Danoinark

Al, et al I tend to have pretty good luck from Erbie to Ozark. There are a few deep pools, and a few shoals that produce some nice smallies. Brian is right, anywhere there are put in and take outs for the float concessions don't expect good fishing. Below Hasty there are excellent fishing opportunities. I only live 7 miles from Pruitt and have been so fortunate to be able to enjoy this magnificent river...Dano

JoRob, Mike F, and myself hit Taney this morning, fished all day. What a nice day for it too. We fished primarily from the South bank of Rocking Chair down past the MDC ramp. Little fish but plenty of them. A few 14"-16" bows. Takes were on rusty midges, gray uv scuds, black and red softhackles. Being nice and the start of the weekend brought out plenty of fishermen too. But a great day with good friends..It looked like.Jeremy was also slaying them from his toon also......Dano

Thats purty!!!!! ...Dano

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal: Bass Pro president to reel off giant plans at The Pyramid Matthew Craig The Commercial Appeal February 24, 2006 Throughout the Pyramid redevelopment process, Bass Pro Shops has assumed the role of serious fisherman -- quietly and stealthily in pursuit of a big catch. Today, the Springfield, Mo.-based outdoors retailer plans to make a splash. President Jim Hagale will publicly discuss Bass Pro's plans for a Pyramid mega-store during a morning press conference at the arena. Company officials wouldn't preview Hagale's presentation, but Bass Pro's plans for the project include a hotel, said city chief financial officer Robert Lipscomb. If completed, a Pyramid Bass Pro could give Memphis a major Downtown tourist attraction, similar in size to the company's 300,000-square-foot flagship facility in Springfield. That store, which includes a waterfall, shooting ranges and restaurants, draws 4 million visitors annually. Fishing legend Bill Dance, who lives near Collierville and is a longtime friend of Bass Pro founder Johnny Morris, said the store would be a source of local pride and serious economic impact. "It will skyrocket tourism for Memphis, and the Downtown area, especially," said Dance, whose "Bill Dance Outdoors" TV show has Bass Pro as a sponsor. "What (Morris) wants to do, the ideas he's got, will just mindboggle you." Kevin Kane, president of the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau, said, "We know the track record of Bass Pro and what they can do, especially with these mega-stores. "We know what that means to a community. We know what that means to the economy." Bass Pro was the No. 1 choice of a public-private committee seeking a re-use for the former home of Grizzlies and University of Memphis basketball and major concerts. After months of negotiation, the company recently signed a nonbinding letter of intent to develop The Pyramid. The letter is a precursor to a development agreement. According to proposed terms, Bass Pro could receive $30 million in federal incentives, based on the company spending $75 million to redevelop the arena. There would be no city or county financial incentives. Also, Bass Pro would pay a minimum of $1 million annually in rent or taxes, payments which could help retire the remaining building debt. The city and county owe a combined $33.8 million in principal and interest. What's in this for Bass Pro? Hagale will doubtless answer that question today. But Kane said, "I think it's a great opportunity for them. The Pyramid is our St. Louis arch. It's an iconic symbol. "It's visible to the interstate. There's access to tens of thousands of visitors that drive over that bridge every day and see that facility." Another question for Hagale today: What, exactly, would the project include beyond acres of shopping and a hotel? National consultants working for the public-private committee suggested pairing a major "destination retailer" with an entertainment attraction. The most prominent entertainment proposal has been an indoor theme park. Yet another question for Hagale: Would a Memphis project move more swiftly than a similar project in Buffalo, N.Y.? The company in late 2004 announced plans to covert Buffalo's old Memorial Auditorium into a store and add a hotel. But a formal contract has reportedly yet to be signed. -- David Williams: 529-2310

Excellent Michael, good stuff. Sometimes you have to take a politcal action stance. Nothing wrong with anglers and other like minded folks lobbying these issues. Also nothing to keep a conservation minded person/angler from videotaping a bit of the shuttling, ie: stumbling, and my feet are cold pictures...then video taping the offenders getting into their vehicles, and uh, video taping the license plate. Course one might want to do this incognito, especially if the violator is a big boy ..but seriously I see nothing wrong with that, and I am not even sure its harrassment...Dano

If you are using single foot guides, don't forget to use a locking wrap on the footless side to finish it off. Dano

Thanks Phil, very nice and informative piece on Michael and the River..I learn something new everyday. Dano

Featherflicker, just now caught your info. Glad you had a good time. Thanks for the nice trip report. Dano

Randall that scares me just a bit...If those people would not be over zealous it might work. But I would worry just as much about the "citizen" agent as I would the violator. Can any law enforcement officer make arrests for game and fish violations in Missouri. In Arkansas G and F and local law enforcement have reciprocal power. Maybe off duty deptuies, off duty police, area constables, etc could be used in the enforcement program in Mo.... dano

I've got some Maine Coon dubbing!!! Seriously!...Dano

Great idea...thanks Phil and Rolan

I just don't consider a pontoon to be feasible for the Buffalo though. I would have reservations about using one because I don't think they would be condusive to certain shoals and runs that you would encounter..now with that being said, it would probably be ok on the Lower Buffalo say from Rush to Buffalo City....Dano

Oh No!!!!!!!

