10pointer

Awesome, knew it was something like that, just really blows me away that a poor design/materials that costs a few cents could cause so many issues. Stuff like that turns away customers and they usually wont come back. Its been an issue for years just glad somebody pulled their head out and figured it out at shimano

I have it happen to most of my shimanos. I have a couple going to john at bullseye bait and tackle he knows about them and i thought he was saying something about some rubber washer going bad or binding up. He said its a design flaw. Ill let you guys know what he says. It happens to all of them. Funny thing is i have a sahara with the same issue as my shimano stella and thats a darn $600 reel. For that amount of money the materials should be top notch i would hope they wouldnt let some 15 cent parts ruin their image. But when shimanos arent binding up they are my favorite brand. Never had one issue with their baitcasters. Ill let you all know what he says

Hargroves will always get my vote tom and craig are some of the nicest guys around. Sure i havent had any bad experiences at FC but the guys at Hargroves go above and beyond every time. Tom and the crew are always looking to bs and just talk about fishing and help out. They donate to alot of great causes and have that x factor that just makes everyone feel welcome. They have fished all over but you will never hear any snooty bragging or see an uppity attitude. They have a customer for life in me. Sure they might not have everything based on the limited store size but they do a hell of a job having quality materials and they can get just about everything I was just down there a couple weeks ago looking for a specific higher end simms boot and even though they were out of my size they offered to order it for me. Sure i could have went down the street to see if the other guys had it but i ordered through Hargroves. I work in sales and i really appreciate what they do. They make their customers feel welcome and as is evident in this thread it shows and they have built a great customer base. Ive been to quite a few flyshops across the country and they rank way up there

Yupp had the word "obsessed" and "neglected" when it came to me fishing. She said i had a problem....i told her yes i do nd its you babe! That didnt fly too well so i moved out and broke off an almost 2yr relationship about 3 weeks ago. Never been happier. Not only was the fishing a problem it was everyyyything. But ask her and she was perfect. That brad paisley song about im gonna miss her was a perfect fit for me. Absolutely gorgeous girl...but its a give and take, and i gave and she took lol.

Great report, has anyone else noticed alot of torn up fish? Alot of the nice rainbows and browns I have been landing and seeing have big chunks out of them, Im talking about a good 30 or 40 at least between the cable and tanvat last week. Seems odd to me looks like gig marks maybe? That or some type of predator. Any ideas? Water is also so low and clear that the snaggers can have right at them poor browns they stand their ground and arent as skittish as alot of the rainbows

I think the browns dont stand a chance, went again today and caught another lunker brown midway between the wire and tanvat and released her unharmed That water is so low and clear that those browns stick out like a sore thumb. I think personally that browns seem to hold their position alot more than rainbows and generally are less skittish you can literally drift your fly right across their face. I have noticed a major issue in the blue ribbon area. The brown i caught had an eye out and a big hole on top of her head. I also noticed that alot of other browns and good sized rainbows that i caught and saw also had major chunks taken out of them. I havent seen this in years past this badly. Im talking at least 30 fish with issues. I thought it looked like gig marks or snagging marks. It could very well be a predator but its a major problem and needs to be addressed. Unbelievable!

I also fished the park and the blue ribbon area on the 13th, a great day for sure caught more fish than I could count. Beautiful day in the ozarks! Caught a 19" 3.5+lb rainbow up at blue hole, and took a measurement and let him go. Stopped by the hatchery building at picked up a released lunker patch, I really want to get all four and then the centerpiece, i think that would be a neat display to have, and i really think that I can do it this year. I just wish more people would release fish in the park. I could really care less about the patch but I thought I would participate to show that it is a valuable program to have. Hope to tell as many people I can about the program. Fished outside the park at the cable down to tanvat. Picked up quite a few fish on a sculpin pattern, egg pattern, and soft hackles. Caught and released a grgeous 3.5lb brown right below the cable and broke off the 7+lb that lives up in the roots. Really did well and almost too well so switched to some more "natural" patterns because the eggs were just flat out tearing em up. Glad to see some large browns still around but nothing like it has been like in past years. Its really dissappointing. I guess we can only control ourselves and not others but I try to educate as many people that I can about letting them go. As we have seen that resource is easily depleted.

I just bought a few 9 wt pro series off of flyshopcloseouts.com for that same price pretty much. Excellent fast service and ive bought from them numerous times and they have been top notch. Kicker with ordering with them is no sales tax and free shipping. Just throwing that out there if cabelas doesnt have the wt you want

Nice fish but id rather see it live. I used to be like that (never did keep one outside the park) but it sure wears off after u get 10 on the wall. I released 4 or 5 20-25 inchers already since january but know some jackwagon is gonna fry em up here shortly. Its their own choice but it makes me sick to see one or two clowns turn in a brown every other day or twice a week all summer. And i know for a fact that they snag them had plenty of people tell me what i already had seen with my own eyes. Just wish the agents would get off certain peoples backs and go after the real problem. Ill quit that rant while i still have my breath. Anyways glad for the guy but hope he releases them in the future... Just ticks me off to see the bigguns hit the frying pan and not the water afterwards.

thanks for the report daryl. hope to make it down soon! now if only work would cooperate

This has been the only year in the last bunch that I have not made it down to help Tom and the staff with kids day because I had to work Its a great time and its amazing to see the smiles on the kids faces and their parents too. We are fortunate to have such great staff with the MDC, the parks and the volunteers. I remember kids days when I was little and it feels great to be able to give back and help these young kids make memories that last a lifetime! Glad to hear it was a success again!

