Phil Lilley

Excellent point... full of details. Thanks!

I heard it was pretty good today, and yesterday. The water did run yesterday early and late in the day but minnows are still picking up some nice trout, especially downstream. This brown was caught drifting a minnow below Monkey Island by Charles Bowling. Two other legal browns were caught yesterday, all on minnows and all downstream. No other details available.

Just bought a ton of swimming minnows. They came way late in the season so I'd like to dump a bunch. These are ORIGINAL swimming minnows, not knock-offs. 3-inch -Chartreuse -Smoke -Creamy lite blue with blue specs (new color) -Purple with blue specs -Motor Oil -Smoke with silver specs -Pumpkin with black specs -White -Purple (on the plum side) 4-inch -smoke 100 lot only per color and/or size $10 per hundred. Shipping - cost plus $1 Missouri anglers must pay sales tax (sorry) phil@lilleyslanding.com

MDC, including Quinton, reads the forum. Let them answer for themselves. Personally, I don't think there's a clear answer. If Quinton, or any other agent, thinks a fly is illegal and can convince a judge that he's right (good luck!), then it is. Gummy flies are obviously soft plastic. There are other materials that are more borderline. It may go to intent, too. The main reason soft plastics are illegal in trout management areas is the fact that soft plastics can be impregnated with scent. But any scented fly is illegal too. If you get ticketed with a questionable fly and it's obvious that it was an honest mistake or it's a borderline case, take it to court cause I almost guarantee the judge will cite in your favor. Heck I've seen a judge rule that even he has trouble distinguishing between a rainbow and brown, how can other fellow fisherpersons!

I think this is a sign they have dropped TR down enough. They may not run it much this weekend but I bet they will some starting Monday again. Fishing short pickup alot.

What were the size of the whites? Very nice to here they are there and being caught.

I'm surprised Bill hasn't posted... pouted more like it. It's been more than tough. The cold running water has seemed to have frozen our trout. Not sure what else to blame it on. Late this pm some guys came in with some nice rainbows. Caught them drifting minnows from here down. I've always found when it gets tough to find an eddie, anchor or tie safely above it and run a minnow down in the eddie. Good spots are in between docks down from Fall Creek, above Short Creek and across from Short Creek in the corner.

