ColdWaterFshr

I was in Rolla yesterday on business, so I packed a couple fishing rods along just in case I had time after. Was torn on where to go so I ended up down at Suicide Hill which I hadn't been to in probably 5 years. Had low expectations. Spent about 2 hours and caught 4 keeper sized rainbows on black stonefly, mohair, and then a 15 inch smallie on a sculpin type fly, a nice way to finish! Water was very low and didn't feel quite as cold as it should be. Not sure how they could do much habitat improvements on that water without it costing a fortune. I agree though, it just isn't very good.

Is that a gig mark? Nice fish!!

Also be sure and ask how we can get Ron's wife to bring the flowers back. For effect, have Babs and Diamond singing "you don't bring me flowers" softly in the background.

Elk heard what? Are they finally picking up KMOX and getting the Cardinals games?

Been wanting to hear the answer to that one as well. And I would argue the bison has just an important place as elk in recreating a truly authentic Missouri flora and fauna. If we could just get Ron's wife to return all the wildflowers she's stolen for her personal home garden, that would at least help in restoring some of the 'flora' part, but I'm wandering off-topic. No, the bison could in fact be more ecologically important than the elk, due in large part to the eastern plains dung beetle's symbiotic relationship with freshly laid bison patties and furthermore, allow your minds to be a little more elastic on this one . . . . if we had the bison around long enough and gave them enough free-roaming latitude . . . . we might eventually see a return of the Osage Indians to these parts. The ACLU might scream and holler if we radio collared these indians, but we might be able to work something out.

But it seems one of our distinguished panelists knows quite a bit more than diddly and even gets angry when we try to run from his avalanche of facts. Good post, Al. Paul couldn't of said it better hisself.

mmmm garnish with a few shell casings from 30 ought 6 or tranquilizer dart feathers

Indeed. Paul has a lot of issues. But for taking on fishing website climatologists, now for that he is going to need a better trainer. Is Burgess Meredith still around?

No, but Paul does.

This debate lost interest for me somewhere back in maybe 2003. You really can't separate it from politics and it's just become a horse that both parties like to ride . . . and also for uh, lots and lots of pseudo-scientists with a smattering of global climate credentials. Cork the volcanoes, and everyone drive a Prius so that next year it might be a little cooler when we decide to go Occupy something.

Unless Dr. Tim Smith has a distinguished background in global climatology . . . . he's just another in a long line of armchair pseudo-scientists who keeps googling for research on the ole inner-net. And then burping it up on a fishing website and hoping for support. Fascinating stuff.

I've got some questions to add: Dry rub the elk backstraps or marinade? Quick sear or slow smoke? What stations can the elk listen to on their FM dial? Something tells me they like Terry Gross on Fresh Air. Do they like KDHX 88.1 or 105.7? Can they pick up the Cardinals on KMOX? What happens when these elk stumble onto the secret LSD stash hidden on the grounds of nearby Camp Zoey?

Good grief. Didn't Phil make it perfectly clear about having not discussing climate change, politics, etc. Kill this thing. Lets get back to arguing what a waste of money elk in Missouri are.

OB, then why not bison, too? They probably outnumbered elk in Missouri once upon a time.

Free the bison!!

Disagree. He glossed over the major points. The collars on these elk are on every single one of them. MDC doesn't tag every single smallie, bobcat, whitetail, or whatever. Every single one of these PET ELK are being radio collared and tracked and will have to be, presumably for as long as they continue with this thing. And they will want to roam but they don't want them to?? Guess thats why they need to keep tabs and each and every one of them, because they are a massive creature and could cause issues with landowners. Look, I love elk. They look cool in Colorado or Wyoming, or Montana. Roaming around those peaks and bugling and it gets me all fuzzy and warm. But out there, they don't have to keep tabs and each and everyone of them, do they? Because they got more room to spread out in places like RMNP, or on these massive mountains and dense forests. Peck is pretty big, but it ain't Montana big. This is just a silly fantasy project. Why not re-introduce bison? Don't stop with just elk!! Lets go for broke and get things as close to authentic as they were 300 years ago. Silly boys, dream on.

