creek wader

Fishinwrech, I really don't know the answer about the melting, either. I assume it's the ocean temperature that's warming. And it's melting the outer edges of the icecap. Just a guess. On the "on the edge post". Trying to keep this an environmental issue. Not a religious issue. We don't really know what God's plan is. One way at looking at it is: God created man, so anything man does is in his plan. Good and bad. Including the holocost, genocide, clearing the rainforest, acid rain, fracking causing thousands of earthquakes, testing nuclear weapons, pollution in all forms, etc. That man is a tool or means of carrying out God's plan. Or, the other way of looking at it is; God gave man a brain with the power to reason/think. God made a planet that is suitable to sustain life for man. Fresh air, clean water, food, temperature, etc. When you look at the atmosphere and extreme temperatures on other planets, this is the only planet that man can survive on, that we know of. We have such a small window of temperature extremes and air mix that we can survive in. That God trusts man to take care of the planet and to make it a livable environment at the very minimum. Since we live here and have more impact on the planet than any other living organisms. Then we are basically the stewards of this planet and for generations to come. So, man needs to take it very seriously. Something that hits close to home are the quality of the Ozark streams. Some may take it for granite. Where I live, the rivers are muddy, farmers have taken out many of the riparian corridors and stream bank erosion is quite bad. Loss of habitat do to farming every square inch, has decimated the quail and pheasant habitat to mention just a few. Growing up in Nebraska, pheasant was king. You would see hundreds if not thousands of birds in a year. Now, seeing a pheasant is a very rare thing. Man altered that. I believe that humans have the power to make this planet what we want it to be. If man can create earthquakes, many earthquakes, I think we can do other major environmental disasters. Key to everything is moderation and learn from our mistakes and don't repeat them. Just my 2 cents, again

I know this is a fishing site and not a political site. I still don't understand how someone can take scientific data and make it political. Facts are facts and data is data. As the late George Carlin once said "of course the planet is getting warmer, it's been doing that since the last ice age". Anyway, I grew up in Nebraska and live in the St. Joseph area. I remember the 70's and 80's. When we had temps below freezing for months, below zero for weeks, and it would snow before Christmas and not melt till March. Not to mention the wind chill 40 or 50 below zero. You couldn't step outside without your nostrils freezing. I remember working outside with ice on my beard and mustache. Frostbite was very common, you warmed up you vehicle for at least 10 minutes. Now it dips below zero for for a day or two. If it snows, it's melted in a few days. I bought a snow blower several years ago and use it an average of two times a year. Only once this past winter, after a two inch snowfall. Basically all I did was rearrange my gravel. We used to have a snow pack for months. I actually mowed my yard in December, the past couple years. I remember a Nebraska law, that if you got stuck and didn't have studded tires or chains, you got a ticket. Now studs are illegal. Of course front wheel drive helped. There were snowmobile dealers everywhere, now I know of none. There were 3 in Falls City, a city of 5000. I don't even know of any person, that has one, now. I used to ice fish every winter until the 90's. Now, the ice isn't safe, if there is any ice. I'm sure there are weather cycles, maybe that's all any of this is. Don't get me wrong, I like the mild winters, especially since I'm getting older. I don't think the flooding has anything to do with climate change. After all it's April and May, that's when we supposed to get heavy rains. But, I think there is something to this climate change. I do know one thing, the floods down there has really screwed up my plans this month. Guess I'll just lake fish for crappie, instead. just my 2 cents

Wow, sounds like most of the Ozark streams took a pounding. Looks like I picked the wrong year to get back into float/smallie fishing. I see there's more rain on the way. I guess my May trip may have to be postponed. Is there any smallie streams that didn't get a gully washer?

I realize that this post is 8 months old. But, felt compelled to respond. I can't identify the first pic. But, the fish in the 2nd. pic, is a very good example of a smallie/spotted bass cross. People are calling them mean mouth bass. Either way, it is definitely a hybrid. Has the color and look of a smallie. With the distinct lateral line and rows of spots of a Kentucky. Pretty fish. I've caught many but, none over 12". Probably out there, just never caught one.

I missed the post also. In the past, I fished the Osage and several of its tributaries for about 6 years. I witnessed a spotted bass invasion. It went from one or two spots a year, to almost 50/50, spots to smallies in some sections. My first mean mouth, had me stumped. 6 yrs later, I had caught many of these bass. One thing that stood out was, that no two looked alike. Some were lack of a better word "pretty". Actually, I didn't mind catching mean mouths, If it wasn't at the cost of the loss of true smallies. The other observeration that I made was their size. I never caught any meanmouths over 12". They may have existed in the waters that I fished. I just never caught any. Also, most spots were under 12". Although, I did catch a 17", once. Below are pics of a mean mouth, spot, smallie. All caught within a few minutes of each other. Notice the horizontal lines on its lower half like the spot. But, other than that it resembles a smallie.

