Daddy Carp

A fortune cookie is something that most of us muse about and enjoy after an oriental dinner. They are light hearted sayings of a non-specific nature to brighten our mood. Seldom have you seen a serious prediction or saying and never a religious saying or insinuation in a fortune cookie. No, I'm not a cookie salesman, but I would like to share with you an email from my daughter who was always taught that there is a God who is in total control. As with so many of her generation, religion was not "cool" on campus and in the professional corporate circles. It became, "I believe but not sure as to the power and control over destiny. When I have time, I'll check it out more." was her attitude. I have seen a prayer answered for this youngster's health, and through her email response, seen another answered for the well-being of her sole. God works in mysterious ways but he does work! Remember as you read her writings, religious sayings are not put in fortune cookies. Most Chinese are Buddhist. Please share: This really is from me, Monica. It is not a chain letter that I have copied from someone else. I Sent this message below to many of you before I ever left the restaurant (you can see Justin's Arm and his favorite Mountain Dew shirt he is wearing in the background). I didn't have Everyone plugged into my phone so I am resending it. The picture is rather large and blurry But the message below should explain...(as for the rough week it's been non-stop challenges Between my dad's challenges with his cancer, a close friend that was in CCU and Tonight my nephew ended up in the emergency room for some mysterious seizure.) Make no mistake, I'm not telling you all of this to whine...just to let you know the frame of Mind I was in when I sent the message below. For the record, I've never been a very good Christian but I've always been extremely Spiritual. I don't know that I'll ever be a Good Christian, but I will publicly share this Message and profess my faith in God. Maybe it's The "There's no athiest in a foxhole" syndrome (I've never been athiest, by the way---that's Just an expression) Or maybe it's just my time to Listen, whatever the case may be.... I thought I'd share it. Monica So I have had a rough week and I took the kids out for dinner at our favorite Chinese buffet. At the end of the meal we got our fortune cookies and I silently said a little prayer to give me a message that would lift me up. If you cant read the message in the picture it says "God looks after you especially." I think that message is as about as uplifting as it gets. Don't You? I think I'll keep that little paper for the rest of my life!  (the picture of the "fortune" would not copy, but is of her hands holding the saying & showing it to her children at the table in the restaurant.)

Most won't talk about it, except "in the closet", because it's not "cool" since the bass pro network pushes name brand batterys, but I have used them for years and am very pleased with the performance and power retension. That is the yellow, marine deep cycle batterys that WALMART sells. The big one is around $68 and is guar. replacement for 18 mo. I normally get about 3 years out of them on my trolling motor. It is about the same as the Alstate so far as lasting before replacement. THE MAIN THING is, I can buy 2 for the price of an Optima or Die Hard so that gives me about 6 years of service for the price of 1 name brand "hype" battery. I may not look as macho or have braggin-rights at the bass-club smoker but I will go just as far, just as fast and for just as long for 1/2 the cost (besides, I don't smoke anyway). Nothing wrong with the Die Hard or Optima, I'm just too cheap to throw away the price of a good rod for machoism! God bless & Good luck...........The ole tight-wad, D.C.

DARN Amish, I remember when we used to have that kind of catch before we even got the 2nd pole baited and set! Sounds like fishing is going to be pretty tough for a while. I just hope they don't skrew up the spawn. At least then we can look to the future. Got a good report on my CT scan, they said they see about 50% shrinkage of the cells. Then I got even better news that it was done using a 1/2 dose of meds due to my bronchts. & pneumon. at the start. Had 3 chemos to that point. Dr said they are going to go full strength, so I should tighten my seatbelt. Got my fingers crossed real tight now! Thanks for the prayers of you and all who did, I think we got this thing on the run! I am a firm believer that chemo is only a tool and the final repairs will come from the "Almighty" Himself! Please keep the prayers commin. Have a good one & God Bless............D.C.

