Steve Smith

Cool with me. I got 16 flys and some extras for Leonard on their way so an extra tyer won't hurt a thing.

That's how I missed you... lookin' for the wrong vehicle. You can't miss me John. Creme colored Ford Explorer, fly rod sports tube on the roof, OAF sticker, and "O-GRAT1" vanity plates. We'll catch up some day and swamp some lies. You'll sometimes see me with my regular fishing buddy Bob Garrison in a red Tundra warming up.

Dano; there is only three more weekends of C&R left, so we been getting to Roaring River every chance we can get. My guess is the fishing was great this weekend because they restocked. There were several good fish that hadn't been there before, many five pounds and over. Bob Garrison was the big fish guy too. He had that big girl right up to the bank and forced it too much to protect the fish from exhaustion. He got it to the leader, so we counted that one as caught. Of course, it was pouring rain when we had big fish and no way I'd take out my digital camera.

Table Rock is not really known for it's walleye fishing, but it has a fair population of legal eye's. Walleye right now should start their spawning runs up the rivers through February and sometimes as late as March. I would drift horney head suckers or some other large live minnow bait in the river channels in Roaring or Kings. Back when I could handle the cold, I'd take my boat up river until I hit the first impassable shoal and drift back out staying in the main channel.

There are or were two or three signs throughout the park, but these are very small and go unnoticed. These are about 8X11 inches that list the hours and general rules of the C&R season on them. I know they did remove the signs up during the normal season that say "plastics allowed" in the upper end. These type baits are obviously not allowed during C&R season's "fly only" rule. I know they usually post the rules in each "outhouse" along the river too, but they didn't this year. In any case Motor, the Ranger figured it was an honest mistake. Happens to the best of us.

John; I looked for you and one of these days we'll get to meet. This weekend was a dry fly fishers dream on Roaring River. Cracklebacks, gnats, adams, or beetles... it just didn't matter. The best in numbers for me was a yellow #12 beetle, but a grizzley crackleback caught a five pound lady. My buddy probably caught and lost the same hawg as your son late yesterday afternoon on a olive bead-head leech. He got that big girl almost to the bank and the hook pulled. Perfect catch and release.

Leave it to Terry to lighten things up. Just about the time things sort of quiet down here, Terry’s evil twin jumps in to stir the pot. Dan, do what I do… accidentally leave your box in the truck and use your buddy’s fly box. Seriously, I’ve bought every shape and form of fly box and don’t think your going to find a one size fits all. For me the closest [and certainly the most expensive] to the perfect box is my three drawer Richardson fly chest [http://www.chestflybox.com]. It folds out to make a great workbench and it adjust high enough on my chest to keep dry. Oh Terry, you forgot “Perfection Knot Schizophrenic Paranoid Envy “ and consumption of Smith’s biscuits and gravy.

There really isn't any one wireless provider that can provide a signal at every location. Like Phil, I use Alltel for my personal phone because they have the best coverage in SW Missouri. For business, I use T-Mobile because I travel so much. T-Mobile also works internationally, especially Asia Pacific, Canada, and Mexico. I'd talk to local people where you want most to use your phone, and try to find a happy medium. However, if I had to guess, it would be Alltel

The State wouldn't close the park because of a power outage. You might have trees down that may keep you from getting to the water. In any case, don't stand under any trees.

I may make it myself, but not sure either. John; I'll be driving a creme Explorer with OAF sticker

Dano; I visited a Reeds Cabin at Montauk that 10 Pointer might be talking about. It's a resort that had some BPS stuff in their shop. Here's their email and phone number: 573-548-2222 reedscbn@fidnet.com

Kerosene is not on the list, and I know a bunch of people have been looking for it. D&D Oil in Wheaton MO is supposed to have a fresh shipment delivered this afternoon. Call before making the trip @417 652 3935. I heard they sold 2000 gallons of it yesterday and many people were from the Springfield area. Those kersosene heaters don't work too well without it.

Well, no power this weekend, but the roads were clear enough to get to Roaring River so a buddy and I decided to fish. Oddly enough the river was protected from the ice storm as you dropped down into RR valley; the iced tree line stopped about 100 feet below the ridge top. There was no ice in the park trees at all. At most, there were only a half dozen fishing the park, and the fishing was good. Saturday morning was dry fly time with Grizzly cracklebacks doing great; especially in size 12 or bigger. We picked up a few fish in every hole until the rain started, and then the rise was over. We then switched over to green SJW and ginger woollies to finish the day. Sunday was about the same as Saturday and even less people in the park. I was doing pretty well on a gnat pattern, and I had one good fish cut a “V” in the water towards the fly. I got “buck fever” and set before the fish had the hook. After I slapped myself around, I kept working the spot, but never got that fish to take again. We fished until the rain started, and called it a good day to stoke wood in the stove. The river is looking really good. It is up about two feet and flowing enough to push a lot of water over both the hatchery falls. There is some color to the water but it is not murky yet. That may change today after another good rain last night. The fish are getting really leery of humans; especially the horses. Tim Homesley; I checked your fly shop and there is no damage from the ice storm that I could see. You may not have any power, but the tree limbs are holding up good. Most of the downed power lines from broken trees are well north of Roaring River Park.

