Lancer09

Flies should hit the mail on Thursday or Friday. Sorry for the delay... Life with a 2 year old.

We are re-vamping ours this year. Tilled to break up some more ground and brought in a bunch of compost. Raised 8x4 asparagus bed is in year two and probably have 10+ that are big and fern looking now so we might pick a few. Got corn in the ground last weekend, 5 different patches from 4x4 to 6x9 Got a full 8x4 of green beans going. Built a 2x6 with a net for peas that is started. 8x4 of onions is going, and half an 8x4 of cool weather greens going like mustards, kale etc, and half a 8x4 of lettuces. Bunch of carrots. Everything else is hanging out in 4 inch pots for probably another week or two then might head into the ground.

When I lived in WY most of my time was spent living 100 yards from one of my favorite little rivers. Granted an Hour there feels like nothing when it took that long almost just to get off our road we were on. There, everyone wanted to fish the Snake, and it was good, but you could find some amazing water closer to home, smaller, and more real. That said if I had the opportunity to float the Snake right now I'm there in a heartbeat. We used to guide the headwaters of the snake in Yellowstone, it was only half a mile or so to the confluence of the Lewis, and that alone stopped most people from crossing. The next 5 - 7 miles just got even better the further you went.

It was GREAT back in the day. I've spent a ton of time on Saturdays in there tying, chilling on an afternoon. People buying things, etc. The last few times I went in there before it closed the only place i'd hear talked about was Bennett or Roaring River. "We killed 'em a few days ago, probably caught 60." It definitely felt like they were supported but I guess it wasn't enough to keep them from changing owners a few times. Now it looks like a deck company is taking over the space. I didn't know the last owners but it definitely wasn't the same as before when I got back from living out west.

There are some neat places even here in MO to fish for some wild fish.. you'll just have to drive a bit. But if you've lived out west that won't feel out of the norm.

I'd love to go! I know clinton makes it easier for a KC contingent. Springfield feels weird... couldn't support a fly shop in the long run outside of bass pro, but will have people drive all over to fish or everyone and their neighbor "loves going to bennett." Very interesting to explain to people, especially out west that NW AR has a much better fly fishing scene and following than southwest MO, or even KC.

I was planning to make it up but a 2 hour drive with a 2 year old makes things tough. Had to finally get my beans, peas and corn in the ground too. I've caught plenty of good fish in those lakes up there, but I WONDER if bolivar might pull a few more springfield people up. I know it would have been a lot easier for me.

@Ryan Miloshewski Got your flies. I'll try and get everything sorted this weekend and out sometime next week.

Why would dropping the limit to 12 inches suddenly have to make so many guides go from catch and release to catch and keep? If all those same guides keep turning fish back it won't make a crazy difference I wouldn't think. Yes a ton of bass guys have the livescope and all that... but I doubt they are the ones who are now going to be magically keeping a limit of spots instead of letting them go. To me it seems like it might thin the herd just a little bit, I don't think the LM and SM are being out competed but I definitely don't see them in the same places I did years ago on TR. Now it's just 14 inch spots. Removing a few may give some prime space for those others to move back in. When I guided in Wyoming we didn't let clients keep fish. Period. Did we occasionally bonk lakers when we found them where they shouldn't be? Yes. Did that lead to the occasional awkward conversation where we had the opportunity to explain the dynamics of everything? also yes. It was no different than if we caught a brown or a brookie on the upper Snake, or a rainbow or cutbow in certain parts of YNP. Did it get to me occasionally when I would see a tourist camping in the area with a Cutthroat or two on a stringer or roasting over fire? Also yes, but that that was their right based on the regs. And frankly most of the anglers who were CAPABLE of doing that weren't the ones keeping trout. I did eventually keep one or two for personal eating and they were truly exceptional... but we mostly kept to bonking a couple whities and making smoked fish dip out of em.

Don't worry about it too much. They'll be here when they be here. I didn't check the mail this weekend. I will when I get home. I turn right out of my drive way so if I don't check when I get back with the mailbox on the drivers side.... I'm probably not going to that day.

1. Devin (Me) - Done 2. Ness - Received 3. Coldwater - Out? 4. Ham - Received 5.Billet - Received 6. Ryan - Mailed? 7. Flysmallie - received 8. Mrs. Billethead - Received 9. Coldwater's friend - ? 10. Daryk - Received

@ness Driving from KC to Springfield last weekend they were everywhere down around Deepwater, and Osceola. Especially along all the bridge areas. I've always wondered if if anyone would get in any trouble for getting out there on some public ground and just going to town with a chainsaw.

Agreed 100%. much of this conversation I am just trying to play Devil's advocate, a lot of people like to complain and gripe about peoples work ethic these days.. but either way employment is a two way street. It takes effort on both sides, and both should probably meet somewhere in the middle. Career regardless why would someone want to invest their time and energy into a company that isn't willing to invest in them as well. That could vary for people whether it be money, training, advancement opportunities.

2020 was a bad year to do that. I was #24 of of 2200 ish supervising agents in the insurance agency I worked for.

I have worked for free a LOT in my life. For multiple years in a row I was on call or at work 300+ days a year. I was not paid to be on call.. That was just part of the job. I have taken work calls while playing Left Center in mens league softball, while in a deer stand, the turkey woods, and played one handed in a sand volleyball league. All of these things were done because someone else didn't do their job, or adults couldn't handle themselves maturely. I answered questions on my honeymooon that I wasn't paid for because my supervisor wasn't prepared for my absence even though he had all the tools needed. I have put in the extra work. The ONLY thing it has earned me.... is more work. I've been looked over for promotions, trained new supervisors, and then watched them leave again for better opportunities. I've been told straight up that I wasn't even going to get interviews for certain positions because I didn't fit a "criteria" that the employer was looking to hire. I won't air those grievances here, but will gladly explain in a private message. IF you want the work force to be loyal to the employer, the employer needs to be loyal to the worker. I've seen that missing. I've devoted most of my working life to public service, and when people say it is a thankless job, it really can be. There is a reason that a lot of people wash out, and it's not lack of skill or capability.