Hi trav, don't know if you saw it or not, but about 60yds out from shore in front of Rockaway Beach (just down stream from city dock) there is a mud flat that is about 20'wide and was 2" under the surface before the water came back up. It looks like it runs quite a ways downstream.

MORE OF UPPER BULL SHOALS @ POWERSITE AREA: WOW! WHAT A MESS!

Geezer or Amish Bill, How are the docks and things holding? Mine still had some room at 15' but now it's hit 18' and still climbing. They cut back the release rate before that last series of rains and held at about 12'. Now the rains are "washing their butts"! The corp has gone back to a 3500 release rate, but I think it's too late for the damage at hand. My neighbor said that 4+ docks had broke loose in Deckers Cove over the weekend. Several others were damaged. I've been fighting the "Taneycomo/Bull Shoals" floods. Taney is receeding now. Yesterday, there was only about 6' difference in lake levels at Powersite dam. A 6' rise on Bull Shoals would have combined the 2 lakes into 1. Have a good one, if the water don't go down, I guess I can launch the boat from my back deck! ......LOL

When will the rain let up and give the lakes and streams a chance to heal? I spent most of the month of Feb. in the hospital and re-cooperating from some major illnesses so my fishing times were NILL after New Years Day. I took advantage of the nice weather and fished Upper Taney. Since I've been home from the hospital, I think that Taney has decided it would come to me! I'm about 3 blocks up the hill from the normal lake but if it gets any higher, I think I can cast crankbaits off my deck. I'm looking forward to getting back on Taneycomo and would like to get on upper Bull Shoals while the whites and walleys are still active. I was down to Beaver Creek Marina 2 wks. ago and if I had had my binoculars, could have seen the docks from water's edge. Bad thing is.....They were expecting another 11' rise during the next few days. Like I originally said, I'm somewhat of a fair-weather fisherman but it looks like the weather is going to turn fair real soon! HAVE A GOOD DAY & GOD BLESS! 1. Rockaway Beach dock & ramp,

Thom, I have both T-Mobile and Cingular (now AT&T). The T-Mobile works fair in the southern Mo. area lakes if your on a hill or near a larger city. My Cingular I have had since 1998. The reason I originally chose that service was they pulled a map up on the computer showing coverage areas for all companies. They had coverage all over the U.S. and one of the only ones who had almost complete coverage on southern Mo. I have a place on Pomme de Terre also and use that phone there totally. My T-mobile and most others will not work without driving 3 mi. up on a hill. I have many times found I could use my Cingular where others would not work. I too have had to up grade from my original "plain Jane" Motorola (analog) to one of the new "hard to see & use/slimline digitals) I don't think the range is as great as the analog but all is digital now so I have no choice. They have put in more towers to compensate so it is still the best game in town. The package usage plans are right in line with the others, difference is you can use what you pay for without driving 5 miles for a signal or holding your head in an awkward position so as not to loose signal connection. One of the worst is Verizon!! I have that as my (had) On-Star provider in the Buick. It was so worthless, I told them to discontinue and shove it along with my accumulated "free minutes". If the ever offer a better service provider, I'll put the car-phone back on line......Till then, GM can stuff it!

Last week when I was down at Beaver Creek Marina, the guy who runs it said they expected another 11' of rise. He lost his gas tank and was trying to tie off the docks and maintain. With all the septics, trash piles, fuel & chem. storages that have been wiped out, I think I would do "catch & throw-away" NOT "keep & eat" at this point in time.

Hey Trav, Here are some pics I took last Thurs. from the road above the boat-launch parking lot at Beaver Creek Marina. The Marina was about 100 yds. out from shore!

Keep your eyes open boys! I think Taney is getting a pretty good "flush" right now. As fast as the water was moving at Beaver Creek on Bull Shoals Thursday and as high as it was, it may be getting a good flush too. They were talking that it may rise another 11' before it tapers off. As fast as that water was moving, we'll probably have to go to Theodosia and get our fish back!

