Phil Lilley

Link to story — I don't know about you but, I did not take the opportunity to fish on opening day. I think I did what just about everybody else did New Year's Day. I stayed home and shoveled snow and after my "New Hampshire Work Out" I watched football games on the tube. I did a little reading too. I have been reading a book about the Italian campaigns in World War II. My father took part in those battles and I wish he was still around. I would like to have his thoughts on the book. Unfortunately, like most veterans of his day, he never talked much about his experiences and I would guess for good reason. I read on an internet bulletin board the other day that books were a thing of the past. I don't know about you, but I would rather carry a book with me then lugging my lap top everywhere. I guess this guy has a good point though. There is no question that it is a lot easier to look something up on the world wide web then it is to have to trudge to the library. I have been collecting books on fly fishing and fly tying for about twenty years and I have amassed a pretty good collection. Over the years my personal library has served me well and on more than one occasion it has been a valuable reference tool. It used to be that if you wanted to know a particular fly pattern you had to find it in a book. That is not the case anymore, just about every fly pattern ever tied can be found on the internet. Just about all you have to do is Goggle the patterns name and most likely you will find a picture and sometimes the directions on how to tie it. As slick as this may be I am not ready to get rid of my books. As good and as much fun as the internet is it still has a lot of flaws. There is a new book out called "The Cult of the Amateur (How Today's Internet is Killing Our Culture)" by Andrew Keen. Now I have not read this book yet, but I do intend to. However, I have long thought that a great deal of what appears on the Internet as fact is more likely crap. In today's world anyone with a computer and a link to the Internet can be an instant expert on anything he or she chooses. Like a lot of fishermen I enjoy the various bulletin board sites that exist on the web. These are a lot of fun and they provide a sense of community among anglers and a public forum to exchange information. However these sites also have their flaws. The web provides the opportunity for those who post the ability to remain anonymous. It is now possible to slander someone or something without fear of reprisal. Asking a question about a certain piece of gear and you are certain to get a dozen replies almost immediately. Some of the replies may be legit, however anyone with an ax to grind will surely do so. I find it particularly obnoxious on those sites run by shops when the sites owner replies to a question on a piece of equipment that he doesn't stock in his shop. He will almost certainly start off by saying that so and so company makes a great product and the owner is a great guy, but you can do better by buying what I carry. I always get a kick out of questions about rods. They start off with: "I am considering buying a new rod from company X. How does this rod compare to company Y's?" You might as well go to a NASCAR race and ask the fans as to which is better a Ford or a Chevy? The only way to make this kind of decision is to go out and cast the rod for yourself. Today when someone has a bad experience with a product or a provider the first thing they do is vent their rage on the Internet. The company of course has no way of defending themselves and the reader has no idea of what sparked the problem and what steps the company took to remedy the situation. There are no secrets anymore thanks to the Internet. There may never have been to begin with, but today if someone finds a great place to fish you can bet that he will post it on the web as soon as he can get online. True it may be great to inquire as to how the fishing is on the Androscoggin and you will get an instant answer (right or wrong) by checking the Internet. Over time the best of sites seem to become dominated by one or two individual members. These guys are always the experts on everything. It is doubtful that anyone could have possibly enjoyed as much time on the water as these fellows claim. They can tell you what rod and reel to buy, where to fish, what scotch to drink and what cigar to smoke with impunity. I guess if I have a real pet peeve with these sites its posts that end with JMHO (just my humble opinion) and smiley faces. Lets face it, the writer's opinion was anything but humble. In all honesty there are a lot of good things about these sites. These are public forums and everyone has a right to be heard. Just don't be bullied by the so called "experts." In some cases some very controversial and timely issues are brought to light that might not be given any attention in the press. They provide a place to announce various events of interest to members and have been know to promote worthy causes. Someone even pointed out that the Internet has even served to make books even better. Unless a book is self published it is most likely subject to a certain amount of editing. Readers are at least reasonably assured that somewhere along the line someone other than the author has checked the facts before publishing. The Internet is a lot like voting in the New Hampshire presidential primary. There is a lot of bull being spread around and it's up to us to filter out the truth and find the right candidate. When it comes to the Internet, Caveat Emptor, but that is JMHO. See you on the river. Bill and Janet Thompson own North Country Angler in North Conway.

