientist with the MDC’s Mountain Lion Response Team. “It may be wearing a radio collar based on what appears to be an antenna extending from the cat’s neck.” The Linn County location is about 25 miles from where a mountain was shot and killed in Macon County on Jan. 22. This latest confirmed sighting makes five confirmed reports of a mountain lion in Missouri since November and 15 confirmed reports over the past 16 years. Beringer said that it appears these mountain lions are young males roaming from other states in search of territory. “It is very difficult to determine exactly where these individual cats are coming from, but we do know that young male mountain lions go in search of new territories at about 18 months of age and during this time of year,” he explained. “And it makes sense that these big cats could roam into Missouri from the west and use the Missouri river and other river corridors to move throughout the state without being easily detected.” He added that mountain-lion populations in other states such as Texas, Colorado, South Dakota and Nebraska are growing and that young males are dispersing eastward. Recent confirmed sightings in Nebraska have increased from five in 2004 to more than 30 in 2010. Beringer said that MDC has no evidence to suggest that a breeding population of mountain lions exists in Missouri, and that MDC has never stocked or released mountain lions in Missouri and has no plans to do so. Mountain lions are nocturnal, secretive and generally avoid contact with humans. “We have no documented cases in Missouri of mountain lions attacking livestock, people or pets,” he said. “There is a much greater risk of harm from automobiles, stray dogs and lightning strikes than from mountain lions.” Beringer explained that the MDC’s Mountain Lion Response Team gets hundreds of calls and emails each year from people who believe they have seen mountain lions. When there is some type of physical evidence, the team investigates. “More than 90 percent of these investigations turn out to be bobcats, house cats, or dogs,” he said. “Our investigations involving claims of pets or livestock being attacked by mountain lions typically turn out to be the work of dogs. And most of the photos we get of mountain lions turn out to be doctored photographs circulating on the Internet.” Mountain lions (Puma concolor), also called cougars, panthers and pumas, were present in Missouri before pioneer settlement. The last documented Missouri mountain lion was killed in the Bootheel in 1927. The closest populations of mountain lions to Missouri are in South Dakota and a small population in northwest Nebraska. Mountain lions are a protected species in the state under the Wildlife Code of Missouri. The Code does allow the killing of any mountain lion attacking or killing livestock or domestic animals or threatening human safety. The incident must be reported to the MDC immediately and the intact carcass, including the pelt, must be surrendered to the MDC within 24 hours. Two recent mountain lion shootings in Macon and Ray counties did not result in charges against the individuals involved because of threats to human safety. A 1994 case involving the shooting of a mountain lion in Carter County for no justifiable reason resulted in the individuals being prosecuted and fined. “Each situation must be investigated and reviewed on a case-by-case basis and evaluated on its own merit,” explained Beringer. “The Department does not condone the indiscriminate shooting of mountain lions. We acknowledge that people have the right to protect themselves and their property, but simply seeing a mountain lion does not automatically mean there is a threat. We expect people to exercise good judgment and try to avoid confrontations with all wildlife, including mountain lions. Given a chance, mountain lions almost always withdraw from human contact.” To report a sighting, physical evidence or other mountain-lion incident, contact a local MDC office or conservation agent, or email the Mountain Lion Response Team at mountain.lion@mdc.mo.gov.

give me a car and a team i'll give you 20% of the winnings.

a permissive attitude towards other people's stupidity only perpetuates said ignorance. if you see some jackass doing something stupid, TELL THEM!! at the very least, POINT and LAUGH.

Never fished it specifically for bluegill, but I did catch a really nice redear while throwing a beetle spin for crappie. Supposed to be a decent population of panfish in the lake. Lake sturgeon too.