Bman

That works. Yes, I believe it I looked.

Cool engine cover. Couldn't find you on Facebook. Give us a link?

To have to have a compliment such as,” I'm envious to say the least.”I hold in the highest regard from anyone. But to have this comment from the holder of our State Record Brown Trout, and line class holder to boot. I say a humble thank you, and I hope to share the water with you some time soon. I would be honored! I have had many in the fly fishing biz say that they were so happy these records went to yourself. They said, "he's a great guy deserving these records".

Thanks for the offer son, I will take you up on that, wish you could have been there. The River Pro ride...Joe and granddaughter Cadence took it all in. Your sis was hanging on and saying, "Dad"! So I was behaving myself. Joe did say he'd like for you & I to take a guys only trip sometime soon. GRIN River was low, we witnessed a jet john, and a Shoal Runner hit shallow gravel bars grinding gravel, and stuck bad.

I agree, for a new reel a common mistake.

Saturday. I took my daughter who is expecting a son on Labor Day, her husband Joe, and granddaughter Cadence out in the boat yesterday, to a nearby location on the Meramec River that doesn’t see floaters in large numbers. Saw 4 kayaks. The fish were biting. We caught one Largemouth, several small Smallies. Then I spotted a couple large Drum tailing in the rocks probably chomping on crawfish. I told my son in law, watch this I’m going to catch a big drum! (What the heck, they pull hard) I made a cast upstream of it, but landed a little further upstream than I wanted. I instantly felt my line go solid tight! Thought I was hung on a big rock. Then “the rock” started moving! Then I saw the biggest Smallmouth on the end of my line I’ve ever had on! It was huge! This massive Smallie was stripping line off my reel and making my line “sing” through the water. Got it turned and coming head first to the boat looking straight down the throat with its mouth wide open. Joe got a good look at it, and said WOW! Then the hook came out. GRRRR! I wanted my hands on that fish! I even had a digital camera with me. I would have released it after a pic. I had to behave myself and watch my mouth with my granddaughter on board. At least I had a witness to this fish story. A couple years ago, I caught and released a 4 lb Smallie on the same stretch of river. This one was way bigger! I will be back!

Yes. I got home, a shower, ate, and crashed. The next day, I took my daughter who is expecting a son on Labor Day, her husband Joe, and granddaughter Cadence out in the boat, to a nearby location on the Meramec River that doesn’t see floaters in large numbers. Saw 4 kayaks. The fish were biting. We caught one Largemouth, several small Smallies. Then I spotted a couple large Drum tailing in the rocks probably chomping on crawfish. I told my son in law, watch this I’m going to catch a big drum! (What the heck, they pull hard) I made a cast upstream of it, but landed a little further upstream than I wanted. I instantly felt my line go solid tight! Thought I was hung on a big rock. Then “the rock” started moving! Then I saw the biggest Smallmouth on the end of my line I’ve ever had on! It was huge! This massive Smallie was stripping line off my reel and making my line “sing” through the water. Got it turned and coming head first to the boat looking straight down the throat with its mouth wide open. Joe got a good look at it, and said WOW! Then the hook came out. GRRRR! I wanted my hands on that fish! I even had a digital camera with me. I would have released it after a pic. I had to behave myself and watch my mouth with my granddaughter on board. At least I had a witness to this fish story. A couple years ago, I caught and released a 4 lb Smallie on the same stretch of river. This one was way bigger! I will be back! About Taney, (I digress) Yes, the solitude and overall experience was awesome. At 2am, I had the area to myself. I stopped fishing several times; to just look around, smell the air, taking in the sights and sounds of the night. The only other time I had the upper end to myself was on a Christmas Eve. Several years back.

Dittos, Thanks for sharing. I don't know you personally, but you're for sure on my list of those to get to know better. Never been down your way.

Got out below the Dam after a few hours sleep and breakfast at Billy Gails. WINDY! Still had the rod rigged up for streamers from a few hours earlier. So I tried skipping some sculpins. It was pretty slow for me, quite a few people out fishing some of my favorite spots already. Then I tied on a different colored PMS that I got from Leonard...first cast, WHAM! a thick bodied 20 inch female. She shot over from a few feet to jump on it. Thanks Leonard! Caught a few more, missed more. A few cracks of thunder, I decided to pack it up, and head for the hills of High Ridge, stopping for frequent coffe breaks along the way.

