T.J. Clarke

mic said all nicely. I would just add the human nature factor since we were cavemen. Humans like a whisper, whisper, wink, wink secret. It is in our DNA. On a side note, Washington DC insiders who leave bureaucracies make big $$$ trading on their security clearence. It is bread and butter for them. Self-serving circle.

am up to 8 vintage automatic fly reels. It's a fun hobby and another deal to add to the fishing arsenal. What a hoot! I hear you, thinking about a second automatic outfit.

Monday has become my favorite C&R day at Bennett. Light crowds are nice. Mixed it up with a 1980 fiberglass rod, and a 1960s automatic reel. Have a lot of fun whenever it is used. Topped off the vintage day by catching one at the spot I caught my very first trout in 1971, slightly downstream from the large handicap area (just below dam). Fishing was good, stream clearing up nice for now, lots of fish holding below fast water, levels normal, few people, a lot of activity at the hatchery.

1/23/2023 | BENNETT SPRING STATE PARK | LEBANON, MO Representatives from Missouri State Parks invite the public to provide input on the future of Bennett Spring State Park’s wooden Bramwell Bridge. A public meeting will be held at 6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 23, at the Bennett Spring nature center. A 30-day comment period will begin on Jan. 23, with a survey available online on the park's homepage. For more information about this event and the online survey, call the park at 417-532-4338. Click here to read the news release. MEETING TIME: 6 P.M. 26250 Highway 64A, Lebanon, MO | 417-532-4338 NOTE-----The online survey does not begin till JAN 23rd

They scrapped the swimming pool. It sits there covered in buzzard poop and fish bones. Sad, we had lots of fun at the pool in our teens. I am old enough to remember when Roaring River had a pool.

Fished Bennett the other day and landed 2 fat bluegills minutes apart, just above the dam. Maybe just me but of all the years fishing there, decades, I do not remember ever catching them (maybe I did but forgot). They would have been keepers on a pond.

I travel to Illinois for work and over the summer gas would fluctuate 50-1.00 per gallon in 30 miles it was crazy. And it was always way more expensive once you cross the river for MO. Thank god for a company car and card, They actually got me a diesel over the summer. Good mileage but it costs a lot more One of the most dangerous places on the roadway is between an Illionois driver and a MO gas station! Poor folks from IL filling up 5-gallon jugs/trucks, cars full of gas just across the JB and other bridges. Same across the Kentucky line.

Several Christmases ago we did a blind taste test at our party of every honey whiskey on the market. We also included Drambuie even though it is from Scotland. The winner was Drambuie, with American Honey #2. Surprised most of us. I believer Drambuie is the second oldest liquor recipe in the world, with "Liquor 43" being the oldest.

For years we put up one of those silver tinsel trees, with an antique color wheel from the 1960s. It was easy, but this year the Mrs. said "no more tinsel tree" she hated it. I miss the simple, easy setup of the thing!

This is the MDC reporting map/info if you have not seen it. You can email the pics to Mountain Lion Report Team. People are seeing them in Northern Laclede County, but nobody has sent in evidence. Confirmed Mountain Lion Reports | Missouri Department of Conservation

Only once in 1985, took a horse trail switchback off a normal trail, and messed up. I used to work near Howell Island Conservation Area on the Missouri River. Even though it is an Island, one road, one entrance by land, people were lost all the time. Darkness would set in, and St Charles County Fire EMS would have to rescue them. I carry a small compass on a zipper jacket pull, and a larger compass in my day pack. I bring it on every hike no matter how short, or how established the trail blaze is. Just over cautious, besides I just like compasses.

Great photos MO, thanks for posting!

I fish Barclay during the winter a lot. Using boot foot waders with a good belt, keep a sharp knife on my vest. A few times I wore a life vest. Try to be as careful as possible. Maybe an inflatable suspender type as insurance, maybe over thinking it? Wonder how many Folks wear inflatables? I do not notice any on people. Like you, I hear best thing is to just swim with them, go with the flow, moved to bank when safe to do so.

Very poor reporting on this. You would think a major question to ask is "what was he doing, fishing, boating", etc. A key point in any story like this. News said he was 75 year old.

Those of you who never seen the Jeffrey Spaide neighbor shooting, I strongly recommend it. It is an amazing look at social breakdown, "treat others as you would like to be treated", etc. etc. I found an unedited version (harder to find). I think it should be mandatory showing at all neighborhood association meetings, Police Academy Recruits, crisis counselors, and others. It is fascinating on many levels. Watch it all because he comes back with a rifle. Listen to his comments. VIDEO: 3 killed in Pennsylvania snow-removal dispute - Cayman Marl Road

A lot of Folks bank fish in zone 2, just above the whistle bridge with spin outfits only.

Nice that you took the photos. I always took first day at school pics of my 2 daughters. All the way into Grad School! Nice to look back at them in the albums. These and the "First Fish" caught pics are some of the best.

Good job, nice to do that in 5 feet of water.

If you can find it online Ken Osmonds (Eddie) LAPD shooting is an interesting read. He and his motorcycle Cop partner got into a hell of a shootout with a bad guy. Involves using a Harley Davidson as a weapon, close combat struggles over revolver, and more. The two of them did a heck of a job.

2 of my favorites happen to be from France of all places. 1) the classic "Douk-Douk", still made by hand with the same old tools, in old factory, rich history in Algeria civil conflict, just a very cool inexpensive knife 2) Opinel folding wood handle picnic knife, award winning design, classic. More favorites 1980 vintage buck light folder/US Army Airforce knife/USMC K-Bar

Bennett 7/7/22, it is finally clear, and somewhat normal after all that cloudy runoff. Naturally a lot of people but spaced out well. I usually do not fish jigs on the fly rod. Had a lot of fun right above the dam with a tiny fly rod type John Deere jig on a 6.5' 4 wt St. Croix. Basically aggravating/teasing the fish till they took it. Got a kick out of watching a Grandpa help his Grandson weigh a little fish at the Office. Kid was really excited.

Sometimes you have to unplug yourself from all the garbage news that is out there. Internet and otherwise. Since retirement, our goal is to live a simple rural life, unwind, unplug (desktop PC is all we have). I ditched the smartphone so long ago I cannot remember. Sometimes I light kerosene lanterns, drink tea out of a 1930s mason jar. Not as simple as the Amish, but not high tech either.

I made the mistake of going to Barclay the other day. Lots of floaters and the school bus full of more Folks. An early 20s young Lady stopped me to ask all about the fishing. Her cough, cough, pardon me, river attire was a "Rio" bottom suit. Well, I told her as much as I could about the fishing. Hope I made a convert.

After seeing this, I make up for my poor fishing skills by convincing myself I catch the small, young, flyweight tough fighting Boxers. Vs the near death 90-year-old fat men eating chips on the sofa all day waiting to die.

I was there yesterday 6/21/22 trying to get Bass, or Bluegill. I fished the shoreline with the kayak around the southwest boat ramp area. I got skunked big time but enjoyed the lake a lot. It was beautiful, clear, few people of any sorts. Saw 2 fishing boats take out at the ramp, that was it. Stockton Lake and the State Park are a gem! Good luck.