Forsythian

I suppose you're right. Nowadays, it's backwards to favor personal responsibility and enforcement of existing laws. It's somehow more "progressive" to pass more and more laws. Punish the class instead of the student. I'll take backwards any day.

I don't doubt for a minute that it happens... no more than I doubt other kinds of poaching takes place. But, if you're gonna ban a sport because of the poaching element, we all might as well take up knitting.

snap! I'm actually in the market. I've been looking at the Fishpond stuff, but I've not been impressed with the capacity of their back pocket. I very honestly like the looks of the vest. How many 12 oz canned carbonated beverages do you reckon would fit in your rucksack? (along with a can of soup and a can of sterno)?

It's my understanding that gigging has been banned in trout management areas because trout are difficult to discern from suckers (esp redhorse). I don't know this firsthand, I've never gigged in waters that hold trout. Bass, walleye, catfish and etc. are super easy to discern. If you throw at a bass, you're doing it on purpose. Al, you and I have tangled on this topic before. Come talk to me when you get the goofy 5-smallmouth daily limit changed. Until then, you're going to have a hard time convincing people it's a true management issue rather than an anectodal "my sport is better than yours" issue.

Might want to keep that $20 handy, and wear your beef jerky hat!

So much for fishable CFS... I wanted to fish the NFoW on the 28th & 29th

Shadowrock is open folks... good free launch on the Forsyth side.

Merry Christmas to everyone! If I get a chance I'll run by Shadowrock park today and see if the ramp is open yet... I'll post back here what I see. Last week the water level was fine for launching on the Forsyth side, but the city had not yet opened the park.

TEST: Thanks for your hard work keeping this site going Phil... I like it just fine.

Has anyone tried the launch on the Cedar Creek side of Elbow? thanks!

One night I was taking out at Kdock... I had the trailer where I wanted it, and as I was idling the boat around to drive it on I noticed my reverse lights were lit ! I had put the parking brake on, but had left it in gear... luckily the brake held. Lots of stuff can and do go wrong

The last couple of winters I've taken to wearing a raincoat as my outermost layer... I bought an oversized Walls with various zippered ventilation areas and it's made a world of difference. That, and sock liners, two biggest improvements to my gear in the past couple of years. I need to ask Santa for the wool pullover mittens next.

Dear Santa, please keep Bull Shoals between 650 and 660 this year. Also, please match my calendar to wadeable cfs on the NFoW and 11point. All the best to you and the Mrs.

Saw on the bottom of your page where it was your birthday today... we've never met, but I've utilized your shop a time or two, and I'm savvy enough to know a well-run and courteous business is an accurate reflection of its owner- so here's to ya! :thumbsup:

I have some limited means to build my own... I've installed pre-fab cabinets and have laminated my own countertops and splash boards and such, so this may not be outside of my realm... a base cabinet on one side and maybe a framed-in cabinet facing on the other side (and along the back) might be all there is to it. Laminate the top to match the rest of the kitchen and there you go. Incorporate Wayne's idea of materials storage, and have a portable work station something like below that can be clamped down when tying or put away out of danger when imbibing. edit: if I had room, the "L" design would work... but I'm looking at about 6 feet total, without much room to spare. In fact, I'm thinking about putting the whole thing on lockable castors so it can be rolled back against the wall.

Alright guys, bare with me here... imagine the picture below made out of wood, and instead of the sink area you have some semblance of a sitting fly tying area. Appreciate the comments... keep 'em coming!

For a year now I've been looking for just the right kitchen bar / island for my basement. Seeing nothing "ready-made", I've decided to construct my own. This project coincides with another budding interest of mine, which is fly tying. So, why not a dual-purpose bar / tying bench? So, besides the danger of spilling a carbonated beverage on my hackle, what might be the unforeseen downside to this plan? I'm thinking something roughly similar to the link, only bar height instead of desk height... http://www.montanawood.com/flydesk/catlin.htm Whatyathink? :-)

There's a post in the general discussion thread that the Corps is going to run 20,000 cfs out of Bull Shoals 24 hours a day, hoping to reach pool sometime in mid January. Thanks to Don Allenbaugh for the good news.

They probably ought to drop it by the end of February, could be another wet Spring. I guess the boys in Cotter will get plenty of use outa their river jons this Winter.

I always pay close attention to the jugs.

Thanks guys, I'll look into this umbrella policy-thing... you'd think a feller of my advanced years would have heard of such an animal by now!

bowchickawowow

Living and working in the Trilakes region is endlessly interesting... for example: It is commonplace in the professional work environment to take a customer golfing (or to have a vendor take you golfing). For those who don't golf, I have either taken customers fishing (or have been taken out for a day of fishing by a vendor). Some of these trips are guided, and some are not. The few times I've had a customer in my boat or in my canoe, I have been comforted (rightly or wrongly) by the idea that I'm "on the clock" and covered by my employer's insurance. Thankfully, there has never been a mishap with which to test this theory. That in and of itself might make for an interesting conversation on this board... but I have an additional twist... I have been asked by a charity to volunteer a seat on my boat for a day of fishing, so that the charity may auction it off. For anyone who has ever fished with me, I will give you a minute or two to stop laughing. . . . still waiting . . . Okay, got that outa your system? Good. Now, it'll probably just wind up being a buddy who has fished with me before, and is just going to plunk down $50 for a very good cause. Even if it winds up being a stranger, there will be zero misunderstanding that I am not a guide and this is simply a day of fishing with a new friend. In my mind (initially) it's no different than Sam taking me out on his boat. Still, I am wondering whether some true legal/ liability threshold has been crossed, and if should make a call to my insurance guy or take some other steps to protect myself in this situation. I appreciate any educated or experiential advice you all can provide... thanks!

I'm just thankful they won't be on TR while the fish are bedding. Come to think of it, a week later and those FLW boys who like to fish up the James would get to share the water with the paddlefish snaggers... now that would be interesting!

HA! Yeah, I'll say... the lake levels AND the river levels have combined to relegate me to the couch... I figure by next spring I'll resemble the guy in the avatar. A couple of James River gigging trips and a NFOW or 11PT float will get me right again I hope.