For Immediate Release: April 19, 2007 A service of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation News Contacts: Michael Bergin or Micah Holmes (405) 521-3856 Web site: www.wildlifedepartment.com Oklahoma road-based trail guiding travelers for a year and counting Space still available at Wildlife Department Youth Camp Public comments welcomed at water plan meetings across the state Spring turkey hunting and stream fishing combine for a great trip Outdoor Calendar Fishing Report Oklahoma road-based trail guiding travelers for a year and counting The Great Plains Trail of Oklahoma will turn one year old this month, but the heritage, landscape and wildlife in its path have been around since before statehood. The road-based trail, which spans the entire western portion of the state, consists of 13 road-based driving loops that guide travelers through first class wildlife viewing areas. In all, the trail covers about 1,777 miles and includes 33 counties. "This trail has been entertaining travelers for a year now, and because of the commitment of several groups and organizations in the state, the areas along the scenic trail will be conserved for years to come," said Melynda Hickman, wildlife biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Hickman said each trail loop offers something different, whether it be opportunities to photograph bison and deer or watch for birds near one of the state's playas. "The communities along the way offer great food, lodging and western Oklahoma hospitality," Hickman said. "If nothing else, traveling one of the loops is just a good opportunity to get away from all the hustle of everyday life and to see the state. Making a trip along the Great Plains Trail can be as relaxing or as active as you want it to be." A Great Plains Trail Scenic Drive Map is available on the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department's Web site at travelok.com or by calling (800)-652-6552. It is also available at any Oklahoma Welcome Center. The map offers detailed outlines of each trail loop, including information about the terrain, wildlife and lodging opportunities in the area. The map also points travelers to historic sites and scenic roads throughout western Oklahoma. Travelers can also log on to greatplainstrail.com for detailed descriptions of each trail loop or to print off an individual loop map. The trail is a collaborative effort of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Oklahoma Wildlife and Prairie Heritage Alliance, Playa Lakes Joint Venture, Oklahoma Economic Development Authority, High Plains RC&D, Great Plains RC&D and the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. Readers of Outdoor Oklahoma magazine, the official publication of the Wildlife Department, can catch a glimpse of the Great Plains Trail in upcoming issues. Each issue features a different loop with photos, locations and highlights of the surrounding area. Individual copies of "Outdoor Oklahoma" are available for $3 at the Department headquarters in Oklahoma City. Subscriptions are available for $10 a year, $18 for two years and $25 for three years. Log on to wildlifedepartment.com/outdooroklahoma.htm for more information. For more information about the Great Plains Trail of Oklahoma, log on to wildlifedepartment.com or greatplainstrail.com. ****Photo***** Editor's note: Below are links for an accompanying photo that is intended for newspaper publication. The ending link is .jpg for the photo. The photo will open in your browser. If you have a pc you should be able to right click, save picture as, choose the file type you want to save as and click save. The other way is on file in toolbar, save picture as, choosing the file type you want to save as and click save. Images can be viewed with the article at http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/wl_news.htm. High resolution - http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/newsrele...pcoverlarge.jpg Low resolution - http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/newsrele...pcoversmall.jpg Credit: wildlifedepartment.com Caption: The Great Plains Trail of Oklahoma consists of 13 road-based driving loops that guide travelers to first class wildlife viewing areas in western Oklahoma. A Great Plains Trail Scenic Drive Map is available on the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department's Web site at travelok.com or by calling (800)-652-6552. -30- Space still available at Wildlife Department Youth Camp There are still open spots at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Youth Camp slated for June 10-15, but applications are due April 27. "The Department Youth Camp is free but limited to a certain number of applicants, so anybody who plans to attend will want to get their applications in quick before the deadline and before someone else beats them to it," said Jon Cunningham, game warden stationed in Payne Co. and the coordinator of the Department's Youth Camp. The camp is aimed at youth interested in wildlife, fisheries and law enforcement. Held at Camp McFadden near Ponca City, it is open to Oklahoma youths ages 14 to 16 and is designed to give an increased awareness of protecting and managing Oklahoma's wildlife resources. Participants will attend courses in firearms handling, wildlife law enforcement, wildlife and fisheries biology, water safety, self-defense, rifle and shotgun training, waterfowl hunting and archery. The camp will be limited to 35-40 participants. Wildlife Department Youth Camp applicants should be interested in fish and wildlife management or law enforcement and must submit a 75-word essay explaining why they want to attend the camp, why they believe they should be selected and what they expect to learn while attending. They must also submit a letter of recommendation from a person of their choice other than a family member. Applicants must turn 14 prior to June 10, 2007. Obtain applications by logging on to the Wildlife Department's Web site at wildlifedepartment.com/campap.htm. Simply print off the application, fill it out and mail it in with the essay and letter of recommendation to: Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Law Enforcement Division Youth Camp P.O. Box 53465 Oklahoma City, OK 73152. -30- Public comments welcomed at water plan meetings across the state Oklahoma residents still have plenty of chances to share their opinions on what should be included in the state's upcoming 50-year water plan at one of several remaining public meetings. Officials with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation are encouraging the sportsmen of the state to remember wildlife when offering their opinions at the meetings. "Water management affects not only people, but also the state's wildlife," said Barry Bolton, assistant chief of fisheries for the Wildlife Department. "Sportsmen who attend these meetings have a chance to speak up for the resources and recreation that they enjoy so much." All meetings start at 6:30 p.m. The next scheduled meetings are set for: April 26 at the City of Woodward Pioneer Room, Woodward May 3 at the Woods Co. Fairgrounds Women's Building, Alva May 8 at the Western Technology Center Conference Room, Sayre May 15 at the Great Plains Technology Center Worley Center, Lawton May 17 at the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Conference Center, Weatherford May 29 at the Western Technology Center Conference Center, Hobart May 31 at the Western Oklahoma State College Student Center, Altus June 5 at the Northern Oklahoma College Walters Conference Center, Tonkawa June 7 at the Grady Co. Fairgrounds Community Building, Chickasha June 12 at the Stephens Co. Fair and Expo Center, Duncan June 19 at the Garfield Co. Fairgrounds Hoover Building, Enid June 21 at the Canadian Valley Technology Center Conference Center, El Reno June 28 at the Kingfisher Co. Fairgrounds Exhibit Building, Kingfisher. For a complete list of meeting dates and locations for the rest of the year, log on to okwaterplan.info. The Oklahoma Legislature mandates that the Oklahoma Water Resources Board develop and periodically update a comprehensive water plan. The OWRB, in conjunction with the Army Corps of Engineers and other organizations, is also conducting technical studies of projected water demands and water supply infrastructure needs. The Water Research Institute, located at Oklahoma State University but serving all of Oklahoma, is assisting the board with the planning process. The institute focuses on two major thrusts: citizen input and research to investigate identified issues and concerns. Though the ultimate responsibility for writing the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan lies with the OWRB, officials say every issue raised, concern expressed, question asked and suggestion offered will be communicated to the OWRB. More information on the planning process is available at okwaterplan.info. For more information about the upcoming Local Input Meetings, contact Jeri Fleming by e-mail at waterplan@okstate.edu or by phone at (405) 744-9994. -30- Spring turkey hunting and stream fishing combine for a great trip Mid April can be full of decisions when it comes to outdoor recreation - spring weather means warmer waters, longer days and excellent fishing on the state's many rivers, streams and ponds, but it also means gobbling toms and the