ColdWaterFshr

The fishes mother was well known around town. A respectable smallmouth from way upstream who made good margaritas and kept her smallmouth shut most of the time. The father, well, he was a bit of a rolling stone. A spotted bass who grew up with on the wrong side of the James River bridge with an inferiority complex and ran with the wrong crowd, asian carp gangstas and obnoxious largemouths. They met one warm spring night at crawdad rally just underneath that bluff pictured in the background. Well, one thing led to another, and along comes junior, shown in your pictures here.

There is a trail that leads from Baptist down to Ashley, but it crosses the river at one point and stays on the Ashley Creek side until you have to cross it. It will be very overgrown this time of year, but you really don't need the trail. You can wade fish it down to Ashley without being out of the water too much. 40 fish eh? Nice day.

I don't know, Hank. I think the catch and keep crowd still outnumbers the the C&R group in total #'s. And they keep more than the occasional bass or two. I've seen their stringers. They fish an area, they nail it.

So by that logic, he doesn't want too much publicity about improvements to the fishery because it will attract more people, but yet he is in the business of publicizing these very streams with his River Hills Traveler (which I have read and enjoyed). What the h? He doesn't want them too crowded, but yet he sorta has a hand in the till, doesn't he? No, don't buy it. I think its more a stubborn countryboy vs. cityboy thing, which is silly. I think the whole argument is silly anyway -- I don't believe a minor reg change has that much affect on a section of stream anyway since the enforcement isn't there to go with it 9 times out of 10. In that way, I agree with the status quo on existing regs.

Used to do a fair amount of trespassing in this area back in my high school and college days. Some good fishing upstream of where the lake backs up, but it required hopping some barbwire and bush wacking through some thick growth of stinging nettles.

Paul Dallas says yes, but only if we can dip the Neosho filets in beer-batter instead of the usual cornmeal.

Hey Gene Gilliland, whats the mortality rate for all those fish fry left unattended, during spring tournies, at their nests while their parents are taken captive in a livewell and then released at some dock miles away and many hours later? You can't quantify this stuff, I don't care who you got studying it. I imagine TR would fish a LOT better, and the whole darn local economy would be better off without the darn things because they are really a false economy. Almost like riverboat casinos. Eric1978's post almost brought a tear to my eye. The boy has grown so much.

What section are you floating? Makes a big difference in the way you fish it. Below Cedargrove is stocked rainbow water. Above there, and all the way to the park, don't get caught fishing for smallmouth with plastic worms. There aren't that many smallmouth up there anyway. Al's nymph rig is a good suggestion, but I prefer throwing big streamers in the Tan Vat to Cedargrove stretch. I never go lighter than 5x for nymphing, and streamers I use 3x. Save the 6x for the park.

Its been a fun read. All the important elements are there: hypocrisy, puritanical condemnation, and desperate rationalizations. I've decided that if it upsets the tournament fisherman and the high horse bass jockey guides, then it has to be good. I plan to filet all the big (legal) Table Rock bass my electric filet knife can handle. The bigger, the better. I can almost smell the ozone coming off the motor now. Yours truly, Paul Dallas

Zip caught 60 over 17 inches this past winter, all I presume from the same 5 areas? Sounds like he has some pet fish! Got names for 'em?

Was thinking of hitting the Finley or James with some rowdy buds from Tulsa and Springfield next weekend, but now this Indian Creek is on my filet-dar. Whats the minimum length limit and/or do agents frequent the creek? And is there any good spots to drive up or into the creek and party like its 1999?

Well, they're from Soddy Daisy, Tennessee, whadya expect? At least they let all the walleye go!

Nice fish! and nice new boat!! That report has me wantin to get on the river for a couple nights . . . and soon.

I was down at Alley last weekend for a family camp and float. We knew, going in, with the forecast the way it was, and we drove down through Rolla in horrible storms anyway. This was the only weekend we could make a go of it. So we rolled the dice. Got to Summersville, the skies parted, sun came out, everything was clean and it was spiritual and beautiful. Set-up camp with the kids, then went down and checked out the river. Was clear and low. Kids even caught a baby hellbender with a dipnet. Had a nice evening of smores and ghost stories then went to bed. Got a little windy overnight, but no showers. Next morning, the camp ranger came by to check on us to see if we planned on floating and asked if we had seen the river. Yes, we told him, he had planned to float, but no, we had not yet seen the river yet that morning (200 yds away). He said it came up 6 ft overnight and was murky and advised against it. Sure enough - it was blown out so we didn't float. Checked out the spring and took the rangers advise and went over to Rocky Falls, just east of Eminence which is absolutely amazing for Missouri if you have never seen it. SPECTACULAR waterfall/shut-in and swimming hole, though it was a little too cold for us to swim. Anyway -- my short advice is to you to ROLL the DICE and go. Fishing may or may not be be fantastic, but the area is beautiful. If the Jacks is blown out, go to the Current, 11 pt, or North Fork . . . they're all within 45 minutes.

