Chief Grey Bear

Good job MC. Looks like you had a great guide today. But aren't the guides supposed to let you catch more fish?

I may have read already but, what location are you planning on? If I was to join, and if I were to get some to join with me, would it be possible to hold meetings in Monett?

Nobody is kicking anyone in the nuts. Except you two self appointed forum police Nancy Boys.

Yeah, I don't understand this one bit! Outspoken??? Well I guess you could have worse. But in reality, though I have a couple on this forum dogging me for my comments, I feel that if there weren't people expressing opinions, weather critical or constructive, it would be the same ol', same ol', herd mentality. Without such disscussion it would be very hard to move forward and grow. Dang it, I am about to go against everything I told myself and pull the trigger on this thing. Keep doing what you are doin cause you are about to wear me down.

No it isn't. That is the point I was trying to make to Wayne but you see how it got all twisted around. Rest assured that you have not made an enemy out of me. Just because I don't agree does not mean that I don't like someone or their cause. There are some on here that read way to much in what is actually printed. I could name a couple but it should be very easy to figure out.

Well Al I will say that post buckled me at the knees. That was probably the best post that would make me want to join. I am 100% with you on the access problem. In fact I developed a plan to address that last summer. But as you say one individual probably won't get much done. So on that front, I could almost be convinced to send some due money as I do believe that to be a very worthy cause! But let me ask this. If I did join and if I became very active in the SWMO chapter, I am still not in agreement with the direction the Mother Chapter is taking in regards to regulation changes. How would we address this conflict among chapters?

Looks like we must have been posting at the same time. I didn't see your post. My bad Matt. I guess I missed the part about being a member to join the forum. Sounds reasonable to me. I am glad we see eye to eye on your first sentence. Buzz and I don't agree all the time either. Even though he is always wrong , he tells me, "You ain't changing my mind and I anin't changing yours!" This may sound a little funny but even though we don't agree some things about the MSA, I will agree it is a good cause. And if you don't mind my frankness, I will still contribute with opinions, thoughts and ideas, even though I may not contribute with my due money.

eric, I believe if you look back at my post, you will see that I have never belittled what they have done.

This is the response I recieved from the MSA: Chief Grey Bear, Regrettably, your application to join Missouri Smallmouth Alliance has been rejected. Regards, The Missouri Smallmouth Alliance Team. I think I am starting to see the trend here. And so are others. Anyone who questions or has a different point of view is a bad apple and must be expelled or not allowed to join. That is ok though. I am not upset about it.

Well, TU has actually taken land owners to court over land use practices. And won. The MSA has this for March: WhenWednesday, Mar 17, 2010 WhereMDC's Powder Valley Nature Center (map) Description YOU, and two of your favorite baits are the featured speakers this month. Long-time member Steve Weick will lead the discussion about where, when and how we all like to use our two favorite baits. Bring a notebook and be prepared to learn something new.

With all respect siusaluki, my only sources of info was the MSA web page, forum, Bronze Back News, and postings from MSA members here. I think the MSA has made it very clear that they don't care for my due money or input. I got my rejection letter for joining the forum from them today. Its nice to know that Matt and company can post about you and you can not either agree with them or defend yourself. But let me make a couple of other points. I don't believe that the smallmouth are in the peril that some members of the MSA would have you believe. Postings by the "guru" may be some evidence of that. Al's year end report wasn't to shabby either. I don't believe that the answer to bigger smallmouths lies soley in changing the regs. I think most MDC biologist will agree that there are many other factors, as I have stated before, that play role and must all come togther to accomplish that. But lets just say that the stars all aligned, and everything was perfect and we had the "World Class Fishery", wouldn't that make our streams more crowded with anglers from all over the US? Is that what we really want? An increase in fishermen crowding out waterways. Would that make it "World Class"? I think the streams in SW Mo are already world class in that I can fish all day and not see anyone. I can catch plenty of fish. And I can catch a few fish every trip that anyone would be proud to reel in. And the scenery is beyond words. Anyway, that is just some ramblings. I mean no harm.

