Gavin

His stuff is great but any 1/8 ps will do in a pinch. pm to you with his phone and email addy.

The Ned is 1/2 or 3/4 of a Z-man Zinkerz superglued to the jig head of your choice. Fish it slow. Usually go 1/8oz with a weedless head on the river. Let it hit bottom then animate. If it does not hit bottom when you think it should reel and set the hook. A Sammy is a walk the dog bait like a Spook Jr. Might be a bit late for that. Suspending jerkbaits should be starting to work now. Pointer 78 our Megabass 110 or 110jr. Minnow colors. Medium our medium Light Rod, 8lb line, our braid with a leader. Fish the jig if leaves are thick. Near current tight to our in wood. Slack deeper water near current s/b the pattern about now but be prepared to change it up. More active baits will still draw for awhile with the warm temps. Good luck.

Courtouis creek? Really? Best ever out of there was only 17.5" and I've fished it off and on for over 40 years. It is anecdotal at best, but I've been catching 18"+ pretty regularly since I ditched the creek mentality and moved on to bigger waters....and I'm fishing less. Go figure. Go where the fish are. Joe your zeal is admirable, but it's not time to get out the tar and feathers. Have lots of feathers, no tar at the moment.

Thanks Dan, hoped to make it but was down with a nasty sinus infection. Mitch, I don't think that MDC samples many 20" fish on their shock surveys so the assume the are unicorns. Think it's more likely that there is a flaw in the sampling model, wrong locations, wrong drain ages, etc. The Courtouis is dink factory little trickle. Barely floatable in late summer. I would not compare it to any of the good stretches on the Gasconade, Meramec, or Niangua that hold ten times the volume. Apples and Oranges, IMO. Have never seen the results of the 1-18" regulation on the G.Nade our James published in a publically available report. Has Anyone?

Yep, and several others. Bet it's by a railroad track if not privately stocked.

Not secret anymore! Should not be to hard to find with a few references.

Chicks and hens go great in soup. Not a big fan of either by itself.

Nice haul! Hens on red oak is a good pattern.

Water up is great. But stealth and experience can put you into a few even at low water. My buddy Slosh did well last Friday-Saturday.Put all his stuff in his backpack and wandered around for 10 -15 miles on foot. Caught a 20" brown and several nice by his report. Dude knows the water, knows the program.

Look for a Top Raider if you want a larger bait. Think the come in 8 and 9" versions. Very popular for big toothy critters. Thinking $25-30 for one.

Very nice!

Its a rubber chicken...A gift from some friends who couldn't make our winter float trip in 2006. They left a nice note.

Looks like a downsized Top Raider Musky Plug.

That's an 18 mile float. To long IMO...but you could do it if you want to. Get on early, and don't stop. The trout fishing can be decent between Cedar & Akers(stocker rainbows, a few spots hold smallmouth, occasionally a pickerel or a brown trout), Would bring some Kastmasters, marabou jigs, spinners, some small cranks, and some jerkbaits. Minnows or powerbait if you want. The fishing between Akers & Pulltite is a waste of time IMO, but try it if you must. The scenery is tops on both stretches. Fishing picks up again at Pulltite Spring, but that's about a mile downstream of the Pulltite boat ramp. Have a great trip.

Breathable stocking foots with a pair of boots. Probably Cabelas at that price point.

Yes, the story! Good for the Angler.

Something to be said about the nine point streamer. Gotta know why they work, when, where, and how to be successful with them though. It's not casual fishing where you get on the water at ten and pound up a few dinks on dryer lint lashed to a hook, but that is fun too;)!

If you like that...you would appreciate this.

Good for you guys! Finally got out for a 9 mile float on the Meramec yesterday. Coldwater bailed at the last minute, so it was just me and Hoff. Hoff got a nice 16-17" fish on B2 buzzer off the bat, and stuck with it the rest of the day. I was mixing it up. Caught fish here and there on everything I tried. Walkers, Swim Jigs, Spinners, Jerkbaits, but nothing consistent. Went to small weedless plastics on 1/8oz and things picked up considerably. Really light bite. Punching wood mostly. If your jig didn't hit bottom within a 5 count reel and set the hook. The line would rarely move and you rarely felt the hit. Mixed bag of smallies, spots, and a drum. My best 15" or so. A bit chilly, but allot of fun, didn't see anyone else on the river.

Thanks for the report. Guess the smallies moved out of Ashley for the winter. Hoppers, beetles, and ant patterns usually work well this time of year. Toss them under the bushes, under overhanging trees, and bounce them off the bluff faces. Trico's and itty bitties too.

Acidity from tomatoe should add, Cumin could add with your mix. Lots of salt in anchovy but it's a good add. Go light on that. Will PM for some Dilly Beans. They can age one the way. Some of my wife's gf's like a great Bloody Mary before/for/after breakfast.

Beef cries out for rosemary and thyme, paprika is pork and chicken mostly but it should be good on beef too. Worcestershire flavor is mostly salt onion and garlic so no worries, IMO so no worries. Might go with some sugar to balance the heat from the paprika.

Dilly beans! Want a Bloody Mary with some of those in it. Nothing fancy tonight. Some Garam Masala chicken and a salad with some Greek yogurt dipping sauce. A little garlic, cilantro and lime mixed with the yogurt. Baked it tonight, but it works well baked, grilled, our fried. S&p, Garam Masala then cook. Easy. Added a bit of Zatar in the blend tonight. Added some more flavor, but I like in baba ganoush better.

Awesome Hybrid! Good for you!

100% cloud cover in STL. Had 2 watch online.