Chief Grey Bear

If that was the case, then you wouldn't have to use the term, "...came rushing in to proect the MDC" That is the classic admission to what everybody claims they are not doing.

And that is just it. This shouldn't be political at all. But this thread reads just as if it is Congress. Never willing to work with all involved for the common goal.

So maybe that's what they need to do. Suck them off and get a lobbyist. You're not doing anything. Maybe you can help them out.

I'm not aware of any agency that manages for what it could have been 80 years ago. I don't know why an agency would attempt to manage to see if it could replicate what the resource MAY have been 80 years ago. We need to manage for the future. We will never see those days again. Or it may be much the same today. You cite major studies as the baseline for your argument against the MDC which is flawed. Not only has the MDC continually monitored stream resources but, major universities and other institutions have conducted indepth studies of many stream species including smallmouth and shared the final analysis with them over the last century. Some of which you can find online with some indepth research. In regards to your "HIGH FENCED" experiment, let's just say that it does indeed produce a 20 inch fish or two. Then what? Are you going to want this artificial fishery implemented across the state? Are you going to force others that may not share your greed to forgo their enjoyment of the resources to so that you may or may not catch one on a stream you may or may not fish? Now I'm not against some positive regulations that will increase the possibility of catching a larger number of larger fish but, you have to remember that the MDC has to manage for the resouces first and those that use the resources second. And the user section can also be broke down into sections. Mainly the C&R and C&K crowds. Though I belong to the C&R crowd I do understand that the C&K crowd also plays a vital role in the overall health of the stream by harvesting. What the MDC is charged with, and with our help, not ridicule, is developing a management plan that is conducive to the resource, the C&K and C&R crowd. And it can be done. But there will have to be some give on both sides. It will never be accomplished with the type of rhetoric we are seeing here. Continually berating the MDC does nothing to further the cause. It has never worked for Larry Dablemont and it won't work for the MSA and its members.

Classic scene!! Thanks for posting! How much are they trading for?

I don't disagree with you at all Brian. But it is the local judges setting the fine amounts and collecting. And like you and many others here, I get a burr in my saddle when any fishing violation is either dropped or greatly reduced in the amount of the fine. I too would like to see fishing violations fines increase. And substantially so. But again it is not the MDC that sets the fines or collects the money. Their hands are somewhat tied. It is our local prosecutors and judges that we have to put the heat on in this situation. I just don't think that they value the fishing like we do.

Yeah come on down and get started. You and your posse are gonna be here a while so you might look at getting a change of address. Plus I can't wait to see this science you're going to expose!

I'd sure love to go fishing with you some day. And just to clarify, the monies are divided among the school districts in the county of which the violstion occurs. Not to the county itself.

And it will remain low on the list until it is shown that gigging is decreasing the stream population to a point that it is harming the resource. And you are a hell of a long ways from that. Stream populations are very healthy. So why waste your limited resources on a problem you don't have?

I don't think anyone is mad but you. Nobody has made this discussion personal but you. But you have peaked my curiosity, without any form of help, tell us where the money goes.

The MDC does not set the fines. They don't even get the money.

You are aware fish hide in places you can't see but electricity does? You are aware that they already have regulations in place for gigging Game fish? You are aware that they do in fact catch gingers that have violated those said regulations? You are aware that it's insane to expect them to catch everone of them?

You mean like all the comments towards the MDC? And I am curious, what was the MDC supposed to do about those allegedly gigged fish? It appears that what ever happened to those fish was not recent as in hours or days. Do you know for sure that was the location of the alleged incident? You know those smallmouth in the east migrate. Were they supposed to arrive to the scene of the alleged crime and collect data? What data? What did you want them to do? How do you know they didn't?

Started a little trouble tonight

Finally!!! As I have stated before, the Ozarks are just not going to produce a plethora of 20+ inch smallmouth in streams. Hell, even the Ozark lakes don't grow very many 20 inchers. And they have a much easier life! Enjoy the ones you do catch. They are a special treat. Kudos to you Dan for posting this!!

Huge Dark Chocolate fan! In fact I really don't care much for Milk Chocolate. If you have an Aldi's near by, the have a dark chocolate imported from Germany that is one of the best!

A simple Grilled Chicken Quesadilla this evening.

What's going on with the avatars??

Something good is happening!

I love the KC City Market!! That place rocks!!!

Sadly ponds are about the only place you can find frogs now.

I just throw the whole onion on. I leave the papery outside on and remover after grilling. Talk about changing the flavor of an onion! You would have no idea how sweet they are!! im going to try your way too! On the cabbage I used to fill mine with BBQ sauce. This one here I filled with bacon drippings.

If you only have half a head, you may want to try it this way instead. Just quater it, or in your case, half it. Salt and pepper it and lay a strip of bacon across it. Wrap in foil and grill till soft.

Chicken Cabbage Taters

Ahhh Maull's! A St. Louis icon!