Sure. I'll throw in some ginger wooley bugs

Cassville got hit bad too over the weekend. Trees and powerlines are down everywhere, but not as bad as north of us. Oddly enough, Roaring River park was protected from the storm. I fished over the weekend and there is no ice anywhere along the river. I could look up the hill and see the ice line that stopped about 100 feet from the top of the ridge.

The wife bought my Grigg from Sportsman's Warehouse in Rogers Arkansas. I don't know if they stock them. The address: 4323 Pleasant Crossing Blvd. Rogers, AR 72758-1347 Telephone (479)986-0300

Yep; I would definitely place an order and prepay too. This site is a freebee source of information for all of us, and our friend Phil makes it happen. And, it ain't cheap maintaining a site as nice as this one.

Dennis Miller has the best solution to track people who prey on children. Instead of using electronic tracking devices and therapy, just bury the person six foot under. That way you never have to worry about the offender’s whereabouts or what they are doing and think of the cost savings… no batteries, electronic devices, offender list, or parole officers are needed.

I don't know about brands, but I always buy batteries from Shumaker's Battery Warehouse in Golden Missouri. Those folks are 100% customer service advocates. I purchased a deep cell that failed a few months after the warranty ran out. They replaced the battery... no prorate... no cost at all. They didn't care about the warranty as they felt the battery failed too soon, and wouldn't take a dime for the replacement. Great people to deal with, and they have me as a customer for life.

Santa delivered a Hummingbird 595C color GPS and sonar this year. I’ll have to save my coins and pick up a new high def Hotspot chip for it. I am assuming the new maps are labeled HD on Navionic’s web site and 2007? I didn't see any listing for Taneycomo on the site.

Robert; that's an interesting idea to tie your dropper off a dry fly at the eye. I'll have to try that. I've always tied at the bend

I'll post this one in the right place. Tim Homesley [Tim's Fly Shop, Roaring River] has been fishing in New Zealand since New Years. I received an email from him this morning. He said he came down with an ugly case of food poisoning the first two days, but a doctor cured his ills and he's back on the river again. He's knocking them dead on dry fies. Here's his note: "First two days were ugly, the doc over here told me it was food poisoning, probably from the plane food. I'm a hundred precent better and having a good time now, possum is only good grilled or deep fried Caught two really big trout yesterday, both over 8lbs and both on dry flies, caught them on a #12 adams, it was a hoot. Both were rainbows, saw a bunch of fish yesterday, but only managed to catch those two, but what a blast. See ya later." I told him to be sure to bring back pictures

Anytime Dan. You know where I live or at least where my wife says I live on the river.

Dano; I think we talked about my latest fiberglass model last time we fished at Roaring River. My wife picked out a W.W. Grigg 2 piece 8ft 6inch 5wt Premier model vintage glass outfit with a matching Grigg reel for my birthday last year. I used it all summer as my go to rod for creek smallmouth fishing and in Canada. It handled 3 to 5 pound smallmouth’s as well as any graphic rod I own. She found it at Sportsman’s Warehouse in Springdale Arkansas as a combination rod and reel set for $59.00. I was amazed when I heard the price for the performance of that rod. I have no problem with distance as it will easily double haul when needed. I can easily wade and fish without any fatigue. The reel is the matching 5 – 7 wt. aluminum die cast, with a smooth disc drag and powder paint coated black finish. The rod has a bamboo finish, red wrapped guides, and definitely a light action tip. When I first opened it, I almost had a heart attach thinking it was truly a boo rod. Many of the rod building sites are hailing that vintage glass is coming back, and I was amazed at the number of collectors. On further research, I found many steelhead fly fishers are switching to glass rods because they handle the abuse much better than composites. You can check out the Grigg line at http://www.wwgrigg.com/. Good post Dan

Actually March 1st isn't a bad day to fish if you wait until all the tourist have given up and went home IF it is a weekday. Usually about 1:00 PM you can find plenty of spots, especially in the "fly only" zone. Before that, just sit back and enjoy the show.