Johnsfolly

Still have my oldest and my son🙄.

When I decided that I was done being a poor grad student I took the PA state fisheries Civil service exam. I had the third highest score in the state with only two jobs open at the time. So no go in PA. I actually got a ljob offer from the MDC to work at Blind Pony Hatchery. I didn't take the job. The pay was a bit better than what I was getting as a grad assistant but I wasn't sure that I wanted to live in MO. I ended up taking a job in FL that was double my grad wages. That job eventually took me to MO. Go figure.

With nice weather a couple weekends ago we went about 3 hours south of us down into Virginia to fish a pier at a state park close to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge -Tunnel. A friend at work had mentioned that they had a great multispecies fishing trip at this park. You know that the thought of catching some new species definitely got my interest. What sold my wife on the trip was that we wouldn't need to buy a fishing license due to the reciprocity agreement between VA and MD. Our MD coastal licenses would be all that we needed. The trip required an early start and it was a bit of a challenge getting everyone in the car. We really kept it simple. Used high/low rigs with cut bait, bloodworms, and fishbites baits. It didn't take long before we started getting bites as soon as we got baits in the water. We had a great time, enjoyed the great weather and caught a bunch of fish. Livie with a double on spot. Sue with a double on spot. Sue with a double on striped searobins (a lifer for her!). Both Livie and I caught a few of these searobins as well. Was a lifer for me! Livie with a cool lifer - an inshore lizardfish. Now I was jealous. Fortunately I caught this one and one other. also a lifer for me as well. Livie loves fish that make noises. She was all giggles every time that she landed an Atlantic croaker. I caught a couple of these southern kingfish. Probably should have kept a few. All in all we had a great day. Several new life list fish for each of us and close to 120 fish total for the day. Can't wait to head down there again.

Jeff glad to hear that it was nothing more than a slight illness. We have a 150 employees at work and I don't know of a single one of our staff that has had COVID. Now the county and the area that we live has had a very low number of cases compared to other parts of the state. Now one of my staff, his father died of COVID or complications with COVID. Four other employees have had relatives or friends that have had COVID. We all wear masks when in close proximity of each other while at work and in our stores, restaurants, etc. As we know more and more data, the reality is that this virus affects some folks poorly and many others it is no worse than the flu.

FIFY

I wasn't thinking about musky on this trip. I don't like targeting them until the water temp cools in the fall.

Cut bait (shad, alewife, mendhaden, white perch, etc.) is used regularly for Chesapeake stripers as well as clams, bloodworms, and crabs - especially peeler crabs (those that are starting to molt). All of these baits catch stripers. I see no reason not to believe that they would also be eating crayfish if they were abundant.

We had to make a quick trip out to Missouri at the end of Aug to finally get our Columbia house rented. I was actually too busy and did not even wet a line in Missouri on this trip. However, we did want to get back to the lake Shelbyville spillway to try again for yellow bass, carp, and buffalo suckers. We had better weather for this trip than our last outing when we got rained off of the water. This time not only did I have a day license, but Livie and my Betterhalf did as well. I took advantage of having three people to fish by using different techniques. I had Sue start with a small trout magnet jig with a worm under a float. Livie was fishing a high/low rig with worms. I "baited the swim" aka chummed a spot with alfalfa pellets and canned corn. Then set up a rod with a Carolina rig using a 3/8 oz egg sinker, 6# PLine leader and a no 10 octopus hook baited with 2 to 3 kernels of corn. I don't have a baitrunning style reel, so I loosened the drag as low as I could to allow any fish to run with the bait. Sue had quite a few small bites, but only caught one green sunfish. It didn't take long and Livie was catching bluegill. and I was getting small taps on the corn. Then after 20 mins my reel was screaming drag as a larger fish took the corn. I got the drag set and set the hook as if it was a circle hook and the fight was on. It took a bit and I landed the first common carp of the day. I got the "carp" rod baited up again and Livie was on the rod. I went back to catching bluegill (spoiler alert we caught no yellow bass again) on the high/low rig. Livie got a strong bite on the corn, but broke off the fish. Sue was up next. I got the carp rod re-rigged and baited. I also added some more chum and dropped the bait. Less than 5 mins Sue was hooked up on another carp. She got the fish in and without a net I tried to get it landed and lost it before a photo could be taken - seems like I have done this before @Ham would know that story. This was Sue's first carp ever and no photo of the fish. Now the last time that we came to this spillway I had specifically bought a net the morning of the trip in case we caught some big carp and buffalo. One would think that I could have remembered to pack the net this time, but that would be mistaken. Livie lost another one when the hook pulled and her frustration increased. I caught another carp and convinced her that she should try again. We did find that sweetening the chum spot just as we cast the bait was the ticket to getting bit within a couple of mins. We also would strip a little line off when we saw stronger pulls and once the fish committed by swimming off with the bait we tightened the drag and set the hook. It didn't take long that Livie had on another carp. She fought this one admirably using the drag and back reeling to keep pressure on the fish as it ran. Finally we got it landed and photographed ! Livie was happier and she went back to catching more bluegill. I was on the carp rod and had one more fish scream off line. I got the fish close and saw that it was not a carp! So now I am the one afraid that we won't land the fish. Livie got a bit wet, but we did land the fish which turned out to be my first smallmouth buffalo! Though I am still looking for that first yellow bass, I was successful in getting my wife to catch her first carp and to catch my first smallmouth buffalo. As a side note, the night before Livie and I fished a small portion of the Little Wabash river. It looked like a good spot for black bullhead. We got hung more often than catching fish. Only a couple of small bluegills were the only fish landed. But I also did mange to land a spiny softshell turtle.

