ColdWaterFshr

Only genuine Idaho russets were used, not some cheap Brazilian imported spuds.

Furthermore, we cleared all fauna including mountain lions downrange and carefully cordoned off a 1/4 mile target field.

I'll answer that. It was my cannon and not Ness's. I made sure the safety was "on" as we loaded the potato. Only fresh Aqua Net was used, and we followed the manufacturers guidelines. This was pressure rated PVC pipe, rated at 48,000 psi. All spectators were wearing kevlar vests and sound proof earphones and safety glasses (except the dog). No one had drank more than 4 consecutive beers in less than 1 hour prior to discharging the cannon.

Justin, indeed, fishing does pick up quite a bit. And sometimes, galldangit, I get so sick of working on my "delicate presentation" when flyfishing. This offers a nice release.

I almost always carry a couple of hand grenades with me when I go fishing, or an RPG. I've had instances where I'm wade fishing and I come around a stretch of river, and dangit if there isn't a well fortified pill-box set up on the hill overlooking the stretch I want to fish, and a 2 man team with a heavy machine gun laying down withering fire on my position. I used to carry a flame thrower for just those situations, but the fuel tanks were a little heavy after a while. The nice thing about the hand grenades is -- the hillbilly meth-heads think I'm just throwing rocks at them. The look on their face when they figure it out too late almost gives me more satisfaction than my fishing.

Wow, that is really outstanding.

honestly, what kind of sicky sets fishing goals for a coming year? sickies, thats who

uh-oh . . .

Justin, Yes, if'n yer definition includes domesticated "cougars". PD

Ness would like you to believe that he hung up his wild years long ago. But I offer as photographic evidence, this disturbing little snapshot taken within the last couple years . . . . Here we have Ness in the act of discharging an unlicensed, homemade/improvised firearm (in this case a 600 mph potato with Aqua Net as propellant), OVER a Federally protected National and Scenic Riverway, with an innocent puppy and young children in the nearby vicinity. My question is, would all the violations shown here fit on just one page of a Park Rangers 4 x 6 inch ticket pad, or would he need a 2nd page?

Gotmuddy, I strongly disagree. No one is advocating "forcing landowners to let just anyone go on their land". And I sure don't believe that increasing the # of public accesses is the answer. I think that would spoil the beauty of many of our streams. I think there is far TOO MUCH access on many of our streams -- homemade roads and trails that have been created over the years, that people abuse, litter, and turn into eyesores. I've seen a lot of that firsthand, and I would like to see a lot of these "unofficial" roads and accesses closed. Clarity of the law is what we would all like to see and the word "easement" comes to mind. I would like to see a published list of stream or public waterways, such as many of those listed in the MDC Floating book. Set a 20 foot from the waterline rule - as public easement, much like a public sidewalk that runs through your front yard. High water line is too variable and therefore too vague. If its not public land, obviously no camping is allowed, even within the 20 ft easement. For those streams that are NOT on the list, there would be NO public easement -- you must stay IN the water and not "loiter" -- however you want to define loiter.

Roubidoux

Other creeks not in the float book: Marble Creek - whitewater run mostly Turkey Creek - same Little Niangua could probably come up with a few more

Exactly. Until then, we should all do our part to float this section as frequently as possible.

I'm in for a Franklin as well, but I also like the Occupy Shoal Creek Float idea. He can't come after all of us.

Nice!!

2011 was a good year for ole PD. Didn't get out as much as I wanted, what with coaching soccer, baseball, and running kids to and fro, but mostly it was a dandy. Seems like I caught more big fish than usual, but fewer overall. Jan - can't remember Feb - fished that pay per pound place south of Springfield with my brothers, caught 20 lbs of fish in about 10 minutes, paid the $100 tab and left with sacks of fillets. Also had WFT 2nd outing - always a good time, watched Dennis fall in river 2 or 3 times Mar - Hoff and I hit a local creek and didn't catch much, except for a19 inch smallie that slammed a buzzbait April - can't remember except that it rained and was colder than usual May - might've hit the upper Courtouis with Hoffmeyer, skinny water, very few fish, got sunburned early June - can't remember - might've hit a creek or two with Hoff and Blanner and I think Al met up with us as well, had that miserable nighttime boat drag out of that one access; also took family to Big Piney for a short float, rained and stormed like the dickens one night, rescued wife from large spider that was preparing to kill her late June - bought me a Curado for fathers day then fished with Gavin, Al, Jeremy, Mitch, Cricket on the middle Gasconade and Big Piney -- good times, except for that 17 miles of paddling July - drawing a blank, think I lived at the ballparks; went to Florida August - remember sweating and drinking cold beer Sept -- can't remember; hiked to Angels Landing out in Zion National Park - scared crap out of me Oct - vaguely remember hitting the Little Piney and doing pretty well for a couple hours Nov - showed my brother in law and his son from Green Bay the Eleven Point River - their first time. Had a 80 degree weekend, we caught fish like crazy, swam in the river and had a great time Dec - got out maybe once to Blue Springs, caught some dinks

wicked and weird

Love those old photos, SB!

It was closer to 9 lbs, and yes it was delicious. Pan-fried it in a Tito-reduction demi-glaze with roasted peppercorns on a bed of fresh greens and sliced cantonese oranges. Wild trout is so much more flavorful than hatchery or feral trout. And yes, O-Ren Ishii, aka Cottonmouth was grateful to her master that night for serving her such a wonderful dinner . . .

Very nice tie. Can I order a dozen each in olive, brown, and black and get them by tomorrow?

corn, especially when chummed with 2 or 3 cans

Paul Dallas recently spoke at a symposium of renowned trout biologists from fisheries around the world and he was the keynote speaker. His extensive research study conducted over 20 years of fishing the most fragile trout ecosystems in Missouri and concluded that we anglers are not aware of the many benefits a good gravel or sand scrub has to the epidermus of a trout, and particularly as it relates to restoring the mineral content and restoring the proper pH of the protective "slime" coating. Further research indicated that not only did trout that were caught and handled in this way, when returned to the water, actually thrive and grew larger than their more delicately handled counterparts, but they also suffered from lower depression rates and were more likely to be contributing members of their community. Tissue samples also revealed the benefits of camera flashbulbs and strengthened retinal and synapsal response to the brain, resulting in increased biomorphology and less dependence on corrective eyewear. Additionally, trout caught with large, dull treble hooks dangling from jerkbaits benefited from greatly improved dental/oral health and a 17% increase in the enamel thickness as well as reduced plaque and tartar buildup on the gumline.

Jadwin is probably closed down for the season. I would wander around Montauk and see if you could talk to a hatchery employee and see if they wouldnt do it for $20-30. I bet someone would.

Are you talking about Camp Mihaska (Salvation Army Camp)? I usually always fish up to the sewage lagoons and not much past. Water gets skinny above there until you get right to the Camp, but never did very well there anyway. Signage of where the public water ends there has never been good. Have no idea how far up you can go. I've fished the lower 1- 1.5 miles of the creek to where it dumps in to the Meramec and its pretty much devoid of trout. Lots of good holes there but never seen any trout. The middle section is probably the best water overall in terms of #'s and bigger fish.