Wayne SW/MO

I might take you up on that. If its powered, and I believe it is one might go up? I haven't been to Cook in several years and I don't know how good the ramp is, but I'm sure Justin and Brian do.

There are a lot of different opinions on global warming Tim, but what kills any discussion is that there apparently can only be one of two views 180 degrees apart. I have never understood why one can't accept global warming, but question that the amount man plays in it? We know there was an ice age, and a little ice age and we know that both waned long before man discovered crude oil. From that and the periods before them we know the earth is unstable when it comes to temperature, but we must accept that, even though scientist are constantly upgrading our knowledge about the planet before modern man, the information on past climates and their length between changes is rock solid.

I know Tim, but I was thinking that it is still not the threat that plants are becoming. Personally I don't see a solution to algae blooms because one, they are occurring in unnatural bodies of water and human habitation is expanding. Eventually it would seem that while reservoirs were able to handle biological waste to some extent, they no longer can handle the increase. They have always been something of evaporation sources and I suspect it is not only worse, but there is no money to improve sewage facilities to stop it. I have seen the water clarity in TR go from so clear that it inhibited fishing to average clarity at best. I'm sure that the clarity could be linked to the human increase in the watershed and the shoreline.

No snow in the Branson area and weather is predicted to be in the 60's with a chance of showers right now. The creeks and rivers are falling and unless there is a change in the forecast it should be a good weekend. You don't say what you're looking for, but the tailwater should be fine ad the whites heating up.

I have a Salmon fly nymph that I came up with when I lived in OR that might be just the ticket. It's tied on a 3X #6. I caught a lot of fish on it in the Deschutes out there. It does have a pale orange belly that might do better in another color.

Hmmm, suspects? There is only one bait shop in Forsyth now. :lol:

I'm not familiar with the Meramec, but I doubt you'll have any people problems, but if makes your buddy happy and he's stable, no harm no foul. If you have room in the canoes you might pick up wood you come across floating, rather than try to find it after you camp. I'm sure you'll get some good specific advice about the river from others on here.

that's interesting about the size for nymphs. Is that a year around rule? I've always assumed from what I read that streamers are the preferred, right?

My GS always caught some on the Jake side of Indian. He would get some decent flats on small perch,<2", and smaller ones on worms. I think they're there if you fish for them.

Don't pay any attention to your amigo, he doesn't know any more than you do. Scuds, midges, definitely under a float for you. Like Lancer says, avoid the outlets, a lot of the fish being caught are snagged anyway. The rebar would be a good place, you can stay close and both catch fish. Also the soft hackles mentioned, midges, scuds, and eggs will work in it. Have fun.

The always popular Swimming Minnow is very common. The jig weight depends on the water.

Wouldn't one of the Taney county wardens know?

I'll try some of you questions. The ban on fires has been on campfires, or open fires. You should be fine with alcohol and in fact it is the safest of all the fuels. There should be no privately owned gravel bars, public access is accepted as the high water mark. It's hard to know what your comfort level is, but a lot gravel bars have some good sized gravel on them. I think I would take all the padding I could reasonably take. Yes on the bugs, if you don't have screen fronts for your bivys the skeeters will find you. The gun is optional, and probably not necessary. I've never been on a float where I wished I was armed. If you would post the river you would probably get better information and there are no secret rivers anyway.

Do you have any particular biots to dubbing combinations?

How hard is it to fish up river from Tecumseh Justin? I'm thinking whites as you can imagine, maybe even a big white. Do you have to float down from Dawt, or is it not that far up to Bryant?

About the only thing certain about the spring whites is that if you ain't there when they are you ain't catchin' any!

One never knows, but I doubt that they will if the forecast holds up.

Cute. My dog goes everywhere with me, well everywhere dry, he hates water.

Another is salt and pepper, dip in flour then dip in milk or buttermilk then instant potatoes. Crispy good.

It's still 3' low. The Kings is dropping and I suspect the James will level out, plus the heavier snow fall was north of the watershed, so I wouldn't look for anything beyond normal and probably 1 or 2' low would be most likely.

I might do it, depends on the weather. I'll likely bring my solo.

You can put in on the James arm and work the area up to Blunk. If and when they turn on, TR has some good crappie fishing also.

I believe it was Kaysinger, or Kaysiger Bluff? I know they were surveying and talking to land owners in '57. That was when I heard about it from Fred of Fred's Fishing Camp on the Pomme at Fairfield.

When I did a lot of snagging in the Osage, pre Truman, there were always a few walleye and flatheads snagged. For whatever reason, I never saw any spoons snagged between 12-15" and about 36". It always puzzled me. The small ones were rare and I would think the larger ones could withstand most hits. Of course this is all speculation.

I don't see any win for the average fisherman. Let's just say an average was $1K per fish and with a two fish limit it wouldn't be unrealistic that one person could make 30 grand and there would be many that would. That's assuming they put in at one ramp and fish one area, which many wouldn't. If you can sell paddlefish eggs than why not whites, trout, black bass? Is there a difference?