Bman

Me too, I will keep you all informed. They are hot on the trail. I have told the agent that I am willing to sign a statement. I was looking forward to taking my kids, and grandkids fishing for smallmouth, and trout right where this deadbeat made his killing. It took years to produce some of those smallies. He robbed all of us.

Just to update everyone on this issue, I have been contacted by a MDC agent. He has informed me that there are several agents working on this case! Of course they can't be everywhere, but it is very encouraging to recieve the interest and responce that is happening with this violation that I saw. Many thanks agents of the MDC. If any of you wittness a violation...The best way to report a wildlife violation is to report it to the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-800-392-1111 or call the local sheriff's department. tight lines all, Bruce

Trav, Awesome! Just tell me where & when I take a week down there. What should I bring tackle wise or we can figure it out later. Or PM me.

Trav, Me too buddy...maybe someday you could show me lower Taney, my boat , my gas, I would pick you up, & just point me in the right direction! What do you think??? Regards, Bman Bruce Omans

Hey Trav, No I released them after the pic, the same for the others.It's fun to sit on top of a school of White Bass...catch & release...WHAT A BLAST!!! Even got out my 6 wt Stcroix with some Clousers and kicked butt!!! Regards, Bruce

We whacked 'em good today got into a buch of White Bass like these all day today,and some Stipers.

C C , I see you are from Lebanon.I would much rather go to Bennett, but since you asked about the Maramec Spring Park... they generally stock more fish on the weekends, they do stock every day after the closing horn blows...(HINT)...follow the stocking truck up the path and watch where they stock, and how many net fulls.If you are staying overnite, you know where to fish the next day! Otherwise I never bother to get there in the early morning, wait till the early birds get their limit & leave. I don't know if you fly fish or spin fish, either way can be very effective. Spin fishing best bait? Well I get in trouble around here if I mention the best by name...but try throwing the dough bait on a jig hook under a float.Form the dough to resemble a grub body on the jig hook, USE LIGHT LINE!!! consider nothing over 2lb test. Try 1 lb or 7x-8x tippet. Use Fluorocarbon! Fly fishing try scuds, midges,san juan worms,or eggs(fly). CAUTION! If you go down to the river past the signs, you are in a trophy trout special regulation area! Select artificials,and flies only,only two rainbows over 15" may be kept. Be aware of the law! They could be(hopefully watching) You must have a trout stamp as well. Thats not the tag you bought at the park office. Hope this helps, Good Luck! Tight Lines

Lilley's for sure!

Good point Trav.

Yes Phil, That was quite a piece of work. I regret not getting better and more complete pics of that stringer, it would have been even more revealing. I was standing there in utter disbelief of what I was witnessing. After he went a little ways downstream and butchered that stringer, I could have walked up on him and took pics as well, but I figured that may not be a good idea. My temper gets bad in such conditions. I will be looking for this dude in the future, with camera and phone ready.

Here's how much snake can fit in a blue bird house.

I have run across copperheads frequently, even in my back yard that borders a creek backed by a tall ridge. Neighors stack firewood on oak palets = copperhead heaven. I have never seen an aggressive copperhead, only time when I saw one shedding it's skin, it could not see, so I don't blame him, he's scared, so stay away from shedding copperheads. Always look carefully before you reach or step. If you have children, you have to get rid of them,period. (Ahem) the copperheads, not the kids. I have a black snake around the back for years, last skin she shed was 6 ft long!!! Here's a couple of pics of her a few years ago raiding the blue bird box. No she didn't get them, and yes I moved the box!! The Blue birds have raised one clutch and are starting on a second.

Got these pics of a watersnake at Maramec Spring Park, I think his eyes are bigger than his belly...even for a snake. Yum trout guts.

Thanks for the advise, I have sent an email to this man with pics. Thank you members for your comments. Bruce

Troutbum,thanks,you rock!

Guys,thanks, This guy was using illegal bait to catch all,and I saw him take 4 rainbows without measure...the pics only represent what I was able to capture...this dude made a killing,and this was only the start of the trophy area. When you are out for a good time, and respect nature, it's really disgusting to run into this kind.

Got down to the park about noon Fri. Thay are stocking really nice fish in the park. I was catch and release fishing with barbless hooks,so I would stick one and move on to the next spot. Then I decided I would move on down to the river to check it out.I entered the water on the bluff side,opposite from the gravel bar across the river on the inside of the bend.I could not believe what I saw one of the worse cases of poaching I've seen in a long time! This guy would turn his back and bait up his zebco,turn back around throw out and bam catch a trout and put it on the stringer.I watched him fill his stringer this way.WHERE'S THE GAME WARDEN? I was thinking...didn't have my cell phone on me.BUT I did have my camera! After filling his stringer he lifted the stringer and threw the fish in the boat to die.Then he drifted down to the next gravel bar and cleaned the fish getting rid of the evidence(he thinks) law says the heads and tails must remain on the fish taken. Only two rainbows over 15 inches may be taken in this trophy area.He didn't measure a single one.Check out the stringer pic! I went up to the park office to report to the consevation office,but the office was closed! Here are a few pics of the poacher.Hope the law watches this site!

I run a Southfork custom jet john 1752 with a yamaha 90 hp 2 stroke.It runs great,light,jumps up on plane quick,and will shoot riffles even with a little gravel showing(in a straight line) I would highly recomend this sort of rig.The 56 should go more shallow if you need that or more room. But, some day I will run a River Pro built right here in Hillsboro Missouri. It will run as shallow as any...BUT they can turn and handle better than John style jet boats! They have a real tough bottom as well. check them out http://www.riverpro-boats.com/ River Pro Demo

Mike, Thanks for the report!

+2 on ironman. I bought one at Wally world in Branson 3 yrs ago...fishing,in the shower,no problem.

Always love fish pix,thanks!

Welcome Ivana, Thanks for sharing the smallie pic! Enjoy this very informative site. Regards,Bruce

I will give another thumbs up to Ed at Larry's

I usually wade Tan Vat,with the extra water now floating might be ok. Otherwise I wade the Tan Vat to park or downstream,Floating from Baptist camp.