Chief Grey Bear

If there is anything the right hates....it's fact. If there is anything the right likes to distort...it's fact. Did you happen to listen to any Conservative talk shows today? They have changed their whole motive. They're painting BP as the victim and the US as the villian. Got to just love ol Rush, Sean and the team. Actually Clinton wasn't elected until 1992.

I agree Glory. I noticed the flat water started just below Rymers. Great scenery, but the amount of fishing really goes down hill. The holes are few and far between. My next trip will be from Buck to Blue Spring or to Rymers. I will check out the Prongs too.

Really nice catch! I love fishing the smaller creeks. They always produce lots of smiles just like that one.

Oh crap. I forgot all about that. I stand happily corrected.

That is funny. If you were to look back at my posts on this very subject just months ago, they would literally read word for word what you posted in this whole thread. Only I was villainized and he wants to fish with you. But like they say, great minds think alike. Keep it up the good work.

I have to say that was something. It happened at the end of our float. We were at the Bay Creek access. While sitting there wating our turn, Dylan is having a blast swimming and horseing around. As we watch him, he is going under water and coming up for only a quick breath of air and right back down. He finally yells over to us that he is trying to catch some longears. Ha, good luck. A minute later he surfaces and yells, "I touched one!". He then come over and to us and grabs a minnow dip net. He says he is gonna get one. As he takes off running through the water KC yells, "I'll bet you a thousand dollars you can't." Luckily Dylan didn't hear him. Within just a few minutes, here he comes running with a longear that is as big or bigger than the little dip net. Ahh the memories.

I wish I was a wordsmith and would take the time to present a report that is worthy of the description that needs to be written for this excursion. But it would be like reading a novel. eric, yeah there were some nice fish caught. Dylan caught some in the 17 and 18 inch range. I have some pics on my camera but, at this time, I can't post them. As soon as I can, I will though.

Well we made it. And what a trip it was. KC arrived at my house around 10:00 Wed. morning. We started loading all of our grear and supplies and prepared to head east for the trip of the summer. This is Dylan's first trip outside of SWMO to float a stream. It is also is first multiple night trip on the river. We arrived in Mountain View about 2:00 or so. We check into the motel and unload a few things and head on out to take care of our shuttle. After taking care of the shuttle, KC takes us to see the Alley Spring Mill. Great looking place. We then head back towards the motel and check out some sites on the way. Back at the motel, we decide to head for the grocery store to pick up some grub for the trip. Boy did you guy's miss out on this trip. We got some great grub. We take the groceries back to the motel and ice them down. After messing with all that food, we decided we were hungry and got some pizza. After all of that and some weather watching on TV, we all crash around 9:00. We rise around 5:00 am Thursday morning. Breakfast is not served at the motel until 7:00 so we turn on the news and weather. everthing is looking good but there may be some pop ups. Nothing to really worry about. Friday shows to have some action that could come our way. We re-ice our food and then head to breakfast. It is not really much, waffles and cereal and OJ. But it sure taste good and will stick with us for a while. We head out and hit the put in at Blue Spring. We unload the grear and pack the canoes. By the time that is over, it is getting pretty warm and a good swim is in order. After that, we saddle up and head down stream. Dylan is quick to make the first strike on the brownies. And he would never look back. It was an all out assult on them. We stopped at Jam Up cave and went to have a peek. WOW! After a little fishing and a little swimming, we had a quick lunch and was off again. The first was a long one. We didn't stop to set up camp until just past Rymers. It was a beautiful spot just across from a large bluff on a very quiet section of water. While KC and I were setting up camp, Dylan continued to reel in brownies, goggle eyes and long ears. After a fine meal of grilled pork steak and baked taters, it was time to relax, sip a on good drink, and just enjoy the sites and sound of nature. Daylight soon turned to darkness and the lightening bug turned the entire bluff into the most beautiful spectical you could imagine. Just awesome. Just before turning in for the night, we saw what we were hoping was heat lightening. But some very thin high clouds moving in. Friday morning was as I had feared. Cloudy. And what worried me was that these were not clouds like with a pop up but, more like a long, slow, drawed out rain. And just as we had finished our breakfast of bacon, sausage, fried eggs(supplied by my own chickens), fried taters and onions and OJ, it began a light sprinkle. By the time we finished the dishes, it was raining a little harder. We waited about 45 minutes hopping it would move on. I didn't like the gravel bar we were on with it raining. I wasn't sure of how much rain, if any they had gotten up stream from us and told KC, lets just pack up and start moving. That way if it does flash flood, we will be in much better shape than where we were. He agreed and thought we just as well just float and do a little fishing until it stops. I liked that idea. So out comes the rain grear and down goes the tent. We get all packed up and head out. We didn't float very far until we had our rods out. And the bite was on. So we didn't really care about the rain. We just continued fishing like the sun was out. Finally around 2:00 it stopped. Slowly the clouds gave way to more and more sun. We made our way to Bee Bluff and found that to be our next camp. What a great place to camp too. We caught the tent set up and everything unloaded and started dinner. Tonight we dined on Ribeye steak and corn on the cob. Outstanding! This evening we have more time for relaxation and I take full advantage of it. It is a beautiful, cloudless sky and we are staring straight at Bee Bluff. I can't begin to descibe it. Our last morning on the creek begins in a picture perfect fog. Just breath taking. We forgo breakfast today in order to get a jump on the float and have a chance of getting on the river at a decent time. And it worked. We were off the water and packed up headed home by 12:10. That put us back at my house at just after 4:00. I'll have to put this on my list to do again next year.

