Haris122

No it's 10 lbs test braided, but the actual diameter is like 4lbs mono equivalent or something like that. Out of curiosity why is braided not recommended for spincasting? I haven't had any problems with it that I didn't also encounter with mono, except making knots is a little tougher to do due to the strands flaying out at the cut end when you cut a piece of it to use for a leader and such.

Sorry, didn't see the thread for a while since i haven't had too many problems with it recently. The Reels I've been using for a while are a Mantis and a Synergy Steel (both Shakespeare stuff found at Walmart, the synergy steel is basically a better version of the Mantis reel and both are the closed spincasting ones). These days out of those two I mainly use the Synergy Steel reel, because as I mentioned it's essentially a higher quality version of the Mantis one. And now i also got a nicer open spinning reel that i got as a birthday present. So the Synergy steel, and the spinning one are my two reels right now. I still use the synergy one the most as the rod is 5'6" fits in the car as is, and has probably my nicest type of line on there (braided 10lbs).

I think I'm making some good progress in holding that title in actuality (as opposed to self proclaimed). Anyways nice fishing.

What part of Illinois is this at? I never saw this side of Illinois (always just saw the Cornfields, and a bit of swamp, along with Lake Carlyle I believe). This on other hand got that nice wild vibe to it.

As much as I like guns, I have to say I see a point in this. Some people really don't understand what they're holding in their hands and how to act with it until something happens, and at that point it's too late. When I got my first gun (very very much to the displeasure of my parents), I didn't think of it as big a deal as I should've. Thankfully they kept nagging at me (and still do) for the slightest thing, to the point where very quickly I started to take things dead serious, just to rub in their face the fact, that I was responsible enough to have it. But I will say, I've been around people where honestly, I don't think they would ever take it serious, until an accidental discharge actually hit someone, or themselves. You guys remember the news about the guy in Imperial or Arnold, or somewhere near here (St. Louis) several years ago, that decided to show his girlfriend how safeties on his pistols work, before he take her to the shooting range the next day, and then wound up killing himself because he decided to demonstrate with a bullet in the chamber, and the gun to his head? I think it's perfectly fine, that people carry and all, but a lot of people need to get that fear/paranoia taught into them when they get their first gun. And I don't think a lot of instructors and such, really do it. They stress it, but they don't get all up in your rear, the way they would like for example in the army or something, so people just kind of forget about it. Especially if they don't even go practice but on very rare occasions.

Sorry to keep veering things off from the bigger conversation, but I couldn't find the specifics during searches, so would you happen to know the distance they have to keep it in the 9 ring and what size this 9 ring is (is it a 9 ring along the size of the one in the bullseyes at the conservation department paper targets or.....). I don't know why, but I keep wondering if I could pass this CCW practical now.

So the practical is to get them accustomed to shooting, not specifically to keep your bullets within a circle of such size, at such distance, before being able to pass, or do they have to have certain results before they can keep going on to the final sections of the CCW. Also is that 150+ rounds a piece, or total for both types of guns.

Wow, you guys are still at it. Impressive, most impressive. Out of curiosity, what all is taught in the CCW class. Is it anything along the lines of Hunter Education in regards to safe handling of firearms, and is there a "practical" type exam, where you have to repeat the practical until you can get most of your shots within a bullseye, at like 7 yards or what?

Sure thing. Here's one article. http://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-fish-hatchery-uses-diverse-trout-species-control-parasites I'm pretty sure I originally read about it in the Conservationist, but I'm not 100% sure on that, but either way, it's been 6 months, so I'm guessing the actual Brook Trout should be around by now from the sounds of it. Now if they will let you fish them, that's the real question.

Same here, along with getting to see it surface while fighting (just to know for sure I have a fish, since I tend to get paranoid about snagging a branch or something inanimate instead). As for brook trout, don't the MDC hatcheries stock them upstream of the main rainbow and brown hatcheries in order to prevent them catching some kind of parasite. I remember reading about it in the Conservationist, or hearing something about it. Just don't know if those are fair game, or what their status is, but they do have them. Actually just looked it up, and the brook trout thing seems to be at Meramec Spring Hatchery. Maybe the others too, but the article only mentioned it.

For the moment I will have to hold off on the cast bubble, but I did go out today, to put the tips you guys gave me, to practice and it worked pretty well. I actually had some good casting going on with and without the bobber, and when I was using it it only tangled up once in a while. So it was a good day. Actually even hooked a fish, halfway through the day but i got too eager to reel it in, and it unhooked from my continuous reeling in. I did get to see it surface while fighting, which is also pretty cool. Some guys nearby caught at least 1 real nice Blue Catfish, if not more. The one I saw them catch was a good 3 feet.

Cool, thanks a lot guys. I couldn't figure this out. On one hand when I reduced the weight involved, I wouldn't cast it as far as I thought would be useful, on the other hand, with all these things on there, it could really make for a bad day, when it tangled up repeatedly. I just figured I was not getting the hang of it casting wise, even though the rigging was fine. So much for that theory. As for the bobber with roostertails, I got used to doing that to avoid snagging the lures and having to cut the line, too often on stuff like branches or stumps found at the bottom, during the retrieves, but yeah, from now on I will cut down on their frequency as well.

