Gavin

Good for you, I always enjoy your blog...Its been a long time since I've visited the White...looks like the 1>24" rule is starting to pay dividends.

Thinking that JoeD needs to update his avatar...This might work.

Think I like this one better...needed more fox and a chenile collar to hold scent without mucking up the rabbit or hair.

I'm good either way.

Prongs is it...31 miles from there to Alley..There is a canoe rental at Alley that could take care of your vehicle.

One of anything isnt the American way...Could do with lots less......but I'll take at least one of each....If I lived near were they lived...Tarpon would be my fish of choice.

Tossing em in the sink does not tell you much....basic lure balance mostly...how it compares to other proven fish catchers of the same make and model....its a start...gotta get them wet to see what they do....and adjust if necessary...We had a good discussion in the Beaver Lake forum this week.. Buy some dots, strips, and some lead wire..adjust as needed....check out RSBreth's blog too...some good insight there.

Your right QB, there is more to it than just tossing them in the sink. I fish them in my pool and tinker with them on the water as well. My wife thinks I'm crazy, but I think it helps me understand how to fish a new bait, what added weight does to a bait, and to visualize what my bait might be doing when I cant see it. Most of my mega's are nose down and slow float in the pool too...its alot less than the 45 exhibited in the sink. I try to think in terms of depth first...then try to figure out what the bait is doing....rising, suspending, sinking....then take look at its attitude...nose down, horizontal, nose up.....I dont like jerkbaits that nose up for some reason.

Nice chunks.

Mega Vision 110's hang nose down in the sink, and they are a designed to slow float....Scroll to the bottom of the Tackle Tour Article for a picture of what I'm talking about. http://megabassusa.com/news/tackletour-autopsy-megabass-vision-x-110-seriously I like a bait that suspends horizontally too. Almost all of the LC jerkbaits sit flat or at slight nose down attitude in the sink, same with the McStick, Eeratic Shad, most others...but sometimes the Mega is the one they want over a horizontal suspender...I'm thinking its due to the nose down attitude and slow float. Toss a couple of your baits in the sink and see what they do.. Medium spinning gear with 6lb braid with an 8-12lb flouro leader most of the time...8lb mono if the air temps are below freezing.

Sweet!...gotta love big toothy critters.

The RC STX is no substitute for a Megabass Vision...it suspends flat, maybe slightly nose down....instead of nose down at a 45 like the Mega. Flimsy hooks too...the small STX...floats nose up in my sink...have not fished it yet...but my sink test does not inspire confidence. If your looking for decent baits cheap...its hard to top a Husky Jerk or Eeratic Shad.

The 65 looks like a good fit...and not to heavy to load or unload...a loaded 105 would be a beast.

Depends on what you want to catch..You can find decent fishing throughout its length. The smallmouth population is better above Hwy 185/Noser Mill, but it decreases as you go downstream. Its about 60/40 spotted bass/smallmouth between Noser Mill and Goode's Mill near Union, Mostly spotted bass between Goode's Mill and the Meramec Confluence. The Peter's Ford area see's the most canoe traffic..Devil's Back floats serves that area. You will have to run your own shuttles if you want to float other areas. A canoe or kayak comes in handy due to all the long slow holes and short riffle areas. Good luck.

I'd go with two smaller coolers instead of one big one...one for beverages, the other for food...

Suffix Braid in 6lb with a leader is my standard...or 8lb mono...havent found a flouro line that I like yet....just spooled some Sunline...will see...very skinny when compared to other lines rated for the same lb test.

Good for you, the bigger one shoulda measured more than 21"...looks like its missing 2" of its tail..

Very nice! Glad you got out!

Crocus and dafodills starting to come up.....hardly any ice on the local trout pond.

Probably no bass because suckers dont hold in the same areas..Suckers are open water fish, not structure orientated like bass. That should also tell you that most bass gigging IS intentional. Glad to read that MDC caught a bunch of bad apples. Hope they lose there boats & trucks.

I dont know....My buddy has a 1232 aluminum jon on his lake, its stable enough for both of us to fish...but I wouldnt want one that small.

Pine or Cypress lumber...http://hootentown.wordpress.com/2011/02/06/ozarks-jon-boat-plans-information/#comments

Usually go to a local optician who specializes in prescription safety and sunglasses....I pick my frames...any polycarb lens that I want. He does not do glass, but I cant tell the diff between poly & glass anymore, and my nose does not miss the weight.

Looks good to me, but wet wipes are better than TP or towels...

Its already back down to 3.5' at Akers...Wish I could swing a trip today.....