Roto has been rooted...The prep wasn't fun, but not horrible. Crystal Light lemonade mix was allowed and made it palatable...just slightly salty. The biggest discomfort was a lack of sleep. Watched the ball game, then woke up at 4:30 for the second round.. The procedure is a breeze...They wheel you in, then you wake up back were you started. Kinda like a date with Bill Cosby I guess. Broke my fast with a Salmon BLT Half & Half and crashed until 4pm. Have my eyes on some leftover pasta...Just might whip up some Pasta Carbonara.
Depends on how you fish those teeny creeks...I have caught some respectable trout on them when single and in college. I'm older & possibly smarter now. No time to waste on that right now. I prefer to go where big fish are common instead of hunting unicorns.
I always hook the bottom fly to a guide then wrap the leader behind the reel seat. A 12’ leader is no problem on 9’ rod. Not a fan of hook keepers near the grip. I don’t want a fly that close to my hand while bushwhacking.
Saltwater is different. The fish are not leader shy. Barnackles, oyster bars, coral, and fish teeth will shred anything under 20lb. Usually use a 25lb flouro bite tippet for snook & redfish. 60lb for tarpon. The flies are usually in the 4-1/0 range. Sometimes smaller, some bigger.
Fishing is good. Never know what you might catch. Chain pickeral like slack water & weeds. You can find them anywhere that occurs. Suggest that you float it. Figure 4th in terms of scenery in MO, so absolutely wonderful. Bigger water, if you can cast a heavy fly rod bobber rig 50-75’ you will do really well.
Have traveled that part of the world courtesy of the USMC an the USN...You wont be single long, and congrats. If you need some expat tax help, let me know....She will need an ITIN once married. You will still need to file in the US...Probably a FinCen (Disclosure of foreign bank accounts & assets). No big deal. Do a half dozen expat returns. We exchange docs back & forth through our secure web portal. and accept wire payments. Have Fun!
Pidgeon Creek has a long drainage and lots of pasture along it. Figure most of the gravel comes from up there. Read somewhere that Montauk Spring used to be a blue hole like Meramec, Round Spring, etc. but got filled with gravel during a flood up Pidgeon Creek. Apparently dynamited to clear the gravel & silt, but it did not work.
Think that bass are the only species that you are encouraged too catch, allowed to transport for miles when alive, and then handoff for a dubious release. Try that with ducks=federal felony charges.
Would be a good one to leave at the lake or cabin. Buddy has a tan one. Auto door locks are jacked on his too, but it runs great. He used to drive it daily, but just a fish/camp/haul vehicle now.