Don

Thanks John, I don't have those colors yet. I haven't thrown my disco bugger yet and I'm certainly looking forward to it. If you need anything else holler. Thanks again.....Don

Well, darn it, I'll abide by the rules as well. I'll tie the copper dun zebra midge instead of eggs bodacious. Thanks.....Don

Have a great birthday Dano. Thanks for all the info on OAF. Don

Here's an interesting link from the Army Corps of Engineers about the new(er) Flood Control Dam at Table Rock Lake. Don http://www.swl.usace.army.mil/auxspill/trwhy/index.htm

I hope you are having a great birthday. Don

I just finished this recipe for smoked trout. It was OK but nothing to write home to Mom about. All I had were thin stocker sized filets. I think this spice/glaze mixture is too strong and overpowering for small thin pieces of fish. However, I highly recommend it for smoked salmon. Don PS I ate some more of the trout and decided to remove it from the recipe. Now its a salmon only recipe.

I fished them during the day, a slow day at that. It was cloudy overcast skies. Don

I have not smoked trout with this recipe yet. I'll give feedback as soon as I do. Don

John, I've got your address from the last fly swap and I've got more disco jungle jive than I can use. I'll mail you some tomorrow. Don

Two of the five fish I caught last time I went were scuds from my blend of 75% Whitlock SLF Pattern Blend Scud/Shrimp gray and 25% Davy Wotton SFL purple or violet (the darker purple). Don

Sorry, I couldn't go because I was in pain from a recent injury. Hold on, anytime soon I'll give it a shot and report for better or worse. Thanks.....Don

I told my neighbor I was going to smoke salmon last night and he replied he has eaten salmon many styles and he hates the stuff. After it was done, you couldnt keep him away from the stuff with a tazer. Salmon filets. 3 tablespoons brown sugar. 4 tablespoons dijon mustard. 3 tablespoons bourbon. Mix brown sugar, dijon mustard, and bourbon well. Baste fish fillets with glaze. Sprinkle liberally with dill seed and fresh ground pepper. I smoked mine with hickory chips but I hear alder chips are the best for fish. Salmon filets smoked for 2 hours. Brush glaze on fish every 30 minutes. It was the best salmon I've ever eaten. Enjoy.....Don

Steve, Thanks for the pointers. I smoked two more fatties tonight and, as usual, they were awesome. I also smoked salmon for the first time. Check out the other thread. Thanks....Don

Motroutbum, I'm in the same situation as flyswap 1. My main go-to fly was gray dubbing spun on a scud hook. Too general and simple of a fly so I tied a unique ant pattern. This time, my favorite midge pattern is too simple and popular so I'll verbally give the recipe of the copper dun zebra midge. I've caught more fish this year off this fly than any other: Size 18 curved scud hook. 5/64 oz copper tungsten bead head. Rusty dun thread body and throat. Size small copper wire for zebra. Light tan thread body works just as well. Anyhow, that would be the easy out for me but I think I'll take the high road on this one. I will introduce one of my own unique patterns. It's an egg pattern that has only worked at Taney and under certain conditions. I call it Eggs Bodacious. Don

From what I've found out by now, local guides hire guides when they travel to fish other places. That way they know what's up at that time and place and do not waste time using up vacation time to figur things out by themselves. As for myself, I fished Taney countless times and consider myself a sucessful fisherman after a year and one half experience, but I will probably hire a guide in the near future just to sharpen my skills. Don

Their marketing managers are on the ball. At times I've found items on sale at the main store that are same as or cheaper than the outlet.

John, I hope you had the chance to smoke the fatties. I smoked four jalapeno and cream cheese style last weekend and a couple of them disappeared quickly at a pig roast Saturday. Also, two of my friends and I wiped out another one down at Taney when the water was running Sunday when we took a snack break. Hit the spot and then some. Don

I stop by there alot. I have gotten great bargains when I'm in the right place at the right time. I bought a White river Chest pack for $10.00 once. There were about 15 of them on the shelf. I designated that one for a gift to a beginner friend of mine and went back the next morning. They were all gone. I was looking around one evening after work and a guy next to me asked if they had any Temple Fork Rods available. I stated that I fished TFO and I really liked them and I asked what did he think of them. He stated he didn't know, but he had really good success selling them on E-Bay. By then, I realized that sportsmen looking for discounts were competing with E-Bay sellers using the outlet as their wholesalers. I guess fair game is fair game and you gotta be quick to the draw. Don

I only fished nights twice before and that was last summer. I had limited success. Posts indicate night fishing cannot be worse than the day reports lately, I'm going Thursday night after I finish my after work chores. Anyone want to meet can reply. I shouldn't stay too late since I work the next morning......Don

I agree with all of the NFL feedback, except Leonard's. But anyhoo, what's up with the tough bite days at Taney lately? Thanks.....Don

Even more surprising, the Chefs didn't seem to get fired up about it after Green got the cheapshot. They just took it lying down. Coach could have at least made a scene in order to get the team fired up. Don

Should I go to Taney or should I stay home and watch the KC Chiefs season opener? I fished 9:30-11:30 until the water turned on. I caught only one small bow with a gray scud and got a few strikes with an egg pattern and a sculpin pattern. Taney County fire and rescue were conducting water rescue drills most of the day long in the wading area, even when they were running water. There were very few fishermen out that day. We took a snack break and listened to the Chiefs on the radio. Their game was going just about as well as mine. Water stopped approx 1:30 and I caught three with a copper midge. Then the rain hit hard so I took another break. Went back with high anticipation after the rain and only caught one with a gray scud. Left the dam about 4:30. Was a very tough bite day. I tried a huge variety of flies but had no cures for the lockjaw. A couple of guys caught nothing at all. I know many reports lately indicate slow fishing. It may have been from the barometric pressure drop because of the front arriving at the time, or it may be just a seasonal thing. Any explanations? Thanks....Don

Definately worth taking a moment. I work for a federal agency and we were in a training session that morning. We were interrupted my email in the middle of training stating that it seemed like terrorists hit a WTC building with an airplane and updates would follow. My first thought was just how much damage could a two seat cessna do to such a giant building, stupid terrorists. Later, as events would unfold, I rolled through a series of emotions, except panic. I made phone calls to make sure my family was alright. I had no ties to the attack. Our office was closed down just a few hours later and we were sent home. Each year, I reflect on the impact of 9/11 as well as the Oklahoma City bombing that killed fellow agency employees. Americans stood close and strong during 9/11 and immediate months afterwards. Let's not forget how so many of us felt as a United States of America at that time.

Here is a link that might help. http://playingwithfireandsmoke.blogspot.co...ge-fatties.html

Even though it's not a fish recipe, the big fatty is an excellent snack to take on a fishing trip. Use 1 lb. rolls of breakfast sausage. I found Oldhams on sale 2 for 4 dollars. I smoked one plain. I flattened one out, sprinkled shredded cheddar , rolled it up and reshaped. My favorite was flattened out, laid one half package cream cheese and slices of jarred jalapenos, rolled it up, and reshaped into log. I then generously coated each big fatty with pork rub. Smoke for 3 hours at approx 275 degrees. If you have a thermometer, it's done at 170 degrees in the middle. Cool down, fridge overnight, and slice the next day. Plain one sliced and reheated goes well with morning breakfast. Cheese and jalapeno stuffed fatties are great on your favorite cracker. Don