fishinwrench

It can't be concidered "trespassing" whether there is water over it or not. If it weren't for the vertical bluffs you could walk around the whole lake without getting your feet wet, right now. Of course you'll have to step over dock cables and duck under the walkways if you want to completely avoid touching private property. In places where there aren't too many docks a dirt bike or 4-wheeler is handy.

Brandon, With the lake at low levels, like it is now, you can walk the shoreline almost anywhere you want to go and cover planty of water. Just stay below the seawalls and out of peoples yards, and don't trip over the dock cables A pair of hip boots or waders are handy if you have some.

If hatchery trout are so precious that they have to be guarded with 24/7 surveillance, like the Hope diamond, then maybe we should ease up on them....Even though we are the ones paying for them. Nope, any surveillance done within BSSP is not going to be about "protecting the trout" it is about generating revenue by way of any and all infractions. Someone will see to it that the surveillance system and those who operate it are worth every penny. And I'm betting that it won't generate much revenue through violations of fishing rules. Opinions will change once a few fines and court costs are paid for things like riding on the tailgate of a truck (or worse yet: allowing your kids to do the same), having a beer with your lunch, or unintentionally flashing your butt-crack while putting on your waders within sight of the playground! FYI, you'll need a good lawyer to defend that one. My money says that 98.9% of those that say they "don't mind being watched closely", aren't as squeeky clean and proper as they think (or say) they are. And that's about the end of what I plan to say...about that.

Just for kicks I roughly estimated how much I spend annually between Charlie Readings shop and the wooden bridge, (what I consider the boundaries of the "Bennett community") and I'm almost too ashamed to post it. It's amazing how it adds up, just for one small family.

I doubt that anyone is concerned about which alphabet group the surveillance systems belong to. The concern is whether or not they exist, or will soon exist. And it seems that they do, or will. MDC, DNR, LCSD, DCSD, MADTF, MADD, PETA (LOL), or whatever. It all boils down to the same intention, and outcome. You mentioned deciding not to do the infrared thing (whatever it was) because of public concerns, so apparently someone other than the few here on this forum are hollering about it. No ?

You ain't a woofin' they do....

So the ones at RR and Taney are MDC's systems ?

Well I hope you are "unoffficially" correct. When talk at the park meeting (off the record) regarding surveillance within the state park gets overheard, then a forum member reports seeing a surveillance camera at Crane. Then all of a sudden we have a live streaming webcam. That's an interesting coincidence... I don't want to split hairs or anything, but, is there anyone that can "officially" confirm that there is no remote video or audio surveillance attempts being done, or planned, either onstream or within the campground areas ? Phil, no surveillance at Taney either ?

As evident by a few email forwards I've gotten, walking into Wal-Mart looking all crazy has become a a way to distract the surveillance cameras there pretty good. So, who's gonna be the first to put on a thong and a mullet, and fish off the dam ? C'mon Cricket

Huge difference ! Regardless of how confident and relaxed you are when driving down the interstate, tell me that it doesn't effect your mood to have a trooper behind you for 20 miles....much less the whole trip. To be surveilled when fishing (or doing anything in your free time) is like having an unfriendly jackass in a uniform standing behind you, arms crossed, silently observing you....all.....darn....day. And yeah, I'm pretty sure there is (or will soon be) more than just the online streaming webcam, and if it's anything like I think it is they are capable of zooming in and reading tag numbers. My almost-inlaws place is set up like fort knox and I've played with their system alot (actually helped set it up) and you can count the whiskers on a squirrels nose at 100 yards. The inlaws system has 6 wireless remote pods and cost less than 3500.00 (less installation) to buy. I'm sure the system at Bennett (and probably Montauk and Taneycomo as well) is at least a 80k system (using their estimate for a fish cleaning station as a reference). I bet there wasn't any surveillance onboard the Rangers truck during the Beagle shooting, or if there was I'll bet it has been edited out. BTW that's another feature my inlaws cheapo system has. Just food for thought. And I hear that they even have a system set up at Crane.

It has definately made Me "think twice" (about going somewhere else besides Bennett from now on). I bet they really have a ball surveilling the campgrounds. Personally I like to have a say in who tags along with us on fishing or camping trips. Recently I used my bank debit card to purchase some stuff that is "out of the ordinary" for me (scrapbooking supplies for my daughter) and the purchaes were not made ONLINE, they were made at stores in Osage Beach and Jeff city. Now suddenly I am getting spam ads through my business email for this type of product, which is a first. This new age data-mining crap might not bother the new generation....but it bugs the crap out of ME

Gavin, I know where your coming from. It's all that "wild McCloud" hype man. It's being churned into a mini-Patagonia, even the Water Moccasin propaganda can't keep'em away. Once everyone scratches the itch they'll ease up on it I think. I know if I lived closer I could certainly piss an afternoon away catching dinks on drys with a 3wt.