Thanks for the report, Phillip. Welcome to the site. Look forward to more reports and info on Table Rock.

http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=631 We have a few patterns under Fly Recipes

January 11, 2008 A service of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation News Contacts: Michael Bergin or Micah Holmes (405) 521-3856 Web site: wildlifedepartment.com Small game offers chance to keep hunting Eagle viewing opportunities abound statewide Outdoor Calendar Waterfowl Report Fishing Report Small game offers chance to keep hunting Though some Oklahomans have put away their hunting gear until spring, there are still others who know that now is still a great time to be hunting almost anywhere in the state. Seasons such as quail, pheasant, rabbit and squirrel seasons are still open and offer endless hunting opportunities all over Oklahoma. Quail season runs through Feb. 15, while pheasant season ends Jan. 31. Rabbit season remains open statewide until March 15, and squirrel until Jan. 31. Resident small game hunters only need a hunting license and a fishing and hunting legacy permit unless exempt, and residents age 15 and under are exempt from having to purchase a hunting license and fishing and hunting legacy permit. Additionally, those age 16-35 who have not completed a hunter education course can hunt with a licensed adult hunter age 21 or older (or a licensed adult hunter age 21 years or older who is exempt from hunter education requirements) under certain conditions using the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s apprentice-designated hunting license. For complete license information and guidelines regarding the apprentice-designated hunting license, consult the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide” or log on to wildlifedepartment.com. After obtaining the proper license, hunters only need a place to hunt. But when you consider that the Wildlife Department offers public hunting areas all across the state that often have minimal small game hunting pressure, finding a place to hunt is not a problem. “Countless hunters have been introduced to the sport through small game hunting,” said Lance Meek, hunter education coordinator for the Wildlife Department. “It gives them a great opportunity to learn about hunting safety and ethics and to hone their outdoor skills.” For bag limits and regulations on small game, consult the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide” or log on to wildlifedepartment.com. Seasons on public lands may vary from statewide seasons, so hunters should consult wildlife management area regulations in the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide” before hunting. For more information on small game hunting in Oklahoma, log on to wildlifedepartment.com. -30- Eagle viewing opportunities abound statewide Each winter as northern lakes freeze over, thousands of bald eagles migrate to warmer southern waters, providing Oklahomans the chance to view one of the magnificent birds at one of several areas across the state. Oklahoma is visited by 750-1,500 eagles annually. According to the National Wildlife Federation, Oklahoma is one of the top 10 states in the nation for winter eagle viewing. Events are hosted by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, state parks, lake management offices and local conservation groups. “This winter there are more than 60 viewing events all across the state,” said Lesley McNeff, wildlife diversity information specialist with the Wildlife Department. “That equals a lot of opportunities to catch a glimpse of a bald eagle.” Most events are free or have a minimal charge and occur on weekends during January. Many begin with informative bald eagle programs led by naturalists and biologists. At all events, people will be on hand to assist visitors with viewing wild eagles. “Not only is the bald eagle an American symbol, it’s also an endangered species success story, having recently been removed from the national threatened species list,” McNeff said. When adopted as the nation’s symbol in 1782, eagles inhabited every large river and major concentration of lakes in North America. They nested in 45 of the lower 48 United States, but by the 1950s had been reduced to fewer than 400 nesting pairs. Due to nationwide concern and action, eagle numbers have increased seven-fold since the early 1970s. View event descriptions, locations, dates and times by logging onto wildlifedepartment.com or call (405) 522-3087 for more information. -30- OUTDOOR CALENDAR JANUARY 10-13: Winter Bird Survey Challenge. Choose any two days during this time to watch and record the birds at your backyard winter feeders. For more information check out the Wildlife Department’s Winter Bird Survey Web site at okwinterbirds.com. 15: Last day of 2007-08 Antlerless Archery Deer Season. For all season regulations, including those pertaining to public lands, consult the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide” or log on to wildlifedepartment.com. 19 & 26: Flying WILD for College Credit at Tulsa Community College, Tulsa. To enroll call (918) 595-8126. Class runs 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and must attend both days. 31: Last day of 2007-08 squirrel season. For all season regulations, including those pertaining to public lands, consult the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide” or log on to wildlifedepartment.com. WATERFOWL REPORT FOR JANUARY 9, 2008 For zone maps and complete waterfowl hunting regulations log on to wildlifedepartment.com NORTHWEST Canton: Lake level is 0.17 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is fair to poor. High water levels throughout the spring limited native forage growth in shallow portions of the lake. Winter wheat is in good condition. Row crop fields in the area are in good to excellent condition. Duck numbers are moderate, mostly divers and mergansers. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is low, with moderate success. Significant movement of birds out of the area has occurred in the last week possibly due to the unusual spring-like weather conditions. The boat ramp west of the wildlife management area headquarters is usable as are all boat ramps on the south side of the lake. The highway across the dam is closed due to construction activities in the spillway area. Ft. Supply: Lake level is 0.39 ft above normal. Habitat conditions around the lake are fair. Local wheat crops in the area range from fair to poor in condition. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is low, with no reports of success. Bird movement in the area has been low recently. SOUTHWEST Ft. Cobb: Lake level is 0.86 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is poor due to high water level. Winter wheat is fair in the area. Peanut and corn residue is fair and being utilized. Duck numbers are good, with mostly mallards. Goose numbers are good, with a high number of snow geese. Hunting activity is high on the weekends. Hunters success is fair on ducks and lower on geese. Over the last month a large number of geese has moved into the area, along with a good group of mallards. Hackberry: Refuge reservoir is approximately 4 foot below conservation pool, with around 500 acres of wetland units flooded. Habitat conditions are fair. Duck numbers are good. Goose numbers are good. Hunter activity is moderate. Hunter success is fair. Goose numbers continue to steadily increase. Hackberry Flat Waterfowl Refuge Portion is closed to all activity from October 15 to January 31. Mtn. Park: Lake level is 0.82 ft. below normal. Habitat condition is fair due to water in shoreline vegetation. Winter wheat is poor in the area. