Gavin

I'm interested. Booked up till 4th of July...but pick a date and lets make it work.

A couple suggestions in the Sneaky Pete Style.... http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=27594&st=0&p=186625&#entry186625 Been tying up some others...black foam pipe insulation bodies...brown flexi floss or black & orange rubber for legs, tan, black, and orange krystal flash wings, and some white foam on top for an indy...Will see what works this weekend...did learn something though...Flexi floss does funny things when you hit it with superglue. NOT a good match.

Cicada's seem to be spotty this year...we dont have many in the Webster Groves/Brentwood area of St. Louis...drive a couple miles west and they are thick.

Jonn Graham from ISA was hot on the Hub's too...havent ordered any, too many lures as is......but it might be worth a go... http://www.hcbaits.com/

More pressure on the Castor maybe...but I doubt it. Most would be put off with the Castor because there isnt much shade and its often a long hike & drive to find fish. Plus the St. Francis & Big offer better fishing. The Courtois, Current, Black, and North Fork see plenty of pressure so I'd take it as positive sign and hope for future management changes on the sections they are tagging. Cheers.

Great Report Al...may wet a line for smallies on the way to the Current this afternoon......CWF, I hope you get Hoff's boat back...he'll be hitting us both up for boat rides & beer if you dont.

Keep your eyes open for tagged smallmouth this year... http://rhtrav.com/wordpress/rewards-on-five-rivers-for-smallie-success/

My wife & I will probably put in at Baptist & float to Parker mid-morning on Saturday...Here's a copy of the flier..the food is good and plentiful...nice folks, two bands, and a nice raffle on Saturday night.

Your fishing will probably be better between Cedar & Akers so focus on it more up there..The smallie fishing isnt bad on that stretch, trout & chain pickeral possible too...For smallies...bring some green pumpkin grubs & 1/4 & 1/8oz heads, some Zoom Super Flukes, and tiny torpedo & a small jitterbug for cicada's, plus whatever else you like....for trout...its mostly stocker rainbows...so go with smaller stuff, inline spinners, gold & silver Kastmaster spoons, and some 1/16-1/8oz Marabou jigs...fish the jigs on the bottom, or suspend them under a float. Have a great trip.

You never know...think lots of the troutbusters focus on the park, and many just come to camp & party......Well be out floating Saturday so it shouldnt be too bad if you hike down toward Ashley...of fish up or down from Parker.

I use and old 5.5' bait casting rod with a pistol grip for walk the dog stuff, buzzers, spinners & crankbaits...Think its a Medium Heavy Fenwick first generation graphite...probably one of the first rods I ever bought...10lb McCoy's mean green seems to work pretty well and I tie to a oval split ring. Need to get out smallie fishing again soon...but it looks like its gonna be a week or so.

I wouldnt worry about it too much....Fish the river early & late that Saturday and you should do just fine. Mid-day usually isnt much good anyway. Cheers.

Falling water can be tough...You would be amazed at how many nightcrawlers crawl across ten feet of patio to commit suicide in my in my inground pool when it rains...imagine the numbers that get washed into the river. I usually go with a rattling jig with a big chunk trailer, spinnerbait, or a crankbait in those conditions. But sometimes you just cant buy a strike. Did a short falling water float on the Big last spring with 3 other experienced anglers...only 1 spotted bass between the 4 of us......They just werent on. Cheers.

Just talked to Jim about this weekends Troutbust...should be around 120 people down at Ozark Mountain Ranch for the festivities, and the park is always packed...My wife & I plan to float Saturday. Well be at the bust....so say howdy if your down there.

Great fish. Thanks for the report.

Eagle Ridge in Galena

Fun time in N. Illinois...hit the lake out front for an hour on Wednesday and caught a nice largemouth on a twin spin..fished the outlet for an hour and a half yesterday....lots of nice smallmouth, some greenies, and two bonus walleye on an eakins jig! First smallmouth of the year....and its been years since I've caught a walleye.

All the non electric sites are in Loop 1, 2-4 are electric...if your going w/o a reservation most of the non-reservable sites are in Loops 2 & 3. Have a great trip.

Youll be fine if it stays below 2.5 on the Montauk Guage...pick your crossings carefully though....Have a great trip.

Why bother with that, just questions here.

A machete wouldnt do any good anyway....the river gets floated allot and the firewood selection is pitiful....if BSA approves chainsaws...bring one to cut dead fall...if not bring 2-3 decent buck saws...they rock for small fires.. http://www.bensbackwoods.com/servlet/Detail?no=413

Your hosed Cricket... I was told that you can get a title by affidavit from Missouri Water Patrol, then you can register through DMV...Youll need to get the craft & motor inspected by Missouri Water Patrol, and apply for a title that way..Their supposed to do inspections at designated times in certain areas...Thought about it for a bit, and realized I was too lazy to bother with it..I've only use a Trolling motor on the canoe twice in the past 10-12 years... Save you money and buy a better paddle...one of those light graphite jobs...

1 cubic foot of water is the equivalent of 7.48 gallons of water....30,000cfs = 224,400 gallons of water per second...Thats allot!

Jim's a great guy...and you'll get more than your $50 worth...$50 a person covers camping, food, & live music...and the food is very good....Jim heads the kitchen crew and he is a trained chef. No need to cook, just camp, fish, & party...Think they had around 150 people there last fall and it was a really good time!

I've been very blessed...but I could come up with 20-30 places if I really wanted to...In no particular order.. 1. Tarpon on a fly...I've tried 3-4 times...come close..but no cigar so far. 2. Yellowstone River-Park to the end of Paradise valley for gullible cutts....Paradise Valley to Pelican for big browns & rainbows 3. Madison River below Ennis Lake-Really want to float through Bear Trap Canyon and probably one of the best wild brown trout fisheries in the lower 48. 4. Grayling, MI-Fish the Au Sable & Manistee from an Au Sable Boat at night during the hex hatch... 5. Devil's River 6. John Day River 7. New River 8. Argentina & Chile 9. Permit on the Fly 10. Alaska...would really like to hit the Kenai around Cooper Landing and wade fish the Russian again, then head someplace else for a wilderness float. 11. A certain little stream in the U.P. Saw a timber wolf on my last visit..brookies run to 3-4lbs...but they are really hard to get to...bring deet, gps, and a sqare sterned canoe with a motor to find em...