ColdWaterFshr

no rocks = no crawdads smallmouth like to eat at Red Lobster pretty often

Could Taney be a smallmouth lake? Its a weird question, kinda like asking if Oprah could do NFL pre-game analysis with Terry, Howie, and Jimmy. lack of rocks (big and small) lack of right kind of food base (crayfish) consistently low water temps = very slow growth rate for smb

2 years without PMS? Wish my wife could do that.

Paul Dallas can vouch for the PMS - its his go-to streamer now for trout and smallmouth. Leonard's fly may not look all that unique, but fish seem to like it better than other similar streamers, and thats all that matters. Great fly, Leonard.

Meramec and Niangua might struggle to be in contention among the rivers you mention, in my opinion. But there are much worse ways to spend an afternoon. The rest are okay, but can be hit or miss, and certainly not high percentage toad-water like the tailwaters give up, and thats fine by me, too. Each is different, and harbors its own mysteries, and thats what makes it so durn interesting . . . a question of where to go . . . ? A lousy day on the middle Niangua still beats sittin on your duff watchin the Rams or the Cheifs. Unless there is BBQ involved.

Took a bike ride down to Castlewood last Thursday I think it was. The river had just crested earlier in the day and water was inches from being up into the parking lot at the boat ramp, as it evidently had been a few hours earlier with all the mud that was around. Most of the bottomland trails were submerged or too muddy to attempt to ride. Anyway, as I was about to ride off from the boat ramp area, a huge section of 15-20 foot high, steep, mudbank on the opposite side of the river let go and completely startled me. It was like a glacier calving. I imagine this goes on for some time after a significant flood -- the big banks are weakened or undermind(ed), and as the water drains from these banks, they let go. That might explain the slugs of murky water. And if you look at the last 60 days of USGS watergauges, there have been 3 or 4 pretty major spikes in water levels on most rivers, not just the Meremac -- the ground just isn't having time to dry out and reharden. I imagine there is calving going on all over the place. My 2-bit geological theory anyway.

Awesome catch. Very happy for the guy, and happy for the Lilley's that it was caught out of their place and on one of their rods too!

As usual, PD has a solution . . . make from Fall Creek and above a C & R area only, barbless and single hook only, and don't stock that area at all. I would also like to see the outlets closed to fishing during the spawn. Lets face it - the slot is too confusing for most folks, they just don't get it. Then Fall creek and below . . . no restrictions other than a 4 or 5 fish limit, but only 1 brown over 18 may be allowed, bait okay, barbs okay, etc, etc. Stocking should only be from Cooper Creek down, and cut back on the #'s stocked by a half million or so per yr. But this all makes too much sense, MDC will never go for it.

Yeah, Bugatti is an interesting choice of names for a Korean-made fly reel, isn't it? But lets face it, their ain't nothing tricky about a fly reel. From a modern manufacturing standpoint, its hard to make one expensive. Time will tell how well the Albright stuff holds up, but I know some guys that have made similar raids during their October sale the last couple years, and now they leave their Winstons and Sages at home when they go fishing. Yeah, there is some guilt about funding a Korean sweat-shop, but if Lefty's okay with it, then so is Paul Dallas.

Look, between saving $100 on the reel (Lamson Konic vs. Albright Bugati) and also saving another $40 on the line (SA GPX vs. Sharkskin) . . . . thats $140, almost enough for a whole 'nother outfit!

Scientific Anglers GPX line is good stuff -- about $65. Sharkskin --- never tried it, but I hear its an overpriced gimmick. Take a look at the rod-tube on the 2 pc - 9ft. Its about like having another canoe paddle. If you don't mind that, and I don't, then go for it. Most of my fly rods are 3 or 4 piecers, but a I do have a couple 2 piecers. A 2 pc 7 and 1/2 footer isn't so bad, but the 2 piece 9 foot rod tube is a monstrosity and isn't going to sit nicely in a trunk. It needs the floor-board and some space in the backseat of most cars. I just bought a couple of Albright Bugati reels for $35 each. Large arbor, disc drag - cartridge type. Looks sharp and is smooth as glass. Don't waste money on no fly reel. For the price of the Lamson, you could almost buy another Launch, say in a 7 wt. or a 3 wt.

