ColdWaterFshr

I was talking to my boss on the phone when the 1st tower collapsed. I told her I couldn't talk anymore . . . and I politely hung up on her. The next day we drove the family down to Destin, FL -- a trip we had planned many months prior. We weren't sure it was the right thing to do. The drive down, people had cut-out american flags from their newspapers and plastered them to inside windows of their cars. When we arrived, fighter jets from nearby naval airbase were running near-continuous exercises over the beach that very few people were on. Holding my 1 year old sons hand, walking barefoot on the beach, and watching the air-show. Going out to dinner with my wife, choking down shrimp cocktail while the TV broadcast Bush's speech had everyone's attention and applause.

Sammy Lane used to run pirate cruises all the time on Taney. And there used to be the big 2-story tall paddle boat that took people out. I'm dating myself --this was 25 years ago or more. So the ducks on the Landing isn't exactly a new idea.

For the less discriminating Johns . . . there's a little place you can go near Highlandville, MO - I forget the name of it. Might just be the ultimate LEGAL hatchery fishing experience. It ain't real pretty or quaint, and there isn't any Orvis sweaters on sale in their pro-shop, but the fish are mighty big and always hungry.

I can't knock Rockbridge because I've never been there. If its like Springrise, which I suspect it is -- maybe a little nicer scenery, and with a nice restuarant on premises -- sure it would make for a fun trip, tie into a couple pigs, but not my idea of sport. Dogwood Canyon is along the same lines. Hard to consider these places anything more than a groomed hatchery raceway with the illusion that you brought your A game, when all you really brought was your credit card. You should be suspicious of ANY place where the fishing is consistently good and money is involved. Its called PROSTITROUTION. And if you start to enjoy it too much, then I guess that makes you a JOHN.

I'm still lost. What is 2 Sheds - some Grateful Dead bootleg, or a bunch of ozark pickers self-made cassette tape art?

Interesting discussion and report. A mysterious bagpipe player, the fab 4, a man called Pigman, large trout for breakfast, and a nagging question over what the heck is in that 2nd shed.

Whats the name of those paved trails by TR marina? I took the family and all our bikes there a few weeks back. We had fun riding the bikes from the Marina to the dam and back about 4-5 miles. No hills, easy ride, follows the lake and there are several places to picnic along the way, which we took advantage of -- watched the ducks enter and leave the lake - went on the Branson Belle boardwalk. Good times. Free. It would be great if they did something like this on the Landing. Or even better, if they could build more trails and connect them all the way to the landing. Get people out of their #$&@$^! cars.

Other ideas: Smoking capital of the world - pass ordinance that all Rockaway Beach restaurants and public buildings REQUIRE that you light up as you enter. Build it and they will come. Persecuted smokers will flock to the area, build huge homes and even huger hospitals.

"Rockaway needs a niche" Here are some ideas better than a casino: Giant Ferris Wheel. Aquarium - come see Tippy the Trout, largest corn fed rainbow trout in captivity. KC and the Sunshine Band Theatre - 7 shows daily from 11 a.m. World Class Polo fields - only played with mini-bikes and croquet mallets. Catfish Emporium - the largest deepfried catfish buffet in the universe, with over 70 kinds of high-end tarter sauce to choose from.

I've been to Rockaway. Lots of times - last time was probably 18 years ago butI don't imagine much has changed since then. Putting a casino there is nothing more than a clever scheme by the CASINO to divert some of Bransons tourism money to the CASINO, under the pretense of helping out some poor helpless little community that has Branson-envy.

Good point Lilley. I don't understand the logic either. If it was that easy, we could wipe out poverty - just build a casino! I think its a short-term solution at best. With he proliferation of casinos everywhere . . . at some point the interest is going to diminish and then you are left with the same product that everyone else is offering and what is the difference? Nothing creative and intersting about it. Rockaway oughta consider building a 600 foot tall ferris wheel like the one in London . . . now theres an idea. From a cash flow standpoint, once the shine wears off, and the outside repeat customers start to dwindle, you're just going to have locals sitting at the tables . . . spending money at a casino (giving profit to a major corp), and that money that would otherwise be going to any number of other businesses. Net gain is zero.

Whats wrong with the location? If they built it on the upper end of Taney, I think that would detract from the fishing. Who wants to be within sight of a mall when they're wading through the mist throwing size 30 midges? heh, heh. Where would've been a better place?

