Steve Smith

Josh; I feel for your loss. There were a couple of guns that just walked off after my Dad passed. I don't know of anyone who makes lure reproductions, but you might consider doing them yourself out of Polymer: http://www.polymerlures.com/

My buddy and I put in about 5:30 Saturday morning out of Baxter, and headed towards the point between Wolfpen hollows. We expected to see some spots surfacing, but saw very little activity. Picked up clouds of shad 30 feet down suspended and dropped structure spoons just below them. We caught a 17 and a 15 inch Kentucky almost immediately, and missed a half dozen or so others. One really good fish threw the spoon just before we could get a look at it. There were several boats fishing the main channel, but we didn’t notice many nets being dipped. We got surveyed by an MDC agent about 9:30 with the usual fish count, specie, zip code, etc type questions. He said no one except us had reported any fish being caught. By this time, the shad had disappeared, so we moved to the long point adjacent to Point 16. We picked up a few spots with drop shotting Razor Worms, but nothing to write home about. We finished the morning fishing the bluffs down from Goat Island and landing another keeper spot. By 11:00, the water was churning with ski boats so we called it a day.

Enforcement won't be a problem because they have a full-time Game Warden year-round. Also last C&R season, they would have as many as a dozen agents at a time patroling the entire Roaring River park assisting during peak periods of usage. I can't speak for the other three parks, but RR has excellent coverage.

I heard it too on the Friday through Monday C&R season, but still just a rumor. I guess we'll have to wait to see if it really happens.

I hear you on the lower units. This year was an exception, but I did bang some paint off. I was lucky that was all I did. You'd think after 15 years that I would find all the rocks on the lake, but there's always that one that gets forgot. Some of our guys fish for the northerns and muskies, but most go after walleye and smallmouth. If one knows how to clean the "Y" bone out of a pike, they can be dang good eating. Not as good as walleye, but good enough. I like it when the northerns are in the reeds, and you can watch the weeds spread as the pike charges out ofter your lure. It can make your heart flutter more than a little.

I spent a week on Lake of the Woods last month at Rex Tolton’s Camp near Nester Falls Ontario. It was my 15th annual trip to Canada and probably the best year ever. However, there seemed to be a real lack of walleye between the 16 to 20 inch ranges this year. I don't mean to sound like it was a bad trip, as I don’t think I have every caught so many fish. Just very few in that take-home range. The camp owners said it was probably the size that the Indians were culling from the nets for market. It is hard to believe they could harvest that many walleye, but maybe it’s possible. During my week I caught two 18”, two 19”, two 20”, two 24”, and one 28”. That’s not bad for an ole geezer. There wasn’t any real patterning other than there seemed to be a lot of fish on the humps, or at least more than usual. Unfortunately, the smallies were prespawn and not very active yet. It sounds like you hit it just right.

Sorry... I don't have a camera for a picture. Golden Crackleback Hook - Dai-Riki #305 Dry Fly Hook Body – Danville’s Chartreuse Nylon Stretch [uNI Stretch] Size 12 or larger I like Chartreuse floss Thread – UTC Waxed Florescent Yellow Dorsal Rib – Peacock Herl Hackle – Whiting Sized Golden Straw For this pattern, the sized Whiting Golden Straw hackle is hard to find, but can be special ordered through your local fly shop. I get mine through Tim Homesley at Tim’s Fly Shop near Roaring River [barefaced commercial]. On the tying instructions, you can Google probably a hundred Crackleback patterns, so I’ll emphasize what I do a little different than Ed Story’s original pattern. First, I slightly over hackle all my Crackleback patterns so they will float very high in the film because this seems to draw the most rises. Unfortunately the full hackle also creates a short strike situation on top as the trout tend to grab hackle and no hook. Second, I lightly coat the nylon stretch body with Sally’s Hard as Nails just before securing the peacock herl and palmering the hackle forward. This keeps the herl locked to the top of the shank while palmering, and makes the hackle and herl more durable, which is the fly’s main material weakness. Here goes: 1. Lock in the thread on the back of the hook shank just before the bend starts. 2. I always double check the hackle size by bending the fibers and comparing to the hook gap. The hackle should be even or slightly longer than the hook’s gap width. Even though I use “sized” hackle, the sorting process is not always accurate. 3. This next step is important… I secure the hackle butt end first above the top of the bend, with the inside cup or dull side of the feather facing me. This alignment naturally orients the hackle’s fiber angle towards the eye of the hook as I palmer the hackle forward, thus giving the hackle more action. 4. Next, secure the peacock herl on top and aligned with the hood shank. I prefer the herl to be near or the same width as the hook shank. If it is not, I will double the herl strands to provide a prominent dark dorsal rib on top of the hook shank. 5. Finally, I secure the nylon stretch body material and wrap the thread forward leaving a gap to finish the fly’s head 6. Wrap the nylon body thread forward leveling in layers to ensure a consistent body diameter just short of the fly’s head area. 7. Apply a LIGHT coating of Sally’s to the nylon body, and secure the peacock herl across the top of the shank. Align the herl so it is perfectly centered, then wait a minute or so for the glue to become tacky. 8. Palmer the hackle forward leaving a gap between each wrap [the width of the gap is up to your preference, but I prefer mine small], secure in the head area, build a head, and whip finish. This pattern is best with a steady current and or a slight chop on the water. I generally cast straight across to slightly upstream, and allow the fly to drift downstream until there is obvious drag. Allow the fly to drag for a few seconds as that is when many of the strikes occur. Then pop the fly under the film and strip back until you are out of the feeding lane. You will need to false cast to dry the fly if it is sinking, and recast. The only time I grease the fly is when the trout tell me too. If there is next to no current for a good drift, like the drought has caused in SW Missouri, lay the fly in the feeding lane, and twitch the rod tip just enough to make the fly jerk, pause, then jerk again.

