WebFreeman

Now this should be our concern. All they shuffling is going to erode the foundation of TRD and cause it to tip over!! Then we'd really be in trouble.

Michael, how do you rate them?

Terry, you are too kind. But I must say, I love the taste of old, decaying fish fried to perfection. Mmm-mmm good!

2.75 in republic just outside of Spfd. My wife heard they were raising prices so I filled her up. It was less than 2.50 here a couple weeks ago. It's a conspiracy, seriously....

Amen, trout chase. And now, presenting my soap box speech of the week: I teach Eng 101 at OTC in Springfield. I can tell you there is a big difference in the students I get from bigger schools compared to smaller schools. I've had students from so small, rural districts who've graduated from high school w/o ever having to write a paper. My point is, w/o writing a dissertation, is that there is not equality between school districts. There are a lot of variables that go into that. One being funding to attract the best-trained teachers. (Not all small districts are poorly funded, but a lot are.) Part of it is the socio-economic background of the parents/community. Students whose parents are educated (meaning college degress, etc.) are more likely to place the value of being prepared for and going to college than those who didn't. There are, of course, exceptions to all these. Take, for example, Hope, Arkansas, the birthplace of both former Gov./President Clinton and former Gov./Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. Rural town, poor state, Clinton’s poor background, (can’t find anything og how Huckabee grew up.) Whether you liked Clinton or not, we was a smart guy: Georgetown, Oxford, Rhodes Scholar, etc. Huckabee educated in Ark: Ouachita Baptist, seminary in Ft. Worth. Should we all move to Hope and hope our children grow up to be Gov. and possibly President? I don’t think so. So what’s special about Hope? Extra fluoride in the water? Magic? How about luck? Even over time, I don’t think standardized tests measure much of anything. Tests change (which makes them not that standardized), demographics change, curriculum changes, school/district leadership changes. Standardized tests hold some value, but as Jorob pointed out, there are a lot things that need to be covered that aren’t always. Would I rather have a EMT that can score well on a test or knows how to treat a blocked airway or stabilize a patient in shock or deal w/ a hysterical or belligerent family member. Testing doesn’t always reflect both. Last analogy: I have 2 sections this semester. Both sections have different needs and are at different levels. In the fall, I’ll have 3 sections, 2 in the morning and 1 in the evening. I can tell you those sections, especially the difference between the morning and evening sections, will be as different as night and day (no pun intended). I will teach those sections differently. Assign different readings in different order. Assign homework in different ways at different points in the semester. In the end, those 3 sections will write the same 5 papers. I will get them to that point on 3 fairly distinct paths. Would they all score the same on standardized tests? Probably not. Will they all be able to write more effectively and be prepared for future classes? If they do the work. Thee problem w/ No Child Left Behind is not the intent of the program, it’s that it’s an unfunded mandate. Meet these goals or else, but we’re not going to give you the resources to do it. I live in Republic and one of the reasons we moved here was because we liked the school system. However, our average class size is 3-5 students higher than surrounding communities. Thankfully, we passed the funding for a new high school that will help w/ that before my daughters even get to jr. high. The same election, a lot of other schools passed similar issues as has Nixa, Ozark and Willard in recent years. Lebanon didn’t that same election a few weeks ago. What is that going to do to their test scores when they have 30 students to a room and mobile homes for extra space? You can’t put all the blame on teachers.

Cool. Thanks Steve. Have you used it much?

that's what I was think, too, Terry. I am curious about this synthetic hackle you guys are talking about though.

That helped, too.

Darn it, Phil, you figured it out, too! I guess I'm not as smart as I thought I was.

Creek was the third definition of Aestuarium. Not the best choice, but it worked. I doubt Cygnus is in the proper case, either, but again, it worked. And I think you mentioned in another post you were going there yesterday afternoon.

I'll do it Latin so I don't give away your secret. Cygnus Aestuarium

Can we guess and win a prize?

I think it's a good idea. You could make some play on pro-life. Maybe that's a bad idea.

I think CC made the point of balance. I haven't fly fished as much as you guys, but I think balance is important whether it's a fly rig, spinning or casting set up. Seems like it's easier on the arm and fly casting is such a timing/rhythm thing that good balance only helps.

To me eating a smallie would be like eating your pet dog. I really think they should close the season in the lakes like they have the rivers. Thanks for your report, Bill.

I'm not trying to be contrary (honestly, but don't ask my wife), but as a budget-minded fisherman, I'd buy as much as I could w/ the $190 t BP and head to BCO to stock up on flies and materials (if you're going to get into tying). BPs selection kind of stinks as far as flies. And you can't beat free equipment (assuming the gift cards were gifts). Re: reels. I took the kids to BP a couple weekends ago and I could not believe how expensive some reels were. They cost more than first truck! (Now I sound like my dad. I'm officially old.) I started w/ a crappy Kmart combo, which I broke in the garage door. Then I got a $15 Diawa rod, which also sucked. When I finally got a decent rod (a $100 St. Croix 15 years ago) I couldn't believe the difference. In the end, CC and Terry give excellence advice. I'm just a cheap bassturd.

I know you can get your own skirts at Fin & Feather in Springfield. It's just north of Battlefield Rd on Campbell. As for that specific brand, I don't know. I believe Fin & Feather's web site is ztackle.com.

A couple issue of ago of Fly Rod & Reel was an article on sj worms, I think, and at the end was the recipe for a crane fly that was basically a rubber band and some hackle. A would think a rubber band would be considered soft plastic, but it definitely looked like a fly. I remember last year, I think, there was a big discussion and a worm fly that had 2 hooks. I honestly can't remember what was decided, but it is a question worth asking from time to time and it would be nice to have as definitive and answer as possible.

Cool jigs. Do you target lake or river fish w/ these? Welcome to the board!

Thanks Jeremy. Those look good. I'd never seen that hen hackle used like that. I had some so I thought I'd give it a try. What do you use for the shell back? Did you bend the hook yourself or can you buy them like that? Do crawdads work on Taney or is the water too cold for them to live?

Don't know why, but I've had crawdad flies in my mind lately. Thank god for google and boredom. I found this online and actually looks like something I could tie. Please note, I didn't tie it, just googled it. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/f...072103fotw.html

Can you post materials? That was a nice article and a sweet fish.

So you just put the bend it yourself?

I like that two-headed one. That's pretty clever. What size hook is that?

Right before school starts. Somebody's thinking. Thanks Rusty