brownieman

thank ya sir, how far below the dam is coopers creek? i don't mind staying upstream from my put in...you know what i'm sayin if you've ever had your motor quite downstream, lol thanks bm

2sets, where are you talking about putting your boat in at. Phil, Dano...anyone can tell me i'm sure...it's just been a while and i enjoy it when they are running water... if i remember it's hard to get up it if their not. have not fished taney for several years now and i used to put in at the campground right in branson...guess thats the landing now i take it. is there still a launch around that area somewhere...it's all changed allot since i've been there...wouldn't mind meeting phil and dano also. thanks bm

Dano, just looked at the pic in that article...thats' it. i have some good pics thru a macro lens of some tiny little floweres called 'Rock Pink'...they were growing right out of the cracks in the rocks about half way up the right side of the cascade. is a nice place to hike...FB is about right on the fishing. have you ever visited 'Grand Gulf" it's also a cool spot ?

Dano, are you refering to Rocky Falls down by Eminence...if so it's a neat place, more of a cascade than falls but is a pretty place. don't know about fishing, pretty small creek except in the spring or during a rainy strech. the locals use it allot...popular swimming hole...it's probably the largest cascade i've seen in Mo. right now it will just be a trickle of what it can be though...if you ever visit it do so in the spring while there is decent water flow...pretty impressive then. bm

I'll second that,lol !! That would be a good one...they want publicity, lets give em some....good hhc

Sounds like a blast...don't get much better. When their in that mode if ya get a chance try throwing a red and white mini Lucky 13...see if you do any good. Have caught some big smallies on buzz baits too...when I was little my dad used to take us camping allot at Stone Mill and he and a buddy would fish Bryant Creek. They set limb lines for cats back then and I remember them catching some nice ones...to a little kid any how, lol

Having lived in the sticks my whole life i've seen my share of poachin. I understand it but do not condone it except in extreme cases. Most guys I have known don't waste a bit of meat, they enjoy it and it's healthy to them. If they are hungry they'll shoot it off the porch...they feel owning the land they have the right and have total understanding and respect for mother nature, most grow large gardens, you know what i'm talkin. There are abusers...to kill it just to watch it bleed, take more than you can use..whatever, but I imagine it's common place more than some realize. Game hogs, fish hogs,...most probably ego driven. I've known some in the past that had competition in their workplaces on who could kill/catch the most. People bet on pretty much any and everything nowadays. IMO there's probably 3 times the deer killed than checked at least. With food contaminants being so common and such a lack of inspectors at least when one kills or catches it the meat is assured fresh...used to be clean also but we are slowely but surely losing that one. Guides, clients... pathetic to say the least...the almighty buck I reckon ?? bm

thanks, reason i ask is i have caught pickerel in 'trout' waters before...knowing it's not ideal but they are there...quite efficient feeders as well. have seen 4 to 6 lb chains...they could do a small trout or any population some damage. just figuring on the decline with the mdc charts besides sampling methods

hey brian, have a question if you don't mind. what kind of pickeral population exists in the 11 pt and are they grass or chains?? you know the river better than I...just curious...this could have an impact on fish populations in general from my experience. thanks bm

Thats a much prettier bow than all the 'worn out' old broodstockers that the dept. puts in the parks... actually has all it's fins and everything, lol...strange built fish though, almost appears to have a deformity of some kind. would say it's much easier to land a fish like that in a lake than a river if your reel holds a decent amount of line...kind of hard to lose one if there is nothing to get tangled up in using any weight line. anyone want to speculate on the age of that fish ?? no doubt...it is indeed a hawg!!

While in poccession the fish have to be intact...possibly gutted, not sure on that one but if a question arises with length kinda hard to measure a fish with no head, ya know. Someone should check...I may be mistaken...once again, lol

Just read the whole report. I'll have to think about a few things before I'll give an opinion. Brian...no harm meant i just hold a high regard for our rivers seeing what has happened over the years. I can receive pm's but cannot send out any...don't know what's up with that just attribute it to being a computer moron, lol. I could offer a couple of neat suggestions of which I have seen nothing like concerning rentals...kind of eco freindly educational floats I guess you could say...if you would be receptive just let me know. I assume neither you or I want the 11 Pt. to be like the current or niangua...I wouldn't wish that on any river...especially one as beautiful as the 11 pt. bm

good pics brian, from the overlook use a pair of binocs and you can really see in the water good...there are some huge fish in there...amazing !! biggest cat i have caught is a 55 lb. flathead but i have seen a guy land a 94 lb. blue, was kind of a team effort, lol...both below truman dam. several of us got soaked on that one after about a half hour fight...

