mhall02

Correct me if I'm wrong, but below Ceadergrove where this was caught is a White Ribbon area so I don't think that would qualify as the 'trophy' area further upstream. Again, this is not a smallie or even a rainbow in say Crane Creek or one of the other 'wild' trout streams I've fished. To each their own, if he is legal, it wasn't snagged or shot, then fish on!! I've caught trout in every leagal way and now enjoy catching them on my 4 wt fly rod with flies I've personally tied. Does that mean someone catching trout (and keeping them) on corn with their Zebco 33 or spinning gear with jigs is less of a sportsman me and isn't having as much enjoyment of the sport as I am? Some people prefer the Blue Ribbion areas and their regulations, others the park and white ribbon, that is why they came up with these different areas for your preference/style of fising if you will. I personally like them all, just know what to expect on Opening Day at Bennett vs a secluded Blue Ribbion area, night and day but both enjoyable to me for different reasons.

Here is my biggest http://s37.photobucket.com/albums/e65/mhall02/?action=view&current=trout.jpg Not sure how to insert the pic directly, so above is the link. Any help appreciated on how to do this.

Did make it down to Zone 1 from about 2:p.m - 4:30 p.m. and man it was slow. Caught two winter leftovers that were small and skinny, kept them anyway and had one get off. A few other hits and that was it. Beautiful day, wouldn't have missed it for the world but hit some nice storms on the way back up to the St. Louis area.

I think I'm going to give it a try tomorrow afternoon if the rain isn't too bad. Thought I would try the traditional white 1/32 or 1/16 jig in zone 1., gotta go deep and heavy I guess?

Green or clear Trilene Sensation here.

Since he is fishing on the dam there, I would say the water is 12-14' deep as well, based on the amount of time it takes the jig/sinker to hit bottom. Catfish?? Wow, never caught one there but then again, I've only fished it during the winter. Caught blugill, crappie, and bass, but no catfish. Caught catfish at 28 as well as the other abovmentioned 3 species, but never one a 21, may have to give that a try this summer.

Looks pretty muskratish to me.

Never caught a crappie there all the times I went in the late 80s. Caught a few nice smallmouth closer to Shoal and saw a few nice largemouth closer to the mill, but never caught a crappie. That was also before the days of the browns or golden trout. I'm sticking with my origin via farm pond theory.

April 1, March if the weather is permitting. http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/applications/moatlas/AreaSummaryPage.aspx?txtAreaID=4901

I'm lucky to go trout fishing these days 2-3 times a year, not to mention in a creek on day then in another within 48 hours. Guess I'm good to go with my felt soles?

Maybe it washed in from a farm pond?

Hit 21 with my son today. Baited him up with rainbow powerbatit and he nearly limited out in less than an hour. We took three home and let a dink go for someone else to catch. I cast my jig a few times but mainly focused on him, he is 5 and I think I now have a trout fishing buddy. The line would start to move out and I would tell him to reel it in, and he did. Good times!!

I think MDC threw a little bit of evertying in there, best I recall a monster paddlefish was caught out of there and there are some muskie as well. Caught a number of bass, catfish and crappie in there when I was at Mizzou, fun lake.

FYI, don't make the sport we have a passion about try be our field of employment. I'm guessing for every salaried position MDC has there are probably a couple hundred applicants.

Good job of clairifying there guys!! Too often I see this:

That is because that is a stoneroller, not a chub http://www.tnfish.org/PhotoGalleryFish_TWRA/FishPhotoGallery_TWRA/pages/CentralStonerollerSmallNorrisNegus_jpg.htm Try one of these: http://www.bio.txstate.edu/~tbonner/txfishes/semotilus%20atromaculatus.htm

I have one of those, works great! Especially if you spray some rubbing alcohol on the windshield first, then wipe with the cloth on the handle.

That is why I prefer the vehicles with the timing chain (i.e Jeep 4.0 inline six and a Chevy 6.0 V-8).

Harold liked the Puddlejumper, I used to use them and caught about everything on 'em. Channel cat, trout, smallmouth, rock bass, you name it.

How about Harold Ensley? Another gem of a man. Met him once when he was giving a fillet knife seminar at the Wal-Mart in Monett Wal-Mart sold stuff with his name on it for years, really nice fellow. Dad bought a knife and it is his takle box in my garage. Miss my Dad as well as Harold's show, where has the time gone? Also briefly met Virgil in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Branson, he was walking in and I was going out, briefly shook his hand and said I've enjoyed his shows over the years, since I was a kid, then I quickly moved on. Didn't want to bug him too much.

OK, a little more research, this is the latest off MDC's website: Trout Lure Definitions Fly an artificial lure constructed on a single point hook, using any material except soft plastic bait and natural and scented baits as defined below, that is tied, glued or otherwise permanently attached. Artificial Lure a lure constructed of any material excluding soft plastic bait and natural and scented bait as defined below. Soft Plastic Bait synthetic eggs, synthetic worms, synthetic grubs and soft plastic lures. Natural and Scented Baits a natural fish food such as bait fish, crayfish, frogs permitted as bait, grubs, insects, larvae, worms, salmon eggs, cheese, corn and other food substances not containing any ingredient to stupefy, injure or kill fish. This does not include flies or artificial lures. It does include dough bait, putty or paste-type bait, any substance designed to attract fish by taste or smell and any fly, lure or bait containing or used with such substances. Any takers on foam of rubber leg definition? I'm leaning more towards this being a fly, since it doestn't seem to fit the soft plastic bait catagory and definitley is not a natural or scented bait.

Someone may beat me to this but catch and release season is fly only and this is a quote directly from the MDC site: Editor's note: Conservation Department regulations are a permissive set of rules. That means that they tell you exactly what is allowed. Anything not specified is not legal. Our Wildlife Code defines a fly as "A lure constructed on a single-point hook, of feathers, tinsel, chenille, yarn, fur, hair, silk, rayon or nylon thread or floss, with or without a spinner." This definition has been in use for many years and until it changes to include such fly making materials as rubber legs or leather, you could be ticketed for using a fly constructed with these materials on flies only waters. From the following site: http://mdc.mo.gov/conmag/1999/02/reflections 4th one down. This is from Feb. of '99, has anything changed on this?

a pre-larval fish pattern That's a pretty interesing description of the ole egg fly. I can't wait to take my kiddo there, he just turned 5 so I'm going to give it a little longer.

This answer to one of the questions is a little subjective I think. To use any sort of coloration/spots as part of a fish identification is usually not a solid basis. Spots/color can be dependant on water clairity, light conditions, environment etc. Take for instance the difference between a rainbow trout fresh out of the Neosho Fish Hatchery compared to the rainbow trout caught out of Crane Creek, or a largemouth caught out of a muddy pond vs a clear creek. There is a very visible difference, but it is the same species. Fish ID is generally based on things like fin to body length ratio, presence or absence of adipose fins, number of scales counted on the lateral line, mouth location and shape, etc. I guessed on some of the bug ID, founding of TU, and number of Salmon. 6/10 I was a little leary of providing the e-mail address, hopefully this was not a spammer of some sort. The questions seemed legit for trout that a run of the mill scammer wouldn't do.

X2, well said.