KRflyfisher

Sitting at the feet of the Dr. Statler is a great learning experience. In my opinion some of this stuff like indicator or no indicator, is just a mental thing. What is important is to fish what you have confidence in, and to keep at it when that confidence fails. Unweighted, lightly weighted, or heavily weighted, one thing is for sure each design out there was developed to catch fish in all different situations, water conditions, or whatever. For each fly out there, there is a different method of presentation, and that is the fun of it all: finding solace in what has been consistent and thrilling over the new technique that may just be blind luck or just might be the next best thing to 'ol reliable. I for one am just enjoying the ride along the way. This thread has been a great read. KR

We used to do that with Cherry bombs as a kid. Had a blast and hey I still have all my fingers!

Yeah they had a similar responce to my dad and I about 15 years ago, when we reported seeing a Mt. Lion while coon hunting as a kid up around Amazonia, MO. We were trappers too so there was no mistaking this critter for a bobcat, lynx, coyote or any other critter. They just told us that Mt. Lions do not live in Missouri. Maybe AR put those up here too!

I hope this gets some discussion going, but what are the best flies, baits, lures, etc. For the type of fishing you do in Taneycomo? I would love to hear from every flyflinger, spinner, worm dunker, limb liner, and also all the eclectic types too. I love to fly fish but I am not above any of the rest as long as it’s legal. KR

Now that looks like some extreme fishing!

Well if fish feel pain or not, I don't know. I do know that if you go to the mall you'll find plenty of people walking around with hooks in their lips and they don't seem to mind! PETA folks are either just stupid, or severly misinformed. I heard a report just the other day about Giant Beavers invading Chile and how this is a real ecological threat to them because the trees down there take so much longer to grow than they do up here. So to save the rainforests, they are trying to trap the beavers. Guess who is against it all! PETA. SAVE THE BEAVERS, kill the rainforest! That's a new twist, huh?

So what can be done? I do my best to make sure my waders are clean when I hit waters away from home, but is there something simple that could be done to ensure that someone doesn't transport this stuff to a new home?

I am just dieing to nail a carp on the fly. I bought a 9wt outfit just for the opportunity. I would love to know what flies you guys find alot of success with. Brad Befus has a book and video that has some patterns that look good to me. But then again I have yet to hook up with one.

I don't have as many years angling for smallmouth, but I love it no less than anyone here. Growing up my grandfather guided the Niangua, Osage Fork, and Gasconade for smallies, and my brother and I enjoy memories of many summer floats on those rivers casting pork rind eels and crawdads behind black bucktail jigs. There were the great days when we all caught multiple limits of bass, and each and everyone were returned to the water. And we had poor days too. I agree with the others that more should be done to protect the smallmouth from meat head fishermen. I am hoping that one day my kids will enjoy the same quality of fishing I did as a kid. With conservation efforts I believe they can. If the necessary protective actions are put in place, and the fishing improves, I doubt fishermen will be any less tight lipped about thier secret holes. There is just something wrong about telling some irresponsible, reckless, jerk about something as sacred as your secret spot. I can tell you I went out last summer, middle of July, on a pretty hot day with my Grandpa and we both did very well. But I don't think I can tell you just where it was... although I do remember seeing quite a few cotton mouths! KR

If you read any of the stuff in the mags about the next world record bass, most people think it will come out of one of those clear and deep California lakes that are full of trout. I have read that trout are simply a superior forage fish with higher caloric value than most other food items. So if this is true for those California Bass, then it's not a stretch to believe that Taneycomo could have the next record largemouth swimming around somewhere.

Just got my fisst glimpse of the Troutcam, and it's pretty cool. Next best thing to being there! KR

I have never heard of didymo, mind givin me a little education? KR

Well I am planning on fly fishing, it is my favorite method. But if it is too windy, I will have my spinning outfit just in case. The idea of catching a big rainbow is appealing to me. Is there a particular pattern that seems to work better durnig the spawn? Unfortunatly my schedual allows me to pick a date in advance and stick with it, bad weather, big crowds, poor fishing and all. So I usually ry to come prepared, and with a positive attitude. One thing I know without a doubt, a poor day fishing, well that my friend, is still a pretty good day!

Hello all. I am a grad student trying to plan a quick trip to Taneycomo. When is the best time to come if I have to choose one trip between February, March, and April? I am really looking for the best combination of numbers of fish and potential for big fish. I have only fished Taneycomo once, and that was just a quickie off Lilly's dock while the wife was shoppingin Branson! Thanks for the help!

Welcome from another new member! I fished the Gasconade quite a but as a kid, and have found it to be a good spot to catch a smallie, a few largemouth, and we managed to find goggle eye as well. For a spinning outfit we always had good luck with black or brown pork rinds behind black weedless bucktail jigs. Chartruse and white, buzzbaits along with torpedos, the old Lucky 13, and zaraspooks worked for top water. If I were to go there now and not fly fish, a pumpkinseed Chompers rigged weedless (Texas rig is what I prefer) is a killer too, had great luck with that last summer on the Niangua. I never fly fished it as a kid but the standard crawdad, nymph, and streamer patterns are sure to work. It would definately be worth your time! KR