Sorry I didn't notice this post earlier. Here ya go, just select the month and year. http://server.odd.net/waterlevel/index.php

Thanks for the report Creeky. Those Illini bass must like it cold, the fish in my area haven't wandered away from the winter holes yet. Wiggle Warts are amazing, even after all these years.

BRB, You are talking about a revolving spool baitcaster, right ? "InLine reels" are antique'ish trolling equipment (they mount on the bottom of the rod and retrieve like a fly-reel but you swivel the housing sideways to cast, or let line out, like a spinning reel).

Absolutely. Even the guys that own body shops would support that, I bet.

Hey, if you're not doing anything wrong then there's nothing to worry about. (there, got that out of the way) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hold the phone ! $165,857.04 for a fish cleaning station ? Dude, I built a 1800sq.ft. two-story house with surrounding CCA deck and a seperate 30x30' garage for 98,675.00 just a couple years ago (less the concrete work). Who bid that project out ? Or is this one of those things like the 400.00 toilet seats and 14.00 pencils at the county courthouse's ?

The Glaize has a little something going for it, in that good numbers of "keeper sized" bass from the rest of the lake are constantly hauled into it and released on almost a daily basis throughout 8-9 months of the year.

If he HADN'T shot the dog...He would still have his job, right ?

Well dung ! That's all it would take to get MINE from running a deer. LMAO ! I mean look at him.... we're talkin' Serious deer threat here ! And the coffee pot runs 24/7 around here. Give a shout and c'mon by if you are in the area. Bring an extra donut for River-dog (the ballchinian) though, or he'll pee on your tires

Several ideas come immediately to mind..... A hotdog, a frisbee, a STICK......... Or if he just HAD to used his firearm in the dramatic deer rescue, he could have shot "close" to the dog. Who keeps all the exausted deer safe from coyotes and foxes? Seriously, I've seen deer do stand-offs with full grown bird dogs and coon dogs, and the deer always got away just fine. I've even watched deer "play" with dogs chasing each other back and forth, stomping and snorting....it's downright cute. Nope, the "hemmed up deer" defense doesn't cut it with this ol'boy. I like dogs more than I do most people.

"Apparently" .... But probably NOT.

I don't know how many dogs have been shot by the S.D. here, they are famous for it. The latest that created a big stink was a 15 year old black lab (Sadie) that was the pet of an entire rural neighborhood. They responded to a domestic call, Sadie came off the porch barking, and a deputy shot at her 5 times in a panic. Five bullets flying around a sub-division in the middle of the day because a deputy thought the old dog looked like she might bite. The county heads, of course, backed the deputys judgement 100% The only reason I'd call the law would be to aquire a (mandatory) police report for insurance purposes if my place got vandalized. Otherwise if I have a problem I'll take care of it myself. Around here, calling the law for anything just makes a bad situation WORSE. Seeing one of their cruisers go up the road doesn't make anyone feel secure at all....it makes them nervous. Where I grew up the lawmen were decent humans that a regular person could relate to, but around here they are like programmed robots with no compassion whatsoever. Who spawns these high-on-authority jackasses ?

As far as color patterns go you will get a hodge podge of suggestions covering every pattern available, so I'll only offer that the most important thing to me is that the belly is either clear, chartruese or (preferably) white (anything but red or flo.orange), then consider the light conditions and water color...and just go with your gut...at least Until your partner starts puttin' it on ya with something else. LOL Early in the season (from ice out until the water temp reaches the high 40's) I definately do best with the deep diving jerkbaits, one of my favorites is the old suspending spoonbill rogue Not because it goes deeper, but because of the harder "tha-thump" that they do on the retrieve or when twitched. That really turns on the fish (gets thier attention) when the water is on the colder end of the annual jerkbait bite. (and yeah, Rogues do STILL catch fish) LOL. Once it warms up a bit and the fish are actually looking for sick shad the regular short lipped jerkbaits will do better. I went out for a very short trip yesterday and caught 4 on a spoonbill rogue in the Gravois arm. (1 good keeper LM, a pair of fat kentuckys, and another dink LM). And I didn't have to cover much water to find them, they were right where they are supposed to be. Caught a nice Hybrid and got to see a 17" walleye caught also...just for conversation sake.

For the best charge percentage and battery life a 10 amp manual charger is best. At 10amps you aren't boiling it hard enough to loose much water, plus, staying at 10amps until it is fully charged (instead of automatically shutting down to 2 - 5 amps at 75%)keeps the reserve capacity strong. But the majority of people like the convenience of an onboard 15amp automatic unit, and get satisfactory service from them.