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is low. Ducks are currently using the cove west of the Wetland Development Unit, with a few ducks using the Wetland Development Unit on the east side. Waurika: Lake level is normal. Lake habitat condition is poor. Winter wheat in the area is fair to poor. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are moderate. Hunter activity is low. Waterfowl have been observed on area ponds due to the poor habitat condition on the lake. All possible wetland units are flooded, but habitat condition on these units is only fair. NORTHEAST Copan: Lake level is 0.65 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is fair. Flooded native plants in the area are in fair condition, with cornfields on the wildlife management area in good condition. Plenty of flooded vegetation present to hold birds. Duck numbers are fair, with a lot of mallards using the moist soil units. Goose numbers are low. Most birds have been roosting on the main body of the lake. Hunting activity is light during the week and heavy on the weekends. Hunter success is fair, with mostly mallards and teal. Eufaula: Lake level is 0.64 ft. below normal. Current habitat condition is very poor due to high summer lake levels that prevented planting of Japanese millet. Very little farming in the area. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is low to moderate. Hunting success has been marginal. No bird movement has been observed in the past few days. Ft. Gibson: Lake level is 2.16 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is good. Due to the extreme high water throughout summer and early fall, the vegetation is in poor shape. There are some agricultural crops in the area. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is moderate, with fair success. Bird movement in the area has been slow, with warm weather over the weekend. Hulah: Lake level is 2.55 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is fair. Wheat and soybean fields on the Wildlife Management Area are in good condition. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is light on weekdays, and heavy on weekends. Hunting success has been poor. Bird movement has been spread out across the lake, with most birds roosting on the main body of the lake. Kaw: Lake level is 0.27 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is fair. No millet available in the area, but good native food available. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are fair. Hunter activity is fair on weekends, with fair success. Bird movement has been slow in the area, with a fair number of waterfowl in the Bear Creek area. Keystone: Lake level is 1.4 ft. above normal. Habitat conditions are poor, with almost no food available due to prolonged summer flooding on the lake. Both duck and goose numbers are low. Little migration has been seen in the past few days on the area. Hunting activity has been low on weekdays and moderate on the weekends. Hunting success in the area has been low. Hunters utilizing the area this year should be prepared for very deep mud. Caution should be taken, especially if hunting alone. Oologah: Lake level is 3.21 ft. above normal. Current habitat conditions are poor to fair. No flooded millet or native vegetation on the lake. Ag fields have been re-planted due to flood conditions this summer and are currently in poor condition. Duck numbers are poor, with some gadwalls, common goldeneyes, shovelers, ring-necks and mallards present. Goose numbers are poor, with some Giant Canadas seen in the area on private lands. Bird movement decreased recently with warm weather. There is significant ice storm damage to the wildlife management area and to the wetland development units. Most if not all roads are un-accessible within the wildlife management area. Hunter’s should contact the Army Corp of Engineer’s Office at Oologah to see if boat ramps are clear or open to access the lake. Upper Verdigris Wetland Development Unit has a few Gadwalls, and both units are 90 percent capacity. Contact the area biologist for information. Webbers Falls: Lake level is 3.97 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is good, with smartweed, barnyardgrass, bidens, cut soybeans, corn, milo and wheat in the area. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are low. Hunter activity is moderate, with fair success. Bird movement in the area has slowed due to warm weather over the weekend. SOUTHEAST Grassy Slough: Duck numbers: mallard 224; green-wing teal 10. No geese observed in the area. Hugo: Lake level is 2.36 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is fair. Very good acorn crop in the area for when water gets up in the river. Duck numbers are good and slowly increasing. Goose numbers are fair, with some snows on the main body of the lake. Bird movement in the area is heavy with the recent cold front. Hunting activity is very light on weekdays and fair on weekends. Hunting success is good. Best hunting is in the shallows and creeks as they flow into the river. Little River National Wildlife Refuge: Lake level is good, with good food conditions. Duck numbers: wood duck 140; gadwall 300; mallard 150; wigeon 10; green-wing teal 8. No geese observed. Red Slough: Duck numbers: shoveler 675; gadwall 450; green-wing teal 300; mallard 150; ring-neck 45; pintail 30. Goose numbers: white-fronted 8. Texoma: Lake level is 1.01 ft. below normal. Due to high water levels that persisted throughout the growing season, no millet and very little native food is available. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. Hunter activity is low, with low success. Fair weather this last weekend has scattered what birds were on the area. Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge: Lake level is above normal. Food condtions are good. Duck numbers: pintail 64. Goose numbers: snow 6800; white-fronted 1843; Canada 1548. Wister: Lake level is 2 ft. above normal. Habitat conditions are fair. Smartweed, sedges and acorns are present on the area. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is low, with low success. Most of the birds have moved out of the area due to recent warm temperatures. All development units are currently at 100 percent for second half. FISHING REPORT FOR JANUARY 9, 2008 CENTRAL Arcadia: Elevation slightly above normal, water 45-50 and semi-clear. Blue catfish good on cut shad at 20 ft. along northeast banks and deep parts of lake from morning to midday. Crappie fair to good on minnows at 8-9 ft. at south heated fishing dock evening to early morning. All other fishing fair. Report submitted by Linnie Mason, gate attendant. Wes Watkins: Elevation 1-2 ft. below normal, water 43 and murky. Catfish fair to good on minnows, worms, fresh cut bait, chicken liver and cut bait in deeper waters along main channel and down by dam area. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits in shallow waters. Report submitted by M.M. Fowler, St. Gregory’s. NORTHEAST Birch: Elevation normal, water lower 40s and clear. Crappie fair at 25-30 ft. around brush structures. Report submitted by Spencer Grace, game warden stationed in Osage County. Ft. Gibson: Elevation 1 ft. above normal, water 43 and murky. Channel catfish good on rocky points on cut bait and shad in the evening. Crappie good around docks and brush piles at 15-20 ft. on minnows and jigs early morning and late evening. Report submitted by Marvin Stanley, game warden stationed in Wagoner County. Greenleaf: Elevation normal, water clear. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits and spinnerbaits in creeks and along shoreline. Catfish fair on cut baits and stinkbaits on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 16 ft. around docks. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County. Kaw: Elevation 2 1/2 ft. above normal, water 38 and murky. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs over manmade brush piles in Kaw City area and McFadden marina area at 12-20 ft. Report submitted by Tracy Daniel, game warden stationed in Kay County. Keystone: Elevation 1 3/5 ft. above normal, water clear to murky. Largemouth bass fair on jigs, chunkbaits and crankbaits at 6-12 ft. in creeks. Smallmouth bass fair on jigs, chunkbaits and crankbaits at 6-12 ft. in deep coves. Spotted bass fair on jigs, chunkbaits and crankbaits at 6-12 ft. around bluff areas. White bass fair on minnows and jigging spoons at 10-15 ft. at mouths of coves and bridges. Striped bass good on bucktails and sassy shad at 3-6 ft. below dam. Channel catfish fair on chicken liver at 8-12 ft. in shallow coves and creeks. Blue catfish good on cut shad and punch baits at 15-20 ft. around ledges, humps and along river channel. Flathead catfish slow on live shad at 15-20 ft. in riprap and bluffs. Crappie good on jigs and minnows at 12-20 ft. around docks, ledges and brush piles. Walleye and saugeye fair on 3 in. grubs and large shiners at 4-8 ft. in holes downstream below dam. Report submitted by Woody’s Bait and Tackle. Pawhuska Lake: Elevation normal, water lower 40s and clear. Trout good on power baits. Report submitted by Spencer Grace, game warden stationed in Osage County. Skiatook: Elevation normal, water clear. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows at 20-30 ft. at brush structures. Report submitted by Paul Welch, game warden stationed in Osage County. Sooner: White bass and hybrid striped bass good in the discharge channel on sassy shad. Report submitted by Doug Gottschalk, game warden stationed in Noble County. Webbers Falls: Elevation normal, water murky. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits and spinnerbaits in riprap and creeks. Catfish good on cut baits while drift fishing. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 12-14 ft. around bridges and structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County. NORTHWEST Canton: Elevation normal. Crappie good on minnows and jigs near Canadian area. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed in Blaine County. SOUTHEAST Arbuckle: Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 44-46 and stained. Crappie and white bass are being caught in creek channels, around drop-offs in mid-lake area on spoons. Bass are being caught in the same place on jigs and drop shot at 15-24 ft. Report submitted by Jack Melton. Blue River: Elevation normal, water 51 and clear. Largemouth bass slow to fair on minnows and flies. Channel catfish fair on liver and worms. Trout good on power bait, roostertails, super dupers and mealworms. Report submitted by Charles Baker, technician at Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area. Broken Bow: Largemouth bass good on spoons around islands and rocky points on topwater lures. Bass are schooling in the early morning or late evening. Channel catfish good on cut bait on juglines and trotlines. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County. Eufaula: Elevation 1 ft. below normal and clear. Largemouth bass and white bass slow. Blue catfish fair on fresh shad drifting deep creek channels at 15-30 ft. Crappie good on minnows or jigs at 10-20 ft. around boat docks. Report submitted by Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County. Hugo: Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water 63. Crappie and blue catfish good below the dam. Report submitted by Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Choctaw and Bryan counties. Konawa: Elevation normal, water 48 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits at 5-10 ft. off points and roadbeds. White bass and hybrid striped bass fair on minnows and jigs at 15 ft. in discharge channel. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County. Lower Mountain Fork River: Zone 1 very good due to the recent stockings and relatively low fishing pressure. In zone 2, try very small flies and midge patterns. Zone 3 reports show little success. Flies of choice have mostly been very small or colorful egg patterns, and once in a while a woolly bugger will catch a few fish. Report submitted by Beavers Bend Fly Shop. McGee Creek: Elevation normal, water 51 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on soft plastic lures at 12-20 ft. Crappie fair on minnows at 16-25 ft. over cedar brush. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden stationed in Atoka County. Pine Creek: Elevation below normal and falling, water clear. Bass good on jigs. Crappie good on jigs and minnows. Catfish excellent on liver and garlic punchbaits at the old bridge and at the spillway. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County. Robert S. Kerr: Elevation normal, water 48 and murky. Largemouth bass slow at 8 ft. using plastic baits and jigs fishing the rocks and stumps next to the creek channels. Crappie good at 10 ft. using minnows fishing the old creek channels of Big Sans Bois and Dirty creek. White bass slow at 10 ft. using jigs fishing below Webbers Falls and Kerr dams. Blue catfish fair at 8-10 ft. using fresh cut shad fishing the windy shorelines. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County. Sardis Lake: Elevation above normal, water murky to clear. Largemouth bass fair on warm days around points and in deep channels. White bass and walleye slow. Channel catfish slow to fair on trotlines with cut bait or live shad. Crappie excellent on minnows from bridges and submerged brush piles. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County. Texoma: Elevation 1 ft. below normal, water 49 and clear. Striped and white bass fair on live bait at 10-20 ft. near the Islands. Channel and blue catfish fair on live bait at 10-20 ft. north of the Hwy 70 Bridge. Crappie fair on small jigs and minnows at 5-10 ft. at Widow Moore, Kansas and upper Rock creeks. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County. Wister: Elevation 1 ½ ft. above normal, water murky. Largemouth bass fair to slow on black plastic worms. Crappie good below dam with minnows and jigs. Channel catfish and blue catfish good on cut shad below dam, fair to slow with liver on juglines in lake. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game Warden stationed in LeFlore County. SOUTHWEST Altus-Lugert: Elevation 6 1/2 ft. below normal and rising. Crappies slow to fair. Walleye fair. Trout good in river. Report submitted by Sue Hokanson, Quartz Mountain State Park. Ellsworth: Elevation above normal. Crappie fair to good at Ralph's Resort on minnows and jigs. Catfish fair on cut bait. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County. Foss: Elevation normal, water 42 and clear. Striped bass hybrids and walleye slow. Crappie fair around edges with structure. Catfish slow. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House. Ft. Cobb: Elevation 1 ft. above normal. Crappie fair around marina and boat slips. Catfish slow to fair on jugs and cut baits. Report submitted by James Edwards, Jr., game warden stationed in Caddo County. Lawtonka: Elevation above normal. Crappie good. White bass fair at the dam on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County. Tom Steed: Elevation normal, water murky. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 20 ft. around brush. Report submitted by David Smith, game warden stationed in Kiowa County.

