KRflyfisher

JJ- I just got my first rotary vise as well, so I will share my growing pains with you! I am ecxited about the material placement options and the prospect of tying more efficiently. I was wondering, what are the key tips and tricks to tying rotary? I have heard something about using half hitches alot, how do you keep thread build up to a minimum using so many half hitches? KR

I have been looking at these boats for a while and noticed that many of them have motor mounts on them. Do any of you use the motor mount? Or is rowing the best option?

Here is a comic for all of us catch and release types.

Thanks I appriciate that, it is an honor to be a part of thier lives and to see them grow into strong men and women. Sounds like I need to be planning a quick trip to Big Hill sometime soon! Any idea how long they have been stocking the smallies? Seems like KWP has been producing some pretty nice fish lately, I think a guy broke the state record last fall on Milford with a fish weighing in just over 6 1/2 lbs I think. I know that the area is known for spotted bass, and I would like to get into some of those, my grandpa used to call them Kentucky Bass, but I pretty much just like to catch anything with some fight in it.

Man these are great. I am really enjoying this. A few years back I was wading a creek around here just fishing for sunfish and the occasional pounder bass. This place is notorious for snakes which is why it is also about the only place I have ever consistanly found peace and quiet anywhere around. Well I was at the end of my fovorite little eddie when I saw a little bull head or madtom swimming like crazy up into the shallows followed in close pursuit by a water snake. Well the snake won the race and I just stood there and fished out the hole while I watched that little cat get slurped down. Good day on the water. KR

Here's another one. This story occurs below the dam of Truman Lake. My brother, Lance, My buddy, Bradon, A friend of Lance’s Matt, and I planned to fish for crappie and white bass when they had the water running from the dam. Well we showed up and little or no water was running, and we had the place to ourselves. We fished and fished and among the four of us only caught a few, but a bad day fishing is better that a good day of almost anything else, so we stayed. It was about 11:30 PM, we had two lanterns burning, and we had turned our fishing into more of a bull session. Lance had been using a 2 jig rig for crappie because he insisted he could catch more fish that way, which proved to be wrong up until the moment I am about to describe. We were all just sitting on the rocks when all of the sudden Lance set the hook and the 4 lb. test began to scream off his reel. In a split second we knew 2 things, 1 he had a monster on, and 2 his tackle was too light. He adjusted his drag, he tried to gain line only to have more smoke off the reel. If he was going to land this fish he had only one option, run ahead of it and pick up line that way. Now to those of you who have actually fished below the dam at Truman you know that the rocks there are huge, jut out at all angles, and are sharp edged nasty things. So he took off running down the bank jumping from rock to rock with all the grace of a mountain goat tied to a Volkswagen. With out saying a thing I jumped up and grabbed his line and held it up to keep it above the rocks along the shore, and the other guys each grabbed a lantern and took up fore and aft positions behind to light the way. It must have been a sight, 4 grown men running, falling, and flailing among the rocks in unison up and down the shore to the tune of a metallic ring. We had no idea what was on the line, would it be one of those legendary giant cats, or some kind of big bass? One thing was pressing though, we had gone almost as far as we could go along the shore, but just when it seemed like we were going lose ground, the fish turned around and headed back up stream. The battle continued, all the while my brother was gaining line. Finally we knew the fish was close, and we thought it was tired and as Lance brought it in closer to shore, like a fool, I jumped into the water and grabbed what I could see at the edge of the lantern light. I pulled out a 40+ inch (our tape was only 36”) paddle fish that he had somehow hooked on the very tip of the tail with the first of his jigs. I had never seen a paddle fish up close and personal before, but since we were about 2 weeks out of season, we didn’t look for long. We didn’t even take pictures before we coaxed the big fish back into the water. It was just about 30 min. later, when we all were reliving the story, and fishing much harder than before I might add, when Bradon hooked into something big and we all got ready for another trip. But it turned out to be a much shorter run to end up with a gar that was just a little shorter than the paddlefish, but it was still fun for us to see another big fish brought in on light tackle. I don’t know how long it took for Lance to land the paddlefish. Like all moments frozen in time, it seemed like it took forever, but it couldn’t have been more than a 10-20 min. None of our crappie measured so we all went home that night without a single fish in the cooler, but we all had cuts and scrapes from the run of a lifetime. I’ll take that memory into the hereafter. KR