Warden sounds like a doof, Bill. When plenty of opportunities are there to write the tickets that make sense, why be bull-headed on a borderline call like that one. Goats are everywhere and #'s need to be reduced anyway, so . . . I don't get it. Tell him to snap some pictures, go to court and fight it -- it will get tossed.

I'm one of the few that prefer 2 pc rods, just seem a little lighter and fewer hinge-points to my thinking, but I don't think thats been proven. The only advantage of a multi-piece rod is for airline travel. I'd steer clear of rods that are "fast" action. As a beginner, you will have a tough time learning how to cast one -- it will take lots of line out to load one properly and in general, I think most medium to medium-fast action rods are plenty fast enough. Fast action rods don't cast very well at short-medium ranges either, which is where most fly-fishing (for trout anyway) is done -- casts of around 40 ft or less. Buddy of mine just bought a Sage Launch or it might've been a Flight I think. Nice rod, very similar in action to my Sage VPS, which I dearly love. My Sage FLi (7 wt) is a bit too fast. I'm not up on all the models -- they're constantly changing them and you have no reference point anymore. Its like buying a mattress and trying to comparison shop. As suggested, make sure you go to a fly-shop and let them show you whats up. Don't fall for any marketing hype or catalog descriptions and get a mindset of okay, its either this rod or that one. Go cast them 1st, and THEN narrow your choices down. Go talk to Craig or Tommy up at Hargroves. They'll set you up. One caution on the Loomis, and I don't know if this is true anymore or not -- the unconditional lifetime warranty. I don't think they have one. Say you roll up a window and snap a rod tip. Sage, St. Croix, and some of the others will replace it for a nominal charge regardless of how it was damaged. Orvis has this too, but its not for the lifetime, only 25 years. Last I checked, if you damage your Loomis rod by doing something stupid, you're SOL. I've sent a couple rods back for various bumbleheaded reasons, and its been nice to get the whole rod replaced (brand new) for only $20-25. Hargrove even gave me a loaner while I waited.

Roscoe P. Coltrane, in pursuit. Cujuu, juu juit. Couldn't agree more about the deer management issues, but given the money put into rearing trout and whether or not you could really call them "wildlife" as they exist in T-como . . . I don't know. Nevertheless, poaching is wrong no matter how you slice it. Was down at Blue Springs Cr. Conservation Area yesterday afternoon (Friday), and gunshots were going off all around and in close range. Guess the season started a few hours early?

There is a lot of wisdom in purchasing 2 lower-priced outfits, say a 5 wt for trout and a 7wt for smallies, as opposed to buying a single more expensive 5 or 6 wt and trying to use it for both. For every $700 rod thats out there, there are plenty of $100-150 rods that cast just as well. And this is more so true with reels. Like others have said, unless you're chasing steelhead or bonefish, or other fish that can make long runs, there is no need for a fancy reel, at least not around here. Get a good fly-line, of course, but as far as rods and reels there is a WIDE variation in what you are truly getting for your buck. Take it from a fool who knows. Don't buy into the myth of expensive fly-tackle being so superior. It makes you a like a woman buying an expensive purse. Look at yourself in the mirror and axe yourself this, "Do the fish really know that I am holding a StreamDance GLX, or a Cabela's III Forks, and do they care about the cork handles' imperfections?" One is $700, the other is $30.

Paul Dallas is in da house.

I've got a nice little waterproof/tear-proof map that shows in great detail, mile by mile, riffle by riffle, from Hwy 8 all the way to Onondaga Access -- 44 river miles. Shows countours of terrain and names of hollers, eddies, springs, and creeks, and also gravel roads. Its a great little map. Also have one just like it for the Current that covers Montauk to Round Spring. Bought them at Hargroves a few years back, but I don't know if he has them anymore.

