Terrierman

Always focus on discharge. High number is 75th percentile. Low number is 25th percentile. Usable in general until you get to know the river and what the discharge relates to in terms of personal experience and preferences.

Don't get a Cub Cadet, I did and actually gave it away when it was shot in three years. I've now got a 24HP Husqvarna with a 48" reinforced deck (there's a 3/4" steel tube around most of it) and it seems to be a good one. No trouble after two years. It does have three blades though, I think most of the 48" decks do. That's not the same as saying get a Husqvarna, just it's a lot better mower than that POS Cub Cadet.

You're confusing me with someone else, this is my first post in this thread.

Sad deal all around. Almost as sad to see the blame game play out.

Two breakfast recommendations: Ma's place down in Kimberling City and Billy Gail's right there on Indian Point Road. Ma's place is definitely worth the drive, I LOVE the blueberry pancakes and blueberries are in season right now. If you like Cajun food, the Crazy Cajun also down on Indian Point Road is very good. Get the catfish with crayfish etoufee' on it. For BBQ, I also recommend Dana's. It's south of Branson West on old highway 13.

They sure are pretty little devils aren't they?

I never did either. Ran out of the worms which they were hitting earlier in the day, looked through the plastics folder for something similar and the closest I could come was the fluke, which it turned out they seemed to really like that particular day. If you notice, every fish that you can see the belly on it is pretty well full. When fish are feeding like that, even I can catch them.

1,920 goose decoys is a pretty good collection. Kudos

Took a float trip on one of my local spots on Friday with a couple of guys who I have regular contact with at work, and on Saturday on the same stretch of water with two grandsons, their dad and one of my buddies. Friday it was overcast and threatening rain all day. That watershed got a little rain on Thursday and the water had pretty good color to it, that great emerald green. Probably caught about 40, mostly smallmouth and maybe 10 goggle eye, several nice ones of each species. One of the guys that went with also figured he had about 40 but his were mostly goggle eye. He had a 16" plus fish break him off right at the boat. The other buddy had maybe 10. One spot later in the day I had eight smallmouth on 10 casts. They were eating a green magic fluke and doing their best to swallow it down to their guzzler. I knew we were in for a good day Saturday with family and friend. On Saturday, the weather and the river were both completely different. The forecast was for scattered showers but they never showed where we were. Partly cloudy at best and actually pretty bright, humidity was down and there was a nice breeze. The river had cleared up a lot overnight, and I mean a lot. Not gin clear but easy six foot visibility. The fishing was completely different too. Of course I started out with what was working on Friday. Nothing, not even a sunfish messing with it. Tried a bunch of different plastics, nothing. Spinnerbait, nothing. Crawdad crank, nothing. Topwater, nothing. I could not buy a bite. It's a good thing the creek is pretty and the weather is nice, everybody is having a good time nonetheless. Finally later in the day, the boys got into a few smallies using white grubs tossed up under an overhang. One of them hung one big enough to break him off. Had two great days on the river with friends and family, but wow what different conditions and different results. From Friday:

Just make a cut out to still be able to get to the drain plugs.

I'll be there.

Ammonia is a big deal. Practically every wastewater treatment plant in the state (and for that matter, most of the U.S.) is going to have to undergo a significant upgrade to meet new much lower limits on ammonia that are coming. Certain mussels and gilled snails are particularly sensitive to ammonia and new limits are meant to protect those species. Basically every stream in Missouri has them and the theory goes that if they're not in a particular stream reach it's because present ammonia levels in wastewater discharges are to blame for their absence and they will come back as soon as the ammonia levels allow. That 6 mg/l limit that Monett has now is headed down towards 0.6. We are talking billions of dollars worth of upgrades in Missouri alone. Plus increased operation and maintenance costs too. Get used to the idea of higher sewer bills. Its all part of a lot of people on the planet and us learning more about how we affect mother nature and how best to keep from completely fouling our own nest.

I put a floor in mine and it was really easy. It's 1/2" CCA plywood cut to fit painted to match with non-skid porch paint and then screwed to the floor rails. My boat is a 48" wide model with 4 rails. No rail on the outsides so I also screwed a strip of 1"x2" CCA to the plywood before I laid it in the boat so it wouldn't be flexing when anyone walked on close to the gunwales on the boat. The plywood has enough flex to allow for the rocker these boats have, just had a buddy stand on it while I screwed it down. I figure there is about a sheet and a half of plywood in the boat. Sure it added a little weight but those boats are not light to begin with and I'm pretty sure that amount of plywood weighs less than what the solid fiberglass floors weigh. Water will still run under the floor but my boat stays pretty dry and if water does get in, my theory is what doesn't drain on the drive home will evaporate. And it won't hurt the CCA to be wet. I'm really glad I put the floor in, really improved walking comfort in the boat and stuff on the floor stays dry too. Here's what it looks like:

I think ticks must be allergic to me. After two or three days, they swell up and turn grayish purple and fall off.

I guess you can tell I don't spend a lot of time on the lakes.

Your tacklebox is a mess. But everything else is pretty awesome.

The one I hate the worst: "I'll be honest with you". When that one comes out the first thing that pops into my head is spare me.

Looks like the makings of another good fish fry at Grandma's!

You never know when you might need to shoot a hole in the bottom of the boat. Better safe than sorry is my motto.

You really CAN say whatever the heck you want (pretty much) and you're not going to go to jail for it. That's where the free country part comes in. You may well suffer other consequences though, as people are starting to learn.

Sorry I missed you. You have a voice mail on your phone now.

Check out Temple Fork rods. Fin and Feather in Springfield is where I bought mine. Shimano Chronarch on it and I think it's a pretty sweet set up for the same thing you are wanting.

Relatively heavy frost at my place 5 miles NE of Ozark. Glad I covered everything tender up and took hanging baskets indoors.

It will be murky not muddy. I'm partial to chartreuse and blue or chartreuse and orange spinner baits with single gold Colorado blade this time of year in that kind of water.

It will be perfect unless it rains more.