KRflyfisher

Thanks for the information, great posts.

Hey thanks! Great resource! I still have a few questions though. It appears that the designation has more to do with management than anything else. Does it have anything to do with number of trout per mile or the average size of trout of the stream?

I need some education, will someone please enlighten me? What makes a stream a blue, red, or white ribbon trout stream?

I have been fishing my whole life and enjoy all aspects of it. I have caught fish on limb lines, hardware, stink bait, live bait, synthetics, and spoons and enjoy doing it all. But put simply, I feel fly fishing connects me more with the fish, the stream, and the outdoors in general. I tie flies using feathers and fur I have collected on my own if possible. I like the feel of wading with water flowing through my legs. And I like the mechanics of casting. For me even if I am not catching fish, I can practice precision casting and retreval, and still have a decent day (although I do love to catch fish!). I also like it because it is slower much of the time. As a Christian outdoorsman fishing and hunting are almost like devotional times as well. It helps me to feel connected to something bigger than me. For me flyfishing is cleaner and perhaps more intimate than other methods. This is also the reason I prefer to bow hunt. I am no snob, I spent the summer teaching my son and daughter to dunk worms and crawdads for sunfish and smallies and had a blast doing it. But what I love is to catch a fish on a fly tied by my own hands, from my own mind, caught in my fishing hole. This is like a dream come to life. Who was it Thoreau that said "Some men fish thier whole live without reaizing it is not the fish they are after."

Sounds to me like I just need to try it out for myself and see. I don't really have much kayak experience, and the only sit on top was really not made for a man my size, so it wasn't a great experience. I never thought about a solo canoe, and it seems they might be the best option. I cast well out of a conoe and they offer better visibility in my opinion. Thanks for the discussion!

You guys are killin' me! I doubt I'll get a chance to get out this year (school!!!) But it's good to see that other folks are out there having success! I love turkey hunting and have only scored a multi beared bird one time in my life, they are truely special birds. Congrats to all those who are getting out, and "Well Done, when's dinner?" to those who score!

Nicely put, I fully agree. In all truth closing accesses is more of a penalty to law abiders than to anyone else. The "doofuses" out there will find another place to play, and eventualy be run out of. But where else can law abiding citezens get access to that particular stretch of water? LET THE LAW WORK IN THE FAVOR OF THOSE WHO FOLLOW IT!

If there are resources and man power enough to keep people from trespassing, then it stands to reason that there would also be man power enough to keep people from trashing the accesses. I would like to see more effort put in those directions, which improve the quality of the resource and its management, rather than just closing sections off. As a family guy I know that I recently spent time fishing with my 2 year old son and my 78 year old grandfather. Cutting off access points only inhibits our ability to enjoy the outdoors together. If access is then cut off I wonder if the remaining accesses will improve in quality as well, or if due to increased traffic, they will also suffer? If so it makes everything harder. At 28, I am in fairly good shape; I can and do hike back to fish places. I cannot do that however with my son or grandfather, and would hate to miss entire stretched of river/lake just because of that fact. I say better access and better management, that's a real answer. That's my line- KR

Well, I am proud. Hope to get him out again real soon! That was my grandpa's pond, and with the drought it is almost dried up from what it used to be. All of the grandkids have caught good bass there, I was just hoping to get a fat bluegill for my son, but a fat bass did us one better! A memory I will never forget.

Been prayin', any new updates?

Well I hate to be this way but I like my waders just fine. The biggest reason is that I bought them for $35 at a Wal-mart closeout sale. No they are not big name, but they keep me dry and warm when trout fishing and duck hunting. They are tough, and they flatter my round figure (okay that is a joke .) I can’t yet justify spending that kind of money for waders just yet, maybe someday. Until then my Wal-mart specials will do me right each and every time.

Any father's greatest desire is the joy of their children. Well guys I am one proud papa. Last Friday I shared some great joy with my two and a half year old son. I hooked the fish in the picture but he reeled it in all by himself, it was all he could do to turn the crank on his Scooby Doo pole! The bass jumped in front of him and his eyes got huge and a smile filled his face as he realized what was going on. Best part is that his Grandpa, my dad, got to see the whole thing! He has been asking me to take him to catch the big fish everyday since, I will be happy to oblige!

An empty tomb gave me a full life! He is risen indeed!

I believe the "black panters" people report are one of two things: 1. An escaped, or liberated pet, 2. or simply a mental projection that comes out of someone's fear. It is unfortunate but exotic pets like big cats are fairly easily aquired, and just as easily dumped. Here is a link to a story about the issue here in the US. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/20...6_EXPLcats.html I have seen cougars on 2 occasions while hunting for coons with hounds. It is both an awesome and frightful experience, especially for a child. The way they move with such ease and grace was amazing. I understand the fear that exists if these cats are studied and managed. Obviously management is not an issue if study hasn't occured first. The benefits of understanding these animals and the roles they now play could be great. Those that live in the KC area know that an increasing number of sightings (and one kill that I am aware of) have happened in suburban settings. I know that a few years ago a few elementary schools in Olathe were shut down because of a sighting in the area. Study would start to provide answers for why these reclusive cats are being seen more often, though still very infrequently as of late. The cats that have been killed and have been confirmed to be cougars have been young animals. If these are pets that owners can no longer manage which may well be the case, what can or needs to be done to further regulate this kind of thing to prevent it from happening? Or maybe this issue really isn't that big yet. If these are not pet cats, then why are the cats back? Good point about the coyotes and thier impact on the deer herd, but once upon a time they did have a role to fill my question is are they filling it now? Who knows?

Mt. Lions are in MO and KS. I have a cousin who watched a lion attack one of his calves from the cab of his tractor, he lives near Atchison, KS. That year he reported losing 6 calves to predators, he has never lost that many to predators before or since. I have seen them as a kid in NW MO and my father who coon hunts, says he has seen the tracks, and heard the screams in several areas around the Lake of the Ozarks. Mt. Lions in our state parks are a reality. In the summer of 2002 some friends, my wife and I arrived very late to a public campsite near Truman lake and set up camp in the dark. At about midnight a ranger came up to our campfire and asked us why we thought we were alone in such a prime area. Turns out that the site we picked was frequented by a particualar cat. The pine trees directly behind our tent showed evidence of that as they were scratched to shreds like every other scratching post I have ever seen a cat scratch on and I have the pictures to prove it. The game officer pointed those out to us as he urged us to move our camp. The proof is there, they have everything they need to become a thriving predator again, I feel that the state should study and manage them like any other game animal rather than denying, or explaining away they problem as being enormous bobcats or whatever other explantation people want to concoct. Obviously there is a reason why they are coming back, and a purpose for it as well. Study and mangagment could only serve to strengthen our knowledge and perhaps even provide a meager financial boost as well. KR