Excellent thoughts John, and something else comes to mind. If you are shufflin, there is a chance you may be doing something else illegal (keeping slot limit trout, fishing without the proper permits, yada, yada, yada.).if shufflin is on the books then it would give the agent something to at least check for other violations, its called probable cause .... Dano

Welcome Riverrat...Dano

Kicknbass...and you may be entirely right. I would like to see what an MDC agent says about it also. At least this is some good debate eh? Dano

Woo Hoo...thanks Phil...that is great news. I haven't heard if its cleared on the White or Norfork lately. Dano

Kicknbass...I agree more agents are always a deterent. But if there is no law against shufflin, then it makes no difference whether someone is doing it or not and in front of a MDC officer. If there is a clearly defined law, it's their tool to enforcement. I also agree that poaching probably does more damage than shufflin'...Dano

Having to much slack in the line could be a big issue IMHO. I'd give watching my slack the next time out and see if your hookups improve. Brian offered great advice on keeping a finger on the line, helps detect the strike also. Dano

Lucky Stiff!!!

This was sent to me by my good friend Tom Anderson some time back. Tom is a excellent fly tyer and fly fisherman who lives near the Spring River in Arkansas. In his story he passes on how like minded local conservationist were responsible for the cuts, brookies and browns in parts of the White River system. Mark Oliver was our district fisheries biologist at the time and he worked closely with Chuck Davidson in the egg-stocking program that Chuck and his club (N. Ark. Flyfishers---we're talking 70s/early 80s) conducted. Chuck, with Marks' approval, stocked both the 1st Cutts and Brookies, to my recollection, in Otter Creek on the downstream end of McClellens' Camp on the Norfork after the 'experts' with AGFC and Dave Whitlock poo-pooed the idea as unfeasible. In '84 or '85 (no longer certain) Mark provided an electro-fishing crew (not for the 1st time either!) to shock Dry Run Creek for us one cold November weekend so that we could strip Browns for eggs for the Whitlock/Vibert boxes. It's rather humbling to hold a big hen fish upside down in your hand (after tranguilizing her) and run your other hand down her belly and watch the eggs squirt out like golden BBs into the pail. A half dozen hens stripped into the bucket with a little creek water in it, then strip a male of milt into the bucket, stick your hand into the mess and stir. Let it sit a bit and then put the eggs into the stocking boxes and bury them 4-6" deep in a well oxygenated riffle. Screen gravel over the top thru a 1/2" mesh screen and with luck (& a bit of TLC) in several weeks you'll have fry. But that was the last time the state helped, to my recall, or even allowed us to stock eggs much less take them from resident fish with both their approval and assistance. By the next Winter AGFC has hired Mark Hudy as the state 'Trout Biologist' and he decreed that no amatuers were to be involved in such things. A typical union mindset IMO that has prevailed ever since. But the state is not shy about claiming credit for stocking the Cutts and Brookies. BTW, that last stocking in the event I describe was a washout---literally. Heavy Winter rains brought a deluge down Dry Run and even the stocking boxes were lost, washed out of the gravel and downstream, perhaps even as far as the White. Somewhere around here I have a very short video clip of that last egg harvest. Back then video batteries weren't as dependable as they are now. :-( So you now know why I turn red in the face when I hear some bureaucratic flunky waxing eloquent about the great work that AGFC has done in establishing such a variety of trout species in our waters. Especially in light of the additional fact that it was the Memphis & 'Lil Rock flyfishing clubs who were responsible for the Brown trout fishery on the 'Lil Red despite having to stock eggs on the sly because the state had denied permission. But the state is more than willing to brag about the World Record Brown from there. (which was most probably from the original egg-stocking effort) Without the 'amatuers' Arkansas would probably still have nothing but raceway Rainbows in their cold-water fisheries. So IMHO we owe a debt of gratitude to Chuck Davidson for his far-sighted efforts and to Mark Oliver for having the wisdom to recognize that Chuck had the best interests of the future generations of both fish and angler in mind with his efforts. I hope to someday see Chuck recognized by an annual award given to a non-professional for efforts on behalf of our cold-water fisheries. Mark Oliver still works for AGFC the last I heard. Should you run across him in your peregrinations it wouldn't be untoward to shake his hand and say "Thank you". He was the right man for his time.

John, what a tribute to your father...great story too Dano

DarthvMax Welcome. Now take real good care of yourself where ever you are and get back home with nothing but stories to tell. Look us all up when you get back and I bet there are a whole forum full of folks here that want to shake your hand and show you a special place to wet a line. Thanks for all you do to keep us free. God Speed. Dano

Wayne...you da man...I would work for your suggestion anyday! Thanks....Dano

John I would have to agree, if they did, they is partyin fools....