Guys I need some more advice on this, before I go crazy. I was out a few days ago, and tried out one of the cigar shaped bobbers, one of the ones with a weight preattached to it, on my cheap rod, and I also had an egg sinker along with 2 split shots on either side of it, close to 2 feet below, followed by a snap swivel and another foot or so of leader line, and a rooster tail. Long story short the parts below the bobber kept tangling around the top portion of the bobber with 95% of the casts. Ridiculously enough, with the round bobber, far less tangling occured even though everything else was the same. Fast forward to today, I try it again with the cigar shaped bobber (again with roostertail), and magically somehow it works out. Practically no tangling even though it was the same setup as a few days ago. Only difference was the amount of current in the river (more of a calm backwater on the MIssissippi today, as opposed to main part of river on Meramec). So I figure, things are finally working out. I try out one of the crankbaits I also got for my birthday. Everything works smooth. I decide to change up things and put a treble hook with some cat blood stuff on it, so that this rod sits, while I keep casting the new one, and then it starts pulling the same ridiculous crap as a few days ago, with the whole whipping around itself and tangling a thousand ways around the bobber and so on. I know some line tangling comes with the territory, but as many months as I've done this, I really would expect to see some light at the tunnel. A way to figure out how to avoid this by now, as opposed to it working fine one time, and horrible another, despite the same conditions in both cases. Bottom line, this stuff is really taking out all the enjoyment out of fishing. I keep getting paranoid each time I cast, that it pulls the same stupid act on me. Even when it does work out after some trouble, it winds up being after so many casts that I just about scares off all fish in the vicinity. And btw, I was slowing the line down with the finger, as suggested to reduce the tangling.

never mind. thought it was cheekbone, instead of checkbook.

I can't say I had great success in 2011, but seeing how it's the first year I really started to learn the intricacies of how to fish, it's still my best year since I learned a lot this year. Anyways my first most memorable event of 2011 was the first time I ever knewI had a bite. In summer, while still breaking through the basics, I went to the lake in Unger Park. After a couple of hours of no action, I once again cast my line out with some of that "cat blood" on a treble hook, and left it out there for close to nightfall while I messed with the lousier rod I had a rooster tail on. Well, park closes at night, and it was just about time to go. So I reel the rooster tail rod in uneventfully, and start reeling in the one I had left out for a while. And it gets snagged yet again, as that place was full of little shrubs within 8 feet from the lake shore at that part of it. I started to pull harder in hopes of getting the hook off of whatever it got snagged on, the line suddenly starts moving. It's not snagged. That turned out to be one hell of a rush. I fought whatever it was for 4-5 minutes, and it was pulling hard. I tried to let the line loose, to avoid it breaking but the line release button was not releasing anything, and the drag wasn't doing it's job either, even though i was sure the fish was pulling hard enough to activate the drag by then. Eventually, the tension just becomes too much, and the line breaks. Needless to say it was a hell of a mix of emotions. On one hand I was totally pumped that I had not just something, but something strong on my line for my first ever bite. On the other hand I was cursing that reel for not letting the line go like it was supposed to. Overall though, it was an amazing feeling, especially knowing I wasn't a hopeless case, though I never figured out what it was. My 2nd event of 2011, was the first time I caught a fish. Once again i was at Unger Park during summer but this time I was trying my luck once more on the Meramec. I got there only for ~2 hours before nightfall, and again it was getting close to go. I was using the same 2 rods, but this time the lures were switched over. Anyways once again getting ready for the last few casts while retrieving the rooster tail, when barely 5 feet from the bank something hits the rooster tail and starts struggling in the shallow sand/mud bar near the bank. It wasn't an unbelievable strike, but once again it took me a bit to realize it was a fish and not just a snag. Well, I reel the poor guy in closer, leave the rod at the bank, grab my pliers, and wet my hands, and then reel him in close enough to try to pick him up. After a bit of flopping, I finally get my hand around him and pick him up. I can't be hundred percent certain that it was what i think it was, and I figured I didn't want the poor guy (or girl) to die, so I didn't bother taking a picture, BUT judging from coloration and body shape, I do think it was a tiny (maybe 7") Smallmouth. Anyways, taking out the treble out of it's mouth was harder than I thought and one hook was a bit below it's eye, so I let him back in the water for a little bit, before taking him back out and getting the hook out of its mouth for good. I reeled it in fairly fast without wearing it out too much, and it swam off right away, so I hope it survived, but I can't be sure. I can't imagine the upper lip hook near the eye, being all too pleasant to get removed. The 3rd time happened pretty soon after getting there for a change. I hooked a fish, it got loose, and I'm guessing the same one got hooked again on the roostertail a few casts later, and this time it got hooked good, and it had to fight and jump like crazy, before unhooking again. Probably the most exciting "fight" I had so far. I still don't know what it was, just remember it appeared silvery (maybe white), and I think it had a thinner profile than a bass (kind of troutlike but again at Meramec by Unger, so...), and maybe 9" long. Anyways that stuff amped me up, and I stayed another couple hours in hopes of hooking it a 3rd time, but didn't happen. Did accidentally hook a 4-5" gizzard shad on back behind dorsal fin, on my last retrieve, so that was caught fish #2 (even though i got that one through an accidental snagging). Let that one go too, but I'm not sure if that one made it, as it was swimming sideways, before it swam off. Finally #4 (and I actually got a picture for this one). During late November I went fishing at Lower Meramec Park several times, and I stayed there at least a good 5 hours each day regardless of rain and cold, and there was a lot of both, without any real luck (very few small bites and nothing hooked). I also had someone's big unleashed dog, smell the bag of "cat blood" bait, and take it so I had to go chase after it one day. All of this along with the usual line tangling around itself too often was really beginning to break my morale. Anyways, finally, 5th or 6th time I went, I had a feeling once again nothing was going to happen, when all of a sudden, halfway through the day, bam, a 8" White Bass hit the roostertail about 7' or so from the bank (to my defense i tried other lures too, without results though). I was so thrilled that I yanked the rod too hard while setting the hook and the fish went flying onto the bank, with the rooster tail getting free in midair. I figured if i didn't want the bass to die, I better just grab it and put it back asap, even though the fins were stabbing me, so I didn't take a pic of that one, but i did keep going at it and caught a 2nd, smaller (prob. 6") white bass the same way, and I did manage to take a picture of that one. And here it is. I let that one go as soon as I took the pic. So, neverending story over, I got nothing large such as you guys, but at this point getting anything is still pretty good for me.