I have had the priveledge of being the youth and family pastor at Living Hope Church of the Nazarene here in Olathe. I've been here 5 and a half years working with 7-12 grade and thier families mostly. These are good folks, great kids. I have been doing youth ministry since I graduated high school and have a few of my youth group kids in the service, and they are serving in places similar to what you describe. Now we'll add your name to that military prayer list. Never Fished Big Hill- What is it known for? KR

WOW these are great stories! I laughed my rear off! Okay SKMO I have a story for you that I will admit isn’t as funny as these others, but it is about me catching my first fish on my own as a kid. My Dad, older brother, and I were drowning worms with and old Zebco one day down in Grandpa’s pond. There was an old row boat that was sunk under the water and completely surrounded by moss and algae and I was fascinated with it, so I kept casting over to it. With each cast, before I even had a chance, my Dad would make me reel in, clean off my hook, re-bait and tell me to cast to the deeper water. Well he eventually got tired of this and left me to myself so he could help out my brother. Next thing he knew I was walking down the bank with another glob of goop, and he started to patiently re-explain to me about how the fish like deeper water, and I feeling like an idiot was just ready to go home. Next thing we know an honest to goodness eatin’ sized blue gill emerged from the muck. I caught my first fish and didn't even know it! Been hooked ever since! KR

I would like to know if anyone has any funny, bizarre, or just plain good fishing stories out there, shoot I'ld even like to hear a tall tale or two! Let's hear what you got, I'll post a few later when I have more time. KR

I feel as if there is a certain "Lord of the Rings" feel to the new look, but since I'm a fan I like it. It's good to change things up every now and then. KR

I am a native Ozarkian, and am proud to have that hillbilly blood running through my veins. I currently live in Kansas where I am in grad school and serve as a youth pastor. One day I also hope to return home so I can "lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help." as quoted from Psalm 121 by Harold Bell Wright in the The Shepherd of the Hills. If I can only convince my wife to move away from her mother! DarthVMAX- Where are you serving? I have the highest respect for our soldiers and just let me tell you now, Thanks for your sevice and sacrifice. It means something to me. Here's to you getting back home and hookin' a big one! KR

Dano- Well I'm going to give it a shot, at very least if it will help me figure out if I like this type of fly fishing and if I need a full on sinking or sinking tip fly line for it later I'll be ready for it. Thanks for the help. KR

Dano- Thanks for the reply, I really probably should have posted this under another Topic Heading. I end up getting more opportunity to read about flyfishing than to do it because I'm in grad school, have 2 kids under 2yrs, and 2 jobs. (I'm not complaining about life except that I don't get to fish as much as I would like, but who does!) And I read things about using sinking tip lines or full sinking lines to fish sculpin patterns like Dave Whitlocks sculpins or to get bass bugs down to structure for bass. Since I love tying all the Whitlock patterns I would love to be able to fish them more effectively. I have looked at the mono poly leaders but I guess I thought they might not quite work as well, but if they have worked for you, I think I'll give them a shot. Thanks for your advice! KR

Bueller, Bueller, Bueller... Anyone? Any Thoughts?

I was thinking hare's ear too, either way I'm sure it was a new line class record! Nasty video, I almost coughed up my cheerios! Way to go! KR

I am all for the stream etiquette class. As a kid I grew up fishing in Bennet Springs, which can be as crowded as any place. Anyway I was fishing on the lip of the dam, which is kind of scary to a kid, when some joker came through with 2 cans of beer in the front of his waders and a cigarette in his lips. I was amazed he never fell in he was so drunk, but even at 5-10 yards away he was just too close. I have never fished the dam since. Some stream etiquette would have helped us both out that day. About the cigar thing. I don't smoke, in fact I'm asthmatic and think that anyone who smokes after reading the warning label has issues, but as long as it's not being blown in my face and the butt isn’t tossed into the river...I think it's a free country. You live your life, I'll live mine. I live in Olathe KS, not far from Lawrence. And unless I'm mistaken, you can't even smoke in your car in that city. That is ridiculous. People need to chill out on some things, and the smoking thing is one of those issues. The line can easily go to far, so we just need to keep it to ethics and common sense courtesy…whatever that is! Now I’m afraid though that I can’t help but play air guitar to Layla every time I hear it (both versions), so to keep me from hooking anyone or falling in a hole during my momentary brush with imaginary stardom, please leave the rockin’ to river. And I whole heartedly support the Brown rule, what needs to happen to get it in place? KR

All good tips that I follow as well. One other thing I do is try and keep a short length of tippet close at hand to make sure that I can thread it through the hook eye and to clean out the eye just in case I get a little messy with the head cement. Also if it is close and your thread build up isn't too bad, you can take your fingernails and pinch the thread around the eye to push it into place.

