ollie

I'm really surprised that no one beat their arses at the weigh in. Saw several that looked like they wanted to. Shouldn't surprise anyone though since it has been happening ever since money was involved and probably still will after we die.

pics work great everyone! Take one and pass it along to your local agent. Sometimes people don't really know, but most of the time they do and don't care.

2sheds, I mean technically tjm is right about being able to catch a hold over now and then, but they are very few and far between anymore unless you know the creek very well. I do and I can tell you it isn't anything like it used to be. The city is more concerned with the disc golf in the park right now and I have no problem with that, but they would rather cater to them and the mountain bike crowd. To the city the creek is nothing more than a place for those to cool down in the summer and a put and take fishery.

Congrats and very surprised the bass actually went for that three times! Normally it is a one and done thing in most cases.

I am a fan of P-line, but I will admit the twist coming off the spool isn't great. I only use the CX Premium. Tried the CXX and didn't like it at all. I haven't tried any of the other lines in P-line's lineup.

Ok just to clear things up some the stream i s not void of trees or shade. I just realized it might have sounded that way. The city cleared the banks completely and did remove some trees that were on the bank. Just easier to take what you want.

fshndoug it is in Neosho. Morse Park is where most of it flows through or at least that is where most of the water is.

Wrench, it doesn't have so much to do with the stream team. More of the city leaders who think they know best for what the majority of people want in town. I'm pretty sure MDC warned them about the problems that would exist, but they don't own the stream, the city does. Years back MDC pushed for some improvements to the stream and the State actually gave the city money and resources to make it happen. Trees were planted, natural native grass was planted to bring back supporting wildlife and the thought that the city wouldn't have to mow as much in certain areas because of that. Within a year all the trees were gone due to vandalism and the grass got cut down due to people complaining about the "weeds" in their beautiful park. I think after that they just gave up on the stream as well. Hell, I have and I live by it! They have literally taken away any kind of protection for any kind of fish in that stream. Sad. That and no one has posted on this stream in 5 years.

Phil, can you just go ahead and get rid of this stream on the forum? It has been 5 years since anyone has posted on here and to be honest, I wouldn't recommend anyone fishing this stream. I say that because in the grand scope of our mayor and others, they have decided to pretty much destroy this stream. The only fish you are going to catch will be the stockers from the opening day. Period. I was a stream team leader for Hickory and did that for about 10 years until I decided to quit since no one would show up for clean ups. Now the new mayor has gone in and had the parks department cut down just about any tree that lined the bank. There is nowhere for the trout to hide or go now. The stream wasn't that great to begin with, but it was in my backyard and is only about 4 blocks from my house. I have watched it go downhill now for the last couple of years. The idea behind getting rid of all the trees along the banks was so "everyone can enjoy the creek and have accessible fishing". I call BS on that since I know a lot of homeless people hang out around there. They just wanted to make it easier to find those people and run them off. Either way the only people that catch anything are just lucky enough to catch the stocking truck. Use this space for something else more constructive I say. Thanks, ollie

That is a PIG! Especially for a brookie.

Get with Buzz or I and we can hook you up on the float. I went with him a couple of weeks ago and we did alright. The recent floods have taken a toll on the fish though or so it would seem. A couple of years ago we were hammering 14-15" constantly, now we get lucky to catch one that size it seems like. They are in there, but it just doesn't seem like as many. Terrierman is right about the 70's though. Hardly saw anyone down there floating because there weren't all the liveries like now. That and NWA wasn't big like it is now.

What color? Academy has them but multiple cor choices. I ordered my last pair online and it was a good experience. Also got a nice carry case and cleaning cloth that went with them. That and another coupon for like 20% off the next purchase.

Depends on your price point and what you want to spend. I found a pair of Peppers they are called and I love those. $50 a pair and a lifetime warranty on them if they break. Great polarized pair at that. Yes they are plastic at that price, but they float and trust me when I say I have lost them off my face on the yak into the stream. Always find them though since they float and you don't need a leash for them. I had a pair break on me once and I got another one for just the shipping with no questions asked. I am hard on things like that so these work for me just fine. And I can say that they are very much polarized and I can see bottom of the stream with no problems. JMO

Plain and simple, the fishing pressure wasn't there like it is now! A lot of people didn't know about the fishery outside of the midwest and the Branson-Springfield area still wasn't as big as now. I mean I think Branson had like maybe 3000 people and I know Springfield wasn't like it is now. Shoot, Battlefield Mall was like on the edge of town back then and there definitely wasn't the roads in place like now between them. If memory serves me correctly there weren't any brown stocked in there as well back in the day. Not as much competition for the bows either.