If you wound up going last week, did you have any luck hooking something HogWalley?

This wasn't all just in Missouri, right?

Cool. Thanks guys.

My parents and sister got me some fishing stuff for my birthday, and needless to say i wound up with what to me, is a pretty nice medium action fishing rod, with spinning reel (kind of ironic seeing how I'm currently even making my $20 rod and spincast reel combo look like good equipment being wasted on a horrible angler but that's another story). Anyways, as we speak I'm about to spool some line on it, and I've been wondering what exactly is the purpose of the small wire loop/hook just a little upwards on the rod of where the reel is. I know my cheap rod doesn't have it, but I've seen it before on other slightly more expensive rods, and I always assumed it was there to just hang your hook onto, and then reel in remaining slack line, so the hook doesn't just swing around and hook into stuff while you're carrying it to and from a fishing site, but it seems redundant seeing how you can just use the regular guides for that as well. So, might be a dumb question, but what exactly is it for?

23 fish, in one day, in the winter, on the Meramec. Good stuff, but man that stings hearing right now. I've gone 7 times in the past 2 weeks including today and just had 2 bites, both of which got off the hook. All right, tomorrow I'm going up to the Meramec with a powerline or some dynamite, darn it. Then again, I probably couldn't even get them that way.

Mmmmmmmmmm car parts (drool). Wow, the wide selection is exciting. I guess I'm starting to feel better about not even hooking any more than 2 fish in the past 6 or so trips. I'm curious though, what is it that makes it such a crapshoot? Btw my very first catch was what I'm fairly certain was a small smallmouth near Unger Park on the Meramec, so I guess there are still a few around in the sections known for spotted ones (just figured I mention it, seeing how there's a lot of smallmouth guys on here).

I'm pretty sure I'll get out there eventually, seeing how I wanted to try some stream trout fishing too, but for the next few days the closest thing to it, would be one of the winter trout stocked ponds/lakes around here (St.Louis). I should probably try Tilles Park again, but it can get a little crowded, and I prefer the more natural setting. Plus with the couple warm days recently I figured that would liven the regular river dwellers up a bit, and it's more interesting not knowing exactly what you hook until you get it in close (in my case in the rare event when I do hook a fish, haha).

Yeah I thought the recent string of nice days would get them back up and around, like that one day last week when I saw them moving about. I should mention I fish from the banks so I'm a bit mobility restricted on the searches for confluences, creek mouths and such. Most of the time I just try to cast the line out as far as I can into the middle of the river, figuring that's where the deepest areas are. Of course, that's where also the most visible current is, so I don't know if that goes hand in hand, since it's an energy expenditure thing for them trying to stay in place where it flows more.

Hi, new forum member and fairly new to fishing as well. I kind of asked this before in the Meramec river forum, but I figure I see if I can get an answer in this one since that seems pretty quiet at the moment. So I wanted to see if there's any fish species or basic rigging that someone with already limited skill/success at fishing (total of 4 fish caught since this summer), should put on the backburn when winter fishing? I ended up spending several days last week and this one on the Meramec near Fenton with the aim of catching any kind of fish, just to see proof that I'm improving at it, and except for one day when the fish seemed fairly active, and at dusk today, there has been nothing biting and seeing how the weather has been pretty nice recently, I expected there to be some more luck or at least activity.

Not to hijack the thread, but I've got a question along the lines of the whole winter fishing thing, do you guys know which fish species to concentrate on hooking if you just want some catch and release action of any kind (on the Meramec south of Valley Park at that)? Or other way around, which ones not to focus on trying to catch, as they take things too slow in the winter, to really have a chance of hooking?