Ah - I see that the red Old Town is still pinned in the same spot. Back in early February we came across some guys who were hiking up to try and retrieve it (they had abandoned ship a few days prior). We told them exactly where it was and we offered our chain-saw to cut the limb that was holding it. They declined and said they had some wenches, good rope, and even thought about driving their jeep up one of the trails to pull it out. I said, uh, y'all ain't going to make it back in here with a jeep.

You didn't say WHEN you want to make this trip. Memorial Day weekend thru Labor Day weekend is high sesason for party-floaters and especially on weekends. But there are plenty of rivers that are less crowded, and even some of the more popular ones, like Brian suggested with the 11 point, has sections that are less overrun - maybe not for the whole length of the float you are planning. But you can occasionally have a river to yourself if you go in the middle of the week. Do yourself a favor and buy a copy of "A Paddlers Guide to Missouri" from MDC. Bryant Creek, upper North Fork, Osage Fork of the Gasconade, Big Piney, and a half dozen others in certain sections won't see heavy traffic. But the other problem is if you don't have your own boats, this will limit you to certain rivers and certain sections.

Jacks has some good fish here and there, but its more of a scenery river. I get down there about once a year now, but used to go several times a year. I think the best fishing is between Bay Creek and Alley. Never fished above the Prongs, but I know a guy who grew up in that area and used to fish them all the time as a kid. Like a lot of things, its not what it used to be.

That is a 5-star picture, Phil. The water dripping off the fish and the jig. Could be a cover-shot on Fly-Fisherman or something. Really good. And what a chunk o brown.

Great looking boat. You should be very proud. I would be. Did you have to build a steam box to bend ribs and strips?

I've floated the upper section from Wolf Pen a couple times, but always in early spring, like now, when it is up around 2.5 ft on the gauge. It will definitely keep you on your toes. Lots of tricky little spots, and lots of bailing in an open canoe. Wouldn't want to bring alot of fishing gear or tackle -- you could easily lose it. Water is real pretty, deep emerald green. Beautiful area. Nice pictures!!

Park is ALWAYS fishable. 2 or 3 days a year when it is flooded, maybe not so much. Upper river, same deal, maybe only 5-7 days/year at most, but it drops out fast.

Must be extra tasty if Chief doesn't want them to become a C & R only species. I agree, lets go verify this. I'll bring the butter, lemon-pepper seasoning and foil. Shoal Creek, Little Sugar, Big Sugar, Elk, Spring . . . here we come!

Wow. Fruit Loops this all is. Andy and Chief keep beating this Neosho thing to death, as if somehow these proposed reg changes are going to wipe them out! Help me understand how they will? You don't know whats right for our side of the state!! Hilarious!! I know that corner of the state fairly well. Grew up there and now live on the east side. I don't think anyone is suggesting that the Neosho strain don't deserve extra consideration . . . but as a longtime smallmouth angler, I sure didn't know very much about them. So to me at least, it sure seems like you're splitting hairs and using as it an excuse to tear everything else down and just making yourselves look like those type of people that can turn a 10 minute meeting into a 2 hour long one. Just to stroke your ego. I'm not a member of MSA, but I have been in the past and I have nothing but good things to say about the organization. I just don't have time to go fishing enough let alone go to MEETINGS about fishing. Be that as it may, I will say this again, if I were organizing a club -- you dudes are the cancer that I would not want in it.

On a wild hair, ran down to the Norfork tailwater with a couple buddies for a day trip. Brought the canoes and shoved off from Quarry just as the water was dropping out. Fishing was ridiculous on scud/midge droppers. For a while it was fish on every cast and we proceeded to vacuum the river. 2 out of 3 of us managed a grand slams, I was the exception, but did catch a nice 16" cutt. Rainbows and Browns up to 19" were caught, all very healthy and full of fight. Water came on about 6 just as we were taking out. Perfect day.

Don't end it yet, I just found this! Pretty funny stuff. Kinda silly that a few are concerned about where MSA will focus its efforts on certain strains in certain rivers and what not . . . when only 4 dudes showed up at the 1st meeting. And others who complain about the $20 membership fee when that $20 gets them a GREAT book that you couldn't photo-copy for less than $20 at Kinko's. If I were the membership dude in charge of the group, I would reach for the big rubber stamp that says "membership denied" for a couple of you menopausal types, and you know who you are. You'll do the club more harm than good.