heart of the spring turkey season. "The choice is easy," said Todd Craighead, avid turkey hunter and angler and host of the Wildlife Department's Outdoor Oklahoma TV show. "Plan a trip where you can do both." With healthy turkey populations in all 77 Oklahoma counties, sportsmen can hunt anywhere and still be only a short distance from a prime spring fishing hole. Spring turkey season falls right in line with the spawning seasons of some of the most popular fish in Oklahoma. Rivers, streams and ponds in Oklahoma can offer excellent fishing for black bass, white bass, crappie, catfish and sunfish, all of which can be caught on simple tackle. Not only that, but public lands such as certain Department-managed wildlife management areas across the state offer opportunities to pursue both activities at the same time. "It's hard to beat chasing longbeards all morning, then topping it off with a stringer full of fish," Craighead said. "You could also do both at once - fish at a great spot while keeping your ears open for the gobble of a lonely tom." Great combo trip destinations include the Honobia Creek and Three Rivers wildlife management areas in southeast Oklahoma, where anglers can pursue the Eastern turkey subspecies on thousands of prime turkey hunting acres all morning before heading to one of several hot fishing destinations such as the Glover River. Oklahoma's last major free-flowing river, the Glover offers outstanding smallmouth bass, spotted bass and rock bass fishing. Fishing opportunities in tributaries of the Mountain Fork and Little Rivers also make a trip to the southeast corner of the state worth a sportsman's time. The two WMAs also offer primitive camping and scenic landscapes. Sportsmen can also head west toward Canton, Packsaddle or Black Kettle WMAs for a chance at a Rio Grande turkey and crappie fishing at Canton Lake. Regulations and land use permit requirements on Honobia Creek and Three Rivers WMAs as well as other public hunting areas can be found in the current "Oklahoma Hunting Guide" or at wildlifedepartment.com. Turkey hunters are now allowed to harvest more than one tom in a day, up to their season limit, so sportsmen might be fortunate enough to squeeze in some fishing between birds. Turkey season runs through May 6, statewide. For complete season dates and regulations, consult the current "Oklahoma Hunting Guide" and "Oklahoma Fishing Guide" or log on to wildlifedepartment.com. -30- OUTDOOR CALENDAR APRIL 26: Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan to be held at City of Woodward Pioneer Room (1220 9th ST) Woodard. Meeting begins at 6: 30 p.m. For more information contact Jeri Fleming at (405) 744-9994. 27: OWF Celebrates 100 Years of Conservation! The Oklahoma Wildlife Federations Annual Banquet at the Czech Hall, Yukon. Ticket Pricing is as follows: Couple - $55, Single - $45, Kids - $10 and $65 at the door. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for live auction preview. If interested in attending or donating goods or services, email andy@okwildlife.org. 27-29: 41st Annual Rattlesnake Derby and Flea Market at the Downtown Square, Mangum. Features rattlesnake hunt and exhibitions, flea market, arts and crafts, carnival and street dance. For more information call (580) 782-2434. 28: Spring Wilderness Hike at the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge. This strenuous hike will depart from the headquarters at 10 a.m. Registration is required and a $5 fee will be collected. For more information contact the Refuge at (580) 429-3222. 28: Celebration of Birds Festival, Cherokee, Okla. For more information, log on to www.greatsaltplains.com. 29: The Associated General Contractors Building Chapter (AGC) will be hosting its Fourth Annual Bass Fishing Tournament at Lake Eufaula. Fishing times are from 6:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Entry fee is $100 per boat. There will be numerous door prizes and give-a-ways. The tournament is a benefit for "Kids, We Care," which seeks to rehabilitate children through the sport of fishing. For more information contact Peter Morrical at (405) 478-3502 or Paula Chichester at (405) 528-4605. FISHING REPORT FOR APRIL 18, 2007 CENTRAL Arcadia: Channel catfish fair on cut bait and shad at the Deep Fork inflow. Crappie good on minnows and jigs around structure. Report submitted by Wade Farrar, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County. Hefner: Elevation above normal, water 58 and murky. Channel catfish being caught on cut bait, punch bait and stinkbait in the spillway and around rocks. Crappie being caught around rocky areas and docks. Report submitted by Kelly Roberson, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County. Overholser: Elevation above normal, water 54 and murky. Channel catfish are being caught on cut bait and stinkbait. Crappie are being caught around docks and rocky areas. Report submitted by Kelly Roberson, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County. Wes Watkins: Elevation 2-2 1/2 ft. below normal, water 57-65 and murky. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits, tubes, sinkoes and assorted soft plastics with lots of appendages; some action on rattletraps. White bass fair to good on shallow-diving crankbaits around riprap and other rocky points. Catfish fair to good on minnows, shrimp, fresh cut bait, chicken liver and assorted stink baits. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around structure. Report submitted by M.M Fowler, St. Gregory's. NORTHEAST Birch: Elevation 1 ft. above normal and murky. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits along rocky shores. White bass fair on white artificial lures in the upper end of the lake. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around standing timber along creek channels. Report submitted by Paul Welch, game warden stationed in Osage County. Carl Blackwell: Elevation 2 ft. below normal, water 59-60 and murky. All fishing has slowed down quite a bit due to the cold weather conditions and increased rain. Should pick back up with a week of good weather. Report submitted by Jon Cunningham, game warden stationed in Payne County. Copan: Elevation 4 ft. above normal and muddy. Reservoir release is 715 cubic feet per second. Crappie good and starting to move into shallow waters near rocky banks and brush on chartreuse or black/pink tube jigs and bank fishing on the south end of Washington Cove, east of the boat ramp at Copan Point, the coves and creek around Osage Plains and under Cotton Creek bridge. Catfish fair to good on juglines in or near the river channel. White bass fair in the same areas as crappie. Report submitted by Marni Loftis, game warden stationed in Washington County. Eucha: Elevation slightly above normal, water 57 and clear. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around brush and structure at 10-12 ft. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Catfish good on trotlines using night crawlers. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries. Greenleaf: Elevation below normal and clear. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and plastic worms along creek channels and around brush structure. Channel catfish fair on cut bait and sunfish. Flathead catfish fair on cut bait and sunfish. Crappie fair on minnows and yellow and green jigs around fishing docks and brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County. Hudson: Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal. Largemouth bass fair to good on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. White bass good in the upper end of the lake on pearl white sassy shad. Paddlefish snagging good below Grand Dam. Report submitted by Steve Loveland, game warden stationed in Mayes County. Hulah: Elevation 7 ft. above normal and muddy. Reservoir release is 26 cubic feet per second. Crappie good and starting to move into shallow waters near rocky banks and brush on chartreuse or black/pink tube jigs. Bank fishing for crappie is currently best in Skull creek, Wa-sha-she Park and in the river near Rocky Ford boat ramp marina. White bass fair in the same areas as crappie. Catfish fair to good on juglines in or near the river channel. Report submitted by Marni Loftis, game warden stationed in Washington County. Kaw: Elevation 7 1/2 ft. above normal, water 54 and clear. Water rising. Lake is muddy on the upper end and stained by the dam. Blue and channel catfish good in the main tributaries that feed Kaw. Fish the flooded willows, points or bends in the river with worms, stink bait or fresh cut bait, and avoid the Arkansas River for a few days until the water recedes. Fishing below Kaw Dam is good for crappie. The backwater where there is not any current is the place to catch crappie. There are good places on both sides of the river that have easy access by foot. White bass fishing has slowed down but is still good. Fishing two 1/8 or 3/16 jigs was the best producer over the weekend. Sassy shad or tube-bodies both worked well. Red/white was a popular choice. Paddlefish slow over the weekend, but should pick up again if the floodgates are re-opened. Report submitted by Larry Green, game warden stationed in Osage County. Keystone: Elevation 3 ft. above normal and rising. Water 54 and murky to muddy. