mcp633

I know what you mean. I took my wife and kids down on Saturday the 12th to have a picnic and maybe wet a line for a few minutes. I threw about everything that usually works there at them, didn't work. Line shy is my excuse . I was using 7X tippet and they would make a hard run at the fly and bump it, but no bites! Most follows were on a yellow #16 crackleback. They really appeared to like it being stripped back in. That's where I had my only two hookups. They are small! Picnic went alright though.

I would say glo-balls (I know it hurts some people, but they work)the crackleback and pale morning duns. Also, the flat water behind the lodge can be very good with the glo-balls or nymphs under an indicator around the downed trees in the morning. Good luck and leave some in there, I'll be down in October. I also have a PUP and stay on loop four. Site 423 is pretty good, but book early, its hard to get in. Kyle

riverrat, Yes I went. Didn't take the spinning rod at all, but I did take my fly rods. When we got to Rich's and set up camp on Friday, I waded up from the access and caught 3 small (8 inchers) within about 10 minutes time on a white sneaky pete. I was summoned by my wife to cook dinner so I was done for the night. I was really disappointed with the crowd on the river on that Saturday. I literally could not do any fishing. There were people everywhere!!! It wasn't like it was the last year on the same weekend. I did talk to some folks who had fished on Friday and said they had good luck on grubs. They were also disappointed with the crowd and said they hadn't caught a fish all day. Still a beautiful river and enjoyed myself. I should have kept my mouth shut about the Piney. I believe the secret is out. Kyle

Watch out if he works for the Postal Service . They can go off at any time!!!!!!

I gut, de-skin, and behead the little booger as soon as I'm finished fishing. Put them in a zip lock bag and in a cooler until they are stiff. Fillet them and then chunk up the fillets. Soak them in clean water until the water turns grey and oily. Repeat until the water stays clear. Dittos on the Andy's and into the fryer. You may have to navigate some bones, but depending on how well you fillet them, it shouldn't be that bad. Done right, they are as good as crappie. And that's saying something.

I think the drive is worth every extra minute it would take to get there from KC. Of course, I drive there from Jefferson City which is about two hours. I believe your best drive would be to shoot over to Columbia and straight down 63 to Licking and then over to the park. The fly only area is my favorite spot to fish in the morning. Nice stretch of water and not much crowding. You will definitly need to go with 6X tippet. the water is really low and extremely clear now. I hit the cable at the end of the park in the evening. Not much use in trying to get in there in the morning or afternoon, but hit the shady spots along the far bank after 5:00 PM. It doesn't look like it would hold fish, but it does. Glo-balls in several different colors are always a good bet. Check out this link, good reports 2x a week. http://www.reedscabins.com/ Hope that helps a little. Kyle

Good for them. I know they do it on alot of the streams when they can. Also, I understand that federal park rangers do alot of covert surveillance on the streams that fall in the Ozark Scenic Waterways. The more LE there is on the streams the better it will be for all people that are there to have a good time and not be P.O.ed by a bunch of idiots. Kyle

I noticed that the water levels have spiked the last couple of days. Does anyone know off the top of your head where a man can find out when Ameren is going to run water out of Bagnall? It looks like they have run the last couple of days. Or better yet, if anyone has been around Mari-Osa that can tell me what the water looks like. I'm planning on going camping this weekend and want to know if its even worth taking the boat down. Memorial Day weekend was about the lowest I've seen that stretch of river for a long time. Hard to get anywhere without a jet boat. Thanks, Kyle

Good point fellas. Bottom line is, if somebody wants to take something from you, they're probably going to find a way to get it. Best thing to do is not let them know you have it, as Bill suggested, or sleep with one eye open with your gear under your pillow.

Just a heads up to anyone on the larger lakes. Without giving away too much intel, there is a ring of theives that MSWP has been after for a few years. This group seems to hit the areas where tournaments are happening or about to happen. You know, where the high dollar tackle is . Its happened down on Table Rock and Lake Ozark. Anyway, like anything else, don't make yourself a victim. If you don't lock it up, don't cry when its gone . Kyle

Personally, I have a set of Cabela's Dry Plus G2s. I paid around $99.00 for them and have had no problems. They are breatheable. I've had them for three years now and no leaks yet. They work well in the winter with a good base layer and cool enough until it hits about 85 degrees when wet wading is probably the way I would go anyway. Just my two pennies. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/template...0005&id=0011541 Kyle

Wow, an 8lb brown in the quarry hole . That's wierd.

I believe Slabtown to Rich's Last Resort. Went the same weekend last year and only saw one group on the water besides ours. Rich's was kind enough to get our group off a good 45 minutes before the group behind. Fraternity party .

I agree, topwater is the best . Thanks for the help. I'm looking forward to the trip. Beautiful river without the congestion of the rest of the ozark float streams. Kyle

I will probably be taking a medium action 6ft. Pflueger spinning rig. No ultra-light stuff. Any lures that work well. I have a pretty big selection of rod/reels, so if you can point me in the right direction on lures, I can probably accomodate it.