Well we made it. And what a trip it was. KC arrived at my house around 10:00 Wed. morning. We started loading all of our grear and supplies and prepared to head east for the trip of the summer. This is Dylan's first trip outside of SWMO to float a stream. It is also is first multiple night trip on the river. We arrived in Mountain View about 2:00 or so. We check into the motel and unload a few things and head on out to take care of our shuttle. After taking care of the shuttle, KC takes us to see the Alley Spring Mill. Great looking place. We then head back towards the motel and check out some sites on the way. Back at the motel, we decide to head for the grocery store to pick up some grub for the trip. Boy did you guy's miss out on this trip. We got some great grub. We take the groceries back to the motel and ice them down. After messing with all that food, we decided we were hungry and got some pizza. After all of that and some weather watching on TV, we all crash around 9:00. We rise around 5:00 am Thursday morning. Breakfast is not served at the motel until 7:00 so we turn on the news and weather. everthing is looking good but there may be some pop ups. Nothing to really worry about. Friday shows to have some action that could come our way. We re-ice our food and then head to breakfast. It is not really much, waffles and cereal and OJ. But it sure taste good and will stick with us for a while. We head out and hit the put in at Blue Spring. We unload the grear and pack the canoes. By the time that is over, it is getting pretty warm and a good swim is in order. After that, we saddle up and head down stream. Dylan is quick to make the first strike on the brownies. And he would never look back. It was an all out assult on them. We stopped at Jam Up cave and went to have a peek. WOW! After a little fishing and a little swimming, we had a quick lunch and was off again. The first was a long one. We didn't stop to set up camp until just past Rymers. It was a beautiful spot just across from a large bluff on a very quiet section of water. While KC and I were setting up camp, Dylan continued to reel in brownies, goggle eyes and long ears. After a fine meal of grilled pork steak and baked taters, it was time to relax, sip a on good drink, and just enjoy the sites and sound of nature. Daylight soon turned to darkness and the lightening bug turned the entire bluff into the most beautiful spectical you could imagine. Just awesome. Just before turning in for the night, we saw what we were hoping was heat lightening. But some very thin high clouds moving in. Friday morning was as I had feared. Cloudy. And what worried me was that these were not clouds like with a pop up but, more like a long, slow, drawed out rain. And just as we had finished our breakfast of bacon, sausage, fried eggs(supplied by my own chickens), fried taters and onions and OJ, it began a light sprinkle. By the time we finished the dishes, it was raining a little harder. We waited about 45 minutes hopping it would move on. I didn't like the gravel bar we were on with it raining. I wasn't sure of how much rain, if any they had gotten up stream from us and told KC, lets just pack up and start moving. That way if it does flash flood, we will be in much better shape than where we were. He agreed and thought we just as well just float and do a little fishing until it stops. I liked that idea. So out comes the rain grear and down goes the tent. We get all packed up and head out. We didn't float very far until we had our rods out. And the bite was on. So we didn't really care about the rain. We just continued fishing like the sun was out. Finally around 2:00 it stopped. Slowly the clouds gave way to more and more sun. We made our way to Bee Bluff and found that to be our next camp. What a great place to camp too. We got the tent set up and everything unloaded and started dinner. Tonight we dined on Ribeye steak and corn on the cob. Outstanding! This evening we have more time for relaxation and I take full advantage of it. It is a beautiful, cloudless sky and we are staring straight at Bee Bluff. I can't begin to descibe it. Our last morning on the creek begins in a picture perfect fog. Just breath taking. We forgo breakfast today in order to get a jump on the float and have a chance of getting on the river at a decent time. And it worked. We were off the water and packed up headed home by 12:10. That put us back at my house at just after 4:00. I'll have to put this on my list to do again next year.

