Don

Holiday mania has hit Cardinal Nation. I can't wait until his and Albert's bats light up at the same time. The Cards also have a few days off between series coming up and that will give them an opportunity to keep Wellemeyer out and use a 4 man rotation as much as possible. Don

Congratulations Michael. You will be a good asset to the board. Don

Same here. I've forgotten or lost nippers, hemo's, camera, etc at one time or another, but the toughest trip I (blind old buzzard) had was without mangifyers. Don

I didn't know Lakey's had crickets. I bought mine from Tranthams for years. Crickets 10+ feet deep at bridge piers always provided enough good gills for a fish fry. Don

Great report Michael. Hope Mom is okay. Later, Don

I'm hoping DeRosa comes back soon and fills the void at third. I think the pitching staff is the key and it is good enough to get the job done. However, picking up a good starter and placing Wellemeyer in the bullpen might be a decent move.

Hey TB, Good to hear you got out and pounded on them for awhile. A last minute surge had me in the water about 9:30 that same night until 11:30. Things were slow. I netted 9 bows, biggest 17". Missed alot because they were sippin'. Water was still on the way down during my first hour. I tossed a variety of slumpbusters and pine squirrel between Snaglets 1 and 2. It made a long day at work Monday. I may need to rest awhile until next time. Don

Great fish, great report. Keep them coming! Don

Years ago, when I had my pontoon at Mutton Creek, I let my kids troll on the flats south of Roark Bluff to Birch Branch area and back and forth, north and south in 2-6 ft of water at 2 miles per hr. (walking speed) on the west side of the lake. Use white and chartreuse vibric rooster tails. Even good results in hot summer dog days if you go early and late in the day. Don

It seems to me that this topic is up for debate. By the way I have to repeat one of the funniest postings I've read on OAF by Loo10. "Mmmmmmmmmm......Gar!

H2O off early? Why would the corp shut off the oxygen early, yet shut off the oxygen at all? Do they want a fish kill? Duh! Good report. Glad you're stinging them at night. Don

Gallagher, As you may know, I only have a 5 mile drive to the James. In my younger days, I hit it rather frequently and had several camp trips just downstream from Delaware on private land....no more. Anyway, I just can't get excited about getting into the James anymore. The Springfield area population boom in the last 20-30 years has contributed many " nutrients" to the river and Table Rock as well. Grant that there are some nice smallies in the James, it would make a good and float for warm water species. However, think about it next time you drive across Wilson Creek on James River Freeway and take a good whiff. Springfield's water supply comes from Stockton; Springfield's sewage flows to Table Rock.

She is having her 4th major back surgrery tomorrow. She already has many rods, bolts, and pins up her spine and this one seem has to have brought more anxieties upon herself. She knows healing time is much longer at her age and she is normally hard working and active. I am very optimistic, but nevertheless please put her on your prayer list. Thanks, Don May

Dang, Congrats on 24 in cut. Mt biggest is 18 in from McClellams on the Norfork. However, I've been picking up several 15in cutbows at Taney lately. Don May

Your best bet is to hook up with a decent caster and get the basics down. After then, it's practice, practice, then practice. 30 minutes a day in the yard will work wonders. Nothing wrong withh lessons to get you started. Don May

I don't know her, but I bet that marina lady's so mean she probably got a rattlesnake under her hat. Ronnie, fess up, when you chasin smallies? Let me know, I'm chompin".

Congratulations Amp. An awesome experience. Don May

When I want to see a live rock and roll show, it better have good lead guitar. This guy had it going Friday 06/12/09 at Cartoons in Springfield. They had the talent, no doubt, and Anthony could really peel back the frets. Great show. Don

I fished with Stikrz today, an obscure OAF member but a great guy and a really good fisherman. Corp ran a ton of water today that made fishing challenging. We opted for Chute 1 later in the afternoon and heard a marching band playing; we didn't know why. After fishing for awile the horn blew. We made smart aleck remarks like , " It looks like the fifth generator is about to go online." Well, shortly afterwards strange things started to happen: Well, we couldn't figure out what was up. I met and visited alot of people to day. Call it congeniality day. I met OAF member Vince on the parking lot and told him about the floodgates. He explained that there was a 50th birthday celebration of Table Rock Dam going on. By then, the gates had shut off after a 10 minute ceremonial run. Well. back to fishin'. I finished with only 10 fish to the net by stripping streamers on sink tip line, my biggest being a 19 in. sucker. All were caught on bead-headed olive woolies and natural colored pine squirrels. The trout averaged 15 inches and were colorful and full of fight. I saw Jeremy Hunt and his boat crew knocking them out up and down the river. They were having a blast. Here is some research from the Branson Daily News about the Dam Celebration: "Special to the BDN A celebration marking the 50th anniversary of Table Rock Dam and its hydroelectric power facility will be held June 14, with a ceremony at 2 p.m. on the overlook across from the Dewey Short Visitor Center on Missouri 165. The Springfield National Guard Band will kick off the event. Dignitaries and people who were involved with the dam’s construction will be on hand. “It was at 2:45 p.m. on June 14, 1959, when the switch was thrown on the dam’s power facility,” said Rodney Raley of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Following the ceremony, activities will move across the highway to the Dewey Short Visitor Center where a film on the development of Table Rock Dam will be shown in the auditorium. There also will be entertainment on the lakeside patio by the Missouri Boatride Bluegrass Band from Branson West." Today I was blessed with a great opportunity just to get out and do it again. Don May

Sorry to hear it Terry. I'll keep an eye out for any opportunities. Don

My friend, Mr. Gobbler, came over today. He knows I have good bugs to eat off of my bedroom window and just had to help himself. A couple of times in the past, I've had a few hens come up to pop the windows for bugs. This time I was armed with my Pentax digital. I took about ten pictures and he didn't seem to mind the flash going off each time. After an eternity of staring him down I decided to go outside to get a better look. I approached with "stealth" . As Elmer Fudd says, "Be vehehehewy vehehehewy quiet." I finally caught a glimpse of the guy and man, he was huge. Well, I needed three more feet to go so I could slip behind a tree and get some good outdoor pics, but that never happened. He detected movement,"stealth" , and flew off about 100 yards. Neat experience though. Don

Great report. I had a blast. Thanks for going Gallagher. It was a pleasure fishing with you. You caught fish by several methods and tactics. I'll let you know when I can go again. It was good to see Kevin show up. It was a great day to get out, good weather, good company, no generation, and people were catching fish everywhere. Kevin, aka Troutdawg, stayed and fished after dark. I haven't heard a report from him since we left. Don

Good to see you again Terry, I'm glad I arrived just in time for the Beason Blue Light Special. I hope those flyshop stories didn't embarass you too much. Good thing the wife wasn't there again. You would never be able to go fishing with me again. Don

Dang it Terry, If I would have known earlier....I already drove home from work I could have told you a few you haven't heard yet and could have gotted $5.00 off of that $5.00 pack of scud hooks I've been saving up for. Will you be there tomorrow? If not, remind me to tell you about the time I showered all the guests with beer as I raised a large cupfull during a toast. I have no idea where that ceiling fan came from O yeah, you also need to remind me to tell you about the time I drove my car into a pond Well I regret not being able to make it today. However, I did refer my friend Apoo to Backcountry Outfitters for all of his flyfishing needs Don

Gallagher, Do you smash watermelons on stage? Hardy Har har. Welcome to the nuthouse! I'll help you out when I can. Don