Gavin

Nice catch! Portion size and temperature control are the key to good eats. Cook an elephant? Let's cut into smaller uniform pieces.

Tackle warehouse, or anyplace else that offers free shipping over x amount. Jann's Netcraft, stamina tackle, etc. I can is probably a lifetime supply.

No need to simplify, still plenty of room in my canoe;>)! Having all your rods rigged when you get to the river is a great way to simplify your day. Usually have 4 or 5 rigged & ready. Might have to re rig a few but you always have something ready to cast.

I cut them uneven and save the shorter ends to fish with the kids. They work great on a circle hook w/o any added weight most of the time. A couple wraps of lead wire occasionally. Over shallow weeds for bluegill.

I doubted it for a long time...till I tossed one in my swimming pool. There is quite a bit of action packed into that little bait. Cut it a bit longer if using a longer hook. You don't get 2 worms from one bait, but it works if you don't have the tiny hook jig heads.

The bass should be in summer mode by then. Walk the dog plugs, flukes, and something to drag on the bottom would be my first 3 choices. Buzz bait and some jitter bugs for after dark, walker could work too. Fish the faster moving baits while you are moving along. Fishing bottom bouncers from a moving boat is hard unless the current is slow,our slack. Slow the boat, stop it, eddy out ang cast back up, our get out and wade if you need too. Might try dead drifting a wacky rigged Z-man Zinker or cut one in half and fish a Ned rig if all else fails. Hope you have a great trip

I'd go with 20-21. Seems to fit with normal grip & reel dimensions. Nice Catch!

Nice brown. 17? The fish are not that spooky if you consider your approach and get there at the right time. If your not a good fly fisher, you are probably better off with a selection of minnow baits in the 3.5-5" range. Dinks will always smack a good drift with any candy you care to hang under a thingamabobber.

Nice fish gents! I'd give you 20 on both. Weights vary, but inches don't. I'll go 3.5 for an 18", at 4 for a 20", and 5 for 22" out of an Ozark River. Lake fish seem to run a tad heavier. If over 23" I want to see the measuring device. World Record was reported as 27" long or so...Think those days on Dale Hollow are long gone though.

It's a small city in the good part of Central St. Louis County..Take the Brentwood exit North off of I-44, or take the Brentwood Exit South of I-64 and it will take you there in short order.

That's in my neighborhood! Will put it on the calendar. Train wreck for a brew and a Redbird later maybe?

FWIW, there is a fellow who runs a 25 jet boat down there in the winter months, have not seen the dude on the Mokai in several years.

They pull through while going to places south. No need for one above Welch but a few have done it before.

Will do after April 15. Will be busier than heck till then.

Looking forward to your pics. Sure is pretty when you get the ice show. Seems we leave the day before the best snow & ice show of the year, most years.

Anything over 18" is a big smallmouth....over 20" a fish you catch rarely. 22"+ Fantasy Land for me.

My 5 & 7yr old girls can't fish it wrong. Cast it out, Nice Job on a good cast, count to 5,10, x(bottom), real it in slow. They do really well with it. Any light jig head you want but glue it to the head.

Call Jadwin...arrange a time to pick you up and leave your vehicle at their place.

We already are in trouble. Had an air boat go by my canoe at full tilt three times on the mid meramec on a float last summer. give me 10 jets pass bye's for one of those.

Ha!

Nice! Spent Thursday-Sunday camped out a short way below Ashley. Fishing was good Thursday, but a tad slow on Friday & Saturday. Didn't fish Sunday, just packed and floated out. Fun trip..River got a 6" bump on Sunday AM. No browns over 20" but some nice 17-18" chunksters. Brown trout numbers seem lower, but there were lots of rainbows, and a couple smallies to make up for it. Need to get some pics together. The river has changed a lot between Ashley Creek & Parker. It switched channels at the braids, and its gotten deeper in spots. Habitat looks great. Just need a couple high water summers so the brownies don't need to run to the park when it gets hot.

Nice variety! Add fishing the Meramec, Missouri or Mississippi in town for whatever is there.

A few goals. Teach my 7 year old to fly cast well enough to catch fish this year and tie her own knots. Teach my 5 year old to cast and retrieve her spin cast with less input from Mom & Dad. 5 family float trips instead of 3 last year. That's it.

Have no time for this...but I've audited hundreds of Government programs over the years. Payroll is almost always the number one expense, even on major infrastructure projects. Nothing else to add, and not worried about a dead bill in the legislature. Happy New Year. Time to load the canoe and get my camping stuff together! Carry on!

$11.11 per child isn't very good analysis. I'm not familiar with that programs budget, but I'd bet that that most of it gets spent on payroll & benefits for the MDC staff members who administer that program.