Whenever you get fed up with the MDC, just move to Kansas and deal with the fish & game commission out of Pratte, Ks. I lived in Kansas for most of my life but hunted and fished Mo. most of the time. That is one of the most screwed up politicaly driven agencies you can find. They put almost "Zill" back into conservation of game or the lands it controls. If you get more than 20 yards from your truck on public land, you'll never find your dog. Trust me, you'll be back here within a year wanting to kiss & hug the MDC for the good work and management they are doing. And yes, I do practice "catch & release"........so far, I'm still practicing cause when I get a quail or peasant, I throw them 4 or five times but they just won't go back to cover or take off!!

Hey Geezer, been awhile! I was up to my place in Decker's cove. I could stand on shore & see my dock with binoculars!! I believe this is the highest I've seen this lake so far. Gonna open up the place and hope the water goes down by then. Good luck & catch one for us.

OH YA, When I get word on when they are gonna start the dredge, I'll let you know. It might be you'll want to come over and see that.

I don't think they've got a schedule yet but so far things seem to be moving along towards the "dredging event". There are about 50 million little "air-headed" bstrds. that have to bitch, complain and sign their name to any action that takes place any more. As far as the "tree huggers" I invite them down, there are several on the bottom and many floating towards Power Site to take the big trip over. They can hug them all they want til "death do them part". Sure miss the old days when you just take an old bed spring set and a tractor and clean the pond of grass, debris & cattails. Now you have to have 50 signature tags on the springs and 5 more on the tractor. LMAO ROTF

Here are some photos I took yesterday eve at Rockaway Beach dock & boat ramp. Water was over 3/4 of the parking area and walkway to the dock.

Be sure to try up in Bull Creek (on the upriver side of Rockaway). Word is that not only bass are up there but also some good rainbows as well. Last week, there were several rainbows caught off the city dock that went from 3-6lbs. they were taken on powerbait.

The one I know does, but you don't want to hear it!!! It always has the longest darn "honey-do" list attached that you could imagine. The rest of the time she just sounds like a normal wife. ( I guess, I tend to use selective-hearing)..lol.

FYI....... HERE IS A COPY OF AN EMAIL I JUST SENT TO ALL MY CONTACTS. YOU MAY BE AWARE OF IT, IF NOT, TAKE HEED & PASS IT ON: THIS IS SCARRY ESPECIALLY WITH KIDS HAVING CELLS NOW!! SNOPES SAYS: 1. Urban Legends Reference Pages: 809 Area Code Scam ••• Are callers lured into placing calls to the 809 area code charged large long-distance fees? ...Scams --> 809 Area Code Scam 809 Area Code Scam Fraud: Unsuspecting phone customers are gulled into placing calls to area codes in the Caribbean... ...DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809 This one is being distributed all over the US. This is pretty scary especially given the way they try to get you to call.... ...or more, and is difficult to avoid unless you are aware of it. This scam has also been identified by the National Fraud Information Center and is costing... Sun, 16 Mar 2008 12:41:35 GMT http://www.snopes.com/fraud/telephone/809.asp May Ya Safely Be In Heaven,Before the Devil Knows Yer Gone. DAN & KAREN > ABOUT AREA CODE > > > > > We actually received a call last week from the 809 area code. The woman said "Hey, this is Karen Sorry I missed you--get back to us quickly. I Have something important to tell you." Then she repeated a phone number beginning with 809 . "We didn't respond". > > Then this week, we received the following e-mail: > > Subject: DONT DIAL AREA CODE 809 , 284 AND 876 > > THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO US BY AT&T. DON'T DIAL AREA CODE 809 > > This one is being distributed all over the US . This is pretty scary, especially given the way they try to get you to call. > > > Be sure you read this and pass it on. > They get you to call by telling you that it is information about a family member who has been ill or to tell you someone has-been arrested, died, or to let you know you have won a wonderful prize, etc. > In each case, you are told to call the 809 number right away. Since there are so many new area codes these days, p eople unknowingly return these calls. > > If you call from the US , you will apparently be charged $2425 per-minute. > > Or, you'll get a long recorded message. The point is, they will try to keep you on the phone as long as possible to increase the charges. Unfortunately, when you get your phone bill, you'll often be charged more than $24,100.00 . > > WHY IT WORKS: > > The 809 area code is located in the British Virgin Islands (The Bahamas). the dominican actually > The charges afterwards can become a real nightmare. That's because you did actually make the call. If you complain, both your local phone company and your long distance carrier will not want to get involved and will most likely tell you that they are simply providing the billing for the foreign company. You'll end up dealing with a foreign company that argues they have done nothing wrong. > > Please forward this entire message to your friends, family and colleagues to help them become aware of this scam > > > Sandi Van Handel > AT&T Field Service Manager > (920)687-904 > Additional information on these area codes can be found from ATT at: > http :// www.consumer.att.com/consumertips/areacode.html > GOOD LUCK & TELL THE KIDS! D.C.

