Wayne SW/MO

Ryan thats the old common swivel.

Well I'll ask Glen and get back to ya'll, but I can tell you for a fact that he's not prone to tall tales.

Given the fact that its going to be cold enough to freeze the balls off the brass monkey, no.

#3 resembles what I remember as a Flesh Fly???

At this time they can't get up Beaver Creek or Swan Creek, so I don't know that there will be any run on upper BS. Don't know about Cricket, Kings, James and the other western creeks on TR.

Couple of questions Brian, do you tie it true to the recipe and how do you fish it? Do you fish it to a particular hatch, or to any rises?

No brian, I'm thinking of the very soft fibers at the base of stem. Not sure what they are called.

I've used them since they came out and I like them, and in fact I've always had at least one. The early lines were shorter lived then most lines, but since they've gone to single specific weights they seem to last as long as any. Nothing roll casts like a Triangle Taper

I went twice yesterday, in the morning I picked up 3 before the wind blew me off the water. I went back around 3PM and fished until 4:30 and couldn't buy a bite. I suspect I was spooking them because the water was slick in the afternoon. Forsythian are you fishing the area where Silver comes in? Thats where I've found the most consistent feeders.

Fitz, It kind of reflects the mentality of the Outlet fishermen. It does happen unfortunately, and as someone said, it happens mostly on crowded weekends. I walked off the TU steps above 3 one day and there were fish rising against the bank right below it. I proceed to stand a foot off the bank and catch several on a Gnat, the 3 guys left there area and walked right through where I was fishing. There's no doubt that they saw me and knew I was fishing, they just didn't want go around me.

Wiping fish down with vinegar helps a lot. Wipe them with a rag wet with vinegar, or dip them in it. You won't taste the vinegar after they are cooked. I assume this takes off any oil or bacteria that can make fillets strong.

Mizzou if you want to tie some cheap, but close to the original, use the "fluff" off the hackle stem for the wing and you can get by with bucktail for the tails. I would use the thick base rather then the tips of the tail fibers. Remember that, IMO, the key is the emerging wing and the rest probably is not as important as the wing.

Another option is to tie a tippet on at the distance you want the shot and leave one of the tag long, pinch your shot on it.

I never got along with Neoprene's because they tired my hands. The fact that they have a set that has to be overcome made my hands tired. I now where waterproof gloves, I got the last pair at Wal-Mart, either alone, or over jersey gloves. It seems that just keeping my hands dry makes a big difference, but my profession before I retired gives me some tolerence.

I was told of a proposal to hire retired HP's and others on a part time basis to "Hit the high spots", but I don't know how far it went, if it went at all. The idea was that they would be part time and wouldn't require a monetary commitment. I thought the idea sounded pretty good.

Thats a pretty good description Dan.

I went this afternoon and after some searching I found some active fish. I'm not sure if they were taking something on the surface, or tailing, but I got a good start with 3 fish, but the wind kept getting stronger and it became difficult to hook them and then to reach them. I ended up not staying long because of the wind. Old Baldy was up at the dam. He/she is probably well fed because of the low water.

Brian did I read at one time that you used a night time fly line, can't remember the name off hand? How about you Michael?

Yeah nothing like a nice cold night on the river gigging, with 3000 watts of Metal Halides and a big generator running. Its kind of like the Buffalo hunters in a Humvee with a 50 cal. on top of it in comparison.

I would have to take exception to this. It certainly doesn't fit my memories, which go back a long way. Not only are there fewer Suckers, they are much smaller. Bryant you make some good points about the habitat, but much of that damage has been done, and it only makes good sense to protect whats left. The difference in my catch rate changes dramatically from the week before gigging season, and the week after on some heavily gigged waters to be coincidence. This and other violations are hard to prevent, but I believe a team of agents that roam the state hitting areas that need special attention would be very effective. They would have an advantage, if for no other reason, because the locals wouldn't know their schedule.

Great points Sam, but I'm at a loss also about why there would be a lot of protest over a shorter length on Spots. Of course I can't understand why a lake the size of TR would have a 15" length limit on Smallmouth and the tributaries wouldn't or other streams wouldn't .

While I'll admit I'm out of them, you can tie a wooly, extra thick with hackle, and grease it up and use it for an indicator. Its not unusual to catch a fish or two on it.

Here's an article done on the subject. I can tell you that the lady did her homework on this. STLToday

I thought that was the Elk River Drum Special?

I think you're right on that Brian. When there's room on the grid for some Kilowatts, they run and make a little maintenance money.