Wayne SW/MO

Unfortunately the MDC doesn't hold our native, well respected and prized stream game fish in the same high regard as many of us do. As long as the limit on them is sufficient to decimate most of the holding areas in one trip, it will probably remain a secret as to most accesses.

The Pothole, which is below Powersite dam. You can get there by turning right at the second light in Forsyth and following the road to the dam. There are turnoffs below the dam. Or, you can go through Forsyth and turn right on hi way 76 and right again after crossing the bridge. This takes into the Corp's River Run park. If you stay on the road it will go west to the dam. I have always found the fishing there tough, but they do catch fish there. Rogue's or minnows seem the most successful, especially at night.

I've used a Sculpin colored jig. Its a take off on one a friend ties and uses almost exclusively. Its a Marabou tail behind a chenille body, both in Sculpin color with a bugger wrap. It seems to be more effective on smaller streams to me, but that may just be me.

If you mean the "Old Lodge", its where the tackle shop, etc is.

Wow so many around here. I've fished most of those listed, plus some others not mentioned, and all have been OK, although Beaver hasn't fished well for me the last couple of years. I fish casting and spinning rods and throw jig mostly, both dressed and with plastics. Walkin' the dog is hard to beat and now through spring I'll probably stick to Jerkbaits, which were very effective in mid November. I travel in a solo canoe or a kayak, depending on the water. I leave the craft whenever possible and fish wading.

You don't say what size thread you're using, or how many wraps you're using in your whip. I generaly whip 4 or 5 wraps on a jig. How tight you wrap makes a difference. I don't think you get the tightness on the large diameter of a jig. I always glue a jig, and I use "Hard as Nails", which works pretty well on them. On flys it depends on how tight your wrap is. If you've wraped the fly tight and whip 3-4 times, they should hold, but I glue everything and the fish will still shred them.

Personally I don't want them, agents, to get to picky. I think the limit kept, along with the no release rule is sufficient and to make any one stop would not accomplish anything. I fish for stream Smallies every chance I get, including the closed period. I never keep one, legal or not, but its obvious I'm targeting them and I like that.

I have used them for years, but not on the tailwaters, so I''l keep my comments to the fact, as Jimmy said, they are very stable. The problem I see is getting downstream and then not being able to get back up. If one had a shuttle they should be great.

I saw that boat that grounded on the west side of Coombs Ferry, killing one. He was a long way up the bank for such a big boat.

Good, maybe they'll go somewhere else to crate young poachers. It would have been a nice enlightenment though, had they been confronted by Quinton.

They are in TR and I would imagine some have come over the dam, or through the genarators unharmed. Probably when they are real small.

I think C&R should be just that period. The warm water fish that show up there on occasion don't stay and they aren't common enough to change anything. I see know reason to worry about any records either, we're talking about a mile or so, the only tailwater we have and the best place to establish an area that would be unique. If its simple, it is more likely to work, No fish kept period,( there's about 25 miles of trout water running east that should satisfy anyone), no fish pulled clear of the waters surface, except they could be netted and lifted clear during generation as long as they aren't removed from the net and are released immediatly. No trebles, single hook lures only. it should be simple enough to be enforceble.

Don't forget to have a few 18-20 Griffins Gnats on hand, if you like fishing drys. I caught a half dozen one day last winter when the temp was 31, so you never know down there.

Well, I suppose, but I see he was fortunate that he happened to have a stringer with him. I know that trying to educate everyone is impossible, but it doesn't keep me from wishing. When I hook a nice fish and feel uncomfortable about the conditions, I put a lot of pressure on them and they don't fight a long time, one way or another.

I thought they had an option to raise the pool, but opted to sacrifice Branson rather than inconvience the people living on the lake. Aren't the new gates to keep the dam from being topped? I wouldn't think the present gates could flood that bad unless BS had backed up over Powersite? 50 feet over 65 bridge would be probably 70 to 100 feet high? Don't know how high the bridge is over the water.

I found the change, however it was only for Meramec, and I don't know how I got RR in there also, old age I guess. I have a friend in Neosho and I go over and fish with him once in awhile, but Taney is less than a gallon of gas for me so its my winter haunt.

I thought I heard or read that it is a 7 day show now, yes?no? I also heard from another source who fished it that it is loaded with fish. I'm wanting to go myself, but not sure when I can get away. I'm still having a hard time weaning off the Smallies.

I have often wondered what would be left. The dam is old and doesn't generate much, but on the other hand the pool of BS is adequate to absorb any failure, I would think? How far would the trout water extend? Would predator fish from BS decimate the trout population? What do you think?

Well I still believe that a trophy area should be just that, a place to catch a fish that has no limit on his size. There are a lot of places in the state to catch a limit of Trout for the dinner table, including miles of Taney. This is an opinion I have and in no way is intended as criticism of someone keeping fish under the law. I would just like the law changed. I also believe there has got to be a better way to police the trophy area. Last winter I asked the MDC about C&R regs at Bennett with regards to Smallies. I was under the impression that they, and all fish were C&R, but there was no sign. I was informed that they indeed were off limits and they ask if I had a license number of a vehicle, but I didn't. Now if they intended to contact these people then why couldn't the same apply at Taney? Maybe a sign or two that states "If you don't follow the regulations we have to follow, we will turn over physical information, vehicle information and testimony of your violation to the MDC"

They'll post for 3 days tomorrow. A wild guess would say they won't, because the weather is going to warm, and the lake is very low.

Kind of the Double Trouble, popular around Bennett.

Phil, what do think the winter will bring, as far as water level? You think they'll try to avoid running water when ever possible because of the TR lake level?

"Boulders... that's an idea!" I believe it would work and they wouldn't have to be placed in a way to form a solid wall, only close enough that a line would be obvious. I believe the state is missing the boat by not protecting the big fish at the Taney tailwater. Taney is the best place in the state to grow really large Trout. Surly they can spare a mile or so, after all that still leaves over 20 miles of Trout water for catch and kill.

I still believe they can stop the Outlet Fishing, or snagging, both are applicable. A crane could place a few boulders to outline an area that would be off limits. In high water the boulders would probably wash out areas behind them which would afford the fish more room. I don't believe there is any reason to allow an unsportsman like practice to continue. I have another Blood Boiler, and thats holding fish out of the water for extende time to admire it and allow numerous pictures. I only fish it in the Winter and yet I always see 1 or 2 large fish that can't be revived after being held out the water too long. In a catch and release area, it shouldn't be allowed to remove a fish from the water. If the fish need to be controlled for hook removal and pictures, it can be done in a submerged net. I also think the area that is wadeable in normal flows should be C&R for all fish above 12"s.

I like Ostrich and I don't worry about it not having enough "legs" because the real thing doesn't, but it does breath nice. Ostrich makes a fair Leech also.