Why is it worth the shot, Al? Are the elk a tourist draw? Who would go to Peck Ranch just to see these pet elk with yellow radio collars on them? As someone else said, Lone Elk Park has them. Zoo's have them. Exotic Animal Paradise has them. I've seen them down on the Buffalo in Arkansas and they seemed almost tame. Looked like any other grazing livestock all bunched together and oblivious to all the traffic coming and going around them at the Ponca access. They are a roaming animal but yet they want them to stay put. That makes no sense to me. Waste of money.

Sounds like you're on a crusade. I can see where you're coming from and agree in principle, but I also see this Syd guys point of view as well. I would venture to guess that most bait and tackle companies are not going to come down with both feet firmly planted in the 100% in the catch-and-release camp. Maybe fly-fishing related products, but not the bass tournament crowd or their demographic. And why would they risk taking the hard-line against the catch-and-keep crowd, when the overwhelming majority of anglers still practice it? Not good for business.

I don't have much of an opinion on it. All sorts of Govt agencies blow our money like they are throwing it off the back of a moving train . . . and elk reintroduction really seems like another one of those. This is MDC trying to puff out its chest and pretend to be a western state. But what strikes me as really bizarre are the bright yellow radio collars. I think it would be really cool to see an elk down on the Current River or while out on a hike somewhere . . . up until I spotted that goofy radio transmitter collar and that would totally spoil it for me. Are they planning to keep tabs on every single elk this way, or is this just part of the initial reintroduction?

Bill, I would have your back in a millisecond against them redneck yunguns. We're both fat, but even in the square of our fat we're hard as nails and I KNOW we could take em. The right string of obscenities unleashed with absolute conviction and a bulging vein in the throat, . . . . they would back down, there is no question they would cower in fear. Unfortunately, the Memorial weekend swings wide the cellar doors of the summertime hoodlums and general yay-hoo population and there are 3 more for everyone you can shout down or try to talk sense into. Its a war of attrition and we lose. Till Labor Day. Hang in there. PD

I'd be all over that invite, G and thanks for the offer. But my sons got tournament semifinals game(s) tomorrow in Chesterfield. Heat stroke-city, yelling parents, you get the picture.

True story. I was in a seedy part of town and down on my luck. Drank up all my money at a dive bar and then shot billiards with a stripper until the rain stopped and I was bumming menthols off the waitresses. And we got into a pretty intense discussion about fishing crankbaits on small streams and she said to me, "you know, Paul, Rebel Craw fishing is the vibrator of the fishing world . . . and it just don't do it for me". Truer words have never been spoken. Hoffmeyer swears by the them and always has one rigged on one of his rods. You're not casting into tight pockets with those. You're not throwing into heavy cover. You are basically trolling a vibrator when you fish a rebel craw and there is little skill involved other than retrieval and feeling a tug and a treble hook takes care of the hookset. Fisherman's involvement to fish is one step above a nightcrawler on a hook undr a bobber. Nothing wrong with it, just doesn't do it for me. Thanks, Trixie.

I saw that ad in the paper, too, Dave. It really seemed like a BS ad, along the lines of "how to increase your stamina". A lot of people will probably buy it though. As a fathers day gift or whatever, not knowing it is regurgitated nonsense and you can buy all sorts of better and more current info and maps elsewhere. I think Higbee and Dallas shared a jail cell once, conspiracy to commit to fraud.

Look, no need to avoid the jetboders, lets just fence 'em off a little bit. Some ratchet tensioners, a solid oak or sycamore on either side of the river, and about a 100' of aircraft carrier tow-hook cable, you know, the stuff that can bring an A-6 Intruder to a dead stop from 200 mph in about 30 feet or so.

Nice report, Al. That big largemouth must've been a thrill.