Gavin

The C&R isnt much to look at.....just a skinny weedy channel thats maybe 50-60 yards long and 10' wide on average...Its got some nice fish in it, but they get flogged on a continuos basis. I think that you will have a much better experience outside the park. Cheers.

I use the SA XXD tapers on my 9' 5-8wt rods....They seem to do just about everything well...overhead cast, roll cast, mend...the longer head length on the XXD taper helps with the roll casting & mending......I usually go with a DT or a Triangle Tapers on my 2-4wts, and a few of my short 5wts. Its hard to go wrong with anything from SA or Rio, but I've heard good stuff about Snowbee lines...havent found one to try though. Cheers.

I agree with Gene...heading down 63 adds extra time to your drive...so does the stretch of 19 between Cuba & Salem. Cheers.

Sounds like a fun trip....Akers to Pulltite rarely fishes well...bought the only time it has is during high water years when lots of trout get washed down from above.

Thats the way I usually go too, but I take 63 down to Licking when we are towing the camper. Dont speed near Edgar Springs on 63 either. Cheers.

Indian Creek..Had a threatening note left on my windshield down there several years ago. Something to the tune of how they would do damage to my vehicle & person if I returned, have me arrested, etc. It was the work of a real wack job, so I haven't been back. Cheers.

That quarry pond in Crestwood is in Whitecliff Park next to Grant's Farm. The old quarry pond is fenced and posted..but they used to open it up for Crestwood Residents once or twice a year. Not sure if they still do because I moved. The pond over by Kenrick looks like fairly easy access but you will probably be tresspassing. There are some public lakes down in Fenton...Simpson County Park, Unger County Park...and the Fabick Lakes over by Fenton City Park. Cheers.

No, think Ness was paddling a Wenonah 16'6" solo plus last winter...Not the boat for hauling lots of gear for an extended winter trip.......Big slow predictable pack horse tandems are much better for that purpose.... Frankly, I look at my solo as a light load boat...Usually a day tripper or overnight...Fun, whe you can use it, but my tandem canoe seems to get more use.

Some nice fish...thanks for the report from destination X;>)!

Every trout stream except the Meramec looks fishable right know....so you should be able to find something. Plenty of maps on MDC's website. Cheers.

I'd save my $400 and get something else...your bigger than me...so I'd look at a solo with a bit more capacity than my Vagabond....The Wenonah Wilderness 15'4" looks like a good one. http://www.wenonah.com/products/template/product_detail.php?IID=193&SID=2b9e00fd4e278677e2310309fb2090f6 Also check out the Bell Rockstar

Nice video...some great tips there.

I usually prefer to float, but there are plenty of wading opportunaties down there...Tan Vat, Baptist, and Parker Hollow are the most popular wade accesses points and all are within a 10-15 minute drive from the park....if you want to explore a bit more, there are some limited wading opportunaties at Cedargrove, and Welch Spring too. Cheers.

I use a triple surgeons...probably not the strongest knot out there, but its quick & easy...Lots of guys use it in the salt. Cheers. http://www.doalures.com/uploads/Docs/9102_DOA_10.28__Knot_Page.pdf

The Z-Axis is a mighty fine rod...but I'd probably go with a cheaper reel...The Lamson Konic offers some great bang for the buck. Cheers.

The Telstrike's are virtually identical to what the Fly Shop out in Redding markets as there Flote-Rite Indicator. http://store.theflyshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=81_244&products_id=1485 Havent used the Whitlock knock off, but I used the flote rites on the Lower Sacremento River years ago......The little post stands straight up if your dead drifting...if it tilts, you have a hit, bumped bottom, or your dragging...The Float Rites are great indi's for float fishing out of a drifter, but kind of a pain to cast. I'd go with something else for wade fishing. Cheers.

No objections here....It would be neat to see wild elk in Missouri.

Thats a nice story, thanks for sharin it...dont really pay attention to the tourney stuff...but there was this guy named Paul Dallas.

Zoom Super Fluke 5" or so Chomper Hula Grub 4" Zoom Fat Albert Grub 4" Case Tubes 3 3/4" Have a few other in the bag but they rarely get used

Sorry for your loss....Hope they catch em...

Use whatever you want, just use it well. Cheers.

The Tarpon 120 is a good choice..have allot of friends who paddle them and they like em allot...doesnt hold much in the way of gear though and you cant stand in it for long......A solo canoe like the Wenonah Vagabond or a hybrid boat like the Native Ultimate would be a better choice if you want to haul more gear, beer, and camping gear. Truth be known, I tend to prefer my 17' Wenonah Spirit II tandem to my solo canoe for overnight trips...Its a big stable barge that hauls a ton of gear. I have no trouble standing & fly casting out of it as I drift on down the river. At times weve had two anglers standing & fly casting out of each end and a load of camping gear in the boat as well. Cheers.

I just watched a video on how to clean one....before I voted. The meat doesnt look that bad...but it looks like a PIA to process...I'd be willing to try it, just dont ask me to clean one. Cheers.

Think its a smallie spot hybrid.....but I'd defer to whatever Al thinks...Nice chunkster, either way.

Thanks for your concern, LOL! I've been busy at work and on the river for the past 4 weekends in a row (Huzzah, Current, Meramec, & 11pt). Not going anywhere this weekend, and I'm looking forward to it. Hope you guys have a great trip.