Interesting that you compare the Ozark steams to two steams in which the Smallmouth is not a native species. How many are on the Blue Ribbon Panel?

Wow sounds like some trip! Bet I know where you were!!!!!!

My mistake Al, it was not in a regulation thread per se. It was in a MSA meeting thread. But none the less, I would tend to agree that there will not be a "sudden increase in out of state anglers". As it will take some time for there to be consistently larger smallmouth, it will be a slow growth of anglers on the streams increasing the pressure. If I had my druthers I would agree with you on a slot limit. Proplem with those is that hardly anyone uses it. It is a great management tool but only if we use it. And I am just as guilty as anyone. Its no secret that smaller bass in say the 7 to 12 range, have ferousious appetites not unlike teenagers raiding your fridge. And if you can dispose of some of those, it stands to reason that those that remain should have a faster growth rate and should grow larger. That is the mentality behind the slot and I agree. Before the European invasion of this country, nature provided a natural balance. Man has changed that. Forever. The natural balance of our streams do not have the natural preditation that they once had to keep all species in check. Yes there is some natural preditation on some systems but, nothing like it was before us. I think we need to keep some kind of balance. And I think that the current regulation offer some of that. Anyway, I am much more agreeable with a slot limit. I could even go statewide with that. Well maybe just a small exception for my little corner of heaven. But a slot down this way would work great if it would be adheard to.

Sounds like a great place for a Smallmouth Summit. When should eric and I pack our bags to meet you there?

Driving that train, Of Cocaine.... It would except the most desirable size to eat is the ones in the 12-14 inch range. Once they are 18, even the vast majority of the meat eaters will turn them back. Which by that you are getting your desired effect. But that poor child back in the hills will go hungry tonight cuz daddy can't keep those bass to feed his family and pregnant wife. I would love nothing more than to agree. But as a sportsman I have to stand for what I think is best and most fair as a whole. I am not the only user of the resource. It is no secret that those in the range of 7 to 13/14 inch are ferocious eaters. It is just like having a house full of teenagers raiding the fridge. If you can keep that in some check, by harvesting a few, you theoretically are providing more food and quicker growth to those in the 14/15 inch class and up. But I plead guilty to not complying with this thought. MEOW! I agree with Bob's thought process on this. In fact I think I mentioned it in one our reg discussions a few months back.

Yeah. Even if it didn't stop all of the oil, it should at the least stop 90 + % of it. What could it hurt. Uh oh. My phone is ringing. Uh, I'll get back to you, its BP.

Yeah it would still be world class water, but why should someone have to sacrifice their rights so you can have a better chance at catching a fish you may or may not catch anyway on that couple of times a month trip. And from previous reports, the fish are there. Crap, here I go.

