Terrierman

I say if it's gigging season, go ahead and shoot your limit.

I always tell the truth when asked 1. where I caught the fish and 2. what I caught them on. 1. The corner of the mouth. 2. That old brown pole over there.

I want to see a picture of that canoe with the wooden deck. Wow the river looks in great shape.

I keep 4 lb green maxima on at least three reels. It works for me. Were I to really focus on Taneycomo Trout, I would go to 2 lb. I have in the past and there are times it makes a difference. 2 lb Flourocarbon would only be so much the better.

When I have to take the hook out of the fish, I caught it. That's normally accomplished boatside or at my feet when wading with the fish still in the water.

Funny thing. We were on NFOW last weekend and it was packed. But darn if somehow we were able to catch a few fish. But I agree, I prefer it a little quieter. Looked like Sunburst was full. Hope it went well for you.

What's sad is when you realize you're not the man you used to be. What's really sad is when you realize you never were.

Salt? Tuna. Freshwater? Smallmouth and goggle eye both have special places in my heart.

There's your problem. Only keep meat that is white. Red line is nasty, so is yellow. I won't even put a knife on a channel cat that's longer than maybe 14".

I'll give you an example of what's elite, at least in my mind. Taking kids and grandkids to NFOTW (where they've never been) for the weekend floating, fishing, staying in a very nice place and eating like kings. To me, it's what you do, not what you have that's worth striving for.

I am 0 for the list. Especially the one about training the wife to be a pack mule. I'm the government mule around our place. She's the pretty ballerina.

Capps Creek is nice too if you insist on trout fishing. There are a lot of options to wade and fish for smallmouth bass.

Crystal Bridges is a very and I mean VERY rewarding day trip. A world class collection in an incredible setting. It takes a full day to do it close to justice.

If BASS and all the rest of the bass tournaments would go C&R that would go a long way to make me feel better about tournaments in general. And no problem about blowing holes in my idea, I'm sure it's not mine in the first place anyway.

You got the point though, there's no need to drag fish anywhere to have a tournament, other than to have a public weigh in spectacle ala BASS et al.

I'd like to be in charge of that tournament. I'd make a few changes to the rules CATCH AND RELEASE TOURNAMENT, ARTIFICIAL LURES ONLY. 1. Submit 3 date and time stamped photos of longest fish. 2. Artificials only. Photo 1 must show fish in water with lure visible. 3. Photo 2 must show fish and measuring device 4. Photo 3 must show fish being released unharmed

Chart blade and blue skirt is a go to color for me

Depends on: 1. how close you want to live to the water. LOZ - dead lakefront. Table Rock - COE owned setback to elevation 929, minimal vegetation management (permit require to remove any trees live or dead etc.) to elevation 936 2. dock slips are limited and pretty valuable on Table Rock if you feel the need to keep a boat on the water 3. LOZ is more fertile and will produce more fish per acre and is easier (debatable I know) to fish than TR. 4. TR is far and away prettier and has less pressure in every way - though it certainly has enough 5. How bad do you hate yahoos from KC and STL that want to get drunk and show off? LOZ is worse for that than TR

I prefer sand / gravelbar camping and a lot fewer miles in a day.

Another blast from the past that still works: Humpback Rebel. Partial to the chrome/blue one.

I'd go somewhere that falls a little ahead of the James. You have options.

All the people that are down on scouting should read this thread. Excellent sir, just excellent.

With all the rain In Arkansas, I'll be surprised if gates stay closed.

It's been tough on a lot of people. It does seem like more either drought or flood lately. Snow in May or jonquils in January. We were talking at work this morning about how people would drive on the ice from Hollister to Branson in Model T's before Table Rock went in. Those days are long past.

If you're in Jefferson City around lunchtime, I'd go to Zesto. It's on Jefferson Street which is basically the North outer road of Hwy 54 close to the Ellis Boulevard exit. Order a polish sausage with sauerkraut, swiss cheese and hot mustard with a side of baked beans. You can thank me later.