brownieman

In Warsaw from my experience...Cow Patties, down by Caseys has a good breakfast...they used to serve a huge burger as the name implies...about the size of a cow pattie. It's ok but breakfast is good there. Benton House serves a good dinner...have always got a good steak there and tasty prime rib...sometimes better than others but that just depends on the beef at hand. Have had their lobster tail a couple of times...both times were good and the lob tail was huge. Like CMAC said, Chuckwagon does have goo BBQ. Hard to beat a good meal after a day on the water.

Brian, I'm kinda...well I am the computer moron, lol. I think you can copy and paste it from your e-mail to this site...sounds like grade school huh, lol. Have done this a little but someone better than I at it can tell you how easier if it can be done...c-mon, one of you computer savy's help. I am curious what the (I'm being kind here) "bioligists" ?? have to say. bm

Dano, just read the link you supplied...interesting. I live in Mo. and have written many letters to the NPS, DNR, MDC and other agencies. From my experience most decisions have already been made by a select few...the so called "town hall meetings" are nothing less than a facade to make the common fisherman feel his opinion matters...just covering their butts...most comments I truely feel fall on deaf ears and ultimately are filed in the old round file cabinet. All I have ever received is "thanks for your comments, they will be taken under consideration"...have never seen much results from any suggestions given because they involve a simple common sense approach which imo pull little weight with such agencies. My best hopes is Ark. is more receptive for knowledgable and genuine concern. I hope Ark. is more receptive than Mo. to input from the very ones whom frequent the waters in question the most. I know in Mo. often the bioligists in charge of certain waters live hrs. away from the water and imo have little knowledge of the 'waters' in question from my personal experience. IMO they perform their own sampling methods and draw the results themselves that are published, so, if they were instrumental in the implementation of certain regs. are they going to give an honest evaluation of the conditions if negative or pad the numbers to stick a feather in their hat...imo most take the feather no matter what the true results may be.

CC, I would be glad to throw my 2 cents worth in also...just give me directions, a time and a soapbox and I'll do my best to be there ! That being said, good thread by the way, I was raised by my dad as a bait fisherman no matter what the specie. If a TRUE bait fisherman presents to the fish what is the natural forage given by their habitat...well...what their natural diet consists of will be the most effective bait. Why would one try to emulate what their main diet consists of when the 'Real McCoy' can be used if the regulations allow it?. I can lip hook a fish 90% of the time on live minnows...I'll miss allot of hook sets but feel if given the bait for too long they will indeed swallow it. One can't help live bait being swallowed on occasion, if so just cut, burn, bite, whatever the line and do your best to not touch the fish, avoid gill damage and release the fish with as little stress as possible.. Don't even attempt to get the 2 cent hook back or you cost the fish it's life in most cases. Concerning trout, spring river, any river whether born in a hatchery setting or a natural spawn itself the instinct to spawn "Natures Way" will take presidence above all...such being the attempt at Taney with the stairs...man created attempts to emulate Mother Nature herself...to entertain us. Plant it they will come...this has been proven in various arena's whether it be quail habitat or stream structure. Why man feels the urgency to create, control ???..is still hard for me to fathom. No matter how hard man attempts to interveen on the natural world, Nature WILL have her way and until we understand and become 'partners' with her and forget the control factor we will continue the path we are on...as CC says...it wains on my strength also, but not being of his age I still get a re-charge now and then and I will keep going till my battery is dead and abide with and by Mother Nature. To myself the decline we see is "Natures way of telling us something is wrong"...it is obvious and we need to help not hurt her...I for one just do not understand the mindset many have taken...guess to me it's the 'easy way out'...I choose to live with not above all creatures. Our power of thought is a curse unless approached in a more environmentally concerned manner. I aint no tree hugger but I do understand the world we live in and all it's wonder...it just makes me wonder...or should I say ponder about the direction we have taken. Just my humble opinion...and humble it is, lol bm

would suspect possibly the grass in the water is the results of the trickle effect from the taney drawdown...all that debris has to end up somewhere downstream...just a thought. Have you tried bottom bouncers with night crawlers...often they will catch walleye's when nothing else will for they are a suspended species by nature. bm

a big 'ditto' to that hhc... piss poor management in more ways than one. i have a few friends that would still be around if it were not for being drunken fools...and young and bullet proof, lol.