I've checked out the Landing once, and that was a few days before Bass Pro officially opened. I think it will definitely thrive if they can open some more shops to draw more people. And I disagree with Bills comments. I think it is one positive that urban Branson has going for it. Tell me, does anything about the 8-10 miles of strip mall shopping "blend" in with the Ozarks? No, lets face it, most of Branson on 76 is gawdy and ugly. And that end of Branson, before the development, had pretty much fallen into decay. It was nice 30 years ago, but that was before its gradual decline. The Landing is a step in the right direction for the first time in a LONG time in that city, just this St. Louisan's opinion. I WILL take my family back there. I thought it was great. It ain't Vegas, but what is? And your mention of the brick home that can't sell because of "curb appeal" probably isn't the main reason. Maybe a $650k, 7000 sq ft house would sell fast in Orange county, but you're talking about Taney county. And how many people want 7000 sq. feet of living space? People will stay in nice cabins for $200 per night without fail. They will also buy $650k small lake cabins as a second home if all the elements are right. Let me just say I hate shoppping and all things shopping related. But I would much rather shop in the Landings atmosphere than go to a factory mall, or hop from strip mall to strip mall thru 76 traffic.

I miss the stamps too. Why did they do away with them? I hate these yellow stickers.

I have an Old Town 158 that I store in my garage - hanging from rafters. While I would certainly love a pulley system to raise and lower its substantial heft, I think it might be more trouble than its worth. I just tied some loops with rope tied over the rafters, then I have rope loop handles permanently tied on the handles of my canoe, then S-hooks to connect the loops. If I was using my boat every couple days, I would definitely look into the pulley set-up. But getting down 9-10 times per year just ain't a big deal.

Nice fish Catman. Thats gotta be a dandy for the Bryant. Been years since I fished it, but I'd like to get back. Nice little wild creek.

I'm a big believer that 6 and 7x are WAY overrated. I fish a lot of gin clear, TINY, Missouri streams. Get some 5x or even 4x fluorocarbon and I strongly DOUBT you'll be missing many fish. I've fished with some real pro's and on the finnicky water they dont use tapered leaders, but only straight sections of 3x fluoro tied to the end of the fly line with the fly on the other end, and they do well on wild trout streams with VERY spooky fish. You may have trouble tying on 26's, but so what? The fish just aren't that smart, even on Taney, what with a 1,000,000 dumped per year.

Somehow, I don't feel any better. Keep the tournaments in the lakes. River smallies take too long to grow to 3-3.5 lbs. You're telling me that 200 smallies were caught, kept in a livewell all day, mass-released (probably) at a boatramp many hours later, and the only 3-4 fish died? I don't want to take away from your enjoyment, I'm sure it was a fun time, but if I were a fish, I'd suffer my chances with the meat-hunters.

I agree completely BrianK. The idea of a smallmouth tournament on the Current makes me ill.

I was visiting family in town and we took the fam down to the new landing yesterday around noon. Had a nice lunch outside at Garfields and we walked around and checked out the shops. I was VERY impressed with the whole set-up, the layout, the quality construction, the choice of shops, the roving entertainers (magicians, clowns, bagpipers, dancers, singers, were all excellent.) Only negative was the traffic getting in and out of there. Boats tying up at the Landing could certainly help ease some of that. I was kind've skeptical a couple years ago, but seeing it now, this thing should be a huge success. Bass Pro won't lose any boat sales not being able to do demos on the lake.

I wish there were a list of all the agents direct phone #'s listed by fishery that could be available. I was fishing a couple weeks ago on a favorite creek and spotted a couple poachers with smallmouth on a stringer. Undersized for the area they were in, not to mention bass season wasn't yet open. Anyway, I called from my cell phone while still on the river, the 1-800-392-1111 (Operation Game Thief) and got quite the run-around . . . What river? Where is that?? What county? Put on hold forever and then finally got, you need to call this other phone #, etc. So I called the other phone # and they said to call yet ANOTHER phone #. Called that # and even they were confused on the location I was at, though I don't think I could have been more precise had I given them GPS coordinants. When it was all said and done, a voicemail was left by the dispatcher for the agent who called back a couple days later and said he was sorry he could not make it to the area. Does anyone have a list of agents w/ their phone #'s by county or river, or something?

Edmonds returned to form last night. Got some nice help from Spezio and Encarnacion, too. And Little Eck just keeps on chuggin. Saw my first game at the new stadium last night. I wasn't all that impressed with it. It has some more wide-open areas which are nice. The standing room only area behind home-plate is a great view, but my seat in section 132 wasn't anything special. Lots of plain-jane concrete, steel beams, it reminds me of a warehouse. I'm sure the luxury boxes are a big improvement, but everything else being equal, what more are we really getting? Oh, a better view of downtown and a little more view of the arch. A colossal waste of dough I say.

Brian, Thats a nice section up there. I have only floated it once, but there is a ton of good looking smallmouth water up there. Thanks for the report.

1. Mohairs 2. Buggers in various configurations 3. copper johns 4. prince nymphs 5. stoneflies I rarely make it much past 1 or 2 on the list, but there you have it.

I would say its hard to go wrong with a size 8 olive or black mohair leach, wrapped with a healthy amount of lead. Let that be Brians #5.