Gavin

Great for you guys!

Rosh Hashana is the only new year in a couple days. Think I'll do some tax returns and answer questions while my colleges are off.

2 gig boats with a ruler? You find that;)! Guessing you have not found any.

Seems like big ticket bass fishing takes money to play these days. Thinking 100k to get started with boat, truck, and tackle to look like a new bass pro.

Im not as cynical. Figure that most would abide. The 10% low life stink birds never will. Might make an improvement, we don't know.

Your probably right FW, but I will continue. Smallmouth Regs now protect small fish that we don't GAF about and none of the fish we GAF about. Thinking there is a win win if we can get some regs that protect quality fish that we GAF about. Dont really GAF about sub 14 smallmouth, they are abundant. I take care with them and toss them back but still a a dink.

Have not sent in my comments yet. Trying to think it all over first. Trying to think outside of the box a bit. I love the extensions of the SMBSMA's but I think what has been proposed is a derivative of the existing structure. Thinking that I'd like to see a 4 fish smallmouth limit statewide. 4 under 14" our 3 under 14", 1>18" daily limit. Possession limit 8, 7 under 14" 1 over 18". SMBSMA regs, 2 SMB under 14" daily, none over 14". Catch & release River tourney rules, dunno. Thinking they can keep 4 SMB of Any size if they plan to release it no culling. Registration requirements so the MDC folks can gather Data at the weigh in.

Nice cat and good looking water! Thanks for the pics, have never fished the James. Kinda looks like the Meramec.

Break a leg!

It's been done, but keep your float short if your on a moderate flow. 3 miles? Different story if your float tubing a tail water at night with generators on. My buddy Bob used to nail some big brown trout that way.

It doesn't have to look like anything for a Rainbow to take a wack at it. They love small flashy stuf

Ain't about the food but there is a reason to live in St Louis!

Looks like some good Manicotti. Wife's 10er birthday this weekend. Ribs were good

Make a note to walk up to Pulltite Spring, will be on river right not far from the put in. Usually some trout in the big hole just below Pulltite Spring. Fire Hydrant spring keeps that cold. Extra flashlights required to explore Little Jem Cave not far above Round Spring. Should be a great float. Devils Well is a short side trip.

Tom Green has passed. If you fish the Blue Ribbon often you would know him. Wish his family well as they grieve, His dog needs a new home.

Tend to avoid the use of an indicator when trout fishing and not a fan of two fly setups unless bobber fishing. Bobbers and 2 fly rigs are the way to go most often though. Always have a rod set up for bobber fishing, one for Streamers, one for dry (seasonal), plus a jerk bait, and a jig rod. Jig Might get swapped for a Kastmaster spoon occassionally.

Sight fishing of any form is the most fun! Run and gun target shooting likely water with big stuff is a close second. Jig fishing is slightly more fun than bobber fishing, but you gotta do what the fish want. Gotta master a few techniques if you want to catch fish consistently.

Thanks for sharing that!

Not my idea. An attorney friend was in Washington years ago. He wanted to read Harry Middleton's "Starlight Creek Angling Society" so he checked it out of the Library of Congress. There were only a couple hundred books printed. He made a copy, and made more for his friends. I scanned my copy. Will have to find it. Think it's on my old laptop.

Would love to take a peek at at that. Can you scan to PDF w/o destroying the sudject matter? Will live on if you do.

Timing IS a huge factor. Would rate that higher than skill. No dig Bigs you have passion and skills, nice fish BTW. Can float a stretch and catch a ton one day, fish it the next and catch little. There is some reason to it but you gotta go when you can. Mother Nature does not abide by our schedules! Better to be out and enjoying what you do. It's great to have a jackpot trip, but the rest are still fun!

No I just like to look at and dream;)!

Got my old 10' 5wt back from Tom today! Had a sick mid and decided to order an extra tip section. Sage sent two tips and a new mid! Could not be happier! My best roll cast lead chucked is back in action! Tom does great custom work as well as repairs. Great resource and a good friend.

The water is fine. High water won't move the browns down below Akers but might have washed some rainbows down. Can usually find a few in the spring holes between Akers and Pulltite. More in high water years.

Glad you had a Great Day! Gotta love it when they are in the mood to eat all day long! Makes up for all the times you go when they have lockjaw.