Gavin

Paco pads look sweat.......but kinda pricey...I've done OK with the Thermarest Basecamp XL for the last couple years of winter camping, but I have a great sleeping bag...(-20 with a liner).

Nice report...gotta love the NFoW when its up and rolling.

I'll be down that way, but I'll be float camping in the blue ribbon area with a group of friends this weekend..(15 or so). Base camp is usually between Baptist & Parker. Its gonna be a cold weekend. Stop, say howdy, and warm up if your passing through. Cheers.

I wouldnt drive more than 15 minutes to catch a freak like that !

Years ago, some of us did a bit of work to get the trout regs changed. It took a bit of internet complaining, then some letter writing...but we got a trout plan in a couple of years and our trout fishing has improved...We've got the complaining down to an artform at this point, so its time to move it up a notch to some letter writing. I'm going to write a letter to tell MDC what I think about their White Paper and smallmouth regulations in general and I'd urge you to do the same, and if your a member of a fishing club...find a way to get it on your clubs agenda, see if you clubs board will write an official response, and write an article for your club's newsletter urging people to read the whitepaper and send in their comments and recommendations. I think that letters need to be sent the Director, Head of the Regulations Committee, Head of Fisheries, Head of Enforcement....Anyone care to hunt down some names and addresses? Cheers.

The way I see it. A home is unfit for human habitation if it doesnt have a working waste disposal system. Require an occupancy permit, and a sewer/septic inspection as a requirement to get an occupancy permit. Folks will complain, but they have no reason to. Electric, Plumbing, & Structural repairs are all costs of home ownership. If your septic's broke...Get it fixed...If you cant afford the fix...Sell the property because you cant really afford it. Cheers.

Planning to do a bit of float camping on the Current this weekend. Extra gloves and mittens are a must...You will want a fresh set of long johns & socks to hop into before you go to sleep at night. Sleep in the clothes you've been sweating in all day and you will have a really cold night. Winter nights can be long especially if your cold....a big fire and a group of friends to play cards with is a real plus...bring some quality anti-freeze as well...Single Malt or Single Barrel...Keep you beer in the dry cooler w/o ice...it wont freeze that way. Good luck.

Things will move forward...Missouri Smallmouth Alliance already has something going with their "Blue Ribbon Panel"...so I'm gonna send them a check and see what they come up with...When the time comes I'll write some letters in support of what I like...as will other people.

Eric...Dude...ya gettin some smallmouth regs for Xmas...Red, Green, Blue...cmon...I'ts like anyone was paying attention...Any tips on assembling a tricycle & a doll house? That matters more than smallmouth regs right know ;>)!

Looks good...I'm sure that folks will enjoy them.

The argument that its too complex to implement doesnt hold...If youve ever fished for Trout in Michigan...They regulate their trout waters by county, and they have seven different color coded regulation structures. If other states with tiny conservation budgets can implement somthing like that MDC cetainly can. Frankly, I'm sick of MDC's condecending attitude about regulations. They aways site confusion as a reason for not changing anything. Thats an excuse not a reason...A few wont figure it out, but most will. Those that dont figure it out might get a ticket or a warning.......and I see nothing wrong with that. Cheers. A peak at the Michigan trout regs. http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10364_52261_52262-211883--,00.html

Sight fishing or blind fishing..They are just techniques...and they work in different situations. A trout park or tailwater is an excellent place to learn how to bump a fish in the nose with your nymph at 40'. If they dont eat change flies, and/or thin your tippet.It will take you awhile to master it. Pick a fish and go catch it....It takes some good fish eyes and an ability to visualize where your fly should be. Look for the fish to move toward your fly, or the mouth to open & close when you think your fly is in the zone. Set the hook... Bobber Fishing, and Nymphing w/o a bobber are completely different games. Mostly line control and depth adjustments. Mending and stripping or feeding line to control the speed of the drift and manage slack so you can feel the take or set the hook. Adding & removing weight to adjust to conditions..changing depths through weight addition, weight subraction, indicator or cast adjustment. Joe Humphrey's book "Trout Tactics" is a good one if you want to learn how to fly fish. Cheers.

Head south on the Newburg exit a bit west of Rolla..Head through town, make a right across the bridge onto T then turn right on CR7400. There is a link to a map in a previous post. Cheers.

Nice catch.....Might look around for a Pentax Optio...I've been carrying a Pentax Optio WPi 6mp for around 5 years know. It been on hundreds of trips and its still working fine. Its no DSLR but it shoots decent pictures..Think the new one is the W80...but you might be able to find a WPi, W10,20,30, etc...for a lot less.

I like the way you think Al....maybe set up some color codes so they can put out a map like many states do for trout. Blue Ribbon-14-20 inch slot with 3 fish under the slot, one over Red Ribbon- slot limit of 12-18 inches, with 5 fish under the slot, one over White or Green Ribbon-3 fish, 14 inch minimum Spotted Bass Impared Waters(Yellow Ribbon)-Catch & Release for Smallmouth, no limit on spotted bass.

Good job Eric...not bad for a FF rookie... I live near Tilles...Its open to fishing until 4:30pm, then you have to leave. Light display starts around 5:30pm. Open water and folks fishing at Tilles when I drove by yesterday around 3pm......not sure today.

What you GET from MSA is what you make of it. I havent devoted any time to MSA, but I've served on the boards of a many non-profit organizations. You "get back" what you put into it for the most part. Go to meetings, meet folks, and devote some time to volunteer work, maybe fill a seat on the board when your time comes...You get a lot back that way...Sit a home, read the newsletter, and complain on the internet...you wont get much. Ya gotta "DO" something to get something. Cheers.

I dont think that floods affect adult smallmouth much though. Many of them seem to be homebodies. Caught the same fish off the same log twice this year, two months apart and we had high water in between....Pretty easy to ID it because it had distinct scar on its side. I think they all move around a bit, especially the small ones. But I think the bigger fish find a spot they like and stick near it for a period of time, maybe a season, maybe longer. I'm sure there are no absolutes...Fish just want food, shelter, and sometimes they want a place to spawn. If they dont have to move to get it what they want, they will stay put. If not, they move. Cheers.

Think your talking about Rotenone....I'm not sure that would be a good way to go...to many miles of river to cover on the Meramec Drainage..Main stem, Bourbuese, Big, Mineral Fork, hundreds of little creeks.

Saw an angler breaking ice at Tilles a couple days ago...To much effort to catch a trout IMO...but its cheaper than driving to Meramec.

http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Documents/18088.pdf Another option...Camp on Mill Creek...theres a spot that folks camp at just across the low water brigde near Wilkins Spring...Its on Forest Service Land, and there are no facilities but I dont think anyone would object...Little Piney and Spring Creek are a short drive away...Folks camp on the FS land on the Little Piney to...look for the fire ring & parking area off of 7400 on the way to Mill Dam Hollow. The locals trash the area near the parking lot. Lots of beer bottles, etc.....but you could hike down the path and camp in the woods or a gravel bar. Cheers.

The trout lakes are iced up at the moment. You will need to go elsewhere.

Montauk Campground is open ....but the showerhouses & toilets are closed for the winter.

Thats a very thoughtful post....good work.

There is plenty of middle ground. A fresh fish dinner is a real treat on occassion, especially when your out camping on a gravel bar.