Gavin

The components on TFO rods(cork, reel seat, & guides) are usually of a lesser quality than mid and top line rods by St. Croix, Sage, or Winston. Also, some of there rods weigh a lot more than similar rods made by Sage, Winston, etc. Cheers.

KR I'd recommend paddling a few kayaks and a couple solo canoe before you buy something. If you want a sit in yak the Wilderness Systems Pungo and some of the Old Town yaks are nice, for a sit on top...the Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 would be hard to beat, and in solo canoes I like my Wenonah Vagabond. Whatever you get, make sure you have a good anchor system. Cheers.

Thanks for the info. We ended up picking up a Canon Digital Rebel XT because we already had a 28-200, and 18-55 for a Canon body and filters to match. It got some great shots at my step-bro's wedding a week ago. Looking forward to seeing what it does in Y.Stone next week. Cheers.

As Al said, 30 cfs is pretty low, and you are talking about an 18 mile float.... The lowest level that I've ever floated out of Buck was around 63cfs, and we walked almost every shoal. Should be a lot more walking involved at 30cfs, especially after the gradient drops not far below Rhymers. I usually like to float that stretch when its flowing in the 100-250cfs range at Buck, and at that level I'd consider it a long 2 day float if you plan to fish a lot. If you dont mind a lot of work, you can make it at this level, but I'd allow a lot of extra time. Cheers.

I wouldnt feel bad about keeping a limit under 12" above Fall creek. Last time I spoke with an MDC trout biologist about the upper end, he said that he wished folks would keep more fish under 12". Not sure about the "possession" limit. I've never got more than 3-4lbs of fish in the freezer at any one time, but I think that the possession limit pertains to transportation of fish. I think the reg says you have to have the head & skin intact on all trout in possession while your on the uppper end, and the limit is 4 fish under 12", 8 in possession. I really think it means that you cant take more than 2 limits of fish home on a two plus day fishing trip...If you happen to have a few more fish in your home freezer, so be it. Cheers.

Sounds like a good plan..might add a couple 1/4oz spinnerbaits, inline spinners, and a few diving crankbaits. Have fun.

I'd be interested in a couple sucker gigs too.

That fly looks a bit like a sphinx moth (catalpa worms turn into sphinx moths). Wayne, I've seen a very similar fly tied with black foam pipe insulation. $2 at any harware store buys a lifetime supply..Cheers.

Sound good. Jeff Williams from AFGC came to St. Louis and spoke about the L. Red a couple weeks ago. From what he said there are too many small fish in the river. Hope the 16-24" slot will improve things. Cheers.

Phil thanks for the information. I know very little about that area of the lake and from what youve said it doesnt sound like a good deal. Will send letter in opposition. Gavin

If your comparing Taney to Rockbridge......They are both filled with lots of friendly fish, but Rockbridge has better scenery, food, and accomodations. Cheers.

Not sure if its good or bad. In stream gravel mining is always bad, but I'm really not opposed to removing gravel & other sediments from a man made lake. In a stream gravel and other sediments move down a river like there on a big conveyor belt. If you put up a dam and create a lake the natural flow of sediments is blocked and those sediments eventually fill up the lake. Removing the dam and restoring the natural flow would be preferable, but if your going to keep the lake, your gonna have to dredge the sediments out from time to time. Cheers.

Here's a story about a couple guys from the St. Louis area who are catching big heads on flies. http://www.sexyloops.com/articles/bigmuddyugly.shtml

It depends on where you fish but as a general rule, I prefer hard foam to yarn indicators. I like the little pinch ons too. Cheers.

I use both upstream and downstream presentations depending on the situation, but when I wade fish, I head upstream first because the current will work to your advantage on a long wade back to your car. Cheers.

The 11pt and Current are under the jurisdiction of different Federal Agency's. The 11pt is a National Scenic Rivers and its under the control of the US Forest Service. The Upper Current & the Jacks Fork are National Parks under the control of the National Park Service. The USFS has a more liberal attitude about land use, but both Agency's have policies against the introduction of non-native species. Fortunately rainbow & brown trout have been grandfathered in on portions of the Upper Current, same with the rainbows on the 11pt. FWIW, I heard that MDC would like to stock brown trout on the 11pt, but USFS wont let them. Cheers.

1. Sparkleminnow 2. Gaines Sneaky Pete 3. Shenk's Minnow 4. Wooly Bugger 5. Gaines Dixie Devil

XP's are being discontinued, so it shouldnt be too hard to find a good deal right know. Cheers.

I'd take a look at a 5wt Sage XP...Great rods, and they are being replaced by the Z-axis rods. Lots of folks are discounting them up to 40%. Cheers.

Thanks for the suggestions. My wife has an Canon SLR film camera with a couple decent lenses, so well probably be looking in that direction.

Scooter, I had a conversation with one of the higher ups at the NPS while camping at Pulltite over 4th of July, and I also talked with an MDC biologist about the Akers to Pulltite stretch recently. Trout stocking probably isnt going to happen because the NPS has a policy against the introduction of non-native species. Accourding to the MDC biologist, the Akers to Pulltite stretch holds a depressed smallmouth population and very few trout. The Akers to Pulltite stretch is fine habitat for trout but the stockers they plant upstream get caught out before they make it down there. IMO, it might be worth trying an experimental trophy smallmouth area between Akers & Round Spring and hope that it improves the fishing. Its fantastic stretch of river, its just too bad that it has so few fish in it. Cheers.

Hi folks, thinking of taking the plunge on a Digital SLR. We currently have a Pentax Optio WPi. The Pentax is a great knock around no worries camera, but we want something more capbable for outdoor photography, etc. Any recommendations on what we should be looking for in a good reasonably priced Digital SLR? Gavin

Thats a lot of river to cover in 3 days (35 miles). Sure you want to float that far? If you do....make sure you bring a water purifier so you can get some when you need it. Baptist to Cedargrove is the best trout water. Most of your catch will be brown trout, mixed with an occasional rainbow, and smallmouth bass.. Terrestrials work well this time of year, caddis & tricos are possible, and bring some nymphs, buggers, sculpin & minnow patterns. Your spin fishing buds should do well early and late on spinners, jigs, and minnow crankbaits (1 trout >18" limit, bait & plastic are illegal). Cedargrove to Akers Ferry offers fishing for stocked rainbow trout and the occasional smallmouth. Bait is legal below Cedargrove, so anything goes for the spin guys, try nymphs and buggers on your fly rod... The Akers to Pulltite stretch doesnt really fish that well. To cold for bass to grow big, and no trout stocking. Fishing picks up a little bit between Pulltite and Round Spring though. If the river isnt crowded, I'd probably run & gun with a buzzbait, walk the dog plug, or fluke and have another rod rigged with a 4" worm or grub for a follow ups. If its crowded, plastics on the bottom. Cheers.

What section are you floating?

There is free camping and some pit toilets down at at MDC's Patrick Bridge Access, or you might be able to camp up at the USFS Hammond Camp Access (might be a fee at the USFS campsites). As for fishing, its best to float the trout water, but you can wade up by Kelly Ford, Blair Bridge, and upstream from Patrick Bridge. If you want to catch bass, there is some good wade fishing to be had up above Hammond, and on the Bryant too. Cheers.