I thought long and hard about coming Gary. Let me level with you on a few things that are my opinions/thoughts or what have you about the MSA. This is not a slam on the MSA, its leaders or its members. When Matt first showed up recuiting members, I looked for a reason to join. I couldn't find one. I looked over the web site and did not like what I saw. I didn't see anything that looked to me like something was really being done to improve the smallmouth. What I came away with from the site was that for my money I could put up some signs, work a stream team and do some fishing with other members. To me, that is a bass club not an organization that is truely fighting for the smallmouth bass. I read that the MSA works with such oganizations as the MDC and CFM and others but it never states what type of work is done. I look at the calander of up coming events, and I see fishing trips, guest speakers, and the such. I just don't see much accomplished for an organization that is 18 years old and is comparing itself to Trout Ulimited. I just don't see the MSA as being in anywhere near the same league of TU. Not yet anyway. It can be though. I have made a number of suggestings for the MSA that I truly think would make it a stronger more viable organization. But when I read the MSA forum, I see this: "One of the items on our to do list is creating some signage for our 2010 St. Louis Boat and Sports show booth." I really thought I would h ave saw some new zest and zeal and maybe even taking this to a new level. But it just doesn't look like it. I hoped I would see a call to the membership to come together to brainstorm on some ideas and maybe discuss those that had already been presented. Anyway, I know I was pretty frank with this post but like I said at the begining, I am not slamming the MSA, it is just some of my observations. And maybe I am seeing it all wrong. I am really one your allies not an adversary.

Hey don't worry about it guy's. Better to be safe than sorry. There will be better fishing days ahead.

If I am reading correctly, four people is all that showed up? I hope I am reading that wrong. Was there any from the forum?

Yep, ye ol' honey wagon rolled through again dumping its load of finned swimming turds for all of us peasant wanna be trout fisherman. I was so grateful that I set my Oncorhynchus mykiss staute, carved from bone by a Native American, upon a stump and kneeled facing east to offer my humble greatfullness for having this great act bestowed upon this crappy little worthless creek.

Buzz and I were there. We spent about an hour or so at the lower end. A couple of corn fly chuckers showed up as well as another regular long rodder. We were just fixing to head down below but we decided to head to some other waters. I ended the day with 6 trout and two google eye and was home by 11:00.

You can find some great fishing there in the summer. As for the stocking, I believe that it is stocked periodically through out the year. A good rule of thumb is that they will stock just before a holiday. Not always though, but you will find fresh stockings a few times during the summer.

Sounds like a date PC. Here is how the weather seems to be shaping up at this point: Friday - Rain/Snow mix. Looks like it will be light. Saturday - Rain early if at all. Sunday - Cloudy 40*. Early morning temp. in the mid to high 20's. Monday - Rain/Snow mix. At any point, I will show up. I am thinking about tossing in a baitcaster or spinning rod and maybe be hitting a spot or two on Shoal. You two up for a little of that?

Not sure I would go so far to make a blanket statment like that. That covers alot of people and some of those may just surprise you. I do think it is the TONE in which those reading the statement is what is misinterpreted.

Not far. But I didn't start down below the confluence very far either. I think I may know what you are thinking and I too am curious to see how far down they are. Report for Sunday now is rain/snow mix. Ollie, you got any chili you can bring? What time is everyone showing up?

That is freaking hilarious!!!!!!!!!

Hickory has a closed season on trout from November to March. And like black bass on unimpounded waters from March to May, you may fish for them but not possess them. But like you say, other than the parks, that is the only water that I know of that is closed.

With all due respect, I hope like hell you are wrong. I have had about enough of this weather! I am so freaking ready for warmer weather!

I'll give that a try someday Gav. Now when ya gonna get that cooking show?

And that is all that matters in my book OTF. If it works for you, then by all means, keep with it. I don't buy into a lot of the hype myself. Like Al posted just above, I, myself, don't buy into alot of that about tippet and trout. I do just fine with a spinning rod and crank with a snap. Now I am inclined to think if trout were that dang picky, they wouldn't even look my way. That is just my thought. And I am not going to say anyone is wrong and I don't know if anybody can really say what is going through the mind of a fish. We just know what seems to work for us. All I can do is share what has worked for me and let someone try it if they want.