Phil Lilley

We'll do the best we can... audio for sure.

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/65616?from=36hr_topnav_undeclared Well it looks good till Sunday, then rain/ice/snow? Not sure WHEN Sunday it's coming in. Saturday 54 is pretty sweet but getting home Sunday may be the trick. Timing is the key- when will it hit 44...

Tell Cabelas to post their stuff on OAF and they'll have more people come to their events!

What about future management of any type? Fund allocations?

Evidently, it's supposed to be voted on in this afternoon's session- after 4 pm. And it is expected to PASS. But before they vote on it, amendments can be offered. EXEMPT MDC!

Nevermind... Bassin Bob didn't have anything to do with the "bump" in traffic. Mondays are the biggest day of the week. Yesterday's numbers surpassed last Monday. Traffic will build as it gets warmer and people get out and start fishing. It's all fun!

Constitutional Amendment Means Politics Back in Missouri Conservation By Kenneth L. Kieser “An expert is someone who knows some of the worst mistakes that can be made in his subject, and how to avoid them.” Werner Heisenberg, Physics and Beyond I am not a political activist. However, I have never been shy of writing or speaking my opinion when a bill or legislation concerns conservation or hunting and fishing, especially in Missouri. There currently is a proposed constitutional amendment working its way through the State Capitol that would completely change the way conservation is regulated in Missouri. If approved by voters, SJR42 (Senator Schmitt from Kirkwood) and HJR57 (Representative Barnes from Jefferson City) would create a permanent Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, meaning, the General Assembly would govern conservation. I have traveled the entire United States while writing about different types of hunting or fishing and seldom meet another state’s wildlife biologist or Conservation agent who is not familiar with Missouri’s quality Conservation Department. Many consider this group a model for how all conservation groups should be run. Missouri is envied by the Conservation world because of their successful programs and dedicated personnel. “Missouri’s current system of allowing the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) to govern is what makes Missouri one of the foremost conservation states in our country,” said Brandon Butler, executive director for the Conservation Federation of Missouri. “The fact that we don’t allow politics to override biological sense and public opinion ensures Missourians can trust the MDC to act in the best interest of conservation with no influence from special interest groups. In fact, recent surveys in the Missouri Conservationist show that nine out of 10 Missourians are interested in fish, forest and wildlife; 85% say they can trust MDC; and 73% say the Department is doing a good or excellent job. These are excellent approval ratings for our citizen-led Conservation Commission.” The MDC is not perfect, they make mistakes. We all do. But they generally correct their mistakes and the majority of their programs are highly successful. So why would changes be necessary? More importantly, what do members of the General Assembly know about wildlife legislation? The MDC spends considerable time conducting research and engaging citizens to gather input on hunting and fishing seasons, creating successful programs. Imagine a Timex department store clerk working on a finely tuned Swiss clock in perfect working order. A Swiss clock maker would be required to repair the costly clock after this amateur ruined the delicate mechanism. MDC personnel are highly trained experts in their chosen fields of certain kinds of wildlife or habitat. Their decisions, with public input, should never be hindered. We don’t need lobbyist, special interest groups and legislators setting deer and turkey seasons. “If SJR 42 or HJR57 were to pass, rules brought forth for the MDC would be passed through a General Assembly approval process,” Butler said. “According to the language in this bill, “Any rule disapproved by majority vote of the committee shall be held in abeyance and not effective until the conclusion of certain legislative and judicial action.” If the General Assembly could not agree on the opening day of deer season, instead of sitting on a hillside waiting on a buck you’ll be at home waiting on politicians to decide when to allow you to hunt. That’s not what I want. Doubt you do either.” Butler, a former public affairs specialist for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, learned from experience that many states have politically tied conservation departments, and one thing the employees of those state agencies have in common is the collective wish for the elimination of bureaucracy in the governing of conservation. Currently, the MDC is governed by the Conservation Commission that is made up of four commissioners that serve statewide, serving both urban and rural Missouri. No more than two commissioners may be of the same political party. The checks and balances come with the appointment of volunteer citizens by the Governor and confirmation by the Missouri Senate. This process has worked for more than 75 years and serves as a successful track record. Our current conservation governing system is truly an apolitical, scientific-based agency and must stay that way. Missouri does not need to go back to partisan-politic days. Missouri was there once, and legislative politics watched as our natural resources disappeared. The citizen-led Conservation Commission is responsible for approving or disapproving all regulations promulgated by MDC. The rules passed by the Conservation Commission do not go to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules/General Assembly for final approval. In this sense, our MDC is unique, as it has been since the 1936 constitutional amendment that created the Conservation Commission. MDC is never going to please everyone. No organization of the masses can. However, MDC goes to great lengths to gather citizen input through public meetings, outreach efforts, workshops, online surveys, and research prior to proposing and setting rules. We need you! “Missouri is an exceptionally blessed state when it comes to the natural resources we have here,” Butler said. “The system we have in place for the governance of conservation isn’t broken. On the contrary, it is the shining example in our nation of how conservation should be governed. We cannot allow SJR42 or HJR57 to pass. You must contact your elected officials and adamantly express your desire for leaving the Conservation Commission in charge of deciding what is right for Missourians.” Please contact your local legislators and voice disapproval. You can look up the bill up online to learn more by Googling Missouri Bill Hjr57. Don’t sit back and wait for this damaging issue to pass, act now if your love nature or hunting and fishing in the Show-Me State.

