strangercreek

I love bacon, and if you don't believe me, I have a bumper sticker on my fridge that says so

I'm interested in the fly display boxes but have no idea what they are worth. Do you have a price in mind for them?

I bought an Avid 5wt this spring and haven't put it down since.

Ben Prestage Legendary Shack Shakers This is a crappy recording but there are tons of clips on there.

The best reason to visit

I have my doubts about this. Branson is the only "within driving distance" destination for way to many areas.

lol

Last song I played in my truck today on the way home was "Needle and the Spoon". I'm also a big fan of RVZ, but I think the current lineup is OK to, just not a replica of the past. I also like the current lineup of Molly Hatchet, even though they are just using the name (in my opinion anyway). Skynyrd's original music was about the streets, plenty of jail, booze, drugs, hard times, women, their songs pretty much talked about it all. I wonder if David Allan Coe would draw a crowd in Branson, and then what would people say when if he played a song or two from "X-Rated Hits". For anyone putting down bad lyrics, I know there are probably at least a few Coe fans in SWMO by default. An interesting Skynryd fact. Steve Gaines did his first live performance with the band in Kansas City. What an awesome guitar player AND awesome vocalist. I think he was a key part of Skynyrd near the end. If I remember right, didn't Molly Hatchet play in Branson at the Grand Palace with Charlie Daniels a few years ago? (addressing the comment of bringing acts like that to the area)

I personally don't take any advice from entertainers about anything, except maybe what Tequila to try (Cabo Wabo is pretty smooth), or what show to see (I listened to Holly Madison in Vegas and saw her show, it was awesome, seeing her live ) I did not mean to turn this into a political discussion but it seems people are just chomping at the bit to be provoked these days.

I believe I have heard many stars say thing like that, although it could have been a more constructive comment instead of "he doesn't know what a library is" (I don't see that as a brave comment). I have news for you, I would have brought it up regardless who he was talking about (maybe, as had it not been a President there likely would't have been media attention). You are correct, certain people can have the needed influence if they do it with tact. "The point is, that you brought up, was that he put down Bush." The name Bush pushes buttons. I should have said former president.

This isn't the direction I was headed but.... Mccartney could have put down any public figure and made himself look stupid. There is plenty of Bush and Clinton Derangement Syndrome out there...enough to go around for both sides.

lots of Bush hatred still out there

Like I said, nevermind the political aspect of the whole thing. Who cares which president he was bashing. It would have sounded just as stupid if he was talking about Clinton or Obama.

I remember seeing Paul Mccartney making a total jackass out of himself by making a stupid comment about Bush when he played at the Whitehouse recently. Who cares who cares about the political aspect of it, talk about no class at all. Never to late to alienate people and make yourself look stupid in the process.

I stayed in Branson last night on business (at Fall Creek Inn) and woke to a bunch of cops in the lobby. There was an armed robbery this morning, glad no one was hurt.

Steve, Let me know how your next trip goes. All this rain should keep the water in good shape for a while, I definitely want to give your headstand pattern a try when I make it up there again

If you wanted to add an 8wt to your quiver without getting to fast, here is a decent deal I found while looking at discontinued Sage Launches. http://www.redtruckflyfishing.com/Fly-Rods/Sage-Fly-Rods/Sage-Launch-Fly-Rods/Sage-Launch-with-Fly-p5626682-3-1.html

I found a Sage Launch 4 pc 7wt for $185 and would like to know some opinions. I got rid of my 8 wt because it felt to heavy in most situations however sometimes a 6wt is a little bit light for huge flies so I thought a moderate 7 weight would be a good compromise (then later get a 6 wt and 8wt). Any experiences or opinions on this rod? I looked at a TFO Pro also but want to own at least a couple of completely American made rigs. I have a TFO 5 wt that I do like however.

I mentioned something under the "reading" forum but thought I would post it here in case folks aren't looking at that one. This movie won a grand prize at sundance and will be in theaters in June, including a few in SWMO (there is a facebook page with the listings). As a lot of people probably know it was filmed entirely in Taney County and is based on a novel from Daniel Woodrell who is from West Plains. It looks like a real movie trailer is done, here it is. There are also many other clips and interviews on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ8kqytI_oA http://www.wintersbonemovie.com/ There is also a prescreening in Springfield on the 14th

I mentioned the Daniel Woodrell (from West Plains) book "Winters Bone" a while back. It has been made into a movie, filmed mainly around the Forsyth area from what I understand (or somewhere in SWMO). The movie will be out in June, here is the trailer. The story itself takes place in the Ozarks. The main character is Jennifer Lawrence (Bill Engvall show), to bad they couldn't have found someone local for the leading role, but there are other locals in the movie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ8kqytI_oA

I've never seen another fisherman here, 7300 acres of shallow marshes, lots of fish. The marshes are fed by two adjacent creeks which contain plenty of carp, gar, drum, and the occasional game fish. Not sure why it isn't pursued more other than being a pretty good distance from KC or Omaha (St Joseph isn't really that far) but you get a feel of being really far from civilization out there (that is my opinion anyway)....lots of walking/stalking the banks, no boats or wading allowed but there is plenty of access to the ditches, pools, sloughs, marshes, swamps (numerous things as they are called), sometimes you can spot cruising carp from the road. It is a major bird habitat as well, which is the main attraction. I have seen many fish, snakes, turtles, frogs, birds, deer, coons, foxes, coyotes, beavers (large population), and just really cool scenery, one of my favorite places on the planet. If you look for them, the carp are everywhere. They also have an endangered rattlesnake (Massassauga which are not that aggressive and fairly small). Once the heat of summer sets in the marshes have less water and fish are more difficult to find but they are there. Make sure to wear boots or gaiters in the tall grass! The only fishing they promote is a snagging season from March 15 to May 15 which would probably be really productive if you are into snagging. No gigs or bows allowed though.

Does Chuck Gries still do any guided trips (Angler and Archer shop). He is a heck of nice guy and knows Taney really well. I left my net at home a couple years ago and he loaned me one from his shop. A good guy in my book.

It looked to be a black bullhead I think (the wetlands there have bullheads, gar, and carp, bluegill, whatever comes in from the adjacent creeks via the water control structures)

I saw this snake having lunch while I was casting to carp. The third picture is easiest to see,

Combofix seems to be doing a good job lately. One thing that is a good idea on XP when cleaning a bug is to disable system restore (eliminates the sys restore files which sometimes remain infected), but remember to enable it after you've cleaned it up. I have had this be the difference between fixing it or having to reload at least a couple of dozen times.