Brian Jones

I wondered if there was a connection there Jerry.

Posting as a FYI only............ Conservation Commission names Sara Parker Pauley as Director of the Missouri Department of Conservation A Missouri native, Pauley brings a wide range of public and private sector experience to the position. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Conservation Commission has selected Sara Parker Pauley as the ninth director of the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), effectiveNov. 1, 2016. “As a lifelong conservationist, hunter, and outdoorswoman, Sara Parker Pauley appreciates and understands the value of Missouri’s fish, forest, and wildlife resources,” said Conservation Commission Chair Dave Murphy. “Sara has a breadth of experience and a proven track record of success to lead the Department.” “I look forward to this opportunity the Commission has entrusted me with,” Pauley said. “I began my career working for the Department and I look forward to working with the staff, dedicated volunteers, and committed partners to lead this agency into the future.” MDC protects and manages the fish, forest, and wildlife resources of the state, and provides opportunities for citizens to use, enjoy, and learn about these resources. Pauley replaces Robert Ziehmer, who resigned in July to work in the private sector. She is the first female director in the Conservation Department’s 79-year history. "Sara Parker Pauley is an excellent and well-qualified choice as Conservation Director," said Gov. Jay Nixon. "I've had the great pleasure to hunt and fish with Sara several times, and I've seen first-hand her respect and love of the outdoors. With her significant management experience, she is poised and prepared to take the best state conservation department in the U.S. to even greater heights, especially in getting even more young people involved in the outdoors." Since December 2010, Pauley has served as the Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Pauley previously worked as a project manager for D.J. Case & Associates, a natural resources communications firm. She worked with federal and state agencies on policy development, marketing, and environmental compliance. From 2001 to 2005, Pauley served as the deputy director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. She also served as chief of staff to former Missouri House Speaker Steve Gaw. Pauley has been an executive committee and board member of the Conservation Federation of Missouri. She was a member of the board of the American National Fish & Wildlife Museum, where she served as director of conservation programs. She has published a number of articles on wildlife and natural resources management. A native of Columbia, Pauley received both her law degree and her bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri - Columbia, and did post-graduate studies in Australia as a Rotary Fellow. She was an instructor at the University of Missouri's School of Natural Resources, where she taught a course in natural resource policy and administration.

Wonder what Dee Thomas thinks about this?? http://bassfishingarchives.com/features/the-birth-of-the-flippin-stik-part-one http://bassfishingarchives.com/western/the-birth-of-the-flippin-stik-part-two

Camera has never jinxed me Pete. But I guess the stringer and "fish" cooler did......

Not necessary Tim. Considered it an addition to the conversation and not a hijacking.

Great fish Tim. Considered that stretch as well. But a few of the local butchers have really worked on that section this summer. Glad to see that one has eluded their baits.

I think he just has them trained so well they only bite his baits Mitch.. Almost picked that one Joe. But since I had all day free and it had been years since I'd floated the stretch I chose I decided to float it instead. I also hoped to bring home a mess of Spots to go with a bag of pond largemouth that need to be eaten. But that didn't happen either. Ended up with seven "keepers" so the day was not a total wash. But fickle is definitely an understatement. I had at least that many more on that came unbuttoned either at the canoe or on the way to the canoe; including a couple that would have been close to master angler size. Big fish of the day was my first keeper; a fifteen inch smallie that was caught the new fad top water in the hole at the access. Despite throwing it another two hours, that was the only keeper I caught on it. Aside from burying a treble in my thumb which I hope NEVER happens again, it was a good day. I only saw one other person in 9 hours, I floated a stretch of water that I hadn't been on in 15 years, and I got to wear a sleeveless t-shirt. No pics this time though......

Floated 8 miles through a section of water that I'll refer to as "Al's stretch". Long story short, I'm not Al..............................................

How much for the wart in your profile pic??

Great fish. Definitely a BBW........