Sarcasm... me..... no way!!! Did the mis spelled words and hick tone give me away?!

If you didn't see it posted on my blog- here's my report. Windy today and not many people fishing. Some have arrived to pre fish for the tournament this Saturday. Water's been running for the past couple of days- ever since the big storms and rain. Table Rock has jumped over 2 feet heading to 3 which is good, very good. But I like generation in the winter- some might not. I can't say for sure just how the fishing is. I am going to ask the guys when they come in this evening. I'm sure conditions are tough because of the wind but I bet fishin's good. Water is running 2 units just about right to get the boat to the dam and drift jigs. 1/8th oz jigs today for sure with the wind. Dark colors because it's very dark out- lots of clouds. I'd be throwing sculpin, black, brown and olive with combo colors mixed in- peach and ginger. Work them slow on the bottom. Also drifting egg and san juan worm (flies) using a split shot should be excellent seeing all the rain we've gotten. Downlake, I'd try a crank bait or two. Wind and current makes our browns feel like eating and a crank bait that looks like a small rainbow should be the ticket. The brown that was weighed in Saturday in the Boswell tournament had a 6 inch rainbow sticking out of it's mouth when it was brought in. Another team weighed in a 6 inch rainbow that was the size of a stick bait so I know they'd work. Work them around brush in the water. Will have to get back to you on power bait colors and whatnot... I know we sold alot of minnows last weekend. Brown usually go after minnows, esp with the water running.