I edited the title of this tread... hope you don't mind, Chief. I never looked at it. I've been advised, and I think it's a good idea, to contact OA members and ask them to write, email or call this state reps and ask them to EXEMPT MDC from this rule. That should take all question of who's right and wrong about how this would affect MDC in any way. We should do it today because time is running out.

And yes this was a catch and release tournament- all fish went back in the lake and swam off. I only saw one dead rainbow weighed in. The gal in yellow, last pic, is Vince Elfrink's widow, JoBeth Elfrink. With her is Shawn Pingleton and his dad Garry. They took first place.

The last few days have proven to everyone that MDC has stocked some nice rainbows here in the last couple of weeks. We started to see some of these trout last week while fishing down at the Landing and below Branson. Friday actually was the day to be out fishing. Some of my regular anglers who fish here a lot said they'd never caught that many trout here - and the average size was quite good. I did hear from one of the guys that Lamar at Scotty's told them that MDC's stocking boat is down, has been for a while, and that they've been stocking off boat ramps. There are several small private ramps below Branson, not to mention Rockaway and Ozark Beach ramps. I think they've been stocking off all these lower lake ramps- that's why there's so many trout below Branson. The winning fish were caught mostly at the Landing and lower in the lake on jigs and spoons Saturday. Big trout (rainbow) was 1.82 and was caught at the Landing on a jig. No legal browns but guys said they did catch good numbers of browns from 12 to 19 inches. This has been common this winter- anglers saying they've never caught this many browns. And that they're schooling together. In my opinion, the fact that there's so many trout in the lake and at least in the middle part of the lake there's so many good rainbows, this really leveled the playing field at the tournament. I think that's a good thing. One more point- we had only 2 out of 39 teams not weigh in, one of those teams fished above Fall Creek. That's pretty cool- means participants wanted to see how much their bags weighed because they thought they did well, and they did. The average weight was considerably heavier than most tournaments. All this means we should have a very good spring "catching" season here on Taneycomo. Next year the brown pot will increase to $1,200 and I think there's a good chance we'll see a legal brown weighed in. If not next year, the following year- definitely!

They are being uploaded.... I'm a bit ahead of myself.

They are being uploaded.... I'm a bit ahead of myself.

This is a link to a mp3 zip file. Hopefully everyone who wants to can download the file and listen to the seminar. 2014 Bass Seminar, Phil Stone

This is a link to a mp3 zip file. Hopefully everyone who wants to can download the file and listen to the seminar. 2014 Walleye Seminar, Buster Loving

This is a link to a mp3 zip file. Hopefully everyone who wants to can download the file and listen to the seminar. 2014 Crappie Seminar, Bob Bennett

I've posted the seminar audios here on the forum but some want to put them on their mobile devices. I have uploaded the mp3 file to the server and posted the location on the forum. The forum automatically posts a player but doesn't provide a way to download the file. I bet this is an easy answer... how do I provide a way for people to download this file?

Watch it in HD- much better quality.