Chief, I'm not doing the Jeff run anymore. Instead I drive to Omaha, (2 1/2 hrs. each way). Then take a coal train to Neb. City, dump it, then take empty back to Omaha. Then of coarse the drive back. Long days. Usually around 12 hrs. plus the 5 hrs. driving. But, I usually get around 48 hrs. off in between runs. Sounds bad but, I only work around 2 or 3 days a week. It's a guaranteed board. So, it pays rather well. Also, I don't have to stay in a hotel every other night and live out of a grip.( Wow, I've been doing that for almost 40 years, now). Since, I've got less than 4 years, I'm going to gut it out, rather than move again. By the way. You've invited me down several years ago to float/fish your corner of the state. I felt bad by not taking you up on it. But, I had very little free time, back then. Does the offer still stand. What streams to you fish?

Thanks everybody for your input. It really helps. Al, I've read a lot of your past posts and as usual they are very informative. The Big river sounds like it might be worth a try. I always go midweek to avoid the crowds. These trips are my escape from human contact. I love the solitude of the Ozark streams. Catching smallies helps, too. I really enjoyed the float/wade fishing that I did in the Jeff. City area. The only problem, since I was alone, I had to return where I started. So, I was very limited on the amount of water covered. They were mostly smaller streams and other than the local swimming holes, I had the whole stream to myself. Anyway, I appreciate all info and will be reading more past posts on the streams that I haven't covered yet. Since I'm getting older and my trips are limited to only one or so a year.(haven't been in 6 years). I want to experience as many different streams as possible. As I have said in the past. You guys that are fortune enough to live within driving distance of these streams, don't know how lucky you are. I just wish I would of discovered river smallie fishing 30 or 40 years ago. ... wader

Jbooth24, you never posted again as to whether you made the trip or the results of the trip. I'm interested in any input on the Beaver. I'm trying to do a few off the beaten path floats this year. Any info would be appreciated

Not yet. Still got 3 yrs. 7 mos. 3 weeks and 3 days, left. But, whose counting.

Thanks for your input. I realize that no stream is a slam dunk on any given day, especially with spring weather. The Black and Mineral Fork sounds like more of hit and miss streams. I'm looking to float a stream that I haven't floated before. I guess I should list the streams that I've floated. Sugar, Elk, Big and Little Piney, Gasconade, Meramec, Big and Little Niangua, Huzzah, Curtois , Osage, Tavern, Maries, N. and S. Moreau, Jacks Fork, and Current. I haven't floated the Black, Mineral Fork, Big River, St. Francis, James, Castor, Bryant's Creek, and 11point. And several others that I can't think of. Any suggestions on the Big River , Bryant's creek, 11 point, or any others listed above? I'm planning on May. Weather permitting. Of course catch and release only.

Due to a job relocation, I've been out of game as far as smallie fishing, for over 6 yrs.. Cabin fever is hitting me real hard, right now. So, I started reading past posts. Which has led to planning a smallie float/wade trip for spring. I'm still up in the air, as to which stream. I'm wanting to try a stream that I haven't tried yet. I've narrowed it down to the Black, Big, and Mineral Fork. Possibly a combination. Also, I haven't been on the 11 point, North Fork, and the St. Francis. I have an Old Town solo canoe(trolling motor if needed) that I'll probably be using, but I'd have to have a shuttle service or just use one of their canoes. The Mineral Fork sounds very interesting and so does the Black. I'm open to about anything, as long as I can catch smallies. Size or numbers, I'm open to float, wade, or combination. I've been reading past posts on all these streams but, many are old and would like to have any input or ideas. As far as rivers, different sections, outfitters or just wading. My drive would be anywhere from 5 to 8 hrs. each way. So, to make it worthwhile I'd do a two-day or a couple of one day floats. Possibly 3 days.

No, I haven't read it. I'll find it though. I totally agree with what you are saying about the war beginning along the Mo/Kan, border. I'm no one to be giving history lessons. But, This is how I see the beginning of the border war, in a nutshell: The Missouri Compromise, was just that. A compromise to balance the slave states and free states. The gov't, was trying to keep the peace, without offending anyone. A tough balancing act. Missouri was deemed a slave state and around the same time, Maine was accepted into the union and deemed a free state. Then came the Kansas/Nebraska act. It was meant in spirit, to be that Missourians would move to Kansas. Iowans to Nebraska. Then Kansas would be a slave state and Nebr. a free state. .... Well, it didn't work out quite to well. A lot of "Free Staters", from Indiana and Ill. moved to Kansas. Not enough Missourians moved to Kansas, to counter them. Then the fight was on for Kansas. That's when the border war started. The rest is history.