I can still fondly remember the old Fall Creek dock with the campground. Mid to late 70's we would always put in down at the Branson boat dock next to Sammies and go upstream. I remember that dock so well because of all the famous people with pics of trout on the wall! Wasn't uncommon back then to see many a lunker rainbow coming out of there. My dad caught a 9 pounder one day and in the same hole my mom hooked on to one bigger. She fought that beast on her Zebco 33 all the way to the boat until my brother got the net under it and it broke off and back into the depths it went. Dad is long gone, but mom sure does remember it well. Especially since it was bigger than the one Dad caught just less than an hour before. That and all the dock owners would let you tie up and fish when the water was running. Shoot, they would even come down and open up a can of corn and chum for you! lol

RIP. Never met him, but enjoyed his posts.

And poof! Just like that they dry up! lol Went down last night after work and put up a big ol goose egg. Great weather and the water was fine. Except I heard they were drawing down the lake so the water has been dropping out. I know the current seemed a little fast for where I was wading. Got down there and saw plenty of people enjoying the nice weather, but no one was catching. I fished for about an hour and half and think I saw only one caught. It looked promising going in as well since I saw someone coming back up the trail with a stringer of fish. It wasn't until later I learned it took the guy over 6 hours to come up with those. Not exactly on fire. That and the only fish I saw on his stringer were all males and not very big ones at that. I know you can still get into them right now, but it isn't on fire. At least I hope I didn't leave too early last night. How knows, maybe they turned on after I left, but I kind of doubt it. I was throwing rooster tails, small cranks, plastics, jigs, the kitchen sink and everything else to no avail. Oh well, it was good to get out.

I just read that. Pretty cool. Must have been the natty light in the boat that did it! lol

Went down last night after work and gave it a shot. Work is burning me out so I had to get out and fish! Got down there and not as many people like I thought there would be. Saw about a dozen rigs maybe and a few cars from people fishing the bank. I got my waders on and headed up to the gravel bar. When I got there I saw maybe 5-6 people fishing so it was promising. I was the only one out there with chest waders so I could get out further with my casts. That plan didn't really work out that great since no one was tearing it up. I fished for about 2 hours and only managed 6 to hand with about as many that got off. I kept switching it up with different colors and such, but it just wasn't on fire. Saw one other guy catching some small ones, but I don't know what he was throwing. Small inline spinner from what I could tell. The water level was fine, but we are supposed to get more rain today so who knows what it will look like this weekend. It shouldn't do much though since I don't think we are supposed to get that much. It was a peaceful evening for fishing and I needed that more than catching the fish I think.

Not all state parks are charging that. Only certain ones that have a higher usage I think. The only ones on Grand charging the $10 is Honey Creek and Twin Bridges. The one over at Bernice is not. Unless that has changed this year.

Drove down to 10C on Saturday hoping to wet a line, but man that wind was flat getting it on! That and I really wasn't feeling it once I got down there. Did see a couple of guys with yaks taking out though and asked them how they did. I was somewhat surprised they were even on the water with that much wind and all. Guy goes to the back of the truck and picks up a decent number of whites on the stinger! Probably 15-20 each for both of them. Said they had the best luck finding feeder creeks and any water going into Spring. They would just tie up there and fish for a while and then head downstream to find more. Can't tell you where they put in since they didn't want me to. Said just about anything they were throwing was catching them. I figured with the cooler temps and such no one would be doing that great, but those guys stuck it out and came out rewarded. Water still a little muddy, but I think it is coming back down.

Supposed to get more rain on the way today and tomorrow so who knows when it will stabilize.

Was by there this past weekend. Lot of circus sized tents everywhere in the parking lots. You will be walking aways if you want to park somewhat close. There will be LOTS of people there I'm sure.

Looks like we probably got enough rain the last couple of days to bring up the river. I can only imagine how many people will be at the Miami park snagging for bills this weekend!

Supposed to get more rain around here next week so that should help them out going upstream. One would think after next week if it doesn't get blown out should be pretty good.