Sharps4590

I hunt a lot and use the fur and/or feathers from a lot of the game I take to tie flys. We also have two Miniature American Eskimo dogs, pure white, and when the wife brushes them I keep their fur.....well...I did. I now have a life time supply. It makes a good dubbing and can be dyed any color one needs. I also use the brushings from my Siberian Huskies. Feathers from: doves, turkey, quail, ruffed grouse and pheasant are on my bench. Fur from: squirrel tails, rabbits, deer, 'coon, pronghorn, and elk are on my bench...none of which were bought. Ain't found a use for the coon yet but there's gotta be sumthin'! Back when we raised chickens and rabbits I kept some of their featers and furs also. Anyone know what critter they get chenille from? Vic

Glad ye had a good trip! The Meramec is a pretty river. Mostly I fish the upper Meramec, where is Birds Nest? Vic

Welp....I believe the weather gods conspired against us on Saturday morning. The friend I was fishing with is really quite good and he caught only 3-4 little smallies and a few longears. I managed a couple green sunfish and a couple chubs. After more than four frustrating hours below Grotto bridge we headed over to the upper end of Milldam Hollow to try for trout. Rich, my friend, caught one 13-14 in. rainbow, (right where I told him it would be), and I got skunked. Water conditions were great and even with the very low catch rate it was still a wonderful morning on a beautiful creek with a good friend. Rich had never been to the upper end of Milldam Hollow so it was good to share that with him. Maybe next time...... Vic

19th of what? June or July? I just noticed this thread. Lemme know if I'm too late. Vic Ok....call me stupid, I deserve it. 19th of Sept. Gotcha! If I ain't in Wyoming or Wisconsin I'll be there. Vic

Hey Walt....we're both right here in Rolla. If you're ever lookin' fer a fishin' partner gimme a holler. Another friend of mine and I are heading over to the Little Piney Sat. mornin' to chase smallies. I'll let everyone know how that goes. Vic

Got room for another Ozark hillbilly? Vic

The Little Piney can be good from the Hwy 63 Bridge south of Rolla all the way to the end of the trout water below Mill Dam access. I'm as likely to fish one area as the other. As has been stated go during the week if possible. Lane Springs, Vida Slab, Mill Dam and Mill Creek can get more crowded than I prefer on weekends. When they're taking surface flys a #16 EHC can be good as can an Irristible. I'd second the olive mohair leech and a white grub can be effective also. Mill Creek is always tough for me because it is skinny water and usually gin clear. Stealth is the word on that pretty little creek. Smallies can be good but are usually better below the bridge on County Road 7360 all the way to the mouth of the Little Piney on the Gasconade near Jerome. However, a lot of that land is private. The Grotto Bridge, SW of Newburgh, is a good place to start for smallies. I expect both creeks are up some due to the recent rains. Vic

bike, save the trip. I live within 15 miles of cardiac and suicide and from the rain we've had in the last few hours it ain't gonna be pretty. I went to town, (Rolla) about an hour ago and the Dry Fork was still nice but every little feeder creek feeding into it was up and running. You do what you want but from my point of observation everything worth fishing is gonna be high and brown. But then I'm just a dumb ol' country boy who lives down here, what the hell do I know. Vic

caddis....simply amazin', ain't it. Vic

I've been an electrician since the 70's and an electrical contractor for about 20 years. Sat for the Master Electrician test back in '81, which isn't required down here, but I keep it current. Life is a matter of choices and as with anything it has it's ups and downs. It does give me something of a choice as to where I want to live and still make a decent living. Most folks have use for electricity. Interesting how this topic suddenly got quiet, huh. Vic

britts...I haven't been in law enforcement for near 30 years...there wasn't enough of us back then either. I've been there and done exactly what you refer to and it is terribly frustrating. That is one reason why I will sign the complaint, follow through and what the heck, I've been in court before on a lot more serious things than drunk and disorderly. Also, as I live in Timbuktu, none of the counties where there are popular floating rivers is very far from me, I own the company and can arrange to be in court....but that's me and the choices I've made in my life. It would be very inconvenient for somone to take off work, spend 3-8 hours on the road and then have the little dirt bag fail to appear. It ain't easy. Anyway, I just stay off those creeks and rivers during the summer. I live down here and don't have to go during peak drunk/idiot floating season. Life is tooooooo short! Vic

I guess it's the old cop in me but some of the behavior I've seen on public waterways should be punished with hefty fines and jail time. One mans swinging room ends where another mans nose begins. My remedy is that I simply don't go to places where such behavior takes place. I hate crowds, rude people, obnoxious drunks and am prone to do things such as call law enforcement, file complaints and follow them thru.....and....well, I won't go there. Right wing conservatism infringing liberties? Centuries ago John Adams said that a constitutional republic, which this nation is, would only work for a moral people. That means self control which public drunkeness, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace fail miserably. If punishing or attempting to prevent that kind of public behavior is "right wing conservatism" then count me proudly a part of it. Vic

