Chief Grey Bear

I wouldn't say everyone.

Thanks for the info. I've got some production type questions that have always intrigued me that I would like to ask. I'll PM you.

You're a good dad!

They sold cups of pickle juice at the skating rink when I was a kid. $.35 for a large cup! This was the late 70's. Disco and bell bottoms were still king.

That always makes for a good day!

Exactly. I just like riling him up every now and then. As for Al, I've been trying to get him to accept my challenge to Indian leg wrestle on a gravel bar on the upper Turnback.

I literally laughed out loud at that. That is pretty spot on. No pun intended.

Do you have Logpech over there? I think you do. Beautiful darter!

This why you are probably best to stick in your little garage tinkering. I think Al and I enjoy this little back and forth discussion. It keeps us entertained.

I don't want to say, even though it sounds like I did, climate change is a driving factor but more of a contributing factor. I think there are a number of factors here.

I don't think they would. What would the criteria be and how would you study it? It would be impossible to prove one way or the other. I think what they will tell you is that conditions of the river have changed to more favorable for the Spots. This another that is impossible to prove hypothesis. Spots are native to the Ohio river system and the middle and lower Mississippi River. We've been on a warming trend since the last ice age, except for that little ice age, not a good time to be in Napoleon's army, and it has really accelerated in the last 30 some years. So they had to already be on the move to show up by your timeline. It's no doubt that dams have lowered the silt load on the Missouri River. Man has all but destroyed that river! So yeah I can buy into that version of man having somewhat of an effect on them. They all feed on the same diet. And for the most part, except for the Walleye, basically inhibit the same areas. Largemouth and catfish will also inhibit logjams, large rocks, ledges..etc....whatever provides shelter. They will all prowl the same areas during feeding times after dark. Granted, Smallmouth and Spots will inhibit somewhat more turbid waters than the others in some areas. But they all overlap. I've never heard of a shortage of any type forage in our steams. All pedator fish in the river have diets high in crawdads, sunfish, and various minnow species. Non of which are in any short supply in any stream. I would easily bet that for every pound of pedator fish in the stream in any given area, there is 100 times that amount in forage. And what drives that thought? How have they determined that Spots have decreased the largemouth population? How would Spots change the habitat?

Well, you're always welcome back!

That looks like it could be right here in Missouri!

Those look great! My son caught a male Studfish years ago. Stunningly gorgeous! He raised a Madtom for a couple of years.

I personally think the 10-12 inch would be the perfect size for frying! Young, tender and tasty! But 18+ brownies from the Meramec do make awesome fried fish steak sandwichs! I can eat a dozen of those at a time!

Very true and a valid point. But Missouri doesn't have carp parks or stock them in streams either. Trout, though non-native to Missouri, are native to the United States, and are classified as a Game Fish with seasons and limits.

Earlier this week I got a hankering to make some chicken and rice. Didn't really know how I was going to do it but knew a crockpot would be involved. So to skip a lot of useless info, I threw about 8 thighs in the crock and seasoned liberally with Cajun seasoning before heading out to work. Now the rice is a bit of a different story. I almost messed that up! I decided I wanted cook it in chicken stock to boost the flavor. So I bring it up to a boil, set the timer and go watch some tv. I start smelling it a few minutes later. It's really not registering just yet. I look at the timer I have with me and there is still 7 minutes to go. I get up to look anyway and good thing I did. It's bone dry and scorching! I didn't lower the temp to simmer! I left it boiling! I was able to save the bulk of it. I added some Cajun seasoning to it too. I thought I would never get the scorched rice out of the vessel, but I just let it soak in warm water for a bit and it slid right out! Lucky! So we eat on this for a couple of days. Then I get to thinking, I have some chicken stock left over in the fridge, why not make some Cajun chicken and rice soup? So I did. Woza!! That was the best!!! I'll skip the chicken and rice plate next time and go straight to the soup! Im sorry I don't have any pics. Just memories!

How did you determine this? I would like to read the data on this. This is a speculation theory. It can't be corroborated. But we do know that climate change has expanded the original territory of many birds, plants, fish, animals. But it can't be totally dismissed either. What about the Walleye? Largemouth bass? Goggle eye? Catfish? They are all competitors. There is more than enough forage for all to enjoy.

I answered it right here.

Remind me what your question was.

It's non-native so there are no regs for them. You can do what you want the Wonton rule does not apply.

Quite the editing. The wicked smart biologist at the MDC, as well as a few of us without an iota of real world river experience, know that the Spots are there to stay. You might as well get used to it. The enhanced regs are just to make you feel all giddy and googly inside that you are making a difference. But hey, there are still thousands of miles of rivers in the state that don't have any! Explore a little my world traveler! I don't like to disagree with you at all. You just make it impossible not too.

I don't think you even understand what you say. What you said was that Spots need to be eradicated and that no one with any real world experience on the river would think differently. So you just discredited anyone that doesn't subscribe to your rationale. What makes you the authoritative expert? What makes you the real world ambassador of river fishing?

There is no other way to interpret it.

I have yet see a bass of any race eat up with parasites. Must be the water you fish. But even at that, being afflicted with parasites is not an indication it does not belong there. Not sure how you came up with that. Seeing how I have no real control over which species of bass strikes my artificial forage presentation, I have to catch spots when I can so I have some semblance of accomplishment. I, as well as others that don't get our tampons all out of wack when we catch a spot, enjoy the fierce battle they produce. And of the three black bass species, they are by far the most beautiful. Yeah, real world experience. You are quite the ambassador for that.