Duane twisted my arm this afternoon and MADE me go fishing with him. We waded in above the MDC boat ramp- nice breeze blowing downstream- perfect chop on the water. Duane fished a #8 beaded olive pine squirrel and I picked a #16 ugly zebra midge- only because it was left from my last time out. It was pretty raggy since it had caught a dozen or more trout so I changed to a P&P midge and caught may be 6 rainbows. Duane wacked them, mostly dead drifting the PSQ, cast quartering downstream and letting the slow current take it. He caught some nice rainbows, better than my midge would do. But I was there to take some video of someone releasing fish underwater- a little project of mine. Here's what I came up with:

Edward Spence I arrived in Branson the afternoon of Tuesday 2/18 and got to the lake a little after 3:00 PM. I fished below the rebar area below Outlet #2 just above the tree stump. I used a black #10 Wooley Booger stripping it back and had a number of slow strikes. I landed two rainbows, 11 inch and 13 inch before quitting at 5:00. I had two more on that got off. One was a nice fish I fought for a while. There were few fishermen on the lake, and just two of us when I quit. On Wednesday 2/19 They were generating one unit early and shut it down at about 9:00 AM. I got in the water at 10:00 and fished the same location with the Wolley Booger. I had a few strikes and no fish so I changed to a #14 White Soft Hackle a little after 11:00. I quickly caught two rainbows with one measuring 14 inches. I lost two more and had a number of strikes before quitting at noon. That afternoon I started back at the same location at 3:00. Still fishing with the White Soft Hackle I had few strikes before catching two stockers. I changed back to the Black Wolley Booger and fished about an hour with no strikes. After going back to the Soft Hackle I caught one more stocker before the horn sounded at 5:00 PM. Late in the afternoon I watch another fisherman land a 20 inch rainbow which I measured for him. He was using a bright green Wooley Booger. On Thursday 2/20 they were generating early again so I got in the water at 10:30 AM. I fished briefly with the White Soft Hackle until the wind came up out of the North. I had no strikes and the wind was so strong I had difficulty standing in the water and had to quit for the day. Later I learned the wind had gusts to 55 mph causing some tree and building damage in the area. While fishing the two plus days there were few fishermen on the lake although for the most part, the weather was perfect. I had a good time and want to thank the folks at Lilley's Landing for their courtesy and accommodations.

This audio is in mp3 format and may not work with some devices like iPads and IPhones. A player should appear below: http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/seminar/Stockton_Crappie_2014.mp3

