fishinwrench

When it first showed up below Bull Shoals the Arkansas guys were all up in arms about it....now I seldom hear them mention it. Did it turn out to be "not such a big deal", or have they just learned to accept it and deal with it ? I don't get down there very often so I wonder, Has it noticably effected the scud / sowbug population there ?

Myself I only wear waders/felt sole boots on 4 Missouri streams, I only make it to Arkansas about once a year on average and I've pretty much quit fishing Taney completely (not that I don't like it, I do, but it's a haul for me and if I'm driving that far I'd just as soon go somewhere that horns don't blow and run me off the stream as soon as I get there. I'm self employed and live a pretty simple life, I don't go traveling all over the darn country...unless it's a special occasion I fish fairly close to home, so I'm not gonna go out and buy new boots that are a hindrance and risk a fall just because some of you nation-wide travelers might bring something home from one of your spendy cross country jaunts. Hell I can't afford health insurance and don't have much of a nest egg built up, so if I break a wrist, or worse, because of a bad step in a place where I'm used to being able to navigate without too much caution, it could put me in the poor house. I don't know how financially secure everyone else here is, but loosing 4-6 weeks worth of work could have me wearing those Vibram boots to bed at night in a van down by the river eating hotdogs and instant potatoes.

I don't "do" herons, so I think I'm safe there.

Really, so when didymo shows up why do they immediately insist that it was brought there on fishermens boots ? I'll tell ya why, because it's convenient and another window for manipulation. They know the majority will buy into it if they keep repeating it long enough. Have any of the hotshot biologists even taken an aquarium and a boot and TRIED to transfer it ? I'll bet it isn't as easy IRL as it looks on paper. Absolutely ! And is the proposed ban aimed at banning the SALE of felt soled boots, or banning the USE of them ? How would they monitor that...."Ah that guy over there hasn't busted his butt yet, maybe we oughta do a boot check on him". If the NFOW (or any other Missouri stream) is ever going to get diddy it will get it regardless. None of the bans or requests to disinfect gear are going to make a difference because the majority of people aren't going to do it. Look at all the money and effort spent in an attempt to stop the spread of Zebra mussels "through education".....it ain't working, and now that we have them here I'm not so sure that they are a bad thing. Zebras might actually help save this pond that I live on.

You buying into all that "felt is bad" propaganda, chief ? Let's take a look at who benefits with a banning of felt. Emergency rooms, boot manufacturers, MDC and local LE (just one more nit-picky thing to issue a summons for), ect, ect. but there are NO benefits to anglers or the environment in the banning of Felt soles. Are they also going to ban boot laces and the padding in the ankles of boots ? Will wading in jeans, or wet wading with socks on be outlawed now ? What about silk flylines, landing nets...and all the other spore harbouring materials fishermen use ? Nothing keeps your butt from bleeding all over the rocks like felt. And Vibram (who's ever bright idea that was) has got to be among the worst compounds in the universe to have between your feet and wet rocks. Arkansas has had Didymo for 10 years or so, and it was probably that little Welshman that brought it over with him If guys wading boots are what is spreading it around all over the place then we should already have it 7 years ago, no ? Waterfowl will spread it quicker than boots will.

You need one of these: URL=http://img521.imageshack.us/i/by2bn4qwkkgrhgookjuejll.gif/]

Up here around the lake I overhear THIS all the time: "Look that guy's TROUT fishing...there's no TROUT in here"

No, it's: Keel you one time !

Well, do be a good sportsman and the next time you see a red Tahoe in the parking lot just put that jar on the bumper. The original owner will appreciate it.

TMC 2487 and 2457 is what I use. I've never tried (or felt I needed) anything else. What don't you like about them ?

Lets play "clue" ! I think it was Col. Musturd, in a canoe, with a candlestick, and a can of diesel fuel. Or it could have been Professor Plum, in the cab of a truck, with a "pipe" and a can of starting fluid.

That's the best excuse for being full of dung I've ever heard. Can I steal that for my own use ?

Cute punkin indeed....But I'm with the boyz here. There's other fish to tie flys for besides stocker trout...and they are even more fun to fish for, in many cases. Trick or friggin' Treat.... Hand it over !

Ok, I'll take a shot at this..... Comparing those three lakes would be like comparing every 2-10 acre farm pond in the southern half of the state, and expecting them to fish the same on any given day. For starters, I think "deep" is relative to the specific area of either lake. None of the lakes you mention have thermoclines at the same depth, or maintain their pool level at the same pace. Water color and how soon it clears up after a deluge plays in to the comparison also, as does the length and number of tributary arms. North/South/East/West orientation of tributary arms effects how sunlight and prevailing winds effects the fish and the forage. Concider bottom composition differences also. Degree of generation through the dams is different on all lakes and effects fish movements mostly in the upper and lower reaches. That's all I got for now, but I'm sure more food for thought will follow....NEXT !

Thanks DD, Can anyone else tell that I had greasy pizza juice on my hands when I whipped it out ?

I'm afraid you ain't gonna get it bro, they've already sucked her down to 657.9

you got little feet Kick that green sumbitch off the deck and go get some Wipers !

I don't have any decent neon dry fly hackle, but how about neon wings.... OR... you could just take a neon sharpie marker (wal-mart) to a regular White Wulff

Dog ? a Pomeranian ? Sorry dude but that's not a "dog". It's a cat that barks.

It shouldn't be any warmer than the Niangua below Prosperine, and the trout have no problems staying in that area throughout the Summer....When they actually stock them. Drop a line to the area biologist and ask to confirm a fairly recent stocking or for results of the latest shock survey.

I haven't fished that area in over a decade, but my money is on that one.

HR, you need to warm up to Fishincricket, he's got the OF pawned and he's an entertaining character to fish with.

LMAO ! You think that's funny, you shoulda seen my double-take when I reached down to land him. I was like: "Woah, PIRANHA !" and pulled my hand back real quick like. I wonder if he was born that way or if it is the result of a childhood encounter with a roostertail and a pair of pliers. Poor guy, I bet his schoolmates pick on him something terrible. That's ok though, cuz I've named a fly after him so he'll always be remembered.... The Bubba stroker URL=http://img37.imageshack.us/i/pa190022.jpg/] Maybe someone will catch him again in a year or two and bust Micheal Kyles balls

By "Bridge hopping" I meant: Accessing by road and fishing within wading distance of the bridges (or accesses). Rivers of that size actually fish a little better like that, or by fishing your way upstream and using the canoe/yak only to paddle across the deep holes. You're right, 4.0-4.5 is the magic number for the LN. 4-6 inches, one way or the other, makes a big difference on certain stretches. If there's not enough current to move the snake-grass you won't find many decent smallies around it.