Hillbilly Deluxe

Just thought I would post a snake picture I took last weekend on Table Rock. Anyone have other snake photos?

How about this snake? Kind of looks like a copperhead but I didn't want to disturb his breakfast to ask! Took this picture this past Sunday morning where the White River channel swings close to the rock bluff near the dam.

Sort of like my Sunday, rps. I caught a nice smalllmouth off the face of the dam (left end in the rip rap) then caught a nice LM off the rock bluff left of the dam along the river channel. As I was heading for my next spot, I saw an older guy with passengers at the end of a point waving a white towel at me. He was with his son and two grandsons. Their boat wouldn't start and they were pinned on the point by the wind. I towed them back to Rock Lane and got the boys at the dock to give them a hand. By that time, I decided to put the Ranger in the slip and head for a cold drink!

Yes, Wayne... I am lucky. I was also sitting on a bench out by the restaurant one afternoon and Mr. Rogers asked me if I would like to have him work with me on my casting. Gave me and a friend a one hour free casting lesson!

I must have overlooked the t-shirts and souvenirs at the park store. I was too busy inspecting the huge array of flies, and getting an inpromptu complimentary 45-minute fly tying lesson from Jim. I'm pretty sure Jim's flyshop is "real" albiet a bit commercial. Yes, Charlie is a fine caster as well.

What color redfin might you throw around them there trees on a cloudy day, Champ?

I like the park store. It has the largest selection and it is well organized. FYI, lovetofish, the park store is run by Jim Rogers, not the park rangers. He is also the operator at Roaring River State Park.... and the finest caster of a fly rod I have ever seen. Saw him whip 90' of line (and into the backing) off a 9' #5 rod just the other day!

Yep, and they are hungry! 3" clear grub with blue flecks.

Hey there Ozark Outdoorsman. What color did you say those jigs were that you were throwing around IP?

I was on the river yesterday and those fiesty smallmouth were hitting everything I threw. LM and SM were hitting on grubs between NRO and and One Eyed Willey's.

Feathering The Nest... One Twig At A Time By Brian Wright a.k.a. Hillbilly Deluxe A wise man once said "one man's meat is another man's poison," or as I would put it, one man's dead animal carcass is another man's trophy wall mount. And that's just my point this month. Feathering your nest, one twig at a time, is in the eye of the beholder. There's a certain pride we all get from creatively putting together a sense of style and substance when we decorate our favorite areas. Whether it be a complete home, cabin retreat, or just a small room, collecting and displaying items that have a particular significance is both fun and satisfying. Just as a bird builds its nest twig by twig, looking for just the right twig for each layer, we humans search for just the right touches to create a comforting, homey, place for ourselves. An additional benefit is that our nest will bring smiles to the faces of friends and family. I have two nests that are of particular importance to me, and both have an outdoorsy feel to them. My walk-out basement at my primary residence, which opens to a flagstone path leading to a small lake, is always a work in progress. Not a true "man cave," it must also accommodate assorted family and friends. Thus it is only lightly sprinkled with vintage fishing, hunting, and camping memorabilia. There is, of course, a fishing rod rack with poles for visitors, some classic outdoor books, and a small assortment of family treasures. However, the space must also serve as a media room for watching hi-definition television, a game room for cards and board games, and a wet bar for drinks and laughs. The other nest is my quiet place — my retreat. Located on Table Rock Lake, it encompasses only 900 square feet, but the layering of twigs is quite special. My wife and I use it as an escape, and the feathering of the nest is quite deliberate. Every twig (i.e., lamp, plate, picture, pillow, etc.) is carefully selected. Although the decor might be classified as rustic lodge, each item is unique and hand-picked with much aforethought. The littlest of details is examined and contemplated with great care before being deemed worthy of our retreat. For example, we can't just have any old napkin holder or fireplace poker — it must fit perfectly with our lifestyle and be approved by both husband and wife. Although we welcome invited guests, both friend and family, our Table Rock Lake nest is feathered for our enjoyment. We have an emotional attachment to nearly every item in our hideaway. Whether it be an old hand axe once used by my wife's grandfather or a vintage Zebco 33 reel my grandfather used to catch catfish and crappie, we are surrounded by items that bring a smile to our faces. The beauty of feathering your nest is that you can redecorate and/or change the theme anytime you want. As your priorities and interests change, so can your nest. Add or change items with your collectibles, family hand-me-downs, or store bought items. For those of us who love the outdoors, you're also likely to place some "found" items from the great outdoors as well. In addition to your hand selected items, remember to create a complete feel to your nest with color, texture, and smell. Paint colors, throw rugs, and pillows should be used as the base of your theme. Ever notice how a certain scent can take you back in time and evoke memories? Use scents such as candles to enhance the feel of your nest. If you're lucky enough to have a nest to feather — you're lucky enough. Whether it's a large lake house or a corner in your basement, enjoy the privilege of making it your own — one twig at a time. For me, about the only thing likely to change at my Table Rock Lake nest are the entries in the guest book and number of dead animal carcasses, excuse me, trophy fish mounts, on the wall.