I've had a Sedona 500 for a few years now and its been great. Its my main spinning rod and I can't recall ever having a problem with it. Its rated for 2-4-6 lb line and I mainly use 6 lb mono on it. Probably should've bought the next size up, but I like the lightweight of it.

What Gavin said. I don't see much need for changing the regulations here at all. Whats needed is more enforcement of the existing regulations, or at least a more visible presence of the field agents in those streams most affected by lack of it. Haven't seen any poaching or bait container problems like that at any of the Wild Trout Mgmt areas except for maybe the Little Piney. The Wild Trout Mgmt areas should just be made into C & R only -- but basically they already are, so thats a minor point. All the other Blue, Red, and White ribbon areas just need more enforcement of the existing regs in general.

Did you know that in 601 B.C. over 30,000 laborers employed by the Emporer of China on the embankment of the Yellow River, demanded higher pay and ceased work? 1,700 were beheaded and the rest resumed work. Did you know that Mozart, in spite of his wonderful genius, was often in great poverty? He literally died of want and was buried in a potter's field. Did you know the female Praying Mantis devours the male while they are mating? The male sometimes continues copulating even after the female has bitten off his head and part of his upper torso. Did you know that ants keep slaves? Certain species, the so-called Sanguinary Ants in particular, will raid the nests of other ant tribes and kill the queen and then kidnap many of the workers. The workers are brought back to the captor's hive where they are coerced into performing menial tasks.

1) The Welch access is on the NORTH side of the river, northEAST to be more precise, and yes thats the only way to access it is off of Hwy K. 2) CFS? Heck, its probably fishable now, but I think if it got down to around 600-700, it would be easier to wade fish in most spots. 3) Welch Spring to Akers is less than 3 miles -- a bit short for an overnight float You oughta do Cedargrove to Welch which is 5 1/2 miles. If you need a shuttle, I would check first w/ Akers Canoe rental or Jadwin to make sure they will be around. They should be, but you never know. 4) Don't bother with your motor, you won't need it. Flow rate of the river will move you along at about 2-3 mph without even getting your paddle wet. 5) Yes, you can expect to catch trout. That section tends to do better if there has been a recent stocking though -- it gets fished out pretty quickly. 6) I would make Cedargrove your put-in instead of Welch, and either take out at Welch or Akers. That way you can check out Medlock cave which is about 4 miles downstream of Cedargrove on river right. Fishing is usually better immediately below Welch, but the water will be noticeably higher and more swift with all this rain, and that may not be what you want. Have fun and be careful.

That is a pretty little creek. Floated it a couple times when it was in flood and the shut-ins were fun. Its pretty challenging in an open deck canoe. Won't be doing that again . . . almost drowned and then upon retreat, almost gored by a bull.

I must be a lousy fisherman, cause when I go I sure ain't payin attention to how much time I spend doing what, and I sure ain't fussin over eliminating variables.

Why the black speedos, Ness, and not your floral ones? I tend to agree, they are gay, but for fishing heavy nymphs real deep, you have to look past their orientation and just roll with it, they do work. Tucker and Wise loaned some to a few of us feckless fishers back in February on a cold, raw, high-water float trip on the North Fork and our success immediately improved. They can float an anvil.

If you weigh 275, forget about those solo canoes. Seriously. I would go with nothing less than a upper 15-16 ft tandem canoe, float it backwards - sitting yourself in the bow seat which is closer to middle and facing toward the stern - and adding some weight, rocks or gear, to the front (the stern). With more surface area in contact with the water, you will drag less and paddle w/ less effort than trying to put yourself into a smaller, wider boat. You would do well with just about any middle of the road, recreation platformed canoe from Old Town, Mohawk, Buffalo, Wenonah, Dagger, Mad River . . . yeah, Royalex is better, but don't frown on the Crosslink III -- its tough stuff-- even though heavier. I weigh sub-200 and my OT Disco 158 has been a very serviceable solo boat when paddled as mentioned above, it ain't THAT heavy. An OT 147 is too small for you and I'm pretty sure those Native boats would be too.