oneshot, don't see where it would make much difference myself. imo you just need a rod that when you lay the meat to it will bend without breaking and at the same time have the backbone to horse one in. cheap rod..expensive rod...just personal preference. I have a 7' muskie rod...pretty darn stiff...i use it most of the time for just about everything except distant. I have a 10' offshore rod that will sling quite a bit farther, and a 13' rod that will out distance it by a little...don't think i've ever hooked anything with the 7 footer, big blues, flatheads, hybrids, spoonys, whatever that i have not been able to turn before they spool me...if they do that they deserve to win the battle, lol helpful i hope...bm

tell me it aint so...drunks on the river, lol...spoils it as far as catching big fish...and then as mentioned in another post they are behind the wheel shortly after that...sounds like 'shakedown' time to me, lol

hey medic, everytime i see your avitar the same thing pops in my head so i have to ask. i have a painting in watercolor (yours appears not to be, hard to tell from the small pic ) in which the bow is almost identical with a totally different background. mine was done by an artist named Dwayne Taylor...from Oklahoma i think ? what artist did that one if you don't mind me asking ?? thanks bm

Heard something about that...something to the affect of an anchor being involved?? without sounding morbid...wonder if anybody saw "THE HAND"...sorry guys?..that comment could go many directions. That's pretty weird though...caught an old horseshoe one time and I thought that was strange...guess not huh.

Go down to parkers ford, wade straight across the river, be real sandy for a bit, and follow the road about 75 yards or so. There will be a trail to the right...take it and just walk that trail (stay on the most obvious trail, it's an old river road ) till it runs you into the river...probably a mile and a half or so...the trail will end at the river at the lower end of a nice bluff hole, start fishing up from right there. You have to get away from the accesses, you will pass up alot of water but your passing by heavily fished water...about 9:00, 9:30 the canoes will come beating through so you might as well hoof it back to your rig...the canoes will spook most nice fish from my experience and I never have caught many nice fish fishing downstream. Also this time of year I have caught several nice fish just below welch cave...it's about 7 miles below cedar grove...due to the spring the river doubles in size at the spring and the trout seek the colder water in later summer and they stock bows on that strech...welch cave strech is a gem if you know where to fish it,and not many do by wade fishing. hope this helps

looks like easy pickins to me...only one way out...them wascals are very,very, shweud, lol

FF, you're pretty lucky to see one,no less 2...most are born dead by the side of the road, lol

CC...my hat is off to you sir!! If all were to understand what you just stated, well...mankind itself would not be headed in the direction we are. Until as you say "our specie" learns to live in harmony with all and throw the 'control' factor' out the window we will continue the path of self destruction we are on. >Ultimately the survival of all species is tied to that of the earth itself< You have an understanding of the eco-system of which we are guests upon far above most...you are both intriguing and wise about the ways of the world and all in it. Myself, I hold high regard concerning your thoughts and opinions as for I feel you are very wise...if all had your mindset, well...just wish more would adhere to such a belief. I appreciate your 'knowledge' and am always anxious to read any post you put on this forum. Thanks...I feel you and I are about on the same page. bm,..lol

CC, You are exactly right imo. The 'critters' will have a hard time finding forage late this winter and early spring...so all who can need to help em out, they will be using a food supply that would have been otherwise saved or utilized later in the year...due to the late freeze it will be a necessary for survival. The weak and 'runts' of the litters will have an especially hard time. I ask of you CC...do you beleive this is "Mother Natures" way of culling the weak out or is this partially an incured event produced in part by man and modern methods, climate change, etc. ? One other question...can you CC or anyone explain the lack of Catalpa worms...they were thick when I was young, I have a huge Catalpa tree in my yard and have seen no worms on the tree for several years now...I am just curious why I see them no more ??

HHChub, IMO you just gave a perfect example of the "Good Ole Boy" network at it's finest...that's a classic my friend! I hate to agree with you but I do...it's a reality that speaks for itself. IMO that's the direction we are headed...I just don't care for it much myself.