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass slow on spinnerbaits and crankbaits at 4-8 ft. in creeks and midway back in coves. White bass fair on 1/8 oz. white or chartreuse grubs at 4-8 ft. in creek and rivers uplake. Striped bass below the dam are fair on sassy shad and buck tails at 3-6 ft. when discharging. Striped bass in the lake slow on sassy shad and live shad at 4-8 ft. in creeks and rivers up lake. Channel catfish good on worms and minnows at 3-8 ft. in coves and creeks. Blue catfish fair on punch bait and cut shad at 5-10 ft. in coves. Flathead catfish fair on goldfish and live shad at 5-10 ft. in rocky coves. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 8-20 ft. around brush piles and mouths of creeks. Report submitted by Larry Sellers, Woody's Bait and Tackle. Oologah: Elevation 5 ft. above normal and falling slowly. Water murky. Water temp in upper 50s to lower 60s. Channel and blue catfish good on shad near the mouth of the Verdigris River. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around standing timber at 10 ft. Crappie are suspended up off the bottom due to falling water levels. Crappie and white bass fair on jigs below the dam. Channel and blue catfish fair on shad below the dam. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County. Skiatook: Elevation 7 ½ ft. below normal, water 65 and murky to muddy. Striped bass hybrids fair to good in creeks and on points, on sassy shad, pearl white and chartreuse colors working well. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass fair on spinnerbaits and jigs in shallow water. Crappie fair on minnows, in creek channels, at docks and at Hwy 20 bridge. Catfish fair on cut baits and large minnows in most of the creeks. Report submitted by Greenwood Fishing Center. Spavinaw: Elevation slightly below normal, water 58 and clear. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around the dam area. Largemouth bass fair on jerk baits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries. Tenkiller: Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal, water 55-57 and clear. Largemouth bass fair in deep brush on bass jigs and fair on drop-offs with spinnerbaits, crankbaits or soft bass jigs. Crappie fair mid-lake trolling deep in the main channel and coves on jigs or minnows at 15-25 ft. Catfish fair in the upper ends of coves on cut baits. Report submitted by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort. Webbers Falls: Elevation 1 ft. above normal and murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinners and jig and worms along riprap, creek channels and stumps. Channel and flathead catfish good on cut shad and sunfish on bottom. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 3-9 ft. around brush structure and bridges at 16 ft. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County. NORTHWEST Canton: Elevation 3 1/2 ft. below normal. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair trolling crankbaits. Channel catfish fair on cut shad. Walleye fair on night crawlers near the beach. Report submitted by Mark Walker, game warden stationed in Blaine County. Ft. Supply: Elevation above normal. White bass fair on jigs. Walleye fair on jigs below the dam on the west side. Report submitted by Mark Reichenberger, game warden stationed in Harper County. SOUTHEAST Arbuckle: Elevation 3 ft. above normal, water 61 and stained to muddy up creeks. Crappie good around brush piles. White bass are in coves and up creeks. Bass good using crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs in new grassy water. Report submitted by Jack Melton. Arbuckle: Elevation 2 ft. above normal and murky. Largemouth bass good. Crappie good. White bass slow. Report submitted by Jeremy Brothers, state game warden stationed in Carter County. Blue River: Elevation normal, water 52 and murky. White bass fair on minnows and flies. Channel catfish slow on worms and liver. Report submitted by Charles Baker, technician at Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area. Broken Bow: Largemouth bass fair on soft plastics in the mouths of creeks and off points. White bass fair on white or chartreuse grubs with 1/4 oz. lead heads. Catfish fair on juglines and trotlines baited with cut bait. Walleye slow. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County. Eufaula: Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal, water clear to the east and murky to the west. Largemouth bass good on soft baits at 3-8 ft. off points and around rocky areas. White bass good below the dam on jigs when discharging. Blue catfish good on fresh cut shad at 4-10 ft. on the flats. Crappie fair on minnows or jigs at 2-4 ft. along the banks. Report submitted Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County. Hugo: Elevation 1/2 ft. below normal, water 61 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits. Crappie good on live minnows and jigs. Blue catfish fair on cut bait and liver. Report submitted by Wendell Smalling, game warden stationed in Choctaw County. Konawa: Elevation normal, water 63 and clear. Largemouth bass good on plastic worms and spinnerbaits at 5-8 ft. in the weed beds. Channel catfish good on chicken liver in the discharge at 15 ft. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County. Lower Mountain Fork River: Trout fair in zone three. Fishing has been a little slow, but productive nonetheless. Lots of small brown being caught in zone two on # 10 olive woolly buggers kept working really well. Report submitted by Sid Ingram, Beavers Bend Fly Shop. McGee Creek: Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water 60 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on soft plastic lures at 4-12 ft. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs over submerged cedar trees off main creek channels. Channel catfish fair on jugs baited with carp and goldfish. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden stationed in Atoka County. Murray: Water 63. Bass good on various baits. Channel catfish picking up. Crappie fair on jigs or worms. Walleye slow. Report submitted by Jeremy Brothers, state game warden stationed in Carter County. Pine Creek: Elevation slightly above normal and clear. Bass excellent on spinnerbaits, plastic worms and salt-impregnated soft plastics. Crappie fair on minnows at the old bridge. Catfish fair on rod and reel and trotlines baited with magic bait. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County. Robert S. Kerr: Elevation normal, water 64 and stained. Largemouth bass good at 2-4 ft. using plastic baits and spinnerbaits fishing the weed, rock and woody shorelines. Crappie fair 3-6 ft. using minnows. Fish are suspended over deeper water next to the spawning areas. White bass fair 8-10 ft. using jigs and shad imitation crankbaits fishing below Webbers Falls dam and off the rock jetties downstream. Blue catfish good at 10-15 ft. using fresh cut bait and jigs fishing below Webbers Falls and Kerr dams. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County. Sardis Lake: Bass excellent on spinnerbaits in grass beds. White bass good up creeks on grubs and sassy shad. Blue catfish and flathead catfish fair on trotlines and juglines baited with cut bait. Crappie good on minnows along gravel beds and around bridges. Walleye fair up creeks and around islands on grubs. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County. Texoma: Elevation 1 ½ ft. above normal, water 60 and mostly clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair on spinnerbaits at 10-15 ft. in creek channels. Striped and white bass fair on live bait and sassy shad at 15-20 ft. at Platter and the Islands. Channel and blue catfish fair to good on stinkbait and live minnows above the Hwy 70 bridge. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs at 5-10 ft. in Widow Moore and Kansas creeks. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County. Wister: Elevation 1 ft. above normal and murky. Largemouth bass excellent on plastic worms and spinnerbaits. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 5-6 ft. Channel catfish good on liver and cut baits. Flathead catfish good on live sunfish. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County. SOUTHWEST Altus-Lugert: Elevation 13 ft. below normal. Lake level still rising. White bass and striped bass hybrids good off the main swim beach. Crappie good near the old fish-o-rama. Walleye good but most are not long enough to keep - must be 18 inches. Boat ramp status: north shore boat ramp is getting some water but not yet functional. Main and Hicks mountain are good. You may want to check for current depth by going to: http://www.swt-wc.usace.army.mil/ALTU.lakepage.html Report submitted by Sue Hokanson, Quartz Mountain State Park. Ellsworth: Elevation 5 ft. and muddy. Catfish fair on cut bait. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County. Foss: Elevation 2 1/2 ft. below normal, water 55 and clear. Plenty of incoming water. Walleye and striped bass hybrids slow to fair. Crappie fair. Catfish good. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House. Tom Steed: Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 6-10 ft. off the rocks near the dam. Report submitted by David Smith, game warden stationed in Kiowa County. Waurika: Elevation normal, water 52 and murky. White bass and catfish good on live bait like shad and crawfish tails. Report submitted by Phillip Cottrill, game warden stationed in Jefferson County.