A difference of opinion is not ignorance on either side. I smell a repeat about to happen but, I will do my best not to feed the beast.

Why didn't they just pinch the pipe? Or should I say why haven't they?

I floated Indian a couple of weeks ago and also saw some coons out. Not something you see very often. I didn't do very good either. At my take out I spoke with a local who told me the day before 4 canoes full came through taking lots of fish. I can't say I was stunned. Thanks for the report. How was the color?

Washburn is located south of Cassville on 37 Hwy. The head waters of Flat creek start in this area. There is a spring bubbling out of a cave on the west side of the hiway that has the first sustainable water source for the creek.

I myself have wrestled with this and can only come to basically the same conclusion you and others have made. Genetics. I say that with the Ozarks as a whole not just the SW corner. I have read many fishing reports from the early to mid 1900's and a 6 pounder was very, very rare. If you caught one, they would erect a statue of you on the town square. There were also very few 5 pounders. It wasn't until you got down to 2 and 3 pounders that they became some what more common. And at that, even in the latter years due to all the guided trips, those numbers became less. That of course was on the larger river systems that had the best potential to grow fish that large. And of course those were also the most popular water ways for guiding. I think with all the C&R that is practiced by the majority now, we are somewhere near where we were at the beginning of the last century. If the Ozarks could produce bigger smallmouth, I believe someone would have caught one by now. Our current record from 1994 is still just barely over 7 lbs. And that is from a lake environment. Where it goes without saying that living is much easier when talking about calories used. I just don't think that we are going to be able to produce the large smallmouth in the rivers that other states can. Not on a consistant basis. I really can't pinpoint one thing other than genetics that really explains the reason to any amount of satisfaction. I guess just fish your heart out for them and just love and respect each and everyone you catch.

I will be back. Dylan had a great time. He still talks about it. I have a feeling we would get along just fine. It may seem like we may take different routes but, the destination is the same! That was freaking funny right there!!! Any time you want to try it out, give me a holler. I'll put you on the fish but, you have to catch them. For me or you???? Well at least banjo's weren't invloved. Only if it is Budweiser! You know this is gonna be a fun conversation. Probably not gonna get much fishing done!! I think you can change it. But after the float, you may not want too huh???? Now that is the spirit!! We are going to have to get together again. Dylan and I had a blast! We can do a little float or some wading. Great! Can you bring some sandwiches? Whatever Trav likes will work for me. I'll bring the drinks. Huh well, I post here quite a bit, so I am really not just a random poster. I just hosted two fine fellas this weekend from the KC area too. And I can put you on some mighty fine trout fishing closer than 4 hrs from KC. Uless you are a really slow driver.

It was a really great time. I had so much fun on this trip. I loved every minute of it. And I owe it all to you guy's. You couldn't have asked for a better group to float with. I really enjoyed meeting everyone that I had not fished with before. We may have to start awarding something to the one that drives the farthest next time. We had two from the KC area and Don hails from all the way down at Mountain Home AR. And Springfield was represented well with Wheatie and a tardy Flysmallie. Thanks for making the trip Ronnie. Knowing that you weren't going to get to fish, you still showed up. I give a big round of applause to all of you for all of the freaking food we had! Holy cow we had food! Oh man, those beans! Big Kudos to fishinswmo wife for making those for us. They were great! And Wheaties peppers....Awesome! And all chips and drinks and this and that.....if you didn't get full, you weren't paying attention! Ollie thanks for the offer to help shuttle. We will for sure make this an annual trip. Our next one will be in October! For anyone that did not attend, please think about joining our next outing. It is great family fun. We had a half dozen kids on this trip and they all had a blast! They all got along great and loved it every time we stopped to let them swim.

CDC - We will meet at Lime Kiln at 8:00 and then go to Allen with as few vehicles as needed. Like wily said it is up but steadily droping, though not real fast. It is a bit stained too. Fishing may be a little tough on this outing but we have the fall floatfest to look forward to for the fishing part.