Check this site out, I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for or not. http://www.ozarkchronicles.com/flybox/hatc...hatchcharts.htm For insect pics, though not of this area per say, checkout http://www.troutnut.com KR

Hey just wanting to hear from some folks who have tried out the multi tip fly lines that I see in the magazines. I know that a while back I heard that they had a sort of hinge in them when cast, but I can only assume that this has been corrected with the advances in technology. I would love to be able to fish all of the water column without all the experience of extra spools and line set ups. So are they worth it or not? Any thoughts? Experience? KR

Actually the Plexiglas can look as good or as White Trash as you make it. I started using it because I had some unusually shaped tanks that I used for making display terrariums for housing poison dart frogs, red eyed tree frogs, and some very tiny day geckos. Using the Plexiglas does two things for you when done right: 1. it holds critters in, a particularly useful feature when housing crawdads for a long period of time because they tend to like to crawl out. And 2. It keeps evaporation (and therefore calcium stained glass) to a minimum. They also let plenty of light through and with the right florescent lighting you can grow aquatic plants pretty easily. It is easier though to buy the tank hood already made. I wish I had pictures to show you of some of the display tanks I have made, they are pretty cool, and if you have time it is worth the effort. Watch out when adding the sunfish and bass, as soon as possible they will start eating everything in the aquarium they can get in thier mouths! But that is part of the fun too! KR

I have kept aquariums for a long time and worked in a pet store for a couple years in college. I think keeping native fish is not only easy but is a great way to better understand and study native baitfish and smaller predators. You can buy fancy hoods to fit your tank at a Petsmart, some Wal-marts, or any of the many petshops in Springfield. I have also had good luck with simple Plexiglas that I can cut to the exact size I need very easily. I just use the stuff at the local hardware store. The great thing about native fish is that you don’t really need a heater in the tank, they do great at room temperature. As far as species any sunfish does really well. I recommend the longear sunfish, or even better orange spotted sunfish. These are very colorful and look great in the tank with out doing too much damage to tank decorations. You can feed minnows, blood worms, maggots, basically anything you would use for bait. I have kept several different species together, but it is best to make sure that the fish have plenty of room and plenty of cover to retreat to or they will get stressed out and succumb to disease easier. A great site to check out is http://www.nativefish.org/ They have more info than you could imagine. Best of luck- KR

I'm not knocking you MoCarp, but I think this is just a little too high tech for me. The hair rig stuff is intrigeing, but this seems like a little much. Where do you find all this information? Is it mostly carp stuff you have just adapted or what. I have really enjoyed your posts because everything is so new to me with them. This thing though, I just not too sure of.

I liked the Emerald Nuts and streaker commercials the best. Fed Ex was good, but my brother drives for UPS so I don't like to say I laughed too loud. For the season I like the Burger King commercials where they have the king playing ball, those are great. As for the game, I was confused about the MVP choice then I realized, Ward was the only one who had a decent game! I think the Seahawks should have won, but they killed themselves with a little help from the refs. But I was glad to see the Bus get one on his way out, and the Steelers seem to be one of the last franchises around who have shown any loyalty. What other team has kept a coach around for 15 years without a SuperBowl? All in all it was a sloppy game, but I enjoyed it none the less.

I am probably not the fan that some are but Freebird, live version especialy, is one of the greatest rock 'n roll songs ever. Can't make the concert, but man what a show it will be.

Just recieved my March Flyfisherman mag and there is a snippet in the news section about Didymo in it. The article reccomend using a bleach solution and then not putting the boat or boot as the case may be in any new water for at least a day. Sounds like pretty nasty stuff to me.