I doctor up any beans that I buy to my liking. So only really care about the texture of the beans. Some cheap beans have gritty beans that I don't like. Lately when I do have beans it's usually Bush's. Anyway made a braised venison shoulder roast tonight. Rubbed the roast with smoked paprika, garlic powder, and a blend of dried Italian herbs. Seared in Dutch oven with olive oil until browned on both sides. Used venison stock and Bur Oak Boone County Brown ale as braising liquid. Added whole garlic cloves and quartered local sweet onions. Cooked about 90 mins at 350. Then added half can of tomato paste, more beer and sliced carrots. Cooked about another 90 mins until tender. Served with oven roasted herb new red potatoes.

Wasn't going to bring that whole discussion up again🙄.

Couple of recent highlights Hand crafted burgers (montreal seasoning, garlic powder and worchestershire sacue in meat), Applewood smoked bacon, swiss cheese, sliced sweet onion and thinly sliced hot pepper. Venison fajitas (venison, green and red pepper, sweet onions, tajin seasoning) with homemade guacamole. Seasoned crabs with white sweet corn (Old bay seasoning on corn) Tonight will be braised venison shoulder roast - more on that later.

I would hate to work there since you only get paid on Tuesdays !

I agree that it sounds likes a great trip catching fish! Would have loved to see some of those fish and those anglers catching them. Congrats and hope that you guys can get back down and do it all again!

and possibly the species as well 😁.

Nice day to be out catching a few fish for sure. Congrats Dave! We fished yesterday in the brackish water. Caught a bunch and enjoyed the day out. Yard work today.

Awesome trip @FishnDave! Love the variety. Keep the reports coming.

That's a great looking bow!

Figured that all carp are weighed in kg 😉

Not music but @Mitch f post reminded me of this skit.

Looked like a great time DJ! Congrats to all you guys catching those trout! Also great job on the continued streak on your one fish guarantee!

I'm jealous since I haven't caught a sauger. Congrats on a nice bunch of fish!

22.6 kg.

Congrats on a great day with your friend! Glad to see him catch a nice one.

Yeah but can they net them ! Good luck guys. Can't wait for the next installment!