Well now... you know we all here at Lilleys' have been lyin' for plenty of years, killin' fish, keepin' fish in our live wells for over 15 minutes just to see them puppies die a slow death. Gosh, I've seen lots of fishin' people catch and release trout here... can you say "trophy area". And yes we all keep a bigger trout and throw those dinks back- oh yes- even those dead ones in our lives wells- if it gets more money!! And that's what all this is about anyhow, isn't it?? Money and that big, dang trohpy. Come on down and pay us cheaters your monies and we'll give you a bowl of deer chili for your trouble- Saturdya, 8 am.

Bull Shoals and Greer's Ferry are both good walleye lakes. So is Stockton Lake and there are some in Table Rock. I'd have to say mid to lower Bull Shoals would be the best, although I don't know much about Greer's Ferry.

http://ozarkanglers.com/fff/nafff-01-08_newsletter.pdf

Have to say that or get in trouble with MDC. Well, not really trouble but I did catch it from one guy one year so... trying to appease the masses. Never will happen though. There are no penalties for dead trout or if any trout are cleaned after the tournament but most are released. Dead trout weigh less than live ones so in that way they are penalized. It's best to keep them alive. As for cheating- we give polygraphs every 2-3 years to keep everyone honest. It costs us about $300 per pop but it's worth it. This is a friendly tournament- usually 25 teams. There's very few trout tournaments on Taneycomo- I have a lot of requests to do more at different times a year in which I'm just not interested. It costs too much money and work honestly. That's why you don't see more businesses doing it.

All private. My wife's parents grew up out there and we know most of the farmers. This late, we didn't see any hunters although they said there were lots over the holidays. I'm sure that accounts for the wildness of the birds- smart ones run and fly and are still alive.