Check with these people. Not affiliated with them and have never stayed there. But the place looks nice from the river. http://www.dixoncamping.com/

Here's a few concerns that I have. 1. This is bound to get challenged in federal court and, given the current political climate of our country, possibly end up in front of the Missouri or possibly United States Supreme Court. What do you think the outcome will be? Will it be upheld or will we lose both our new right to constitutional carry as well as our current conceal carry privilege? It's pretty obvious, based on the high court's decision on marriage, that state laws, election results, etc. mean very little in the current big scheme of things. 2. Once this takes effect, police can now assume- for their own safety- that everyone they pull over is potentially armed. Will this allow freedom for law enforcement to perform unreasonable searches? I am NOT anti-cop. But I am not too naive to think that some law enforcement officers aren't a little over zealous as well and might seize this as an opportunity to exercise their power 3. Though I have not taken the conceal carry class, I have several friends and family members that have. The one thing they have in common is that they ALL learned something about gun laws, gun owners rights, or gun safety, that they didn't know beforehand. I agree that there's no way that you can learn everything possible about carrying a firearm and using it to protect yourself in an 8 hour class. But the classes DO give people that have the right to carry but no training or experience doing so, some education about safe gun shooting and handling that they won't have to acquire after January 1st.

I've saved your trip recap in a word file in hopes that the Mrs. and I will someday have a free weekend to take this trip.

Checked with the head of our English department and he said that the answer, based on the word "had" is Zero. Of course this is from a person who lives south of Imperial Main so take it for what it's worth.....................

The fact that those guys are doing that tells me that catching big smallies doesn't happen for them very often. And if they continue to practice those habits, won't happen for them very much.

Forgive me for not asking sooner and I hope that this doesn't come off as snide or sarcastic, but.........how much river experience do you currently have? I mean have you been on a river in a boat before either motorized or paddle craft? Do you have an understanding of current and how it affects boat handling? Do you know how to read a riffle, etc.?? I would personally feel pretty crappy giving advice to a person who has zero river experience and that person having an accident as a result of the advice that was given.

You "might" be able to fish the Big at Rockford Beach; at least for a little ways. Almost certain that it takes a jet boat to get in the Big from the Meramec as well. Also forgive me for the correction, but the Big runs through Washington SP; not the Meramec.

You're not going to go very far anywhere on the Meramec this time of year without a jet. IMO, your best bet would be Hwy 30/River Rat at St. Clair. The river is mostly channelized there due to several years of gravel dredging and there is about a mile stretch (give or take) with decent habitat and fishing that a person could fish with the set up you have mentioned. I'm sure there are some places closer to STL where you'd be fine with that set up as well. But I am completely unfamiliar with the river below Allenton.

Heckuva of a largemouth; long armed or not.

I was thinking Freddy no-nose............................................. All kidding aside, glad you're ok.

Paid 600 for my nused pack back in February. But it didn't come with a trolling motor, seat, and dog............. Didn't feel like I got a real deal. But didn't feel like I got the shaft either. Ironically, mine came from the Springfield area as well.

http://fox2now.com/2016/09/02/judge-orders-missouri-to-pay-for-violations-in-drowning-death/ http://fox2now.com/2016/09/08/missouri-state-highway-patrol-whistleblower-files-lawsuit-claims-he-was-forced-out/

Those things look more PO'd than the lady at the license office on the last day of the month.

The road to Bell Chute IS gravel but isn't as long as the road into Paydown. The local is right about the running below Paydown. We were through there three weeks ago when the river still had a little water in it and the running was pretty sketchy then. As Seth mentioned previously, the easiest running on the river right now is probably the Bell Chute area; followed by the Pointer's Creek area. If you go up or down from Jerome, Paydown, or Rollins Ferry/89 you better know what you're doing.

Ask around at some welding shops. Also check with some river boat dealers. A lot of them do custom interiors in their jet boats. I'd imagine they could build you one out of aluminum.