laminejetdaddy

David: I went to high school with Randy Widel and his older sister (Regina, I think was her name). My name is Larry Schuster. Lots and lots of relatives scattered all over Cooper County and the contiguous counties. My wife is also from Pilot Grove. Her maiden name is Loesing. Randy Widel married her cousin. You know how it goes. Almost freaky. My wife has finally become supportive of my fishing habit and knows that when I am getting cranky the best thing is send me to fish somewhere. Work, the passing of my father in law and kids used up most of my time last year. She and I are committed to more "casting", embibing on fine vino and indulging the relaxing habits of fine tobaconnists. (big talk for smoking a cigar - yes my wife will enjoy a petite corona once in a great while). Headed to fish the White below Bull Shoals and the Norfolk in a little over two weeks. Don't freeze to death up there in Iowa. Later ........ Larry

Missiouri Boy: Sounds like similar childhood experiences. Grew up on a farm outside Pilot Grove, MO in an area called Martinsville. My dad and uncle raised cattle. We rented the old dairy farm at Pisgah a couple of years when I was a teen. As a kid we hunted everything that moved and tight lined the Lamine River every chance we could. Loved to camp on the Lamine banks, run trot lines and limb lines. We were brave enough to do that after dark with only Ray O Vac flashlights. Splashed around the Petite Saline Creek, Choteau Creek and lots of farm ponds. Wow, just to think I could not wait to get away from home. We were meat eaters and conquerors then. The quantity was important and a big fish just a bonus. Bullheads, bluegill and small bass can keep boys out of town for hours on end. Also was better than stacking hay in the barn or pulling weeds from soybeans - at least till a paycheck had more appeal. Do you still live in the Wright City area ? Wade and bank fish only ? I did not get to far from home - Columbia. Just got back from Taneycomo last week for a few days. Just a wonderful place to hide from the hustle and bustle. My 16 year old simply enjoyed the slow pace of tight lining off the dock and loved the running water below Table Rock dam. Naps in the afternoon were fantastic. We each went our own ways some and fished together some. Caught plenty of fish even with the tough conditions. Bump into great people always down there. Here's to glory days and new honey holes.

First trip to Taney was many, many years ago with rloo10. Fishing was slow and I kept bugging him about tight lining for catfish. Thought we could surely pick up a couple of them. Ha ! Ha! Was also only my second trout trip. Learned a bunch since, but still am just an amateur. Been hooked ever since. Have now fly fished in CO for mountain stream trout, chased salt water species in FL and muskies in WI along with bass and various perch species around home here in Columbia, MO. However, I must say TL is still tops. Would like sometime to be able to fish her for two weeks from dam to dam. Already make a point of fishing other portions of the lake rather than the trophy area all of the time. Am a self employed window treatment / sun control retailer and subcontractor since 5-84. Have a lovely wife who has fly fished once. (much more successful business person than myself) Maybe there will be a second time and a third and etc. Two sons, 21 & 16 round out the family along with one remaining 13 year old schnauzer. Fish mostly from a Pro 20 Landau with Suzuki 140 four stroke. Twenty eight gallon fuel tank allows approximatley 200 mile range in lakes. Rivers such as The Mighty Missouri cut into the economy a bit. The boat is now about ten years old and the motor three years old. No desire to switch rigs now. Was at Taney between the holidays for several days and without high water was able to still put my 16 year old on fish. Enjoy this new format for fishing reports. Lilley does a great job with his web site. Almost as good as being there. "Virtual Reality ?"