Wayne SW/MO

He probably got bored and said, "I haven't screwed with that guy trying to trap me lately, time for some more fun" :lol:

OK I understand the arrow for an antenna, but a camo headliner????

I've had more experience with otter on the Jhon day in Oregon than here. I know there was one hole that that had and extended family of them several seasons. It was not unusual to see them or to see them have a snack, but I never thought that hole suffered. Granted the JD didn't see the pressure that our rives do, but there were fish fries on it almost any weekend during the summer. The one thing that you didn't see was any human activity on most of the river, the banks or in it. There was normally a very good spawn, but it was also susceptable to heavy floods and while that would reduce the population of smallies they always bounced back quickly.

If it's a spinning reel it sounds reminsant of a problem Shimno had some years back. As the bushing or seal, don't remember which, between the housing and the rotor shaft started allowing in some water the bushing or seal swelled. If it's a baitcaster dont overlook the level wind drive gear or the level wind shaft.

Probably a Table Rock craw, noted for there large size. I would imagine they have been in the White a long time, but I always wonder what they were called before TR was built?

Thing is OTF, I feel that I see less stringers now. I wish I saw none, but I really don't believe I see anymore. fortunately the younger people entering the sport are getting a different message than many of us did 50 or 60 years ago. Of course if you start adding in people tramping through riffles destroying the insect population, pulling gravel out of the bed, cutting vegatation to within a few feet of the bank destabilizing them amd elimiting water cooling shade, and the list goes on. Jet boats can't be ignored because they cause waves that run counter to the rivers flow and loosen material. The bottom line is I don't think it's a misuse of the fish, but the environment they need to thrive in. Over fishing is relative and depndent of the resource available.

The idea that people catching and keeping too many fish doesn't hold water. There is no one on here so old they can remember when it it was less of problem. We have all lived with that, just as we have lived with carp, and to look for a decline in a rivers output you have to identify changes. That isn't one f them. I'm with Flysmallie, otters aren't a big factor either and if they are it's because the smallie population is depressed from something else making their impact noticable. I've fished the Niangua off and on for many decades and I know of holes you had to swim across that you can now wade without getting you T wet.

I don't think it can be pinned on one thing, but I personally think the biggest problem is gravel that is filling in too many holes that are needed for spawning, wintering and protection from predators. Too much civilization improaching on the banks and not leaving a reasonable buffer zone, too many dozers in the rivers and too many backhoes.

Buffalo. The elephant head. A better view is from the downstream side, but I apperentlly didn't take a picture from that side?

I've never done Davis to Hull, mainly because I know there is a very long pool above Hull. A day trip Hull to Hazelgreen is a good one though. It can be a challenge because I don't think I've ever done it without at least one portage.

Great! Glad you enjoyed it. While the O fork isn't my favorite river, I have always enjoyed fishing it. FYI, I have always had some good fishing on it throwing a shallow Shad Rap in, of all things, shad.

I think before I made an investment in a new rod I would try the 6"on a heavy worm rod. I assume of couse that you alraedy have at least one?

Here's a hard one.

My cukes and squash are showing some similar signs, but they are only where the leaves are exposed to the sun? I'm wondering if it isn't a sun burn?

I've been doing B & B's lately and have started on dills. Where is this farmers maket, Branson area I presume?

You can use them in multiple ways. Sometimes the weight, or lack of it, can make a big difference. I haven't looked lately, but at on time BPS had evry color imaginable.

Don't overlook the squirrels when it comes to taking a bite out of tomatoes. They have always been my biggest perpetrators. One way to curb some of it is too put a pan of water next to the tomatoes. They often do this to get water, not tomatoes.

I hear that. Living on hindsight can be dangerous.

You might try tying in a straight piece of wire on the bottom of the shank. Often times the hook bend acts as a keel =, but when it is well covered it can't do that as well. The Swimmin Jimmy comes to mind. That orange belly combo should be a killer although I might throw in a strip of bright blue just to seal the deal for longear colors.

I still would just smear that catfood round the bottom of the trap, make them hunt for it.

Why is everything below normal. Rainfall this year is closer to average than it has been in the past few years???

X2

That's crazy. I assume he could see you so it's hard to imagine why he would pick up the buoy? My guess would be that he fishes deep ruts normally with his anchors and doesn't understand that a TR fisherman might find them handy?

How do you rig for drifting?

Believe it or not I caught my best smallie, 18"+, from the OF. It was within casting distance of a worm box strewn access. It was in deep water in November. As a rule the fish I've caught out of there have probably averaged smaller than the 'Nade or the Niangua. It also seems to have a larger goggle eye to smallie ration, but that's just a guess.