. I'm an Independent. So, if either side wants my vote then the have to deserve it. I split the fence on many issues. I don't want to get into a political debate. But, .... The right has spun the Obama Care quite a bit. I was listening to Romney. He ran down Obama Care . Then stated that he'd keep all the "good" things in it. When he was done talking he was basically for every bit of it. Except, for paying for it. Obama care has kept my 20 yr. old son my insurance. I still have to pay the premiums but, it's cheaper than him getting his own. Most employers don't want to hire someone full time. because they'd have to pay for ins. Instead he's been "part time" for 2 years now, working 30 hr.s a week. Something that little know is. That big business was the first to start talking about having the Gov't insure people. Because the didn't want to pay for the insurance. They were talking that way back under Reagan. The RR that I work for has been at our union and the Gov't. about it for over 20 years.

No. it was the "Northern Railroad". It possibly became the Katy. Not sure. Bloody Bill, raided the town of Centrailia, Mo., for supplies. While there he found out that a passenger train was due to come in. So, they hung around to rob it. When they took control of the train, there were around 24 Union troops on leave, aboard. They captured them, executed, then mutilated the bodies, of all but one. He was a Sgt. They kept him for a prisoner exchange that never happened. Andreson and his men were tracked down and killed soon after the raid. I'm a bit of a Civil War foamer, too. I grew up in Nebr. So, the history of the war (history is written by the victors), was a bit skewed toward the northern side. Also, Kansan's side as well. After moving to Missouri, I started doing some research. I found that the North and Kansan Militia (Red Legs), committed as many if not more atrocities. In fact, little know that the Quantrill's raid on Lawrence was in retaliation for the Kansan's rail on Osceola, Mo. In fact, it was modeled after it. Sorry, I could go on forever.

I seen the pic and just had to comment. I'm an engineer for the U.P.R.R. Been RR'ing for 33 years now. About 6 years ago, I started running from KC to Jeff. city. We connect with crews out of St. Louis, at Jeff. City. They cross the Gasconade. I've heard them talking about the engine. This is the first time I've seen a pic of it. Ironically, several years ago, I was surfing the web for more info on this sub-division (I'm not a foamer). When I came across this article. I printed it and related the story to several of my co-workers. ( I guess that does make me a foamer). Anyway, I stumbled on quite a bit of history, since. I originally hired onto the Missouri Pacific, so it became more personal. Below is a small sample of history what I ran across on the UP/MOP in Missouri. 1) Many major battles of the Civil War in Missouri, took place all up and down the Missouri river, along the River Subdivision, between Jeff. and KC. 2) On July 7, 1876, Jesse James robbed a Missouri Pacific passenger train near Otterville, Mo. on the Sedalia Sub. They got $15,000. 3)The 1904 Worlds Fair (St. Louis) train wreck near Warrensburg. It was a head-on collision that killed 30 people. Just to name a few.

ok, thanks for the info

How to you rig the zoom super fluke swim baits? I was just gong to put it on a jighead. The regular super flukes I rig weightless on a worm hook.

Been wanting to try the river below Vienna. The only problem is, I'll need a shuttle. Othewise, I'll have to paddle or wade back.

My go-to bait is the Yum Dinger or Bass Pro Stick-O. Both are Senko type baits. I do like to experiment, though. A few years ago, at the suggestion of several on this forum, I started using spinnerbaits, sammys, and a varety crankbaits. All with good success. Ironically, I just purchased a pack of the Zoom super flukes swim baits. I haven't tried them yet. Can't wait to try.

Some people want to jump out of an airplane for thrills, I rather take my chances with the sharks.They are after all, misunderstood.

Blacktip reef sharks. They didn't intentionaly bump me, I was just in the way. As far as they were concerned, I was just a rock or something. They were totally focused on the food. Also, the females were pregnant, and very plump. They were larger than the males.

Here's an odd duck I ran across a couple of boys doing some "creek wading", earlier this year. I've seen smallies in variety of shades, but this one was a first.

I put a new twist on fishing, while in the Bahamas. I thought I'd try usng myself as bait. Actually, I went on a shark feed dive with Stuart's Cove's Dive Center. I was "bumped" 7 times. What a hoot!

Thanks guys, for your thoughts. I want to make my floats as comfortable as possible. I think the seat will be the only major modification that I'll make.

Thanks for the info guys. I searched the site and didn't find much. You've given me a few ideas to go along with with a few I got from you tube. I'll probably change the seat, too. wader