fishinwrench

Yeah..... I dunno 'bout all that "Best" chest beating going on up there ^^^, but "busiest" is probably still true. From what I know the guiding business out of the two "lodges" is more like a babysitting gig. (Send dad and junior out fishing for a couple hours while Mom's at her meeting). Not that there's anything wrong with that if the guide has the patience for it. Helping someone catch fish that doesn't really even want to is a friggin drag! And anyone that can keep doing that crap all year just to stay busy deserves to showboat their number of deposits.

I did it for a long time but I don't anymore, not when I'm out fishing anyway. I just figure that I've done more than my share over the years and I'm not as energetic as I used to be.....so it's all up to you young studs now I have to give credit either to the general public in my area, the floods, or the ones still diligently doing the picking up....but I don't see near the amount of trash on the rivers that I frequent than I used to. Even on our local Stream Team stretch it was hard to fill a single bag recently. Bravo!

That pattern appears to be statewide right now. Sounds like it! Well done.

2 men are in a truck going down a Missouri country road. The driver of the truck is from Missouri, the passenger is from Texas. A deer goes across the road 200 feet in front of them, and the Texan asks what it is. The Missouri man says "It's a deer, of course". The Texan says, "I didn't recognize it because in Texas, the deer are the size of a buffalo, everything is bigger in Texas". Later, they pass a turkey,and the Texan again asks what it is, and the Missouri man again states what the animal is. The Texan says "That puny thing is a turkey?" A few miles later there's a 2-ft. wide snapping turtle in the road, and the Texan says "Woah, what the hell is THAT"? Missouri man says....."it's a tick"

I hope that you're right. If that's the case then the fishermen and the river party'ers together far outnumber river front land owners and as a whole pay more in taxes annually. Therefore we (the river users) will have it our way when it's all said and done. The party-float crowd is not as passionate about the rivers as the fishermen are though, or they'd make it to the river more than once/twice a year....NOBODY is THAT busy. I'm still betting that they'd cry harder over a closed mall or a favorite restaurant than they would a closed river.

The FICHT engines really are awesome, as are all the 2.4-2.5 Mercs in both carb and EFI configuration. If there wasn't this assumption that they all need to be rigged on a jackplate, with a hotfoot, and propped to turn 62-6500 rpm max, and operated by mid 20 to mid 30 year old wannabe hotrodders then the reputation those pieces of machinery have would be way WAY better. The Trans am was an awesome CAR too, but look at where they all ended up..... (Wrapped around trees).

The part about river rights that chaps my @$$ is that fishermen who drift the river quietly and do not alter the atmosphere of it much... are forced to take the same side as loud, splashing, screaming and shouting party crowds. The MDC will escort you off one of their (our) accesses if you are involved in a bigtime PAR'TAY! on a MDC access gravel bar, will they not? Having the right to be there shouldn't mean having the right to create as much noise and disturbance as you possibly can. If and when anything goes before the courts that involves river/stream access there needs to be some separation between those seeking to maintain legal access to them. You shouldn't have to allow free-roaming partys in order to allow fishing. And you can bet your hind end that there won't be a single party floater doing any legwork to secure river access rights.

For the most part all 2 cylinder/2stroke outboards are fairly bulletproof, the reason being because a problem with ONE cylinder results in a very noticeable problem and has to be dealt with immediately if the motor is to be used. A 4+ cylinder powerhead can have one cylinder failing yet the engine will still produce enough power to continue using it...... and that's what pays my bills

You are "encouraged" to have a wearable PFD in a canoe, but it isn't "required". Same for motorboats under 16ft. And a big THANK YOU to Lowe for making their 16' jons actually measure 15'10"

Yeah, the 90-115 4 cylinder-4 carb Mercs are plagued with repeated hole shot and ignition/charging system problems. The design was centered around fuel economy and smooth idle (which it accomplished) but they are definitely one of Mercury's "dogs". I would own one, but only because I understand them well and know how to recognize and rectify problems early. If you keep pushing them when something just "isn't quite right" it'll cost you. The most dependable earlier model ('80's-mid 90's) outboards in that HP class are the V4 Johnson/Evinrudes...with exception to the 140 which is basically a factory hotrodded 115 (stay away from that one).

There ya have it. It's all fun & games until the "weapons" come out. I'm sure he'll claim self defense cuz the guy threw a rock at him.

It's a grass carp

I think you might have tossed away a world record Chub. Naw, that's a Grassie.

Might as well it seems. LOL

Yeah not long after this thread was started. I know I know......Phil doesn't have a problem with what Adley is doing. Ok.

More times than not I've had the bite go from "slow" to "worse" when a big cloud blows over. I can't say whether it's the loss of direct sunlight or just because something changed. In my mind I see river Smallmouth as mid-day pretty weather fish more often than not. And that goes for all 4 seasons. They are the true "sunfish" IMO.

Why don't you consult a calendar?

More like a defunct trailer park..... but yeah I suppose you could pitch a tent there. Jackson branch has been one of the most problematic "water quality" areas since the testing began. Not that that truly means anything, but still...

Yeah the actual "camping" alternatives on this pond are pretty sad. It's a shame really. If I had a million bucks to play with I'd set up a few primitive campgrounds in select areas.

Love your yak rig.....Nice! I saw you by the ramp, and up by TT bridge when I was out test running a 16' jon with an old 18hp. Evinrude on it. Give a shout next time you're in the neighborhood.

Here we go again..... Reasons that Googly Bubble Eyes Rock: 1. They are Eyes. 2. They float (add buoyancy). 3. I have an unending supply cuz my g/f is a crafty freak. 4. They annoy Ronnie Moore.

Yeah, if you doubt its tangliness just drop a crankbait on a pile of it.

Here's the "strap teaser" complete with part # for the correct kind of strap. The strap is folded over a 1/4" dia. foam cylinder and lashed together with Power Pro braid. Tie in a split ring as you finish it up and trim the bottom "wing" a bit shorter than the top and fray the tails just a bit. You don't need to "fuzz it up" any more than shown, the gar will do it for you...and do it better than you will. I put googly bubble eyes on it...... but hell I put googly bubble eyes on EVERYTHING That part is optional. After it gets soaked it has a fluke type action just under the surface.

Oneshot, I know a guy that might be interested but he "doesn't do computers". If you wanna PM me a phone number I'll pass it along to him.

That is Outstanding !!!! Can a lowly outboard tech make a living out there? Cuz I'm ready to move.