I'll write another...if I can remember what I said.. Vic

Brian, I don't believe Mill Creek is anywhere near recovered. I usually hit it a few times a year and it's tough, or at least it is for me. Weather permitting I'll be in Kaintuck Hollow all next weekend but I don't know if I'll fish, however, I do intend to check Mill Creek thoroughly. I'll report back. Vic

No David.....I went to church, came home, filled the critter feeders and wood furnace, came inside and stayed pretty darn close to the fire. I am in complete agreement with you regarding the wind. You have a PM from me. I'm gonna be in Kaintuck Hollow/Mill Creek/Milldam Hollow the 9th-11th of March but we're gonna be playin' 18th century longhunter, depending on the weather. So, if you're there and see 4-5 guys runnin' around dressed like Dan'l Boone, don't think you've lost your mind, it's us! Vic

If we get 2 inches of rain......I dunno. Depends on how hard it comes. If it's a gully washer the Little Piney will probably be high and muddy. If it comes over the course of the day and night it probably won't be too bad. That creek is often so clear that a little color wouldn't hurt it and a little rise is always a good thing. It's 5:10 AM and it isn't raining nor has it rained at my house about 8 miles east of Rolla. The later it starts the worse it'll be for Sunday. Sunday is better for me than today. There's a gun auction in St. James at the Horse Auction Barn I'd like to go to. I drive a '96 Dodge Ram black and silver in color with Mo. plates. Earliest I could get there, after church, would be around 10:30-11:00. I know right where you're talking about. There's some good runs downstream too. I'll be using my Orvis, Madison Far and Fine bamboo loaded with a Thebault silk line. Vic

Be where? Mill Dam? Whatcha drivin'? All still depends on weather and work. I'll be glad when this rush slow down and I can plan something on weekends again. Vic

I could be tempted to go Saturday afternoon or Sunday after church. Unless it's raining cats & dogs Saturday. Gotta work Sat. morning. Vic

army....didja go yesterday, (Saturday), and if ya did, howdidja do? If I'd seen your post sooner I might have considered it today, Sunday, but I stayed pretty close to the fire on Saturday.....man, what a RAW day! lilley, it's looked pretty good all winter. Those pesky squirrels and a flintlock kept getting in my way. Vic

David, haven't been this year, yet. There are some decent fish above and below Mill Dam. I've been busy with the flintlocks and squirrels but as they're birthin' right now and the season closes soon it's about time to start fishing. Mill Dam Hollow or the Little Piney bridge on 63 will most likely be the first place I go.....as soon as it warms up a little! Vic

Father's Day morning I played hookey from church and hit the far upper Meremac at daylight. Things were pretty slow until I tied on a Muddler Minnow, then they picked up considerably. I caught between 10-15 smallies, nothing large. Biggest was 12 inches. I fished the muddler just under the surface on short strips and takes were light. I had to pay attention to my line/leader knot or I missed strikes.....and I missed several. Most were taken just off a long weed bed where the water deepened quickly and the bottom was covered with basketball size and larger rock. Current was moderate. Smallies were all taken beneath the surface and a few longear were caught on top. I caught the biggest redear I've ever seen come out of a creek, probably the most fun fish of the morning. About 9:30 the bite slowed to almost a stop. I stayed at it until about 10:30 and was home by 11:00 AM. Nothing spectacular but a very pleasant morning on the creek. I saw one other fisherman and he was leaving, having caught nothing on his spin rig.

I don't live very far from Meremac Springs, about 12 miles, and I was at the Rt. 8 bridge a week ago Saturday, on the river at daylight, and by 7:30 AM there was floaters on the water. St. Louis moves to the Ozarks on summer weekends. Go early or you'll be casting over and dodging canoes. Late can be good too. Essentially what Terrapin said. On very rare occasions I've been known to stand in the middle of a shallow riffle and make them go around me. Hey, I was there first.....hehehe. The upper Meremac, above the Rt. 8 bridge, is rarely floated by the outfitters and there are several low water crossings where you can access the creek. This is the begining of the peak of the season so be ready to be inundated. Get a Delorme Atlas for Missouri and a Crawford County map and in conjunction they will lead you to some good water. The Courtouis and Huzzah will be the same.

On February 25th at 9:00 AM there is going to be a group of concerned fishermen get together under the Highway 63 bridge over the Little Piney south of Rolla, Missouri. Our goal is to start there and pick up litter at every access we can get to in a day. From the bridge we'll hit Vida Slab then head down to the two in the Mill Dam Access area. If we can get all that done we'll continue on down the creek as far as time and daylight allow. I'll be taking care of acquiring trash bags and disposal of what we pick up. If I can find another driver I'll also provide two pick-ups and any one else who would is encouraged to bring theirs. Bring your own lunch and drinks. I invite and encourage any fishermen, indeed any outdoors men or women, who share the same concern over the litter problem on our creeks, rivers and lakes to attend. Hope to see lots of folks there! Many hands make light work..... Vic

From the county road bridge below Mill Dam the Little Piney is pretty well known as a smallie stream. Purty lil' crick, ain't it! Vic

Al...perhaps the bait bucket and 4 smallies over 18 in. on a stringer also has something to do with the decline in fishing. Vic