Gary Lange

Good questions Al. I hope that some studies are in the process now that will address these issues and shed some light on these questions. I know that on the Fox River in Illinois the ISA was responsible in getting catch and release only regulations for the period of April 15-June 15 I believe it is. Even 5-6 years ago when I lived and fished this river fish in the 17"-20" were caught as were numerous smaller fish. A friend of mine just caught a 19" on a float-n-fly which shows that catch and release which most Smallmouth anglers in Ill. practice is working. The DuPage River is coming back strong as a Smallmouth Stream and has produced some 17" fish when I fished it as well as many smaller fish. So it appears we are experiencing some year class fish so some are surviving.

Here is an excellent article from In-Fisherman Magazine about fishing for Bass during the Spawn. http://www.in-fisherman.com/content/closed-seasons-conservation-concern-or-needless-restriction/1

Well I will be there unless God has different plans. Don't know what I will bring but I will bring something.

Bring the Grand Kid down just don't tell him it is to crawl under the house to wrap the Main Water Pipe with the heater tape and insulation. Is it possible for you to build and access from inside the house like a trap door in the floor to gain easier access to the valve.

Greg, when the season starts for the Blackhawks check www.firstrow.net and watch the games on your computer for free. I have been watching the Chicago Bears on it this year and it is pretty neat. Mickey's is on 76 about 2 blocks east of Bus. 13 across from the McDonalds.

Nitroman, I figure you know about Mickey's in Branson West for Chicago Hotdogs, Beef and Sausage Combo's and Maxwell Street Polish and other great sandwiches. Mr. G's for Chicago Style Pizza in Branson and Rosati's in Springfield is another great Chicago Style Pizza place. I move down here is 2005 and found Mickey's and then Mr. G's and Rosati's opened a couple years ago in Springfield. Rosati's is on Fremont off of Battlefield behind Heritage House.

They must have because I was out yesterday playing and had my Polarized Glasses on and had no problem seeing the screen.

I spent the morning getting the latest downloads for my two Humminbird Units and installing them. I was nervous about it as they cost a bunch of money but I got it done and it was pretty easy. I was on a roll so I went for broke I had the Fish Attractors on a MMC/SD card so I moved it to my PC and then put a new MMC/SD card in and downloaded it to the Humminbird PC and then to the SD card and went out and downloaded it to the 898cSI on my console. Was a piece of cake and now I have these spots marked on my Table Rock Map. I am going to get a new card for the 788c on the bow and then put the attractors on that one also. Pretty neat stuff I think I am liking these Humminbird Units.

Thank you all very much for your input. When go for these things the numbers of colors overwhelms you and you have a hard time deciding what to buy. The choices you have given me will make it much easier. Thanks Bill for the indepth coverage of what you use on a daily basis it will really assist me in getting what I need instead of a bunch of stuff I don't need that doesn't work.

I am looking at getting my worm assortment back up to a good level and I am wondering what colors would be best for a good Table Rock assortment?

That wind is just part of the cycle of life Al. It is Mother Natures way of recycling the air in the valley so folks can breath a breath of fresh Mountain air. Tell me that even after all that happened that you didn't have a great time on the water with a good friend and truly enjoyed the time you spent together and the story it brought to us.

I understand TN has one on the Ballet for this Nov. Makes it harder for radical movements to take away your rights.

Here is an article for you to read. It seems that bird and bat deaths from Wind generators is almost non-existent. http://www.awea.org/faq/sagrillo/swbirds.html

They are discussing the Spinfisherman putting down the Flyfisherman up North and down here they are a few years behind on the discussion of passing along information and fishing spots. The ISA had that discussion back in 2000 or earlier. Hey Creekyknees when did you learn how to read anyway!!! :D :D

I wear the vest whenever the big motor on the boat is running. If I was out in a Kayak or a Canoe I would be wearing the vest. I worked in Chicago as Railroad Cop and although it was hot and humid I wore my Bulletproof Vest everyday. Your safety should come first and this guy would be alive today had he been wearing his. So many don't wear them for whatever reason but they need to think about family and how much life means to them. Wear the vest!!!!!!!

It is common practice on web sites such as this to keep the River, Creek or Stream to yourself when posting your catches. That was the way it was in Illinois when I was up that way and I don't see it changing any time soon. Make friends become trustworthy and you will get some good spots to fish from those friends.

Don't them little ones just get your heart pumping! Beautiful little girl and I can tell you are a proud father!

Now because of some bone headed Liberal Judge how many Hunters that were convicted of shooting dear from a moving vehicle are going to appeal the case. What part of no hunting from a vehicle don't they understand. It say plain as day (A)Motor Driven Air, Land or Water Conveyances. No person shall pursue, take,attempt to take, drive or molest wildlife from a motor-driven air, land or water conveyance at any time. Except as provided in 3 CSR 10-7.431, motor boats may be used if the motor has been completely shut off and it's progress therefrom has ceased. Sure seems plain enough to me.

Hard telling what you might run into wading on the a river. Guy caught about a 2.5' Bull Shark on the Kankakee River in Illinois below the Wilmington Dam. Bull Sharks can survive just fine in fresh water and have been found as far as St. Louis, Mo. on the Mississippi.

I would think that for them to be a real problem with the Smallmouth population there would need to be thousands on each creek and that is if they only ate Smallmouths. I am sure they eat what they can catch. It seems to me that people tend to make a bigger problem out of things then they really are.

Has there been any studies done on how much the Otters eat in pounds of fish. I used to Backpack in Isle Royal and the Wolf and Moose population would balance itself. In times when the Moose population was high they wolves would have more pups and when the Moose population was down the wolf population would be down also. With the numbers of fish that spawn each year in our streams I don't think the Otter's are going to eat us out of Smallmouths to catch.

Welcome to the Ozark Anglers Forum!

Look up North American Fisherman Knot Wars and you will find some great knots for all your fishing needs.

Well I went to BPS this morning and picked up the new stuff. Got the Humminbird 898cSI for the console and the Humminbird 788c for the bow panel. I had to order the installation stuff like the interlink, Switch box and another transducer before I can finish. Just taking out the old stuff now.

I have a Lowrance 332c GPS/Sonar unit that works well on the console of the boat. However, the GPS Module went out and needs to be replaced. I am wondering if it would be wise to upgrade now to new Hummingbird Units or to get the GPS Module and hope the 332c works a few more years without problems. I have a 334c on the bow that is giving me problems now so it would be considerable expense to upgrade. I just don't know what would be better. The Lowrance units can't be repaired now if the break so if something happens they are toast. I am looking at the 798c SI at $999.00, the 587ci at $469.00, and the networking system at $129.99 for a total of about $1597.99. The new module will be about $300.00 I am just concerned that the units go bad and I am stuck buying the new stuff anyway. Money wise I would like to just get the module and hope for the best. Then again I would like the side imaging.