Chief Grey Bear

Last year we had a cold spring and I waited longer than I normally do. It took about that long for the weather and water to get together. So far this year it is coming together on time.

I think I may have bumed into you one time on Crane. Aren't you Richard Cranium???

Hey, Cricket, can you confirm this early that you will becoming if I move it to the Sunday 17th??? As soon as he does that FT57, I make it the 17th.

You boat would be great on there. Great! I was hoping you could make it again. We always have an open seat or two. Shall I call her???

I don't care. I don't forsee any objections. Oh now, you can sneak away for a few hours can't ya??? Hope to have you again Zack.

Hey guess what??? It is time again for the annual Spring Float! Yippie! OK, OK, so maybe it is not all that exciting but, it is one heck of a good time. It is a great time to meet those from this forum and get in a great float to start the year. I hope to see all of you again that have come to this and I hope for some new faces to attend too. This time though, I think I may change it a little though. FT57 expressed a desire to see some different water last year and I will accomodate him a little. I think what I will do is we will still meet at the MDC Limekiln access, then shuttle down stream a little and do a float that we call Pipeline. It is a nice 4-6 hour float some really great fishing. In fact it is the same float that I just posted a report about. There are some really nice quality fish on this stretch. And a person stands a really great change of catching all three speices of black bass. Weather permitting, I am looking at hosting this shindig on Sunday, April 17. So come one, come all! Mark your calaner because you know you won't wan't to miss this! UPDATE If we have to cancel due to weather or high water, I will reschedule for May 15. Due to other fishing and hunting trips, that is my next open date. We will meet at the MDC Limekiln access on Shoal Creek between 8-9am. From there we will shuttle to he put in point. We pack as many canoes and on my trailer as we can. I think we ended up with about 8 canoes and yaks. We will only take what vehichles we have to. We will leave the others at Limekiln. After the float, we will shuttle back to Limekiln to wrap up the day. We usually throw a big feed. Do you guys still want to do that??? http://extra.mdc.mo.gov/documents/area_brochures/7811map.pdf http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=neosho+mo&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Neosho,+MO&gl=us&ei=fgKNTfrUA5GbtwfJzO2tDQ&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CCIQ8gEwAA On the Google map, at the intersection of Limekiln and Elwood Jct, turn north and cross the RR tracks. After crossing the tracks and before crossing over the river, turn right, into the MDC Limekiln access. FishinCricket smallmouthjoe Zack Hoyt flytyer57 Trout Commander Hopper Wheatenheimer wily Buzz woodman Smalliebigs Flysmallie drew03cmc duckydoty Stoneroller This is an impressive list. We still have room and time for more to join us! We always have a tailgate feed at the end. I got a request the other day for Brats. How does that sound to everyone???

OK that was any easy fix. I have discovered that the PM box is not popping up where it used to. I know have to scroll down to the bottom of the page. Problem solved.

Now that is funny! I guess it is on my end. I can get them ok, I just can't send one. Now what did I do with that pigeon????

Is anyone else having trouble PM'ing another member???

I almost called you Friday morning. I figured it was too short of notice. Plus I figured you might still be in bed. I was down the road from you.

Thanks guy's. Hey give me a holler anytime. I will be more than happy to get in a little Shoal Creek action with you. Have you fished it much??? Float or wade??

Yeah it was. I retract it. I will still bring a canoe though. Sweet! Its a date then. Uh....when??

Do I need to bring a canoe? I hate to waste time near water without fishing it. Maybe Kerr to Cox??