Ignore my previous post...misread...thought you were looking for a heavy rod...duh. For dinks I've always used a $30 Ugly Stik...pj is right though...a big fish will spool a small reel fast if you happen to hook one.

mcp, i know it's illegal to throw past the line below truman...same at bagnell? is this a new reg. or has it always been that way...i know some people chance it but i'm not one of em, lol thanks bm

This tends to shed some new light on the interest in the 11 point...I often hope my opinions are wrong such as the case is here. You seem to show genuine concern for the health of the river...I only hope that is the true motive in this case...could see where other motives would come into play here understanding the bills have to be payed. Trying not to be judgemental here...just being real... bm

mcp, Is the boat launch usable below the dam? ...have boat fished below the dam with lots of water running but I imagine nothing like it is now...the fish have to be stacked in there like cordwood if one can get to em. Is there any way in your opinion to get a boat anchored anywhere near the line?... if so I can reach the dam with a big rod, a heavy spoon and a flat cast under the power line...if you can't hold at the line how far down would you say one would have to be? I have learned one thing about anchoring in a current like that, keep a darn sharp knife laying right by your anchor rope...can be a life saver!! Bet a guy can catch some monsters right now if it's fishable...be one heck of a fight in that kind of current too...if they get below your boat you may as well cut your line or they will spool you...would that be a fair assumption? Save me a drive (I'm 2 hrs. away) to check it out if ya can...thanks bm

Just read the report given by Phil from the bioligists. These hybrids trout from my understanding are a cross of the Crane Creek species and a Mo. Rainbow. It is also my understanding that a trout was being attempted to be reared that would more readily have successful spawns in a little warmer water...thus the Crane Creek Hybrid was born...someone please correct me if I'm mistaken. I would like to read further into the study and know the reasoning behind the MDCs hesitence to stock browns?? These results simply show the number of fish per mile from the best of their ability with the methods used.

All have their personal preference...I'll tell you what I use and have landed darn near everything I have stuck good enouph to land. It's a BPS rod, designed for muskie...signature Pete R. Munie?? hard to read...little lack of "famous fishermen too", lol...figure he is a muskie meister... On the rod--- PM 70 MHT 7' Med. - Heavy Action 1/2 oz. - 2 oz. 15 - 30 lb. test IM6 graphite 9g Has a 22" cork handle and is a one piece rod of which I like both...good for lengthy fights and have never had it come apart (big baits have to be slung hard). I have a Shimano Catala Baitcaster that I have removed 2 brakes out of...lets it free spool a little better but still avoids blowups...most of the time, lol. I've used this rod and reel for 10 yrs. or so and it's been a good one...that's about it. bm

There have been numerous letters sent to the NPS over the years with many good simple suggestions that would be benificial to the rivers. IMO being of non-influential status..."NO YANK", so to speak and being a simple idiot (not an educated idiot within the system) most of these letters and recomendations are filed in the old round file cabinet and/or fall on deaf or unconcerned ears. IMO a 'facade' is put up so the 'little guys' are allowed to think our opinions matter...whatever ??...in this world the simplest matters are over studied to the point of ignorance...the nature of the beast...I still just sit and watch in total disgust.

That would be good kicknbass...I think all should be able to see what the reasoning is behind the action's or lack thereof by the MDC...imo, then we'll take it from there. I assure you an interesting discussion will result. IMO it's about time the 'little guys opinions be known and considered'...after all, it's our monies they are spending and we've had little say so on how.

Welcome to Current River in the summer months. Welch Cave years ago was totally restored to the way it originally was...being a private retreat of sorts. The spring branch itself was diverted into a small race of stocked pools for trout fishing before dumping in the river. The old lodge which sits in the field above the spring used to be really neat at one time then was abandoned when it became federal. Several years later a youth camp was introduced to the old lodge and city children stayed the summer periods at the camp. Under supervision the kids restored the spring branch, bridges, buildings...the entire area to it's original condition. They were responsible for the views( tress being taken from the rightaway) from hwy. k above the valley so visitors could see the valley from the 'devils backbone'...the narrowest ridge top in Mo. there is a hwy. on. The camp was enjoyed by and taught many city children what nature was all about, or at least tried. The camp closed around 1980(not sure but around there somewhere) I speculate due to some sort of fed. funded program and the demise of what was a nice place began. The tourists and locals tore up everything the work crews had done, were running jet boats up the man made spring branch, tore out dams and bridges...pretty much just tore up everything there. The old buildings still stand, the sanctuary for T. B. patients back in the early days still stands at the mouth of the cave by the spring and thats about all thats left...last I knew the cave had been bared off to protect the bats which dwelled there. With pressure being applied to stop the partying at Flying W which is just a bit upstream the trouble imo will just move downstream. IMO wealth, politics, canoe rentals and unrespectful people are being the demise of what is a beautuful river...but being federal it takes an act of congress to get anything done in a timely constructive manner. It's a shame but the only time I can enjoy the 'rivers like these' are the winter months and even then others are realizing this also...at least in the winter there seems to be a different class of people who seek the tranquility for there is none during the summer...it has become like a water ride at Six Flags...I just sit back and watch...SAD ! bm

You have to go tothe east side and try to stick about a 4 or 5 oz. weight where you can...not very far out or move way downstream. I fished it a couple of months ago and had to use 2 to 3 oz. spoons...was like fishing in a tornado. Did catch a few big hybrids...don't have to tell you how they faught in a current like that...MAN !...hard fishing but worth the catch I did bring home 3...big birds will put some meat in the freezer...biggest one about 15, smallest about 10...pretty nice ones but you earned every one, lol

ChesLamp...good pics If not for Truman Dam where would all this debris be??? Would not go over too well on LOZ this summer I don't reckon?? Imagine the impact and damage that would be incured by that influx of water and debris into LOZ. Would both damage and cost the lake millions in several arena's.

Wonder which took priority when Truman Dam was built ?? Energy or keeping the billions of dollars that sit on LOZ's water edge happy. Have always wondered...would say both came into play from the conception of the idea...just wonder which pulled the most weight.