Had a great trip out to Greensburg, KS with buddies and dad. You all know Mr. Babler- he made the trip without embarrasing himself... too bad. No we all had our moments- good and bad. Hit some, miss some and lost more. Hunted Monday and Tuesday and alittle this am. Nice first day- alittle on the warm side for walking heavy CRP though. The birds were fewer than expected and wild. We managed five. Tuesday am we woke to a new weather pattern- snow. 3 inches on the ground and another couple by 9 a.m. Was nice seeing where the little pheasants were running ahead of us... their little foot prints in the snow. But again they didn't wait on us and flew away. Sunny by 10 am and snow all gone by noon. Four birds total on Tuesday with many more lost in the tall grass. This morning, more wild birds with none to clean. Not sure if we fire a shot. We're gonna invest in a dog or dogs for next season. We've been talking about it way too much with no action. The wives are just gonna have to understand!! You can't leave birds in the field! Just kidding Marsha!! But we are gonna get a dog someday...

Are you repeating yourself or are you just messing with my head??? The history of these things is they clear up after while without any action on my part. As if I know what to do??? It may be the forum and it may be your browser. Mine does funny things too and then, mainly after an update by firefox, the problems clears. Keep my informed.

If you're talking about my tournament this weekend, it is not a catch and release. It is artificial only.

More weight in the front can be handled by trimming the motor. Shouldn't be a problem.

For tournaments, or any serious fishing, jigs, jigs, jigs. Jig and float or throw a jig straight. Also if you're going to use crank baits, don't go with a small bait- medium to big. 2 inches would be on the low end of the scale. Where you go and how you use either depends on generation and weather (wind). The last few years, fishing from Monkey Island down past downtown has paid off so most at least spend part of their day down there. Some even lower but those are the ones who know the area fairly well and have practiced down there. I wouldn't go down there cold turkey. Throw crank baits around docks and wood structure in the water. Stop and start. Aggressive and then slow. Or troll larger baits from the island down to Bee Creek. Jig and float- black/yellow worked good yesterday. Just have a bunch of colors ready. Catch more fish? Use 2 lb line... period.

Very nice trout weighed in today. 33- 2 men teams today which was warm and breezy but much better than a normal winter day. Reports say fishing was good in the am and slowed in the pm but one team said they caught more browns about noon, including a 21 inch keeper on a crank bait. Bait is allowed so some of the fish were caught on power bait, others on jigs and some on spoons. Above normal weights, 8 trout weighed per team. 1. Allen/Huff with 9.42 lbs. 3.90 rainbow 2. Schuler/Spain with 7.06 lbs. 3.84 brown (21 inches) 3. Goertz/Collins with 6.94 lbs. 4. Heinz/Woodruff with 6.52 lbs. 5. Hampton/Lentz with 6.26 lbs. 6. Collins/Mazdra with 6.24 lbs. 7. Salger/Boswell with 6.22 lbs. 8. Ochlitree/Benz with 6.18 lbs. 9. Otte/Otte with 6.12 lbs. 10. Garvey/Doolan with 5.86 lbs.

Anglers and Archery close to the dam on 165.

Sure- I'll put one back.

Bridges built from bamboo instead of steel could provide a cheaper, more environmentally sustainable engineering solution in China, a recent experiment suggests. A novel type of bridge with horizontal beams made from a bamboo composite proved strong enough to support even heavy trucks in tests. The bamboo beams are cheaper and more environmentally friendly to make than steel or concrete, yet offer comparable structural strength. Yan Xiao, who works at the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles, US, and at Hunan University in China, led the development of the bamboo beams used to make the bridge. Instead of using round, pole-like pieces of unprocessed bamboo, which have been used as building material for many thousands of years, he came up with a way of assembling timber-like beams from many smaller strips of bamboo. Precise details on the process remain proprietary, but Xiao says the strips are cut from large stalks of bamboo, arranged in multiple layers, and bonded together with glue. The technique has never been used to build such large beams before, Xiao says. Sustainable harvest Last week workers finished assembling a 10-metre long bridge of Xiao's design in the village of Leiyang in Hunan province, southern China. Using prefabricated beams, it took a team of eight workers just a week to assemble and did not require heavy construction equipment. It proved strong enough to carry a 16-tonne truck and, and based on structural testing of the bridge, should be able to support even more weight, Xiao says. Pound-for-pound, bamboo is stronger than steel when stretched and more robust than concrete when compressed. Also, stalks several meters tall mature in just a few years, rather than a few decades as with trees, so more can be harvested from the same amount of land. Furthermore, since it is a grass it can be harvested like mowing a lawn – leaving the root system intact so that the plant can regrow. Green solution Bamboo beams could work for bridges up to 30-metres long, Xiao says, making them suitable for carrying pedestrians in cities or cars on highway overpasses. "I think very highly of the work that professor Xiao is doing," says architect Darrel DeBoer, who works with unusual building materials. "It's quite worthwhile to find alternatives to the concrete that we are using way too much of." DeBoer notes that cement production releases a lot of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide: 5-10% of global CO2, according to different estimates. This is an unavoidable part of the chemical process used to make cement from calcium carbonate. Bamboo, on the other hand, soaks up CO2, as it grows. "From an environmental perspective, bamboo is a great choice," DeBoer says.

