ColdWaterFshr

Alright, alrgiht, stop begging. #3 is the Bourbeuse, just upstream from Koenig Rd.- and the dude in the picture is a Hayseed Dixie. #4 is the Osage Fork of the Gasconade, and that is Lambeth Bridge in the background. Hoffmeyer and JW. Anyone care to take Perilous Rapids for $200, or Arduous Shuttles for $500, it could be the Daily Double . . .

# 4 is not the Niangua. But I'll give you a hint, its on the other side of I-44, and that bridge should be condemned, but as far as I know, it hasn't been yet! # 3 is not up in the Prongs of the JF. Think crooked.

Danimal is correct on question 1 and 2, indeed it is the Big Piney in Ark, and Lonpool. Would be nice to have a place across from Heltons Farm - I love that river. Pictures # 3 and #4 still have not been answered correctly.

Picture # 1: clue - in Arkansas; this view is visible on the shuttle to: Picture # 2: same river as # 1, but name the access: Picture # 3: in Missouri, and yes it was floatable, but barely, and bonus if you can name the dude in the picture, it ain't Paul Dallas either: Picture # 4: in Missouri: Picture # 5: in Missouri, and something in the background gives it away, and bonus if you can name either of the dudes in the picture, and they ain't Paul Dallas either:

Can anyone name this exact spot?

Ahh, Big Bluff . . . I win a Ranger? A Ford Ranger, or the bass boat??

Upper Buffalo near Boxley-Ponca-Steel Cr. in mid-summer.

I'm gonna say pic # 4 is the Little Piney.

1. St. Francis 2. Either lower Buffalo or possibly the Jacks Fork just below Jam-up, nah - hill is too big. 3. I will 2nd the Mineral Fork above F. 4. That could be anywhere - Court/Huzz, Mineral Fork, heck, even went thru a narrow channel on the Jacks Fork this summer that looked just like that.

I don't have any Albright rods, but I have a few friends that have quite a few each, and they like 'em as well as their Sage, Loomis, and Winston rods. I haven't seen what kind've deals Cabelas has going right now, but you may feel more comfortable buying from a local store like Cabelas that will take it back w/ no questions asked, and who will spool up the reel for you, put the loop end connector on the end of the fly line, set you up with a couple leaders, and spools of tippet. Albright - looks like they rate some of their rods as 3/4wt, 5/6 wt, or 7/8 wt, which means you could put either of the lines on and be okay. Probably go with the heavier line for being a newb, it will make casting easier. As a compromise - get the rod from Albright, then take it in to Cabelas and get the reel, line, etc. from them. They won't care. As for spooling up, it goes backer (usually nylon), then fly line, then leader, then tippet. Good luck!

I agree on Cabelas. I picked up a 3-Forks, 7 1/2 foot 3-wt rod last year for $29. It casts as well as other rods that cost me many times more. I think a 4 wt 8 1/2 footer is perfect for Bennett. If you don't have a Cabelas near you, or even if you do . . . might also check out www.albrightflyfish.com. They're running their ridiculous sale again. Breathable waders for $39, complete fly-rod outfits are also available. Here is a pretty nice rod: http://www.albrightflyfish.com/fly-rods/gp...s/gp-86454.html

Sounds like a good trip and very doable. I hiked a small portion of the trail the same weekend as Gavin and he is right. Lots of downed trees blocking the trail up around the horeshoe which is a little further upstream than where Gene is talking about. One blow-down of cedars was so impassable that I had to retreat and wade the river around it. In places the trail is pretty overgrown, in other places its not bad at all, but if it were me, I'd wait on the hiking until the area has had a couple hard frosts and brush and bugs die down a bit. Until then, just float it!

I agree, . . . if a 25 inch rainbow can vouch for it, who I am to nit-pick the finer points? I'm gonna tie the exact same thing you posted and give it a whirl next weekend. Paul D.

Good looking tie. Looks like a barbell at the bend of the hook. Doesn't that cause the fly to flip over and ride shell-back down? Thanks for posting.

The pattern . . . ve vant the pattern. Give to us, mysterious Ghost Fishar.

I'd rather fish w/ THIS Dad and his #8 Western Auto than just about anyone, except maybe my own son. Best post and pictures I have read in a long time. Badasses, seriously this brought a smile to my face.

It would be interesting to see studies on how many more fish are caught while using 6-7x than those caught on the same water using 5x or heavier (same flies, and all other things being equal). I think its an imagined advantage under most conditions. I rarely fish lighter than 5x, but then again, I don't like fishing flies smaller than 18 either. Usually 3 and 4x fluoro do just fine. Do you 6 and 7x users retie often? I imagine that after a couple of fish you would have to or that knot is going to be weakened, or some part of the tippet might be stressed and ready to give.

Current River just above Welch would be my guess. Water flow looks too small to be below it, but then again, that fog on the water might just be caused by it.

Yup. We've all had days where we wake up feeling quite feral, only to stumble into the bathroom, look in the mirror and see a pasty white stocker with nubby little arms staring back at us. Even on days when I'm sure I've gone completely native, been eating right/working out, I'll go and do something like order a xtra large pepperoni from Papa Johns, dunk the crust in that little jar of liquified margarine they send with it, and watch re-runs of Gilligans Island. If I were to be caught and filleted at some resort . . . first of all I don't think I'd fight that hard, secondly, it would be on some bait like lemon-merengue powerbait nuggets, and thirdly, ah he11, I'm way off topic.

I'm pretty sure I've been to Laubinger a few years ago and its not Wenkel. According to Chuck T its a public access, but maybe not anymore. "Laubinger Ford is an obscure little access 3.2 miles below Wenkel Ford. Take Evergreen Loop west off Highway 185 3 miles north of Spring Bluff. Laubinger Ford Road goes straight ahead where Evergreen makes a ninety-degree right. Follow Laubinger to its driveable end and walk 150 feet down the abandoned, gullied road R/O/W to the water."

My book says its 7.4 miles from Laubinger to Peters Ford. Thats pretty far for the Bourb as you mention. I'd do something shorter, like Wenkel to Laubinger -- thats only 3.2 miles, or go even further upstream around Mint.

PM me your credit card info. Or just come on up to Foxy's and pay off part of my tab that I owe to Paradise. Thanks, Paul

Disconnected. Been off the grid for a few years now, but you can reach me at either Foxy's Night Club in Springfield, if I'm not there, leave a message with Paradise, or I may be over at The Cat & Fiddle. Paul

Its true, I have nothing constructive to add. The original post in this thread, I found amusing (again), and found it hard to resist to teasing all you tough-jobber types. And so, after many years of being on professional hiatus from the guide business, I want everyone to know that I am back and open for business. I WILL MEET OR BEAT ANY GUIDES DAILY RATES (licensed or unlicensed) by 50%, and TAG boats are FREE every Wednesday from 4-7p.m. And my personal guarantee . . . if you don't bag at least 20 lbs on a trip, I will give you the sonar off my boat. Sincerely, Paul Dallas Fleet Admiral SJRAC - Strategic James River Arm Command, Nixa Region by authority of the US Coast Guard and the Dept. of Homeland Security fully licensed but woefully under-insured

Exactly!