Wayne SW/MO

It depends a lot on what you want to do with one. For faster water or if there is a chance of wind, I'd much prefer my kayaks or solo canoe. I have been on a few trips when I was glad I didn't have my pontoon because of the wind.

I don't know about fishing a Renegade under an indicator, but you should try stripping it, both as a technique and after a drift on top. Stripping any wooly type fly can be effective.

The often mention of a jet boat ban is for certain locations within Missouri, not in Missouri.

Ken if you're talking about the downtown location, they have moved to a new location, just North of Archers and Anglers on 165.

I would rather see them on the lake than the boat tests planned by BPS.

Might be gonefishin, I've been fishing here for about 55 years and I've only been checked twice that I can remember. Both times were on big lakes and by an agent in a boat checking everyone they came across. It seems that for every piece of evidence against Otters in streams, there is an equal piece that indicates no damage. A lot of the real hard evidence has to do with ponds, which don't supply the water clarity nor the numbers of Crawdads to keep the Otters fed without a lot of fish.

I think mt wife is going to do a stint at St Johns there between April and June. If she does I'll be going over fairly often. I could do some shuttling. I have a SOT that I wouldn't mind doing some paddling on the Arkansas in.

While Shuffling irritates me, I think kicking Trout back into the water from the gravel, or 2"s of water makes me madder, and almost as much as taking 5 minutes to photograph a big fish and then scooting it with a foot to deep water, where it will drift away. after its "released" I would like to see a law that states if a fish is to be released, it has to maintain contact with the water.

Cracklebacks, Double trouble, Leech, Scuds and Sowbugs, and egg flies. Mini jigs are always good, with olive or green best and in the afternoon a small midge, like a Zebra, can be good.

Anything proposed eventually would have to get past a judge. The commission has repeatedly said that they don't want to enforce ethics. It would seem that with that in mind, the damage to the stream bed and subsequent damage, if any, to the fish population would have to be the bottom line.

I don't think that is to teach you the difference between a brown Whitetail and a brown Guernsey, but to teach gun safety. The bottom line is that some giggers, just a few I'm sure, can decimate the population of a species by targeting them at a time when conditions are poor for recovery and the opportunity for harm is high. I think control in some areas and enforcement in all is the answer. Enforcement should be addressed because it s not just in gigging that the county agents are overwhelmed. The difference in enforcement has gone from one agent in a county to two in some since the '50s and it ain't enough. I agree with Gavin that the ramps do more harm than good, and they aren't access. Access is a different animal.

I like it!

Tarpon and Pamlico kayaks= http://www.wildernesssystems.com/

I tie them like Dan, but I have also tied them with a Palomar, with a larger top fly, using the tag for the dropper. The hook bend is the best for a large dry or wooly, IMO.

The river is pretty much unfishable from the 64 access to Barclay, maybe Ho Humm, on weekends in the Summer. It just too crowded and unfortunately there is no limit of the number of canoes that can be launched.

You could run up to River run if you stayed in the chanell, but I doubt it would be worth it.

How about complete catch and release above?? Fall Creek, Koa somewhere in there. Markers for the outlets with no fishing in them. We don't have but one tailwater, and its so popular that it should be made an experience producing area. Its not going to eliminate anything in reality because there will still be about 25 miles of catch & kill water.

Well I wouldn't want anyone to think I'm a wimp, but I'm glad I live close and can afford to go another time. :ph34r:

I think if it could be enforced, it should be illegal, but I don't think it can to the extent that agents would pursue it. I wonder what a law stating you can't fish within the minimum reach of you fishing rod, extended parallel to the water, would do. It would certainly keep your fly out of the feeding area and make shuffling somewhat useless.

Its an old, if not illegal, practice. There doesn't seem to be any shortage of big Flats, the area is limited, and it doesn't seem to conflict with any other fishing. Its certainly more "hands on" than bank or trotlines. I don't see it as a threat to anything, except maybe fingers.

" First if it is so damaging why does the fishing here in Missouri just keep getting better?" I don't believe it does in some areas, for many reasons. I think much of the problem is an old tendency by some to gig what they want, equipment that takes gigging to new levels, little to no enforcement, and maybe the one key item that binds it all together, low water levels. My first choice of action would be some serious enforcement, combined with some changes or additions in the law. A change in the Smallmouth limits to increase numbers, closing the season on Smallies during the gigging season would help some, and a limit on lighting to limit the range of illumination. I'm sure there are other things that can limit conflict and I've never advocated banning gigging, but as an old native, I've heard my share of stories.

If gigging is eliminated on some waters, it won't mean that the Suckers won't be utilized because they can still allow grabbing.

Mizzou, if you use a preturned handle, or know someone that can turn one, its easy in my opinion. There's a ton of information on the net now on building one. The biggest thing in my opinion is wrapping the guides, but thread is cheap, so if one isn't right you can always redo it, no harm done. Putting the Flex coat on requires the that the rod be turned for a period of time, and mechanical is by far the easiest, but it can be done by hand.

Seems to me if we are willing to get rid of the giggers

I think much of the old prejudice against Carp was probably in step with the "If you can't fry it and eat it", its not worth anything. As C & R becomes more popular, I can see Carp fishing getting more favorable notice. They're tolerance will help them also, which is one reason that Ray Scott, of BASS fame, said they should be stocked in big city lakes and ponds.