Be careful Trav with that size info! You know the first thing Leonard and Caddis are gonna say; "no wonder, all the weak ones stay in the lower & can't make the swim, should come to upper end where the big strong fishes are"....LOL. Don't know if that's right or not, but there are some monsters up there hugging the dam.

I guess the deviding line all depends on what perameters you are using to devide the area. If you go by the legal limits and permits The MDC and conservation agencies would have a line defined and technically explained. That would be areas according to regulations. If you form a line according to: depth, width, generation impact, most productive baits & methods, water temps. and warm water inlet effects, the line will be quite different than the regulation divisions. IE: the divisions at Bennet Springs legal vs. type of water & successful methods. For me, I tend to draw the line at the Branson side of the Bend at the "Old Gold Mine". It seems that the channel starts to spread out wider with less depth. Below that bend, the lake is wider but the channel is narrower and you start into the steady 30' plus depth. The inlets and creeks seem to be warm right out to the mouth with Bass more active in the main lake at these points. The trolling and drifting seem to require a little different technique and speed than above 65 bridge. As Trav can tell you, you can actually "jig a spoon there" with the water depth, and due to that depth, it is hard to catch a big one fishing 4'-8' deep. You have to get down with a down-rigger or bottom walker to troll or slow drift & vertical jig using good electronics. Just my opinion and 1 devider line, There will be as many deviders as there are fishermen who have fished both ends of Taney. That's what keeps the conversation alive over a hot cup on a cold snowy evening!

Well Amish, Geezer, and the rest of you plug-chuckers, No posts since Dec. 26,07?? Guess I'll have to get up there and open up the place and see what's biting and where. Been under the weather a bit but bouncing back and getting ready to chase some fishes. See you guys on the lake soon, I hope. Got an idea the old "March Lion" will stick around till the last day! Take care & if you get out, watch that cold and icy ramps.

, , , I've attached 3 photos I took this afternoon at the boat ramp/fishing dock area at Rockaway Beach about 11am. The water had already started receeding. It had several on the waterfront really worried for a while. Thanks Amish, Ya got a battle to fight but will be back up to open Pomme house about the end of the month if things keep going as good as they have so far! Hope these attachments will download for you all!

Thanks Phil, these were from "days gone buy". It's nice to see the way things were once in a while so we remember how we got to how things are now, good or bad. These are very unique and enjoyable. Hope the Flu has flown! and left you once again with good health. I brought my Daughter's family over last Thurs. to show them the upper end of taney and the hatchery. They were quite empressed, especially the grandkids. Showed them your tackle shop and layout which they thought was really neat. Was gonna say high but they said you were down & resting. Since I'm taking Chemo right now, I told the gals to give you my best as I have to stay far away from flu & infections right now. Have a good one, will catch up with you later........D.C.

Took a little site-see down to Beaver Creek Marina last Thurs. with daughter & her family. Looked like the water level was pretty high on Bull Shoals. The moring dock by the ramp was under water. Guess right now, there is no place for the water in Taney to go, so they just let it build with a slow release rate.