Gavin

The lady who lives on the West bank above Vida doesnt take kindly to univited guests. Its unfortunate, but she has to put up with allot of trashy behavior down at Vida Slab...Same with most of the landowners near the LP. For some reason the Newburg Cong feels that is their good given right to trash every access point and drive their vehicles through the creek. FWIW, you can park under the 63 bridge if Lane Spring is closed..I've never asked, but I've never had an issue...its about a 1/4 mile down to the top of the CG and a half or so down to the spring from there. Spring creek doesnt have much access. Theres the TU access near the store on J highway...and there is a poorly marked FS Road off of 6410, but thats about it. The rest is owned by the Danforth Family...They own most of that Valley and I've never been able to get access to their stretch. Tons of access on Mill since Dr Bohigian donated his farm. Better luck next time. Cheers.

Sorry gents...should have thought before I posted the other day, I apologize.

Mitch.Zip.Al....take your buddy thread to the down low if your not willing to add some content.Add something w/o reservation....Show some jigs ya buncha loosers....not like anyone is gonna ask for your GPS pet smallmouth.

You could do some primitive camping on the FS Land near Mill Creek...Google the Kaintuck Trail and you should get plenty of info. Paddy Creek Wilderness would be another possibility. FS does have a fire ring on L. Piney on the way to Mill Dam Hollow. You can camp there too...but its usually trashed (party spot)...Wouldnt recommend it. Cheers.

Lots of good smallmouth fishing out that way...trout too...not far from the ocean...I'm sure you'll find plenty to do. Best of luck with your new career. Cheers.

Floated from Tan Vat to Parker last weekend....its was dead low and clear...We need some rain badly. Cheers.

Why a multi tool? I have one in my camp box, but its just a big heavy chunk of metal with lots of tools that dont work very well. Cheers.

That brings back some memories...wish I would have saved some of them.

Think your best predictor is a significant rain event in the days before you head down that way...It will charge up the springs and put a little cloud in the water for a couple days. Cheers.

The Buffalo would be my top choice, followed by the Jack's Fork, Gasconade, or Big Piney in Missouri...You will probably see fewer people on the Big Piney or Gasconade but smallie fishing is often hit or miss in April...May is usually a bit more consistent. Sounds like a wonderful trip no matter where you go. Cheers.

Had a chance to talk with Jon Ackerson & A.J. Pratt (who were the 11pt & NFoW Biologists at the time)...They both said that there wasnt any conclusive evidence of natural rainbow trout reproduction on the 11pt...Young of the year just didnt turn up in their samples when it was managed as a wild trout stream...The theory was that most of the fish in the river migrated up from the stocked waters below Turner....and the fishing was dismal in comparrison to what it is now that it gets stocked..We used to fish all weekend for 3-5 fish between Greer & Turner, but they ran bigger on average than they do now...These days its pretty easy to have a 10-20 fish day, and its been downright silly at times. Think the lack of YOY might have something to do with their sampling methods or the chosen sampling stretch. Greer Spring seems to have the best spawning habitat/nursery area but they dont sample up there. Plus there electrodes are only effective to 4-5' and the 11pt is deeper than that in most places. Cheers.

This time of year its only open for C&R on Friday-Sunday, and youll have to stay above the ADA Jetty in the Campground....See the map below. http://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/resources/2010/05/5877_3717.pdf I like the "Fly Area" best, but there is good fishing throughout the park. Bring some polarized glasses, look for fish, and fish were the fish are. Cheers.

No charges, but they have all been exposed publically as a bunch of liars...I'm fine with that.

I hear that Mitch ties a mean jig...any pictures?...cant say I tie that many...mostly bucktails on aspirin heads ala Billy Westmoreland, and some float & fly type stuff that I bobber fish with on my fly rods.

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the pictures....Its allot of work to haul the gear and cut all that wood, but it makes for a more comfortable float trip. Cheers.

I'll use just about anything....but its got to be sharp and able to hold the fish I expect to catch...then I look at price. Cheers.

Guess I better get started....

I'd be in favor of it, but its just not going to happen because of the Feds "No Non-Native Species" mandate. Not much point in debating the subject unless we see that changed at the Federal level...Dont hold your breath.

The tent goes down the river with us...it takes at least two canoes to haul it...one for the poles, another for the canvas....We pitched in for a new canvas from Davis Tents this year...its Sunforger, and its a tighter weave, and lighter than the old canvas from Montana Canvas....I'd go with Davis if your in the market for one...He fit it to the frame, and delivered it in less than 3 weeks.

Thanks, but my buddy took that one....pretty easy to get the effect...Have someone stand behind the fire and poke it with a big stick to get a big spark plume, and use a long exposure...Makes the fire look a heck of allot bigger than it really was.

Fishing was a bit slow numbers wise this weekend but we had a great trip...A couple highlights. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=86423&id=1647470288&l=ffc2f18288

I'd be careful with the cap comments...Miss Amy likes to knit and she can X you from Sunburst.

Headed that way in the AM...I'll take a look for it. How was your fishing?

You never know....Tales tend to get told, embellished, retold, & embellished till the teller actually believes what they are talking about...Best you can do is to enjoy what you have, and work to improve it. Cheers.

Some tracks that our guest from MN found & photographed on 1-3-2010...Very close to were Gene's talking about....The photo lacks scale...but they are awfully round...you be the judge.