by John Neporadny Bass fishing legend Denny Brauer has competed on numerous waters throughout the country so he knows what makes a good bass fishery. “Lake of the Ozarks is unique because it has a bass population from one end to the other; whereas a lot of others aren’t that way,” says the 1999 Bassmasters Classic champion. “I think it is one of the best jig lakes in the country. You can literally fish a jig 12 months a year because the lake has so much cover with the docks and the brush around the docks.” During the winter, Brauer targets bluffs and rock slides where he throws a jerkbait or a jig-and-craw. He favors a jerk bait with a blue back and chrome sides on sunny days, a black back/chrome sides model in overcast weather and the clown color in stained water. The former BASS Angler of the Year jerks the lures slowly with 10-pound test line and experiments with his presentation until he figures out how the fish want the lure retrieved. “When that water is down in the 40s I give it three jerks, kill it and let it sit for a little bit, then give it three more jerks,” he describes. The jig fishing expert also relies on a chameleon craw 1/ 2-ounce Strike King Denny Brauer Design Pro Model Jig tipped with a Strike King Denny Brauer 3X Chunk trailer in the same color. He pitches the jig to the bank on 12- to 17-pound test line and works it out to 18 to 20 feet deep. “I try to definitely make contact all the time with the bottom and make real short hops off the bottom,” he says. His favorite areas for wintertime fishing include the Niangua arm and the lower end of the lake from the mouth of the Gravois to the mouth of the Grand Glaize. As the water warms in the early spring, Brauer concentrates on the lower and middle sections of the lake to catch bass during the prespawn, which usually reaches its peak in April when the water temperature climbs to 55 degrees. Brauer still uses the jerkbait or jig during the prespawn, but he also throws crawfish-color Strike King Pro Model Series 3 and 4 crankbaits with 12- to 17-pound line. He relies on the heavier line in dirty water and scales down for clear conditions. “I just go down the chunk rock banks on into the pea gravel banks and the pockets,” says Brauer, who retrieves the lure in a stop-and-go fashion. “I try to keep it on the bottom the whole retrieve or pretty close to it. I’ll stop it now and then even if I don’t hit anything because those cold-water bass like to follow a bait.” The fish will usually be about 4 to 8 feet deep along the rocky banks of the coves and creeks. Brauer discloses that a mild winter will trigger the bass spawn in April, but a harsh winter delays the spawn until May. He fishes the lower end of the lake some when bass are on the nests, but he prefers the mid-lake area most of the time. The BASS pro looks for small side pockets in the big coves that have fairly flat gravel banks. He also likes certain banks lined with boat docks that are near deep water. The depth of the fish depends on the water clarity but in most cases Brauer finds nesting bass less than 5 feet deep. When he finds the right spot, Brauer flips a Strike King Denny Brauer’s Pro Model Flip-N-Tube (green pumpkin) Texas-rigged with a 5/16-ounce weight and a Mustad 3/0 or 4/0 hook. He opts for 12- to 15-pound test for flipping the tube and dips the lure’s tail in chartreuse dye if he is fishing stained water. “If the water is a little stained I am mainly pitching to targets; if the water is fairly clear I will move in and do a little sight fishing, although I prefer not to fish that way,” admits Brauer. After the spawn, Brauer works a Strike King Spit-N-King topwater lure around docks in the spawning pockets and the secondary points close to the nesting areas. He likes to cover a lot of water during this time so the pro angler retrieves his lure quickly on 12-pound test line. The fish will usually be less than 12 feet deep and will hit the lure whether it’s sunny or cloudy. “You can throw the topwater pretty much all day that time of the year,” says Brauer, who prefers fishing close to home in the mid-lake area during the post spawn. Main lake docks and some boathouses in coves are Brauer’s favorite summertime targets from Bagnell Dam to the Hurricane Deck Bridge. A pumpkin/green flake 1/ 2-ounce Strike King Denny Brauer Design Pro Model Jig and Strike King Denny Brauer 3X Chunk in the same hue is one of Brauer’s favorite lures for pitching around the docks. “The fish are feeding on bluegill around the docks so that color seems to work the best,” says Brauer. He also uses a Texas-rigged 11-inch plastic worm (pumpkinseed, June bug or electric blue) with a 4/0 Mustad hook and a 1/ 2-ounce worm weight tied on 25-pound line. Running a Strike King Pro Model Series 6 crankbait along main lake points also produces summertime bass for Brauer. He favors a blue back/white belly or blue back/chartreuse crankbait that he cranks on 12-pound test line. In the fall (October through the end of November), Brauer runs up the Osage arm where he fishes anywhere from the 50 mile marker up to Truman Dam. He looks for isolated wood and schools of shad on flats along the main channel or back in the creeks. The legendary angler’s favorite fall lures include a 1/ 2- ounce Strike King Elite buzz bait (white for sunny weather or black for rainy days) and a 1/ 2-ounce white or white-and-chartreuse spinnerbait with willowleaf blades, both of which he throws on 20-pound test line. He also likes to flip jigs and creature baits to the docks and isolated wood cover. A 1/ 2-ounce jig in a Texas craw or black-and-blue color works best if he is fishing the lure along the bottom. If the fish are suspended under docks, Brauer opts for a white 3/8-ounce jig with a white trailer that he swims along the docks with 25-pound test line. For information on lodging and other facilities at the Lake of the Ozarks or to receive a free vacation guide, call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-FUN-LAKE or visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitors Bureau web site at funlake.com.

I had them in my truck. Sold a few after the seminar. We can mail them out or I'll bring them to the next seminar. Contact me if you do want any cause my office people will charge you regular price for them.

Hard to give you what would be working in the future- watch for reports closer to the "run". But generally you need to have a variety of colors of swimming minnows- smoke, chartreuse, white and purple are my go to colors. Rattletraps- I really don't use them but I'd say if they rattle they'll catch fish.

You know, I had to re reread this 3 times to get it... I kept thinking, am I missing something? Then I finally read <for real> Scott's post and then went back to his last report. I was looking for an image - he's saying his trip was just like his last one. What does Rush say... something about Rio Linda... must be where I reside.