brownieman

I been watching this post and think it all boils down to one thing... Some of us are better at accepting what 'The Man' tells us we can and can't do, to many regs and not enouph enforcement seems to be a problem these days. With all the bs that goes on concerning the Current I assure you this lead ban has little relevance and poses no threat to the over-all health of this river and should be the least of their concerns considering all that goes on on such streams. There are not enouph shore birds, ducks, whatever on this river for there to be a genuine concern but whatever, there's no stopping the Feds when they want to impose regs like this. Some of us accept the changes better than others and the feelings of fisherman take a back seat on these type issues I feel. More Gov. control is the underlying issue I would say and it settles ok with some and not so well with some...just the way it is and I don't look for it to change anytime soon. If we don't like it we can belly ache about it or just carry on, that's about the only choice we have.

July 26 here

You are exactly right John. As I have stated before I don't sight fish and from my experience the fish can see you long before you see them...most real big fish don't get that way from being stupid. Far as off color water IMO that is the best time to nail biguns...seems they are on the feed more and can't see you as easy. Most of my largest fish have come from very murkey water. On the Current my favorite water condition is when you can't see the bottom in waist deep water...bar none I have caught more nice ones when most would consider it too murkey to fish.

IMO not a good thing period.

Looks like a heck of a good day, nice catch...CC, it's hard lookin at the pics, I hear ya, lol. Don't you just hate those days that it's touph holding up the stringer, lol...seems like those fish have gotten heavier than they used to be. Looks like it's time, the cold front this week-end might knock em back a little then it should be gettin consistant. Good time of year...

That's really great...it don't get no better. My youngest girl was a tom boy...those times are priceless.. Here is a bass she caught...not as big as that pig (that old gal is fat) your daughter caught..that's great...about all I can say, keep her after em.

That's too bad...the Dam area itself has a terrible odor problem, I just hope the water quality is not as bad as it smells...sometimes while fishing there it just down right stinks...lots of floating debris, just does not look or smell good at all. I would say our waters are more polluted than we will ever know...often IMO the ones that are responsible for protecting against these type things inflict numerous incidents that are kept quiet. It's disheartening to me the damage to the Current that comes from the hatchery and campground at Montauk. Just below the park boundary there is a pipe housed in concrete that sticks directly in the river. This pipe comes from the sewage lagoons that service the campgrounds. I suspect what comes from that pipe is not a good thing, I don't care what anyone says. The raceways are flushed straight into the river. The sludge from the raceways used to be pumped out but that was abandoned years ago. The way it used to be done was much better I feel but I guess was too labor intensive. Due to this the fertility downstream is much higher and the algae and smuck in the river is more than apparant...closer you get to the park the worse it is. Like I said, JMO but in years to come clean water is really going to become an issue that is hard to deal with to say the least...it's already an issue I guess but I just don't see it getting better.

They stock that strech or used to with 500 bows every 2 weeks during summer months. I have caught some nice holdover bows down there also...a few big browns. Just below Cedar it gets unwadable quick and no apparant foot trail along the water. I have wade fished down around Welch Cave but the wading is very limited. There are fish and the water looks great down there but you almost have to float it to fish it well at all. If you time it right or have some inside info on when they stock it they stock pretty heavy right behind the bridge and a couple of spots just below the Cedar bridge...depends on if they stock it by boat or truck. I have also caught some nice smallies and some monster gogs on that strech...not many gogs but they sure were nice ones...about forgot the pickerel, have caught several decent Grass Pickerel. Hope this helps you a little

Guess he was sort of chumming legally, lol. Like gavin said...just get some food from the feeders at the raceways and grind it up good and fine and make dough bait from it. Just water mixed right with it is enouph to hold it together, some guys use a little flour...sure there are a gazillion ways to make dough bait but may as well use what they have been raised on.

18" crappie...that's great ! Sure would like to have a cooler full, pan full, belly full of those puppies, lol. From past experience the crappie spawn is generally in full swing when the dogwoods are blooming...good indicator.