Dude, What a day/ nite. First the afternoon, then "special coffe and treats" my introduction to the Taney strippers club... By 2 am I couldn't handle anymore. My fingers have some new marks in them they've never had before. You weren't kidding the fish don't fool around with those bugs of yours...Bang-Bang...they hammer them! Bman at 2am =

Sorry for a late reply, fishing Thur afternoon, a break for something to eat, and back out 'till 2 am. Four hours sleep and back out in the morning, the back home for Supper. Whew. No special spot. Just go down either bank, as the water comes up, the release from the Dam is "chuming" the water for ya. Washing the summer terrestrials off the bank into the little seams, and backwaters for ya.

It's 2:55 Am got off the water about 2 am. Leonard and I had Taney to ourselves at that point. My fingers are wore out, they have some grooves cut in them. Thanks Leonard, on sharing the art of Taney streamer stripping. What a blast, although I think they were teasing me more than me teasing them.

Greg, Yes they were rising, to the bugs produced by the rising water, nice quality fish.

Hi Laker, Or should I say...Obie-Wan. No boat today, I would really rather wade. The fishing today was more like catching! Had a ton of fun. Bman

Fished this afternoon with good fishing buddy, guide, and mentor, Chuck Griess. A belated Fathers Day Gift. Started with no generation till 2pm, it was a miss or hit every cast with Chucks version of trout crack, a sculpin colored wooly. The Dam fired up 2 units, then to 3 units (strong) and then the fishing really got to be fun! Went to dry fly's, and had so much fun I couldn't believe it! Cathing lots of quality fish mostly lots of healthy, thick, strong rainbows in the 18-19 inch range! a few browns too. Had a few taking me close to my backing. Hott dry of the day was the south african sand bettle.

A good arguement for "packing heat" on the river. Missouri is a consealed carry state now.

Well, For sure not on the Niangua! If you happen to be at Taney with 3-4 units, lets go! Just sit down, shut up, and hang on! You know having said all that I have on this thread. When it comes to catching big lunker trout, guess how many I've caught out of the boat... A whole whopping 1 I'd much rather be fly fishing chasing lunker trout on foot!

So I don’t step on any toes or give anyone the wrong idea where I’m coming from, I first want to say first even though I own and operate a jet boat. I am a wade fisherman first. When on the water I don’t go when or where I am likely to encounter waders, canoes, rafts swimmers, etc. I always give a wide berth, minding my wake if there are waders present, or more frequently, I will stop and turn around as to not disturb the wader/s. When wading a section of river like one of our several Trophy Trout waters, working a piece of water that I have to myself, nothing aggravates me more than one of those noisy jet boats coming up my way. (mine has mufflers). For example. If I’m at Taney with no generation, boating the upper end, and I’m coming up past Lookout Point to the shallow chute at Pointe Royale, there frequently are waders present all the way across the channel. I stop and go no further. If there are just a couple waders present, I might go further only by shutting down the big motor and using the troller to get by. Having said all that, here’s my point. Be aware of what the law says who has the right of way. When operating a motorized vessel on a navigable body of water who has the right of way? The motorized vessel or the wader? The vessel. Sure the operator of the vessel is obliged to avoid at all costs the wader, or the canoe. But the vessel has the right of way. There are several Coast Guard licensed guides posting on this site please correct me if I’m wrong.

I will give an AMEN to that. There are a few jet boaters that give the rest of us a bad name. I just don't go where there are lots of floaters. I would go to those areas before Memorial Day or after Labor Day.

Jim, How about your fishing report. Did you put in this morning and run up from Meramec State Park? How did it go? I got together with my kids/ grandkids this morning. I checked the ramp close to home and it was packed with trailers. I might sneak out for a bit this evening if the ramp clears up.

I'm thinking about taking my jet sled out as well. I will be around Pacific. Water is up enough to make it easy running. Water near the state park http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?07014500 Have a great holiday, and be safe!

I am interested in the same type of GPS. One big question, how accurate are they? I’ve heard various reports, some say no better than 12 feet.

Jim, As far as river levels go, the river is still up a bit from normal summer low flows. You didn’t mention many factors. Are you jet boating? Canoeing? Wading? What area do you plan to go to? Popular sections of the river will be log jammed with floaters! This is a holiday weekend dude, party time. All the people will be out in force, and the law. July 4th holidays are good for entertainment, in my humble opinion. Not for serious fishing. If you’re looking for a party, I’d go. Otherwise you might want water the back yard, and wait for another time, or look for a private lake or something… just a suggestion… Good Luck, Bman

I agree. Thanks for the pic!

Great story. I can relate, as I have a son and daughter and three grandkids, soon to be 4 grandkids. If I ever see a guy carrying a pink chair and stroller across the water, I promise to stop what I’m doing and help out. That wasn’t an embarrassing moment, that was a proud moment. Way to go Dad. Here’s one of my son Matt, and his daughter Mira with a hybrid Bluegill on her Barbie pole.