MDC sets proposed bear-hunting framework for future seasons Missourians asked to provide feedback Oct. 16-Nov. 14 on the proposed framework. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Conservation Commission recently approved a proposed hunting framework by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for a potential future black bear season in Missouri. The Commission approved the framework at its Sept. 4 open meeting in Jefferson City and is asking for final public input Oct. 16 through Nov. 14. If the season framework is ultimately approved by the Commission and a permit and harvest quota is established, the earliest a season could occur is fall 2021 and would be limited to Missouri residents. According to MDC, over the last 50 years bear numbers in the Missouri Ozarks have increased significantly and today Missouri is home to between 540 – 840 black bears. Missouri bear numbers are currently increasing each year by approximately 9%, bear range in the state is expanding, and Missouri’s bear population is expected to double in less than 10 years. Additionally, Missouri’s bear population is connected to a larger bear population in the surrounding states of Arkansas and Oklahoma. “With Missouri’s growing black bear population, a limited and highly regulated black bear hunting season will be an essential part of population management in the future as Missouri’s bear numbers continue to grow,” said MDC Furbearer Biologist Laura Conlee. “The timing and length of the season, restrictive methods, and permit allocation coupled with a harvest quota will initially be limited to ensure a sustainable harvest of our growing bear population.” Conlee noted that Arkansas and Oklahoma also have established bear hunting seasons. HUNTING FRAMEWORK DETAILS Most of Missouri’s estimated 540-840 black bears are found south of the Missouri River, and primarily south of Interstate 44. With this in mind, MDC proposes to establish three Bear Management Zones (BMZ) in southern Missouri. The limited hunting season would begin each year on the third Monday in October and run for 10 days or until BMZ-specific quotas are reached, whichever comes first. Hunting hours would be a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour hour after sunset. The proposal would limit black bear hunting to Missouri residents. Harvest quotas for each of the three BMZs would be determined annually each spring by the Conservation Commission based on recommendations by MDC. Quotas have not yet been established for the potential future season. Once the specific harvest quotas are filled for each BMZ, the season for that BMZ would be closed. Hunters would need to call in before each morning they intend to hunt to determine if the BMZ-specific quota has been reached. If harvest quotas are not reached, the season would close at the end of the 10 designated hunting days. Hunters would be allowed to use both archery and firearms equipment with allowable methods being the same as those for deer and elk, except the use of an atlatl. Baiting and the use of dogs would not be allowed at this time but may be considered in the future. The harvest limit would be one bear per permit. Under the proposed regulations, bears may not be disturbed, pushed, harassed, or taken from a den. Only lone black bears may be taken. Hunters may not take bears that are known to be in the presence of others bears, including female black bears with cubs. Bear hunters must wear hunter orange, make reasonable efforts to retrieve shot bears, and must use commonly edible portions. All harvested bears would need to be telechecked by 10 p.m. on the day of harvest. Harvested bears would need to remain intact as a field-dressed carcass or quartered until the bear has been telechecked. MDC would also require the submission of a tooth from each harvested bear within 10 days of harvest. This would help MDC staff with black bear research and management. PERMIT PROCESS MDC will offer an annual online permit-application period May 1-31 each spring with a fee of $10 per applicant. Individuals must be Missouri residents and would only be allowed to apply once per year to hunt in one of the three designated BMZs. Permit selection would be determined by July 1 each summer through a random drawing of all eligible applicants. There would be no “sit-out” period for those selected to receive permits. There would be no preference points given, such as with managed deer hunts. Those selected would be eligible to buy a permit at a cost of $25. A person would need to be 11 years of age or older and have completed hunter education (or be exempt) by the time of the hunt to purchase a permit. MDC would issue a limited number of hunting permits for each of the three BMZs. Each permit would be for a specific BMZ and could be used on public or private property within the BMZ. There would not be a separate, landowner-specific black bear hunting permit. Black bear hunting permits would be awarded through a random draw with a minimum of 10 percent reserved for qualifying landowners. To qualify for the landowner allocation, landowners would need have at least 20 contiguous acres within the BMZ for which they are applying. Qualifying landowners must first submit their property information through MDC’s Landowner Permit Application at mdc.mo.gov/landownerpermits before completing a black bear hunting permit application. PUBLIC COMMENTS MDC proposed the limited and highly regulated hunting season framework for black bears following several years of public comment opportunities related to black bear management, including black bear informational open houses in 2019, and a public input process this spring to inform development of the proposed hunting season framework. MDC is asking for final public comments. The Commission-proposed regulations for the hunting framework will be published in the Oct. 15 edition of the Missouri Register and open for public comments Oct. 16 through Nov. 14 at mdc.mo.gov/about-regulations/wildlife-code-missouri/proposed-regulation-changes. Comments received will then be summarized and presented for final consideration at the Commission’s December meeting. If approved, the new regulations would become effective Feb. 28, 2021. BEAR BACKGROUND The black bear is one of the largest and heaviest wild mammals in Missouri with some reaching up to 500 pounds. Black bears were historically abundant throughout the forested areas of Missouri prior to European settlement but were nearly eliminated by unregulated killing in the late 1800s, as well as from habitat loss when Ozark forests were logged. However, a small number of Missouri black bears survived and reintroduction efforts in Arkansas helped to increase bear numbers in southern Missouri. Over the last 50 years, bear numbers in the Missouri Ozarks have been increasing. Today Missouri is home to between 540 – 840 black bears. Bear numbers are currently increasing, and bear range is expanding with the population expected to double in less than 10 years. Learn more about black bears in Missouri and MDC management efforts at mdc.mo.gov/bears.