Wow, it has been awhile since I have posted a report. Let's see if I still remember how. Early in the week I got to watching the weather. They kept saying it was looking like rain for Saturday but that Sunday would be great. Well, the water is still running high from rains the other week so with Friday still looking like a great day, high in the mid 70's and pure sun, and since Dylan was out of school, I knew I needed to hit the river. Otherwise, it would be another wasted weekend. And then Thursday the weatherman drops the bomb and says it looks like a cold front and rain moving in Friday afternoon. WHAT??? Where did this come from?? Well, I decided that I had been thinking about this all week and my brain was wired for fishing, not working! I figured I could beat the rain and cold and still get in some fishing. So, fast forward a little and it is now 9:00am and we begin our journey. Cloudy, cool, 60* and dropping, high water, and now a slight breeze is starting to blow and all I wore was a long sleeved shirt. Perfect! I wouldn't have it any other frigging way! We did pack the rain suits just in case too. I was really hoping the fish would cooperate. I mean, I am going through all of this for them you know. But I don't think they see it that way. We hit some really good looking water, spots that I know hold fish and we couldn't buy a bite. I tried just about all of my go to baits. We both felt the water and it felt really warm for this early in the season. It actually felt warmer than the air. I tell Dylan, that I think the coming cold front has shut them down and today may be a wash. As far as fishing goes anyway. I had tried all my various tadpollys, wiggle warts, soft craws,(I did catch one small 12incher on this)and jig and pig. Just couldn't get anything. About 2 hrs into the trip, Dylan, ties on a Rebel Craw. The big version. Deep Diver. The one that is Lobster Red. I didn't see him put it on but, WHAM! Fish on baby! Nice fish too! Well over a pound and a half. I tell him good job and then he shows me what he caught it on. Wow, alright buddy. A few minutes later, WHAM! Another large fish! So I start thinking, they must be keying in on the red color. I get my box out and start looking. My first thought was that I have Red Coachdog Tadpolly. Nope. Its at home hanging on the wall. I don't have one frigging red anything. The closest thing I have is a Tadpolly with a red head and white body. I make a few cast and then it hits me. Maybe they are keying in on the crawdad?? Yeah I know, just a few short weeks ago I was posting how I don't have any luck with the large size Rebel Craw and I had all but quit throwing them. Well, I put one one and WHAM! Now dad is also putting some fish in the boat as well. Well, that lasted all of a couple of hours. The front hit and the bite stopped. Dead! I did manage to pic up one final fish, a really nice Kentucky at the take out. Thank goodness Dylan put that craw on. And it was probably my most least favorite color! And it produced. He outfished me this trip by far. And that is just fine with me. I think sometimes the teacher taught well enough that the student does the teaching. This was a great example. Here is a little porn for your viewing pleasure.

I guess I have never seen the sign. Hell I have never seen a sign on any lake that said "Lake starts here".

It will begin and end at the "normal pool" level. Which is 915'??? The problem is, that magical line is not defined such as crossing the state line. There should be a map roughly showing the normal pool level. Just make sure you don't keep or possess any black bass on the up stream side of that line, which I would give plenty of room for error, and you should be fine.

That map sucks! How did they come up with that?? It's only 50 miles from Neosho to Springdale. Well under the 60-90 miles. Don't want the Missouri boys giving some lesson's????? I sure as hell ain't fishing the Elk or Big Sugar in June! Sorry Smallie, looks like I'll be sitting this one out.

I just happen to read in the paper today, in a totally unrelated story, that the state of Missouri averages 1 officer for every 1000 citizens. Pretty much inline with your complaint.

It took 15 months. Not exactly rammed down your throat as they would like you to believe. Plenty of time to have your aids read it for you. Hey, would you like to talk about the no-bid contracts to rebuild issued to you know who within days of the occupation of Iraq??? The mention of the Tea Baggers was not in regard of the MDC sales tax. It was inregards to the Mt. Lions. But like the Tea Baggers, we recognize the spin.

Uhhh yeah. The right is as pure as the driven snow. I won't mention the radio talking heads of the right. But have you been paying attention to what is going on in Wisconsin??? Especially the republican senator calling the protesters SLOBS???? But other than that, thanks. Oh, and no need to apologize.

Yeah, happy birthday to all.

Not really. It makes only a portion. The Departments budget represents less than 1% of the entire states budget and no state general revenue is received. The three largest sources of revenue for the Department of Conservation are the Conservation Sales Tax (59%), hunting and fishing permit sales (21%), and Federal reimbursement (14%). As it is written, the MDC can not ever recieve money from the General Fund. Actually the vast majority are in favor. There are a few noise makers though. Kinda tea bagger like. Only to those that can't understand and refuse to learn.

You can get all the rulers you want for free from the MDC.

Ha, that I what keep telling him. I am not sure at this point in time in his life, he believes me. I know that someday when he has kids, he may understand. I just may take you up on the trip. How often do you hit the Rock??? Thinking of taking ya on a float and showing a little of the action over here.

I seem to remember debate on this for about 15 months. Not in chambers but, in the media. Maybe one side of the isle should have spent the camera time, on the floor. And 15 months is plenty of time to have your aids read if for you.