Gary Lange

Happy New Year Tim and I do hope all your dreams come true.

100 Teams hit Lake Simcoe in Ontario Canada for a fishing Tourney on Oct. 23, 2010 from 7:00am-3:00pm. The winning team weighed in 31.55lbs in a 5 fish Smallmouth Bass limit. This smashed the old record set last year of 30.35 lbs from this same Lake and during this same tourney. That is and amazing 6.31lbs per fish. All fish were weighed tagged and released back into the lake.

Now just tell me which branch of the service did you serve in. I have talked to many returning Soldiers and they have all been proud to have served our country in its war on terrorism. If if was a fight about the oil then we would be shipping it from Iraq for free.

I didn't think what we drove or owned or used had anything to with getting killed by terrorist. They pretty much like to kill all of us infidels. I figure you may not be around for me to complain to anyway.

That may be true. But if the cyclic theories are correct the next ice age is probably 10,000 years away, approximately the same age as modern civilization. That seems like a long time to wait. I believe that long before this occurs that someone will be born and mature and will create and alternative fuel or motive system that will solve the worlds problems. Can we wait that long. Well we have no choice because I don't see it happening in our lifetime no matter what gets discussed or posted here. It may be 1000 to 10,000 years from now before technology creates the alternative. Then we have to wonder if that pollutes the air also or depletes something that we have very little of. I think I am going to give some serious thought to buying a canoe so I can float into nowhere and be alone with the Smallmouth Bass.

Evolution is the only thing that is going to change things on this planet. I am wondering if the guy that is going to invent the alternative fuel or power source that will take us into the future has even been born yet. Just as a question how is Propane as far as a fuel does it give off a lot of pollution when it burns or is this a green product. I see Roush Engineering built a Ford Mustang Race car that runs on Propane is why I am asking.

I have been looking at this guys baits and have seen none better then his. He brings a realistic look to the baits that impresses me to know end. Check out his site and look at his baits and see if you don't agree. http://www.cliffscustoms.net/

Very interesting Tim. It seems that the rich are taking away what the locals have relied on for food and a livelihood by filling the mangroves and polluting the reef and the Government isn't doing much to stop it.

I listened to John Coleman for about 30 years and see no reason to not listen to him now. http://media.kusi.clickability.com/documents/Comments+on+Global+Warming1.pdf

I didn't know it and wouldn't have worried until I broke one. Now how many times this year did some science teacher bring Mercury to class and spill it in the School Class room. I fear that in most cases what we don't know can hurt us and what we do know can hurt us also.

People believe what they want to believe.

Catch and release is a very big part of the Northern Anglers daily life Wayne. Most Walleye fisheries are supported by stocking programs hence the catch and eat with them but a lot of Northern anglers catch and release some of the Walleye's they catch also.

I understand the Potomac has a very nice population of Smallmouths. You are right about the national Organization. I tried to get a Southwestern Chapter of the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance going here in Springfield and the Southwestern section of the state but I could not find any interest except the same lip service you found with the National Alliance. I gave up and went fishing.

You are right about it being more East Coast as opposed to all over and I used to visit and post over on the board as well as did Norm of Kankakee River fame. A National Organization would be difficult to form and I don't see it happening any time soon. Jim had tried to get it going at one time but could not find any interest in it from the other organizations. Where are you living now are you in Missouri or still up in Illinois? I am in Nixa, Mo. as you can see.

Tim Smith, I was also on the Executive Board of the ISA in the late 90's perhaps we know each other and don't know it.

Thanks Al! Now I am going to have to rethink purchasing a Canoe so I can float the Rivers. Don't like Snakes especially Cottonmouths that can be aggressive.

When I waqs a kid in Illinois all I ever saw hardly was Garder Snakes and once a Black Snake. However, the last five years before I rtired and moved we were getting a lot of Northern Water Snakes in the river I waded. Now down here I see a few snakes but not many but then I am on the big lake most well I should say all the time. You do need to watch which rock you lift up to put your rope under though cause it may have a Copperhead under it. Voice of experience speaking. One of these day I am getting a Canoe so I may see more after that.

I just bought a Carbonlite Rod at BPS for $80.00 and they had others on sale for $90.00. Great rods for the money.

I would spend just a little more and get the BPS Carbonlite Reel. I have two and they are great light and smooth. If you look close and compare them with the Abu Garcia Revo's you will note that they look the same which leads me to believe that Abu Garcia makes the Carbonlite for BPS.

The were interesting Chief and I concur with you on that quote. I guess he missed the building of the dams along the White River. I think every successful business man has the people he hires to thank for his success. I bet somewhere out there someone has letters, pictures and other facts setting in a box waiting to be discovered. We can not turn back time but can only look at what we have now and try to improve it for the future. I just read a story on my Illinois Smallmouth Alliance forum from my friend Eric who was out wade fishing on the Fox River using a Float N Fly and hooked into a 19-15/16" Smallmouth. The ISA has done a lot to make Smallmouth Fishing great in Illinois.

No Moral to it just a story about a close encounter with nature.

I was out in Montana's Glacier National Park Backpacking in about 1995 I think it was and the Girls that were with me had just finished Law School and taken the test and wanted something different to do. They all decided to go Backpacking in Glacier National Park. Well the night before they were all setting around a picnic table talking and a Mountain lion came through the camp went between one of the girls legs and she could feel the fur as it passed and it climbed up the hill and was gone. They said they all just froze when it came through and breathed a sigh of relief when it passed through and kept on going.

Here are some interesting articles on the White River! http://whiterivertroutdiva.net/2010/03/white-river-history-lesson/ http://www.projecttaney.org/50083/owen.html

I was watching a little program about Branson on the Branson Channel and saw a clip about Float Fishing on the White River before the Dams. It was about Jim Owens White River Float Fishing Co. and they had a picture of a guy holding up a stringer with five Smallies on it. It said they only kept enough for a fish fry that night and the rest had to go back. They weren't large fish but nice ones.

Very interesting discussion for sure. I agree with what the Chief just posted that some of the problems related to lower populations of Bass and other species could possibly be traced back to the time more of the runoff and pollution started hitting the rivers, streams and creeks. I would not be surprised at all that the loss in larger populations of crawfish and minnows has affected both growth and numbers of Bass populations. Since I am not from around here I have no knowledge of the area. It would be nice to gather a group of old timers that did a lot of fishing in the Rivers, Streams and Creeks long before any of us even thought about it and pick there brains for information. Some of the old timers have passed on taking with them the stories about what we seek. Great discussion keep it going.