Our freedoms and choices are a luxury we enjoy that many places in the world do not. Far as the choice to keep or not is an individual choice...I have no problem with anyone keeping anything long as it is legal. I'm just like everyone, I don't like seeing certain species on a stringer but it is sure not my place to judge or say a darn thing...as many do I have a soft spot for smallies. If I say or condem anyone for choices on the water long as they are legal I am the one with the problem. Fishing to me just is not worth having bad words about on any level...suppose to be something we enjoy and I'll be darn if I'm going to sweat someone keeping a fish. If someone wishes to express their dislike that's fine...sure is not worth seriously getting upset about.

The tan vat hole is socked in pretty full of gravel right now...especially the upper end. That hole is subject to alot of change with high water. There is a big dirt bank just upstream they have tried some revetments on, the more the river eats at that bank the more the tan vat hole fills in. The little creek that dumps in right there also can change the hole with real high water...just one of those ever changing holes. It's amazing how much the river changes...sometimes for the good, sometimes not...you never know till you get there. I'm sure there are varied opinions on allowing grabbing on a trophy strech but it is legal.

In small lakes and big ponds we used to mark 1 crappie with fish line and a ballon and follow it around to keep track of the school. Sure some on here have tried it...maybe not, it was alot of fun.

Fronts should make fishin good I would think. We would have to get a gulley washer to get the park unfishable...there not callin for that much, but their not always right, lol.

Gene's right about that, and believe me...the more you're there, the more ya see. Can't let it bug you cause it sure don't bug them.

Several years back I used to...not often, park at parkers, fish up to baptist and hoof it back down to my truck at parkers...long walk but plenty doeable. Like gene said there is a noticable trail along the river...crosses back and forth alot and harder when the foilage is full. We used to spot each other like you are talking quite a bit.

Maybe he's as good at selling spoons as guns, lol.

Been waitin to hear this, thanks. I always hurry my truman trips so i"ll wait a couple weeks...it won't get nothin but better now if the weather stays halfway warm. Which side were they being caught on and did you see any shad yet ? I take it fish weren't surfacing yet.. thanks again

Just noticed...thought there might be a prize or somethin for being the 100th reply...do I win Phil, lol

Just don't sound right does it ? The thought used to cross my mind to be a guide, but always second thinking the situation I know I have always enjoyed fishing in my off time. Often times things appear very appealing...I always feared if any sort of fishing became a job so to speak it would take away from my enjoyment and love of fishing over-all. When it becomes your 'job' sometimes it takes on a whole different perspective...don't know many that enjoy doing what their job involves during their time off. Myself, never wanted to take that chance.

Not saying it's not demanding come tourney time but how many tourneys does the average pro fish a year. It's not like this is day in and day out is it? And the description given by Troy is good but is that not a worse case scenario...everyone has good and bad days in all job settings. Grant it...being on the water and dealing with the elements can beat a guy up pretty fast...my back and shoulders absolutaley kill me after a few hours of fishing if I'm casting alot...thats when I get in the trolling mode or if I'm bank fishin have to take a break...age has alot to do with it, lol. I used to come home from a fishing trip griping about my aches and pains...anymore I just accept that's the consequences...pretty much self induced the way I see it.

I don't have any gps stuff...have seen them used and they are neat...put you right back on the nats a$$ and that's worth alot. There's an pond down pretty deep on the Pomme arm of Truman in open water...it's darn hard to mark and usually holds fish. With a gps You can find it easily, they do work well. I couldn't agree more with ya whackem...sound reasoning...

Birdfan, You would probably be trading down unless a 1987 Alumicraft w/50 evinrude would be considered an upgrade. Best fish finder I have found are the 2 we have on the front of our heads, lol...like you said, just cause you find em don't mean you catch em.

It's not necessarily my mind set...I am just talking about how dependent we have become on technology even when it comes to fishing, heck...most kids in stores these days can't count your change back or even know how much change you get back without the register. Being so reliant on tech and machines is a good/bad thing at the same time. Lots of things are so reliant on machines and computers if there is a glitch everything halts and IMO I wonder if that's such a good thing.

The bic of course...better yet a zippo. On the water some water proof matches are also nice, but then again...not much skill involved period in lighting a fire.