Just my opinion as usual, lol Phil, you said you had pictures of the last time this happened but did not want to embarass the MDC ? You stated you had hoped they had learned a lesson. Touting about how well the agencies work together, lol... Pictures...admiting mistakes...i'm sure someone has some...not knowing where to go with it?? An MDC bioligist stated to you it would take 2 years for recovery...whatever ??? Next time, you and Dano both speak of being watchdogs... IMO the only lesson learned in this instance was unfortunately by you and yours...you should have and may still be able to run with those pics if they compare to the recent incedent in question. If you have any 'influece', use it my friend for I have none but I do know of plenty of what would be in the public's eye embarassing actions by the MDC. These type incedents seem to just kinda go away without much publicity while at the same time the positive things fetch a ton of attention...go figure. IMO there should have been a notice in advance of this action and the possible results. How many locals and tourist's who planned their vacations ( which to most are precious ) were pretty much ruined by this if the lake usage was included in their vacation plans? Sure would put a damper on my vacation if Taney was my destination. Lucky there was not a huge fish kill due to this...decaying vegetation impacts the quality of the water, especially the oxygen levels. O2 levels can crash very quickly due to the decaying vegetation. IMO if Table Rock dam would have not been able to 'flush' the debris by turning on the water...well, to me thats the only thing that avoided a huge fish kill. Touting...you saw first hand the results of the 'touting' It truely is a sad the dismal direction the MDC has taken. I will give credit for the good they do but I also see what really happens, faults, admitting failures...most have a hard time with that one but any and all including agencies should learn from their mistakes...turns a mistake into a learning experience, it's apparant that some show little regard for the results of their actions...the proof is in the puttin. IMO someone should have been called on this one...was this publicized at all?...if so I for one missed it. It all goes back to accountability...we all are accoutable for our own actions...why should any person, business, agency, whatever not be held to this standard. Is there some that this does not apply...kind of appears to be imo. Responsibility and reason has become tolerance and rights. I just sit back ( being a poor ole coutry boy ) and watch, give input when and where I can...that's all I know to do not being a wealthy or influential man...but my eyes are wide open and I don't view the world through rose colored glasses...wish I could and I do try...but the reality of all things slaps me in the face often...wake up calls I reckon, lol sorry for the lengthy post... brownieman

Wrench, imo your not refering to 'The Good Ole Boy Network' are ya...tell me it aint so, lol. IMO kickbacks and under the table money...well...I aint even goin go their my friend. I'll get to ramblin and end up boring myseld again. IMO we have become a greed driven society. Think I'll bore you all anyway...The following lines come from an e-mail sent to me named "Obituary of Common Sense" "Commonn Sense lived by simple sound financial policies ( don't spend more than you earn ), reliable paretiing strategies (the adults are in charge, not the kids ), and it's ok to come in second. " In recent decades, his waning strength proved no match for the ravages of overbearing legislation. "He watched in pain as good people bacame ruled by self-seeking lawyers and enlightened auditors. " Finally, Common Sense lost his will to live as the Ten Commandments became contriband, churches became businesses, criminals received better treatment than victims, and federal judges stuck their noses in everything from Boy Scouts to professional sports." "Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibilty; and his son reason: His three brotheres survive him: Rights, Tolerance and Whiner." " Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone." ...seems this is how it has become to me...jmho

WOW !!! Guess I have become a hermit...this is the first I have heard of this...AMAZING!!!...must have missed it on the news or it was kept pretty hush hush...understandably so considering the involved 'powers that be'. I find it hard to believe that the ones whom are suppose to protect our recourses let something of this magnitude happen. Just my opinion, but here is my take on this one. Whoever requested this drawdown and for whatever reason...MAN !...I can't fathom this one, hard one for me to swallow, but I am but a poor old country boy not being in an influential position or a man of wealth but I do have some smarts and a little common sense, little I said, lol...I have no choice, the damage already incurred, but to make an effort to laugh it off...either that or it'll make me sick! IMO the CORPS, DNR, MDC all had knowledge of this in advance...the MDC's Shepard of the Hills Hatchery was well aware of this action as was the DNR and all else involved. The hatchery draws deep water from Table Rock Dam to achieve optimum water temp levels for trout production so I assume they were fully aware as was the DNR and all environmental agencies involved in this decision making process. I'm speculating Shepard of the Hills hatchery is the most highly visited, highest profile hatchery the MDC has due to the influx of tourism in Branson itself. IMO that's the reasoning behind the new 'trout stairs' or whatever they are. Any agency, community, whatever should have forseen this disaster and have dealt with the impact accordingly. The integrity of the lakes entire eco-system ( should have been a HUGE consideration ) has been damaged and will recover but it will take some time and apparantly ( whatever was discussed behind closed doors ) not much attention was given concerning the environmental impact. IMO possibly a blind eye was turned on this one due to something...one can only speculate...figure for yourselves what the motives were and draw your own conclusions. The environmental concerns appear to be of little consequence to all that were involved or this would never have happened...kinda glad I was not on this forum when this took place. This incedent shows the regard given by the 'powers that be'...imo a classic example. I hope for all the lake comes back with as little detramental results as possible. Mother nature has a way of healing herself when man interveens...which for some reason never understood by myself...control mother nature, I for one think not...it's the other way around but so goes the mindset of the one's who feel they must control her in this 'age of ignorance'.