I'm heading down to the Big Piney for a floater with some friends the second weekend in July. I usually hit the smallies on a sneaky pete with my five weight fly rod, however, I'm thinking about taking a spin rod with me also. Can anyone tell me what kind of plastics I need to throw at them. Any help is appreciated. Kyle

That would be good for them, but I don't think so. I couldn't actually tell you what the new salary range would be, I don't work there. However, I do know it will take a good deal of money to get them to the pay parody. Kyle

Phil, I respect your opinion, and do feel for you for owning several boats. It has to be hard on a small business owner like yourself. Just know that it goes for a good cause. And besides, everyone attempting to fish the float streams during an extreme alumimum hatch might appreciate the MSWP stopping the jet boats from running over you in your back cast. Remember those officers are alone, in most cases without radio or cell phone communications, and with no back up. I think I've vented enough. Thanks again for the forum to bring awareness to matters that are important to us. Kyle

Phil, With all due respect, one cannot judge the dangers of one's job alone with the amount of people being killed doing it. Anybody that puts on a uniform and polices other's behavior can be a target at any time. It is both sad and true that the MSHP lost more officers last year than any other agency in the ENTIRE country. Most due to the inattention and stupidity of a handful of people. However, whether it be a deputy from the least populated, smallest county in the state, who makes $19,000 a year, or a Captain from St. Louis County who makes $120,000 a year; when you put on the uniform, the job is the same and as dangerous and they assume the same risk. In regard to training, the MSWP officers attend the same Law Enforcement Academy here in Jefferson City as the Troopers do. Of course with the nuances of boating rather than working the road taken into account. And while the Troopers do dangerous details specific to their mission around the state (been on I-70 or 44 lately), the Water Patrol does too. Have you ever been on the water at night trying to scoop nine people out of the water after their pontoon boat capsized. My point is that all law enforcment work is dangerous, and not unique to any one agency. Besides, the Water Patrol officers are leaving to work at the MSHP because they have the same training, but can make more money. This is just a way to keeping the trained officers on the job. Also, have you seen the cost of training a Trooper or Water Patrol officer these days, I can't give you an accurate number off of the top of my head, but its a lot, and sensless for the taxpayers to loose one of those guys after we trained them. My other two cents, I'm up to $.04 now, at this rate, I'll need a raise too. Thanks, Kyle

As a officer for a sister agency of the Missouri State Water Patrol, I feel I need to come to their defense. So here it goes...The bill did pass the House and the Senate and last I heard the Governor was going to sign it. The fee increases are going to create pay parody for the Water Patrol compared to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Currently the MSWP officers are grossly underpaid compared to the MSHP at all ranks and levels. Get a blue book from the Secretary of State's office and look it up. It's disgusting. I'm sure you all know what a tuff job these officers have. If it's not dealing with idiotic drunks with too much money and too much attitude on Lake Ozark, they are docking/trailering a boat from one location and hauling butt to a call for service 50 miles away, or working in uniform on a 90 degree day in the sun. These guys spend 12-14 hours a day on the water enforcing our laws and they deserve to be paid as well as the dedicated Troopers on the highways. Believe me, I'm no tax/fee advocate by any means, but this is not for them to buy go fast boats for the Lake of the Ozarks. This is for them to retain the well experienced and well trained officers they have on our waterways. So I say, suck it up, pay the fees, and next time you see one of my brothers in blue (uh, tan)shake their hand and let them know that you appreciate the hours they work and the job they do. Just my two cents. Sorry if I stirred anybody up, but I'm all for having the happiest well trained Water Patrolmen on the water as we can. Besides, whats $150.00 to a guy floating around on a SeaRay 580? 10 minutes of fuel?

That's one fat 'bow.

I've had the same problem in the past. IMO, I believe it was a bad leader. One day during winter fishing last year, I broke off at least a half-dozen flies in the manner which you described. I put on a new leader and it was fixed. It wasn't the knot, because after I broke off the first one on the hook set, I was very careful about the clinch knot I was tying, but still lost five more. Like I said, put on a new leader and didn't have a problem. Kyle

I was down last weekend and had some success, but it was slow. I had my best success in the flat water, mid-morning fishing on the downed trees on the lodge side of the stream. I caught about ten total, however, I didn't fish really hard, or anywhere else but the flat water. Just a couple of hours on Saturday and Sunday morning. I was fishing 6x Frog Hair tippet and glo-balls for the most part. I was impressed with the size of the fish I caught. Most were 13-15" and looked healthy. Kyle

Randall, Sorry to hear about the paper. I'll be sure to pack a couple extra away for ya. Both fish and beer. Kyle

Thanks for the info. I'm going down with our guys weekend crew on Friday. Certainly will make sure the cracklebacks are in my box. We'll be on loop 4 in the sites next to the main road, accross from the bath house. My rig is a Coachmen Clipper with teal canvas. Stop on by if any of you guys are around. I'll be the one with two beers in my hand . Only get a couple of chances a year to get out with some good people for good fishing without my wife around. Got to make the most out of it, ya know.