WEST PALM BEACH -- A 12-year-old Connecticut boy may be the new Florida state record holder for catching the heaviest bull shark. Aidan Murray Medley had a spent a half day at sea Tuesday when he reeled in the 551-pound bull shark just north of the Palm Beach Inlet. The seventh-grader was in Palm Beach County on vacation with his family. They plan to submit his catch for a state record. Florida wildlife officials say the current record set in 1981 was a 517-pound catch at Panama City Beach.

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas game wardens concluded an investigation into an illegal deer hunting ring in Southeast Texas, filing 247 criminal charges against 20 offenders in December. The case involves illegal activity spanning four counties. A total of 27 animals are known to have been killed, with 13 sets of antlers and one doe head seized as evidence. Game wardens uncovered 606 possible criminal charges ranging from Class C misdemeanors to felonies, although ultimately 247 criminal charges were filed in late November and early December. A team of nine game wardens participated in the investigation, which eventually led to two search warrants and charges filed with six courts in four counties: Montgomery, Edwards, Liberty, and Houston. Two assistant district attorneys from Montgomery County assisted with most of the investigation. The suspects face paying approximately $15,000 in civil restitution, a process that compensates the people of Texas for each illegally taken wild animal. The suspects range in age from 16 to 25 years old. Most of the charges filed against them were for hunting deer at night, hunting from a public roadway, hunting during closed season, hunting from a motor vehicle and possession of illegally taken deer. "We did consider the ages of those involved when preparing to file charges, and more charges could have been filed," said Col. Pete Flores, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement director. "We understand that young people occasionally make mistakes. But the scope and nature of this activity goes way beyond a youthful prank, and wildlife crimes cannot be tolerated in Texas. I would add that this illegal activity is not hunting, and it is not representative of youth hunters in our state." The case began three months ago, when a man who was aware of ongoing poaching activity by a group of young men in the Splendora area northeast of Houston was driving on Highway 59. He drove by a highway billboard advertising Operation Game Thief, the Texas wildlife "crime stoppers" program that offers rewards for tips that lead to convictions. The man later told game wardens he began thinking about the message on the billboard and the ongoing poaching activity, whereupon he turned around and drove back to get the telephone number off the billboard and called OGT. Game Wardens Dean Fitzpatrick and Brannon Meinkowsky of Montgomery County then began leading what became a two and a half month investigation of illegal hunting dating back to fall 2006. Most of the illegal activity took place in Montgomery and Edwards Counties, with one episode each in Liberty and Houston counties. The primary targets of the illegal hunters were white-tailed buck deer. Secondary targets were exotic wildlife species such as axis deer and black buck antelope. Most of the incidents occurred at night, from a vehicle on a public roadway. The majority of the animals were retrieved by the suspects, but some were left behind because the animal's antlers were not considered big enough or the poachers were scared off by oncoming vehicles. The illegal hunting took place in developed urban subdivisions as well as rural areas. Participants were caught poaching by two different game wardens during the course of the investigation. Game wardens had been investigating the killing of a deer on the Splendora High School football field. Afew days after that incident, Montgomery County Game Warden Alan Biggerstaff caught three suspects after they shot and killed a deer in a subdivision near Conroe. Edwards County Game Warden Cody Hatfield caught four of them hunting from the roadway near Rocksprings in Edwards County. These two incidents were instrumental, providing a big break in the investigation that yielded names of many of the suspects. The two incidents also show how Texas game wardens are able to communicate and share information across the state.

Hey I had one person PM me and ask for a journal but I delete the PM and can't remember who asked. Brain Fart! Anyhow- If I could have him PM me again, I'll get one out asap. Thanks

Attachments are working on the blogs!! Have at it!

That's cause I didn't want to pay for the program until I was sure it was going to work. I've bought it a couple of times but it's been 6 months or more since the last time it worked and lost the id#. Will have to buy it again to remove the funny blue thing in the corner.