I agree gf, It has got out of hand, The Current is a perfect example and now they are trying to curb it when it never should have got that far. To some it's like a water park with no rules and no respect for nuthin. There is not much respect going around these days and the rivers...the clearer the waters appear, availability of canoe's, it's a considerable amount of 'tourist dollars' you're dealing with and has made some wealthy and imo they show little ( genuine ) regard as to the results. IMO, the unruley ones, the drunken obnoxious, one's who are urinating and sexing it up in front of your kids...go for them but leave those who 'are' respectful alone.

wrench, IMO it's called easy pickins my friend, just like opening day at the trout parks. You left something out though. They just want you to work, pay your taxes and then go home, lol. If it's not the MDC it will be revenue for the counties. infringement...what is that, lol. The rules and regs only apply to those who don't make em...not a one of them inhaled anyway, lmao. Actions like these are totally imo absurd...until people have the backbone to stand up to this kind of stuff...it will get nothing but worse. More money (like they don't get enouph) IMO there needs to be some real response to stuff like this, letters to reps. congressman, whatever...probably close to one of those convenient boat ramps our tax dollars were spent for, lmao, that allow them to blow you out of the water while taking their girlfriends for a ride on the river in their jetboats we pay for. You all do the math and see how it adds up...fairly obvious to me...just this stupid old boys opinion. IMO the sign shop will have to make up some new river signs..."Drug Checkpoint Ahead"...don't know how that will work with no exits but the canoe rentals will get tired of picking up abandonded canoes, lol. IMO they have to pay those big salaries and pay for those new (very natural trout stairs??) or new camera's in the cop cars, whichever it's for all to behold in all it's splendor...give me a break people. They say they enable us usage points and accesses and protect us...whatever...imo it's all show...with stuff like this going on how can anyone justify actions like these ?? As I've said before...we just feed the monkey to watch him you know...we have absolutaley no say in the matter...I don't care how good a facade is put up!!

I'm not an educated idiot by paper but i am an idiot, lol...I'll take a stab at this one. spoonys swim around all day with their mouths wide open...their gills filter plankton from the water which is what their main diet consists of...this being imo the reason for the spoon. you see whales leap from the water in the same fashion...they feed on ocean plankton. could this be an effort to feed more efficiently, ya know, get something a little bigger than plankton like a mouth full of shad. Small shad are pretty thick right now from what i've heard. don't really know but i suspect anything is possible...just cause the bioligists don't know don't mean squat to this ole boy, lol.

ditto on brian...fish the breaks on the riffles, mainly the lower ends. they sit in the water right where the water starts to deepin waiting for something to wash across them from the shoal above...kinda sticks it right in their face. if you want the girls to catch some bo bo's...corn bang em...it's the easiest bait to use and keeps very well and resembles a pellet of which they were raised on, lol. sounds like it's planned well...just show those girls what itch weed is ( stinging nettles ) or you will HEAR IT! I raised 2 girls myself. One swipe of a stinging nettle will turn their outdoor experience sour real quick, lol. jewel weed is a natural antidote...takes the burn away immediately, nothing else will. best of luck and hope you don't have to look for jewel weed, lol

least you caught something toothy, lol. there are common known facts about muskie and whey they are few and far between...it's said you will spend 30 to 40 hrs. fishing for them for one good hook up. I'll be glad to explain what I have learned about muskie if anyone wants to hear it ?? sorry I didn't pull up your post till now mofish...haven't been on here long...would have been glad to throw my worthless 2 cents worth in, lol.