The Outdoor Guys, Ken Taylor and Brian Wright on Hot Talk 1510 Kansas City, are also part of the media reporting actual conditions. We either call several guides every week, or are personally on the lake on a regular basis to make sure we are reporting acurate conditions. Just want to make sure we are not lumped in with those guys spreading the gloom and doom!

Thanks for the report Bill. Hope things hold out until I can get my boat on the water Friday. bw

3/8 oz. white/chartreuse Strike King with one willow and one colorado blade... and a trailer hook!

Thanks for the heads up, Doug. I'll try to make it out. Brian W.

I only got to fish for about 2 hours. Caught 2 nice smallmouth and 2 LM. Thanks!

Thanks! I'm headed down to my place on Indian Point, Jake Creek side near Rock Lane Marina, tomorrow. Hoping I can drop the trolling motor and catch some smallmouth without leaving Indian Point. Yes, I love The Rock as well!

Hey, conman, care to share a more specific location on those smallies around Indian Point? Sure would apprciate some intel.

Good Fishing Outweighs The Best Intentions By Brian Wright It never fails. When I peel off the April page on my calendar to reveal May, I just seem to have a hard time focusing on work. Yes, I become distracted in April — but nothing like the month of May. Although I have the best of intentions to work hard, save my money, and whittle down my to do list around the house, when May rolls around I just seem to falter. And in a big way. I try hard to sit at my desk and be productive, however, it seems that everything I do makes me want to close up shop and head outdoors for adventure. My day usually begins around 7 a.m. when I fire up the coffee pot (yes, I drink coffee year round). While waiting for that first cup, I take a few minutes to browse the headlines on various news sites on my computer. I typically check the top stories on several major newspaper web sites. This leads to clicking on a sports page, which inevitably leads to the publication’s outdoor section — which leads to a review of anything to do with being outside. While downing a few cups of coffee, I check the forums on my favorite fishing sites such as www.ozarkanglers.com and www.fieldandstream.com. This is a morning ritual, but in the month of May the forums are loaded with hundreds of daily posts describing terrific fishing in great detail. Where to go, what baits are working, what to tell your wife you were doing all day that kept you from painting the guest room and earning a living. You know, some really useful information. After regaining focus, I make my way to my desk to begin work. Of course, since a significant part of my work involves writing, I begin to work on getting in the mood. Now, don't get me wrong, I don’t need much motivation to write about all things outdoors, however, in May, it seems like a quick trip around the lake out my back door would really get the thought process jump-started. And as I look out the window of my office, I can't help but notice some top-water activity right behind my house! (I wonder if that fat little female largemouth I caught last night and released to the water has gone right back to sitting on that bed just a few feet from my landing). Okay, after fighting off the urge to take a spin around the lake, which could easily take me right up to lunch, I work on returning e-mails and focusing on the stories with the tightest deadlines. This is a challenge in itself. You see, some writers can simply create the story outline, call a few sources, and crank out the word count. I, on the other hand, enjoy meeting with the sources in person, preferably in May, on a bass lake where we catch fish on nearly every cast. It’s difficult to limit the “research trips” in May to just those that are absolutely necessary to complete a project. Especially when they all seem quite necessary. Funny how we humans justify our actions. I try to complete somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 words each day that I dedicate to writing. This may not seem like a lot of work, but in the month of May, that's really tough. Even something as simple as heading to the mailbox creates problems. First, the spring air hits me like a 5-pound bronzeback heading for deep water with a 4-inch grub. Then I notice the trailer hitch on my truck sure would look good with a boat latched to it. That of course, prompts me to open the garage door and check my supply of 4-inch grubs in the storage compartment of my Ranger boat. Okay, know I’m in trouble. Once I start hovering over my boat, I’ve completely lost all ability to think clearly. Living in the Kansas City area, I have a very limited window of opportunity to enjoy my boat ( I say to myself). November through March are no good because it’s pretty cold. It’s also not good on a fiberglass hull to use it as an icebreaker to get to open water. April is okay. So is June, September and October. July and August are just too hot. May is perfect. Now I’m thinking it would be a shame to waste a beautiful spring day. In addition to being perfect for fishing, this month is also prime time for canoeing, hiking, camping, trap shooting, sitting on the deck drinking beer, and other distracting activities. After all you really can’t get all that done over the weekend. And according to the calendar, there are 31 days in May. Perfect!

Dang, Bill. Looks like I took my vacation a week too early. Thanks for coming on the radio show last week. Now if I can just sneak back down next week......... bw

Table Rock dam.

I was down below the dam about an hour ago. All the gates are now open.

Happy Easter to you and others as well Bill B. Can't hardly see the lake up here on Indian Point either. My plans to fish all today on my birthday didn't quite pan out. I don't like lightening! Brian

That would be the "fish of 10,000 casts."