I was told the last week of June that the spring was down to less than 4 million gallons a day, which is not enough to maintain the hatchery. They were proposing to move the fish to Taneycomo's hatchery, but we had about just enough rain that both chutes were releasing water last week. However, the flow is back down again as it has been dry ever since. I'd say not much over 4 million at best. Maybe Tim Homesley has heard something, and the consequences. Tim?

John; I mailed my Golden Crackbacks this morning. Let me know when you receive them.

Good potatoe trick. I've got another thanks to my long past Mother. Float a standard wooden kitchen match in the oil. When the match ignites, the oil will be 350 degrees, and no, it will not ignite your oil. Scoop out the burnt match and fry away. Another pair of coatings I like is saltine crackers or Kelogg's corn flakes food processed into a course meal.

How about posting the tying instructions here John? Putting all that in with the flys will make for a pretty big pack, and what we send may not fit in the same pack on the return trip. The extra fly are common for the Flymeister's trouble and effort in putting the swap together. I suggest just tagging the fly with it's handle and tyier's name.

Just remember that you're getting at least one or two hackled flys that won't fair too well in a plain envelope. Box or can would be best.

I would agree not only on area lakes, but also in public parks. I for one had my locked fly rod case pryed open in Roaring River Park this year. The culprits must have gotten spooked before they could finish the job, as they just busted a couple of hinges. I wouldn't leave anything unsecured in my vehicle or boat anywhere at anytime.

I second jOrOb's comment. A good chop with bluebird skys always improves fishing, even in the parks like Roaring River.

Add me too. Golden Crackleback Add me too. Golden Crackleback

Man,I would agree that C&R for smallies is needed, especially with the skinny water we've had with the drought. Even after recent rains, many of the creeks can be stepped over in places.

I became a TU member back when the Branson chapter was going, but dropped out after the club quit meeting. They were a great bunch of folks that I met there. Every one in the group made me feel like we were lifelong friends. My problem was I traveled so much in my job weeknight meetings were a problem. I tried my best to be active in any weekend programs, and weeknight if I was in town. I'd certainly make a hand if we can get something going.

Most popular rivers and creeks are famous for more than just fishing. Many people float in canoes, kayaks, tubes... you name it. An aluminum hatch is when you're trying to fish, and one floater after another passes over your hole. It's usually not too bad, but at times, inexperienced floater crash through your hole. Some will even stop and take a dip. If you fish really early, or late, you will usually miss the hatch. Myself, I personally enjoy the bikini hatch.

I can't speak for Table Rock, but the Bluegill are spawning right now in the creeks. There are beds everywhere

Just a reminder [or more of a warning] to everyone that this weekend in all four State trout parks is free fishing [June 10th & 11th]. No daily tag or license is required for Saturday or Sunday, so the park will be jammed with tourist and out of state folks. I can't speak for the other three parks, but Roaring River will be flooded with folks. It would be a good time to visit tailwaters. As for me, I'll be looking for creek smallies.

I wrote our MO State government represenatives questioning whether the State should be making conservation decisions over the experts at MDC. They all replied that the MDC was neutral on the hand fishing issue. It still concerns me that "good ole boys" are taking care of a handfull of their local voters at the fish and wildlife's expense. Like many of you, I don't care to try hand fishing. I just think the lawmakers should leave conservation laws to the experts.

You can also get your free kid's day tags, and event pack today at the hatchery office. This would save you standing in line in the morning. I meant to mention this earlier, but never got a chance. Also, the kids don't need to be present when you pick of the tag.

Well said Chestnut!! This is not much different than the sale of the Mark Twain forest. I read an email from our House Rep David Slater where Missouri would get $2.64 million and Oregon would get $260 million for rural schools for Missouri land. The article forwarded to me said there was widespread Republican opposition, but it will take more than just these folks. Our Legislators need to keep their hands off.

I think it is definitely bad when lawmakers instead of Conservationist make the laws that pertain to our parks and wildlife. Although I personally don't have a problem with hand fishing, nor have any interest in doing it, I think the people that are slated to protect our parks and wildlife should be the ones who propose the laws and limits

There is an very interesting podcast at the link below. Check out Episode #17. Dave tells stories and talks about moving to eastern Oklahoma to write some fly fishing books, and help develop a new trout stream. Worth the time to download and listen too if your a Whitlock fan. http://www.podcastdirectory.com/podcasts/index.php?iid=5173