We're ready to deal on these motors. We're picking up our new ones in the next week from Little Rock and will have 7-8 used motors to move. We will take them to the dealer in Little Rock to sell if we can't move them here. If you're in need, send me an email or PM and we'll see what we can do. These are really nice motors. Great gas mileage!

OK- last try. Wholesale is- 4) 6740 models $42.67 2) 6760 models $46.32 I'll take $40 each plus shipping (whatever postage is) One more week and they're going back to Sportsman's.

Get a new one- look on ebay.

Brian- I appreciate your heart... asking forgiveness even though you may not need to can never hurt. Don't think this ever got out of hand at all. Nothing wrong with discussing issues even though they may strike sensitive strings. Shall we dare to start a topic on the supreme court's ruling on partial birth abortion???

But they are leasing from the Corp and it's a Corp rule (200 feet). The marina people can't enforce the law just like we can't enforce traffic laws. Yelling and screaming is against the law if it's directed at an individual who's fishing. They need to contact the Corp and see what they're line of recourse is, not to take the law into their own hands.

"frying in hell for it now or dancing with Budda or whatever the Korean faith does." Most of the country is Christian. It has the largest church in the world. Large Presbyterian influence too. You'll see a lot of South Koreans in this country are Presbyterians. FYI

Would that be the tungsten, heavy, nymph, thing, fly Brian Sloss is always taking about? Sorry, I didn't go back and look at old reports to see the official name. Now Sam, you're just playing with us aren't you. You would give us a glowing fishing report like this one without telling us what the fly was that caught the fish, would you? That's not the Sam Potter we all have learned to love and admire.

I really don't have a handle on this. Death causes many different responses- some use it for their own causes, others try to find blame with someone or something, and then there's others that will try to regulate our rights and behavior so that it will never happen again. My first thought would be to reflect on my own heart and relationships. They certainly aren't perfect- not even right- but my base line is my relationship with the Lord. Death does that- bring us all back to reality. Reality is that we all will die. We have no control. If we think we do we are lying to ourselves. Now we can argue guns and knives all day. We all have our opinions and we are passionate about them. I would suggest putting our passion towards living in a unselfish way, laying our lives down for each other, if nothing else, in small ways. If you can't seem to overcome selfishness, greed, backbiting, gluttony, lust, adultery, murder, stealing, anger... you might bend your knee to a loving and forgiving God, tell Jesus you've fallen short of the mark, ask Him for forgiveness and begin a whole new direction in the relm of eternity.

I can't upload images to the server temporarily so I'm having to attach these 2 maps. I doubt if I get up on the big lake before leaving for Alaska so I'm giving up my spots- all of them as far as I can remember. Bare in mind I don't fish Table Rock that much but when I do I usually do pretty good. Hope it helps.

Well with the rains I'd say we'll see generation at least till this weekend. If it's running this much, I'd say it wouldn't be worth it.

This is not an official reply to this topic but I am aware of this on Table Rock and Bull Shoals, both being Corp lakes. The Corp DOES have restrictions on fishing around marinas that serve gas. Now I'm not sure if that's 200 feet from a GAS PUMP or the whole dock. BUT the Missouri Water Patrol does NOT recognize Corp rules, only their own which there are NO laws governing fishing close to any dock. There was an incident on Bull Shoals at K-Dock where the owner was warned repeatedly to quit bothering fishermen who fished closed to his dock. It is unlawful to harass anyone in a boat in this manner, it seems. The owner of the dock finally went too far and rammed a boat into a boater who was broke down but was trolling by his dock to get back to the ramp. He is now up on ASSAULT charges. All you have to do is call the Missouri Water Patrol and advise them of the incident. Take a pic of the individual doing the yelling, owner, worker, boater. Enough calls and the yelling should stop. Let the MWP and USCAE duke it out. I think it's silly for one agency to make rules that can't be or won't be enforced.

