Chief Grey Bear

So what was your point about muzzle loader in dec?

A few years ago CD and I were making our way down from the mill. We rounded one bend that had a backwater area. Conservatively at least 100 mallards took flight. It was an awesome event. If you know when to catch it, Capp's is a great place to duck hunt.

Muzzle loaders aren't restricted to Muzzle season.

Yeah he mentioned them too. Sorry I forgot it. About that "still" fishing. It seems that was mostly done after camp was set up for the night for cat fish.

Word on the street is they caught them on minnows and night crawlers.

I have a book written by Ted Sare who was a guide for Jim Owen in the 40's. A great read if you can still find one Ted mentioned the Peck bait often. In fact, one story he tells, he mentioned that Mr. Peckenpaugh, the originator of the bait, came to Branson for a float, as he did on many occasions. On this trip though he happen to ask the guide if he could make the bait better. The guide said to put a guinea feather on it. Soon after that they came with feathers. Other favorite plugs mentioned besides the Peck were jitterbug, paw paw, a hawk. The latter two were not described and I haven't researched them to see. Well he did mention the paw paw looked like a paw paw. Which would be of a banana shape. The fishing with minnows as you describe, they called still fishing.

There are an occasional deer hunter. One guy I ran into on my way out had a fly rod and a muzzel loader on his back. I have hunted it myself got deer, ducks and squirrel. I have seen some drive by dove hunters, shooting then off the line. Basically, when it comes to hunting the area, you'll have far more fishermen than hunters. It's not much if a place to hunt. Other than a squirrel here and there, the hunting really sucks. Meant to say FOR deer, ducks and squirrel. I have never shot a deer there.

That is what I have. I got the 20/6. If it performs like I am used with the Crystal Fireline, and all indications are it will, I am done with mono for good.

I've been known to catch trout in Crane as well as some other creeks using Crystal Fireline. I've caught a ton of smallmouth with it too on Big Sugar, Elk and the like. I do think I am going to drop the Crystal and go to Suffix on the spinning rod as well.

Did you see any difference in catch rates this weekend? And there was a definite handicap for the guy in back.

Yeah but I feel bad about it. It used to be a really cool creek. I got another spot this time. Really cool 4-5 hour float. Bring your camera too!

Funny you mention that. I told him the story of our trip and how it totally changed. I still owe you a trip over that one.

All braid all the way! It's the only way to roll!

I'll have to ponder this one awhile. LOL

I don't either. I don't care for those that fill freezers with those from the shorter end of the scale either. But I don't think this is even remotely close to the case in this situation.

I'm not a fan of keeping bass or many other fish from rivers but, I think if he had meal of smallmouth, the JF wouldn't even know it. How many do we think he is going to eat anyway? I put my money on two at best.

When you study research data, growth rates among all three black bass species in Missouri are relitivly close to one another in rivers.

Don't recall him saying he was going to eat a trophy sized fish. With trophy being a relitive term.

I'm the bottom of the 9th?

Naw. Let'er run. I think it has been very harmless so far. Funny to read how some really think.

I saw some just today at A to Z in Alma AR. $20 all camo colored. I really liked the looks of them.

Tell her not to take it personally. I am just not a fan of the yak. Others are very passionate about them. I like packing all the other stuff everyone mentioned too. I knew though, that you were limited on room and were only going to be out over night and that your emphasis was on fishing not camping. I think some missed that. Have a great time, give us a report, and post a bunch of pics!

Well not everyone can ID ducks as well as you or I can and that is the reason and the reason is not flawed. I understand what you are saying but fisherman miss ID bass and it is in their hand. And your last sentence in the first paragraph is why. And the plug rule absolutely holds water.

It is not flawed by the departments, it because of the hunters you mention. As you alluded to in your earlier I assumed you were referring to hunters in Minnesota and other northern "breeding ground" states. The issue is not hunting mortality on BWT; it has more to do with the presence of other species that often outnumber BWT on the breeding grounds. It is difficult for hunters to ID "brown ducks" on the breeding grounds, and there is concern about nontarget mortality. So the FWS has not allowed a special teal season in states that are considered "production states". I don't think anybody has real data on what the non-target mortality would be, but that is the primary issue.

I don't disagree. But I float on a 17 ft barge too. Not a play boat. I have a ton more room to haul stuff. I love cooking over a campfire too. I can't decide if I like dinner or breakfast better. They are both awesome from the gravel bar. There nothing better than a campfire. But over here wood is everywhere along the river. Any gravel bar will have plenty for a fire without having to trespass. That ain't so true east of highway 65.