Forsythian

I've got a 16 ft square-stern Richline aluminum canoe. It's rated for 3.5hp, so you can put Gavin's 3-horse on it. It is overly-wide in the middle (like its owner), and has a 1/2" keel running the length of it. I've had this boat for 20 years. It does not leak, and has never needed a patch or repair of any sort. It tracks real nice, and it can haul 2-nights worth of camping stuff. It would be perfect for a pond or a fairly large river (lower current, lower meramec, etc.). I'm thinking for the right buyer it might be worth something... I need a trade or enough cash to get right into something a bit lighter, and I desperately need a poly-canoe of some sort. Maybe Wayne's 169? My boat is not great for Swan, Beaver, Bryant, and upper North Fork. It's got the stability, and with the square stern I can turn it on a dime, but aluminum does not slide! (I did not want to get my feet wet yesterday!) Thanks...

On behalf of the Forsyth Chamber of Commerce, thanks for visiting! Seriously though, the whites have been weird this year, but atleast they're back (somewhat)... I've never caught them very good on low-water years like this, but some folks prefer it. I thought we'd kill 'em by using our kayak and trolling for them in areas where boats can't reach, but all I've gotten is exercise!

Dang! I graphed those fish yesterday, but when I didn't get bit I gave up on 'em. I wasn't confident they were crappie I was looking at. I worked hard to catch the odd couple of fish that were suspended in tight to the trees. In retrospect I shoulda went bass fishing...

Rainbow, I plan to fish a day or two out of Cape Fair during the week of March 20th (the kids are on spring break that week). We'll probably split our time between crappie and spoonbill.

Hah! thanks for the warning! For my part, I'll try to keep my crazy father-in-law from standing on the shoreline in his underwear, taking pot shots at the white bass trollers (while his boat has been stuck high and dry on a lift since Thanksgiving)... so, what kind of boat did you say you fish out of? ;-)

SKMO, you've got my attention! My inlaws live just downstream around the bend from Jakies, right where the nice beach starts on the east side of the river. I'm thinking about pulling my boat over there this coming Sunday. I guess I'm going to have to put in at Viola you think? Is the Hickory Hollow ramp out of the water? thanks

Illegal

Well, they weren't interested in the TSDCJ pattern tonight... (that's "Thin Scraggly Dark Colored Jobber" for you uneducated flyfishers). If this warm weather holds up I'm gonna start hunting walleye/whites after dark instead.

Brian, you brought up an excellent point that I never thought of... flyingeagle, you did too... lots of stuff to think about, that's for sure. Good posts guys.

The folks at Hickory Hollow are good people... I've launched there a time or two, and stayed there years ago when they first bought the place. My inlaws live right down the road. I'm guessing it's okay, the Corps has a heavy hand in that area for some reason, and I'm sure they've looked at it.

About a year ago I had a buddy give me a selection of hand-tied scuds. Amongst the greys was a dark-colored jobber, almost black, and kind of thin and scraggly. Maybe a size 18? Anyway, I dropped it about 8 inches under a greased egg pattern, and it has been money for me. I've caught 10 and maybe 15 fish on it... even got down there tonight about 6:00 and watched my boy get 2 with it before dark. That water is getting skinnier by the day.

Oh yeah, compared to the long record of complete honesty from all previous administrations of the past 100 years Yeah, this administration is pretty unique I'll tell you what a shame would be, to dig in your heels and make up your mind before you know all the facts. I don't yet know, and I intend to find out the scope of the deal before I'm "willing to bet" anything... pragmatism my friends, pragmatism.

That's what I'm thinkin too... otherwise somebody's gonna get hurt or worse... That's no way to go through life, is it? Kind of a shame...

Guys, I agree that this process needs to be very transparent, and I strongly agree that there should be significant tracts left alone... these would include the river corridors, significant drainages, and parcels with unique features (caves, glades, whatever)... maybe the MDC could participate in the process(?) Now, that being said, there is some misinformation floating around. The fact is that most rural school districts are for some measure of this. It is not a one-time-and-out money windfall, it is long term sustainable help in the form of property taxes collected. Brian, I believe you live in Alton? Ask the school superintendent and/or the board there about their understanding of this. There is some general support for it here in my county, especially the schools in the eastern half. Oh, and what did happen to that lottery money?

It looks like they ran quite a bit of water this week... did anybody happen to see shad come through? Hoping to get down there soon...

I'll apologize for my part in any "disparagement" during the 4 previous pages, but I like to push and prod in an attempt to separate the motivations of posters (resource management vs. ethnocentricity). As is evident from this thread, trout fishing is a big tent, and some of the views expressed bring out the hammerhead in me. And I love you too CWF! (And I can't quit Gavin either!)

Thanks, I'll have to go by there... do they have Saturday hours?

Guys, off the subject a bit, but I was disappointed to see that the River Run shop in Branson was closed... I suppose the writing was on the wall(?) w/ regards to the Landing?

Keep on postin' JS... it won't be long until we get to that gooey carmel center (i.e. your true view of hunting and of the yocals that inhabit your playgrounds). Unburden yourself... you'll feel better ;-)

The snake story reminds me of a time on a local pond, me and a buddy were bank fishing and began to hear high-pitched screaming... a search for the source led us to a mat of moss where a water snake had the back-end of a frog in its mouth... the frog's front legs and head were yet to be swallowed, and that frog was flat-out screaming!

I can't believe it's been 20 years, it seems like this "incident" happened just last summer. I had been married just a year or so when I was invited to Canada by my father-in-law and brother-in-law. It was very gracious of them to put 3 people in a boat in order to make room for me,and a great week of fishing. As it goes on those trips, each of us would go on hot and cold streaks. On this particular day I was cold... hanging up, getting few bites, and missing those few that I was getting. We were over a reef and throwing deep diving crankbaits, and the other two fellows were catching nice 2-3 pounders. After suffering another short-strike, I was told to "lay into the next one". Well, on the next bite I did just that. The problem was, the bite occured near the surface, and a l0-inch bass came rocketing out of the water. Time stood still as the flying bass arched gracefully in the air, and struck my father-in-law square in the face! The air was deathly-calm as he staggered a bit, then looked up at us with a grin through slime covered glasses. That grin, coupled with hysterical laughter from my brother-in-law, meant that I would live to fish another day!

Rainbow, I haven't signed up yet... haven't fished one yet this year, maybe I ought to at least fish one eh? Isabella is a pretty good haul from my normal area, but not too bad from Buck Creek... when it gets closer to that time maybe I can help you with a pattern or something.

Man, this discussion is mouth-watering! Rainbow, you are going to absolutely love the lake down there. Take some time to sight-see, and marvel at the water clarity and the complete lack of boat traffic! Over the past several years we have spent a great deal of time in the summers poking around the Buck Creek area, but last summer we rented a houseboat for a week (4th of July) and explored the lower lake and it was awesome. I posted a couple of pics in the photography section. c'mon summer!!

Obviously a hot button issue for me... I look forward to the season all year, I enjoy it legally and ethically, and it takes a beating on boards like this. Jshcetz has injected morality into the equation... I'll have to smoke a cigar outdoors in public tonight and ponder.

Good post CWF... kinda like old times! :-) I gigged about 10 nights this last season, from a very popular launch on the James RIver. Most nights there were 2 or 3 separate camps. All were Friday or Saturday nights. These camps were NEVER checked all season. I can about guarantee that 1 or 2 visits per season would have a positive impact.