For Immediate Release: Correction April 13, 2007 A service of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation News Contacts: Michael Bergin or Micah Holmes (405) 521-3856 Web site: www.wildlifedepartment.com Editor's correction: The following is a revision of a story included in the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's April 12 news release. In the original story, it was reported that the Oklahoma Forestry Service's Forestry and Wildlife Camp is free of charge; however, the cost of the camp for accepted applicants is $175. The Wildlife Department's Youth camp is free of charge, as was originally reported. The following news release reflects the changes. Outdoor camps slated for Oklahoma youth Youth interested in the outdoors have plenty of opportunities this summer to learn about wildlife, forestry and conservation from the state's experts. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Youth Camp as well as the Oklahoma Forestry Service's Youth Forestry and Wildlife Camp will both be held in June, but applications are due this month. "Youth can learn a lot about the outdoors by attending either camp, but they need to get their applications in as soon as possible to make sure they get a spot in the camp they want to attend," said Jon Cunningham, game warden stationed in Payne Co. Cunningham also serves as the coordinator for the Wildlife Department Youth Camp. The Wildlife Department Youth Camp is scheduled for June 10-15, but applications are due April 27. The camp is free of charge and is aimed at youth interested in wildlife, fisheries and law enforcement. Held at Camp McFadden near Ponca City, the camp is open to Oklahoma youths ages 14 to 16 and is designed to give an increased awareness of protecting and managing Oklahoma's wildlife resources. Participants will attend courses in firearms handling, wildlife law enforcement, wildlife and fisheries biology, water safety, self-defense, rifle and shotgun training, waterfowl hunting and archery. The camp will be limited to 35-40 participants. Wildlife Department Youth Camp applicants should be interested in fish and wildlife management or law enforcement and must submit a 75-word essay explaining why they want to attend the camp, why they believe they should be selected and what they expect to learn while attending. They must also submit a letter of recommendation from a person of their choice other than a family member. Applicants must turn 14 prior to June 10, 2007. Obtain applications by logging on to the Wildlife Department's Web site at wildlifedepartment.com/campap.htm. Simply print off the application, fill it out and mail it in with the essay and letter of recommendation to: Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Law Enforcement Division Youth Camp P.O. Box 53465 Oklahoma City, OK 73152. The Department also has been actively involved in recent years with the Oklahoma Forestry Service's Youth Forestry and Wildlife Camp. Scheduled for June 4-9 at Beaver's Bend State Park near Broken Bow, the camp will focus on the forestry profession in Oklahoma as well as the state's wildlife. Students will learn about wildlife and forest management, stream ecology, fire management, urban forestry and more. The camp is for youth ages 13-15 years old, and the deadline to submit applications is April 25. Accepted applicants will have until May 11 to return medical forms and the $175 camp fee. Applications and other additional information are available at whatisforestry.org/pdf/camper-application2007.pdf. and should be sent to: OK Forestry Services/Youth Camp, 2800 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105. They can also be faxed to (405) 522-4583 or e-mailed to info@whatisforestry.org.

I've narrowed my search down to the following: Not HD. Consumer, not professional and not over $1,000 (camera alone). There's a ton of cameras out there and so close to being the same. I want to use it for fishing. My plan is to put alot of fishing video on the web. I have good editing software and a good, fast laptop ordered. Plan on taking it to Alaska and posting mouthwatering clips for all you guys this summer... if I can find a decent upload connection (don't hold your breath). Any suggestions?

All 3 are sold.

3.0 inches Expect generation on Taney first thing Monday morning.

