Wayne SW/MO

BWO its been in the advertising banner this morning. It says "Fishing Hurts".

Real men just yank 'em out. SM, when the weather changes.

There has to be little doubt that they are running away from what brung 'em. Aside from SDC, I can't think of anything new that is aimed at families, in fact they may be losing some. One got hit by the Titanic. It is slowly changing over to an affluent adult venue, which is fine, although I miss the old Branson, but they should quit using the term family destination to depress any competition.

63 huh, well I guess we now have something to "shoot" for today. I'm thinking at least 80, maybe a hundred.

Me too, in fact they are there this morning, I'm sure they're thrilled they are getting so much attention, but I still don't understand why Google would put them on a specific site.

That takes money, and in the case of RB, money they don't have, so that have to go outside and adjust to what investments outsiders want. If you want to see what I'm talking about visit the Landing, it removed what Branson didn't feel was bringing people in, and they found outside money willing to make a big investment on something they thought would. The Landing is far from the final tally, despite the cheerleading from Vacation. To be successful it has to bring in more than it takes, and I honestly don't think anyone knows the answer to that. The convention centers impact overall won't be known for several years, but if Branson doesn't have the entertainment it requires, it will come and without any voting.

But, that doesn't mean its been a good thing for the established Branson businesses, the ones that helped build the market the Landing hopes to tap. How does an upscale shopping center equate to "Family"? Sorry SM, I still haven't seen any evidence that it was something that would increase the draw.

Why? Sounds like he has earned some notoriety.

If you must, a buoy placed the proper length up the line will make it somewhat safe. The buoy serves 2 purposes, 1) it changes the angle to a point that prevents it pulling the bow down. 2)it gives a better uplift on the anchor when you retrieve it.

I do, pretty much 100% of the time. Its a shallow C&R, and with it I can horse a fish that last 2 or 3 feet, unhook them and send him on his way, generally without them ever losing touch with the water. I prefer not to revive fish, and while its not possible to avoid it all together, it helps. I have much the same mentality in my Smallie fishing.

I was below Powersite, briefly, last week and there were several people do quite well on Trout. They appeared to be in the 12" range. I don't know if the generation has drawn them in to BS or not, but I would assume any that were in there last winter would have left the dam area during the long lull in generation.

My question also? At one time they openly admitted to donating money to ELF, but when the FBI said ELF was a domestic terrorist they dropped the claim. If you go online and try to trace their money you find that it weaves in and out of various organizations. They did manage to get the clothes off of Pamela Anderson and the Dixie Clucks, or so I'm told.

Phil I think when it comes to warmwater species, they don't want a lot of publicity, not that they wouldn't like to have the attraction, but they know the lake can't support it. "trout should be a bonus, not a right" I would take exception to that. The corp owes a respectable amount of fish to all the areas down lake. They destroyed the warm water fishery and the purpose of the hatchery is to replace it. Many here think that the truck doesn't come that often, nor stay that long. Thats what I hear, not what I know, but I do know that basically the hatchery will tell you its none of your business if you ask, and that creates some suspicion.

So can I try your new carbon next time we fish?

The stretch from the Rock Bridge to the hatchery outlet can be good for topwaters. You also might check with Ed at Larry's, he spends a lot of time fishing drys.

I'm not sure that I understand #3, but I don't know that its wages as much as it is year long wages and some benefits. Any company that considers a location for a manufacturing facility, needs to things to even consider it, a work force that has some similar experience, and a reasonable path to raw materials, not to mention a good route in and out of the location. Taney county has none of these. Its not just Rockaway that would benefit from any financial gains that might be afforded the local people, its much larger than that, in fact Rockaway couldn't staff it if children were employed. Outside money? Trust me the Landing and the large housing addition on the west side of SDC aren't using any local money. The people who have an investment in Rockaway would like a chance for a return. The people here pay extra taxes to enhance Branson's appeal to tourist, but are basically told that, even though they are over 10 miles away, Branson doesn't want anything that might pull money away from their investors. I don't know that Rockaway and Ozark Beach get their fair share of fish, because the hatchery won't say!

I have a theory, developed after a few decades of fishing, that the main reason that barbless improves mortality is the simple fact that it speeds the process of release. While a 2 or 3 weight can have its uses, upper Taney isn't one of them, anymore than a 7X tippet is. If you've ever watched a 4 or 5 minute picture session with a 20+ inch fish, after a long fight, you know you aren't surprised when they turn belly up. What does surprise me is the effort some put into reviving a fish after they kill it!

I've heard many of the same rumors Bill. One of them was that the powers that be didn't want RB or Hollister to get a foot in on a casino because they thought there was only room for one. Any place to be successful for a convention center needs to be versatile, and Branson doesn't have 100% of the pieces. I don't have any stake in a casino, or the future of RB, but I know the population doesn't fit the mold many believe they do. While many of the resorts are outdated, they aren't falling down.

I have to wonder how many making comments concerning the status of Rockaway beach, have been here anytime lately, or ever? Its not just Rockaway, its Merriam Woods, and Forsyth, both larger, and Taneyville, Kissee Mills, Bradlyville, all full of people who want jobs that will last 12 months a year, with a decent wage and with some benefits. Waiting tables in Branson, or smiling at people at SDC doesn't supply this, no security, no year long employment, no benefits. There are a lot of people who want no more than this and its Branson who sets the standard that tourism is the base, so the easiest way for this area to tap into that base is a casino, without taking that much away and to recover money going north and west. In order to bring capital in you must have something lucrative, and a casino is that to outsiders, just as land has become lucrative in the Branson area to outsiders. Ironically you probably won't see a lot of opposition from the Landing, because the convention center would benefit greatly from a casino.

I suppose we should click it at every opportunity, because I hear they have to pay everytime its clicked. That would give them less time to do there "Daddy fishes, so Daddy's bad" commercials. Gone, don't spread it around, but the Hardy company of reel fame is where I believe you'll find the "waders".

It appears to me that its overdue for some "mining" this winter.

You should make a point to do some early morning topwater on banks north of the bridge. I would travel up where the channels are and work banks that have a decent drop with some Vegetation on them. Under the bridge I would fish the piers on either side of the channel.

I agree with Phil, pulling it apart at the length you want is the way to go.

Great, and I'm glad you made the extra effort to revive the fighter.

K Red I would concentrate on the water north of the bridge if Bass is your target. Jigging spoons around the many bluffs there might also be productive. Another possibility would be fishing at night, with a light, under the 160 bridge. It would help if we knew what kind of fish you're looking for and what type of fishing you like.