Id love to see something done about the browns in the park but talking with the biologists from the mdc there is a science to what they do but also economic pressures. There was proposed regulation changes on the niangua (length limits) brought up and the mdc shut it down. They said that the browns "couldnt" survive but the main reason was that heads would roll from the outcry from the locals who depend on the fish. Its sad but the mdc works for the public in general not just trophy hunters

With all these fish being snagged all it takes is taking a picture of the culprit and contacting the agents. I dont want to hear that nothing can be done because witnesses have landed a few guys in trouble. Id love to see the park cleaned up and the snagging put to an end. It gives guys who do it right a bad name. Laker67 i know a few of those good guys you talk about. They could care less about some lunker board and they have caught more big fish than most of the park anglers combined.

"Little joes" is what we used to carry they were in a blue package. Im almost positive that bps still carries them but im not suprised the guys that work there couldnt find them because most of the folks they hire now are clueless.

Simms all the way cant beat their guarantee and quality and the customer service is top notch. I have several pair but im really loving my headwaters because i rarely go chest deep most days. Dont get me wrong I love my G3guides but Im more comfortable in my waisthighs. Now all I have to do is send my guide boots to a simms cobbler and get vibrams installed or I might just pick myself up an extra christmas present And as always Tom Hargrove will always get you set up right. Its great to have such a great store like THargrove in the STL area.

Hands down drop by Tims Fly Shop, its definitely worth the stop. Tim and his crew know what to suggest and they have anything you could need!

The MDC is well aware of what is happening down there in the parks during derbys now. I talked with the agents and I was actually watched the whole time this weekend which doesnt and never will bother me...because I do things the right way. No sense in ruining someone elses day that they are trying to enjoy down there, and no sense in snagging a fish that I couldnt fool into biting. I never realized how people could be proud and take a snagged fish to weigh in. I was told by the agents that they are looking to make some changes to the derbys, but they fell short of saying that lunkers will be no more (which was what they were implying im sure). It really just sucks that it is coming to that and that the derby atmosphere is being ruined. While I do think there are misunderstandings about some certain people that fish the park, there are alot of guilty people as far as the rude factor goes. Now I cant say there isnt snagging going on because I havent been there 100% of the time but as Jeff said... but a couple of those guys mentioned are some of the best jig fishermen in the park. Just because they catch quite a few lunkers doesnt automatically put someone in the snagger category and the rude category, but some do fit that bill to an extent in some cases.

I guess I had better take my fish down out of the lodge...I dont want to be deemed rude and a snagger by some. I have heard that there is going to be some legal dicipline given out to someone, but cant confirm that just yet. If the story is true I want to see them get what they deserve, even if I know them. We should all play by the same rules no matter who is around. As far as the derby goes... it was alot of fun but it is a direct indication that the mdc is sick of "lunker hunting". They used to put in 40 lunkers but this year a measley 10 were put in. A couple nice fish but most in the 3-4 range. As much as some people hate lunkers, some people do it the right way and a few people dont. Those people that dont are ruining a long running derby for the rest of the folks that enjoy it. I always have a good time and relax whether I catch a good one or stockers.

thanks for correcting me lol i thought that seemed a little too cheap

Anyone going this year? It would be fun to meet up with some of you guys if you are going down this weekend (oct 1st 2nd). Weather looks like it will be nice and cold and the stream looks like its going to be nice and clear. If you want a peaceful weekend of fishing with minimal people, then this isnt going to be the weekend to go, but its a fun atmosphere down there with all the events and music and stuff. And best part is it raises alot of money for the American Heart Association Hope to see some of you guys down there! Jason

Thats what I thought also, I really cant believe there hasn't been more interest in Eagles Park especially since it was going pretty cheap i thought i heard about 80k iirc. Cabins would be awesome and could definitely do well I would think...

Al I definitely agree with you, ive fished alot too out west and always went a little bit bigger and I do think the fish zone in on the slightly bigger version. I do this quite a bit with caddis, not only does it help me pick up the fly a little better compared to the hatch but the fish do seem to like it. Great observation and tactic Al! I really dont like to fish egg patterns but if the fishing gets tough, Ill throw em if all else fails. Im out there to catch fish and have a good time. I mean if Im cleaning up on em with an egg pattern ill get off it and switch to something natural, but im out there to relax and have fun too. But at heart im into fishing, scuds, dries, flies etc I guess I just dont see as big of a problem with it since Steelhead, Salmon, etc gobble up egg patterns like crazy anywhere else...

Jeff, I talked with Kevin and he said to give him a call and he can help you with the memorial bench. Ill send you his number in a private message up top in your inbox.

Jeff, I'll ask Kevin A. (you know him im sure) how he went about getting a bench for his parents at White Oak hole at Montauk. I am so sorry for your loss. I will absolutely get the info for you tonight or tomorrow.

Im not sure as I havent seen it personally but I believe that is what Craig Fuller of the MDC said before. It is a hell of a tough road for sure though. I too have noticed over the years a decrease in the big browns coming out of the river. Hope it turns around...