Rivers and Mountains By Ken Morrow. 2007. What is it about a small stream tucked inside a canyon high in the Rocky Mountains that can fool me into thinking no other man has even had the good fortune to experience it before? Why I am I compelled to use the word “experience” instead of “see” when I ask that question? Why do the mountains make me feel smaller and less significant in the universe? But most importantly, why does this diminishing of ego make me feel so much more alive and at peace with my own existence? Rivers and mountains have always held the mystical elixir which heals my soul. I honestly do not know if it is the rareness of the air or the awesome majesty of the dramatic landscape; whether it might be the smell of the fresh breeze picking up the scent of the evergreens and carrying it to me to sample; or if it is just the stunning vastness of it all that both melts the tension from my body like warm water melts ice from a windshield and simultaneously charges my consciousness with freshly animated enthusiasm. I have pondered these things many times over the years since I first visited The Rockies, and I have never gotten any closer to singling out the answer. I have grown content to believe that it is the special combination of all of these things which is unique to the Southern Rockies of Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico that beckons me like the siren’s song calls to the seaman and remakes me again and again just as the sea does for those born to sail her waters. It is there among the rugged peaks and canyon streams with the smell of smoldering pinon in my nostrils that I feel most alive and most at home…even though I have never lived there. So it was with great anticipation that I drove into Colorado from the Southeast out of the Oklahoma panhandle early in the morning of the next to last day of September. We were heading up to Lake City, Colorado, just in time for the end of the tourist season and beginning of the Brown Trout run in the Lake Fork of the Gunnison. Perfect timing. Along the way, we marveled at the brilliant fall colors in La Veta Pass west of Walsenburg. There was already some early snow on the peaks. And the vibrancy and array of bold colors on the dramatic mountain slopes contrasting against a bright blue sky was breathtaking. I was excited about showing these sights to my wife for the first time as I was about seeing them again myself. As our old Mitsubishi Montero carried us westward along the US highway, we watched the San Luis Valley and the Sangre de Cristo mountain range rise along the perimeter of this vast agricultural plain to form a magical horizon. When we pulled in to Southfork, we needed to stop for gas before turning north on CO149. The Rio Grande flows through the small town of Southfork, which has grown into quite the fly-fishing Mecca over the past decade. From the gas station on the highway, I could see a brand new fly shop in a log building across the highway. My wife noticed me spying the shop over the hood of the Montero and asked me I wanted to stop by there before we drove north. I smiled as we went into the gas station to pay. We drove across the street to find the shop closed with a sign in the door that said “Gone Fishing.” So we pointed the SUV northward and upward toward Creede. The stretch of CO149 from Southfork to Creede runs right along the bank of the Rio Grande. It is truly one of the most beautiful stretches of road in the United States. In my mind, it rivals the Pacific Coast Highway from Monterey to San Luis Obispo. We only saw a few fly fishermen out plying the waters for Browns in the afternoon sun. This was a good sign. In the peak of season, the public accesses along this stretch of highway can get a bit on the busy side. Apparently, most of the tourists were already gone. But the trout were still there. I just knew it. The other side of Creede, the highway begins to climb inexorably into one of the highest mountain passes in Colorado at about 13,000 feet above sea level. Pack horse outfits and dude ranches have popped up like mushrooms around Creede, especially to the north of town toward the high plains between the valley and the pass. Creede is famous for guest ranches and a nationally acclaimed repertoire theater company. On top of the pass, the snow was deeper and not so patchy. But the roads were clear and the snow was melting. This is one of those passes where you really do have to be out by mid-October if you want to get out before the following May. And this fact keeps our destination small and off the beaten track. We paused near the top at a scenic overlook of the headwaters of the Rio Grande to take some pictures. And then we began our descent into the tiny tourist town of Lake City. Lake City sits in a small valley at about 7,000 feet above sea level, surrounded by soaring mountain peaks so close that you can watch the wildlife scampering around near the summits. The town still has the appearance, layout, and tone of a silver rush town in the nineteenth century. Really only the vehicles, stop signs, and lighted business signage tells you that you haven’t just found the land that time forgot. About one third of the way from the edge of town to our destination at the center of town, we had to stop to allow a herd of mule deer to cross the road near the creek that runs through the center of town near its confluence with the Lake Fork of the Gunnison. My city-born European wife was delighted and amazed. She had been counting Pronghorns from the Oklahoma panhandle across southeastern Colorado. But a herd of mule deer three feet in front of the grill of our SUV was almost more than she could bear. Bear? I’ll come back to that in a minute. When I first visited Lake City as a boy, the population of the largest town in the most sparsely populated county in America was about 300 people. The city limit sign informed me that had not changed in over two decades. But as we checked into the Town Square Cabins, I learned that Lake City now had two types of residents: full-time residents and season residents. The seasonal residents doubled the population of the town from May through September. Most owned second homes along the river or small high mountain ranches they used as summer retreats. Some of these folks even owned several tourist-related businesses in the community. There were far more restaurants and shops open nowadays than there had been some twenty-five years earlier on my last trip. We had our run of the place. We picked a one bedroom cabin with a kitchen for $49 per night. Driving around to park right outside of our cabin, I pointed out the two cabins I had stayed in here as a boy. And that’s when it happened. My wife was looking through the papers we received at check-in. And one of them was a bear warning. “There are bears here! You didn’t tell me they had bears!” she exclaimed. I laughed, and asked, “Oh, I didn’t mention that?” “No, I would have remembered something like that, honey. You definitely didn’t mention any bears running around town! This says we have to keep our doors and windows locked and not to leave any food in the car.” I smiled and said as calmly as I could, “That’s right. And if we do those things, you have nothing to worry about. The bears are just curious and looking for food that they smell. They have very good noses. So you don’t want to leave any food, soaps, or perfume-smelling stuff unattended. They will wreck a car or a home trying to get to it. But you do NOT have to worry about being attacked by a bear.” That seemed to make sense and be okay with her. As we unloaded the Montero she asked, “So, do you think we might get to SEE a bear?” I told her that it was unlikely, but possible. And she seemed to calm down and get about the business of unpacking for our stay. Our cabin was very cozy and had all of the conveniences we would want for the long weekend we planned to spend in Lake City. The plan was for her to photograph nature and the town’s nineteenth century architecture while I stalked the banks of the high mountain streams for wild trout. We had our trusty, faithful Weimaraner with us. And he was just happy to be out of the back of the truck. Smoky Joe loves to travel, but two days of hard driving had him ready to stretch his legs on Terra Firma before settling down for a nap on something soft that didn’t vibrate or bounce. We got unpacked in time for dinner. We freshened up and headed out on foot (you don’t need to drive anywhere in an Old West town of 300 people) for an Italian restaurant of good repute just down the street. A&A Pasta Factory is owned and operated by an Italian immigrant who specializes in northern Italian peasant dishes. Perfect! We are both huge fans of that regional cuisine. And the restaurant lived up to expectations. The proprietor, Angelo, picked a very nice red wine to compliment our meal. The weak spot in the meal was definitely the dessert. He drowned the made-from-scratch Tira Misu in Frangelica. The alcohol was overpowering. But the Canoli I ordered for dessert was the best I have ever had. Restaurant prices in Lake City are high. If you plan a trip up there, you need to take that into consideration. Eating out twice a day for two will cost you at least $100 per day. This one meal cost us that much with wine and dessert. At the end of September, just about the only choices for eateries left in town are that pricey. It is a long trip by truck from the nearest meaningful airport up to Lake City. And it is very slow going for an eighteen wheeler. Grocery prices reflect this logistical reality of life in Hinsdale County. The Town Square Cabins consists of several cabins that will sleep dozens of people in the aggregate and a gas station and convenience store. It is located on about a half acre parcel right on the corner of the city park and CO149 – right in the heart of town. The cabins are ancient little log structures complete with uneven floors and flower boxes on the window sills. They are always very clean and fully functional. And they are very economically priced. Management is entirely a family affair. And they go out of their way to make your stay with them pleasant. And bears in the middle of town actually are very rare. We turned in early, succumbing to the rarified air and the long journey. And the next morning we headed down the street to the Lake City Bakery, a small Czech bakery on the southern end of town on CO149. Then we trekked back through town to the Mocha Moose coffee house for coffee and high-speed Internet. The last time I was in Lake City they had one AM radio station and no television. Now they had a coffee house with high-speed Internet! Some progress truly is a good thing. I had already corresponded with the the owner of Dan’s Fly Shop. So I knew better than to fish before 11 AM. For me, that’s perfect. I like lazy mornings and fishing from noon until dusk…especially on vacation. Next, I headed down to Dan’s Fly Shop, which is not far from the bakery. But nothing except for the bakery in Lake City opens until about 10 AM. And I do mean “about.” Regardless of what the signs say, you can give or take an hour either way. I spent some time getting my bearings on the maps of the local streams they provided and discussing fly patterns and tactics for this time of year. I bought a new hat and rented some hip boots because chest waders are unnecessary. And afternoon temperatures were still climbing to near 80 degrees for a few hours. Well, that and they were only $5 per day. I also purchased a few dry flies that are highly recommended for those streams and that I do not tie myself. And then I headed out in search of wild high-mountain trout! I fished that afternoon north of town about ten minutes up CO149 in a narrow canyon through which runs the Lake Fork of the Gunnison. All afternoon, I heard exactly three cars and one big truck go by on the highway and saw two couples who were fly-fishing. This was exactly what I had driven across three states for! I caught one Rainbow about fourteen inches long on size 16 Pheasant Tail Nymph drifted through a deep cut of a bend below a cliff face that just had to hold fish. And I landed one Brown that measured 16” about 300 yards downstream from there in a swirling deep pocket among boulders. In that same hole, I later hooked a monster of a Brown that I simply could not get out of the current on 5X tippet. He broke me off on a large rock. Every experience of that day is burned into my memory. It was the stuff great stories are made of. One of the great things about fishing these high mountain freestone rivers is that you often have to walk almost a mile between stretches of holding water. You get a lot of good exercise. But the walking is fairly easy when compared to walking streams in the Ozarks, Smokies, or Adirondacks further east. There are no old fences to cross, trafficked roadways to walk down the edges of, or No Trespassing signs interrupting public access. Well, there are a few of the latter these days, but not many. Fly-fishing for trout in the Rockies is more like bird hunting than it is like fishing in the Midwest or South. You walk and walk until you find game-holding habitat. Then you hunt/fish that piece of habitat until you catch a fish. If you’re lucky, you might catch two. But then you need to move on and find another spot because any fish still holding there are now put down. They simply won’t bite for the next half hour or so. So the quest for undisturbed fish continues. It is fly-fishing for trout in its purest form. I returned home just after dark sunburned, tired, and completely satisfied. That night we ate at a Steakhouse right across from our cabin off of the city park. Again, it was a very good meal, but pretty pricey. We decided to forego the wine to save some money. I think we passed on dessert that night also, but that wasn’t about budgets. We then walked around the corner to a little joint called Mammy’s Whiskey Bar. We had been told that this was “the local joint.” We walked in and ordered drinks. My standard is bourbon and coke. We sat down at an open table and immediately noticed a No Smoking sign on each booth. Uh-oh! I’m sorry, but I just can’t relax with a bourbon in a place called Mammy’s Whiskey Bar without a cigarette. It’s just not possible. We actually found it funny. The bartender asked if we wanted another drink and I explained, after consulting my better half who also smokes, that we just couldn’t deal with the no smoking thing. Everyone in the bar piped up and said they completely agreed with us, but they explained that the good folks of Denver and Aspen had passed a new state law that made it illegal to even smoke within 20’ or so of a DOOR to any establishment that sells food…at all…of any kind…at any time of day. In fact, if you smoke and head for Colorado, take your tobacco products with you! We could not find Marlboro Medium 100’s anywhere in Colorado. Cigarettes period were hard to locate and very expensive. As the Colorado old-timers say, “Too many Californians have moved here and turned Colorado into what they left behind in California.” The next morning, we just headed back to the Mocha Moose. In the course of our conversations with locals that morning, we became aware of the local political and economic tension Lake City is now grappling with. Growing pains. It seems that a bunch of religious conservatives have moved into town and are trying to turn the place into a Puritanical retreat. Historically, the residents of Lake City are mostly frontiersmen, hippies, and bikers. And they aren’t taking to well to the constant litany of religiously-motivated proposed city ordinances, or to the active recruitment of other outsiders to move into Lake City to stack the vote. I found this very interesting in light of all of the subtle remarks and conversations we had already overheard. In a very small town, very small things are extremely noticeable. But it certainly wasn’t an oppressive or intrusive political atmosphere in the town. It was merely a subtle subtext we had been clued in to because we of the types of questions we were asking and conversations we were having. That afternoon, my wife decided to come with me up to Capitol City, a sort of state park type of area up the Alpine Loop at about 12,000 feet. It is a weird little place with an interesting history at the end of a road that runs through a couple of old silver mines. This is the headwaters of Henson Creek – the creek along which the mule deer had crossed in front of us as we entered town. A huge waterfall cascades out of the side of a gigantic mountain and creates a small stream that meanders into a high mountain meadow. These meanders were dammed by beavers, and small beaver ponds were formed in a chain across the meadow. Living in these ponds are native Brookies! In the fall, they simply cannot resist a size 12 brown Parachute Adams. They hit it as soon as it drops to the surface of the water. If they haven’t risen to it within 15-20 seconds, it’s time to cast again because the fish you were casting to have moved on. The ponds are small enough that a modest caster like me can stand back from the edge and cast all the way across them. And the water is gin-clear and almost still. Finesse is key here. But the reward of native trout at 13,000 feet above sea level in the most sparsely populated county in the US is worth the effort. The entire afternoon that I played with those Brookies, I never heard an airplane, a vehicle, or another human voice. There are a few millionaires’ fishing cabins up there now, but their inhabitants were already gone for the season. These homes have to generate their own power and are environmentally self-contained. There isn’t so much as a power or phone line within ten miles of the place. And the road is gravel. The only things you hear are the water, the wind in the Aspens and Pines, and your fly line. It is, to me, fly-fishing Heaven. Those trout are very quick. And they are smaller than the fish I’m used to catching. A 2wt would be fine and only my choice because of the wind. The first few fish I hooked I was too heavy-handed with on my 4wt and didn’t get them landed. I caught one Brookie that was just over 12” long. The rest ranged from 6” to 8” in length. But, honestly, size was completely irrelevant. That glorious afternoon was all about experiencing raw nature as God had made it. It was a day I will not soon forget. Nor will I wait another twenty years to experience another like it. That night, we discovered that all of the restaurants except the two we had already eaten at were closed for the season. There were only two places in town other than those two where we could get food: the grocery store and the convenience store at our cabins. The owner of our cabins was going to start serving breakfast the next morning for the hunters in town. She did it because there was a demand for it and no one else would step up to take care of the hunters. So we decided to leave the next morning and head south for Taos, New Mexico, and the Fall Arts Festival. This stop on our journey had been primarily for me. The next leg belonged to my beloved wife. This is me on the porch of Dan’s Fly Shop Sunday morning just before leaving town. I had just returned the hip waders I had rented from them for the weekend. The place was closed. Notice the rental rods hanging outside on the porch with no one around? That is typical in Lake City. Everyone sees everything and nobody is worried much about crime. It is a wonderful trip back to a kinder, simpler time in American life. And Dan’s Fly Shop is as good as they get.

If you watch Saturday morning fishing shows, I like Verses. Larry Csonka was on the Kenai today. I fished it 3 years ago and wasn't impressed. It wasn't the Alaska experience I expected. Watching the show, I saw 2 bridges over the river, dozens of wade fishermen with the camera boat getting in their way... I know all the Kenai isn't like that but you get the idea how crowded is it there. Yes you will catch salmon, bows and dollys and you may see a bear (I did).