Brian Sloss

Just a heads up to anyone thinking of coming to the Eleven Point the next few days, we are getting snowed on right now, We may get a little ice too, but none so far. We are supposed to get between 5-8 inches. Roads to Turner Mill and Whitten could be dangerous even if the asphalt roads are clear. Just a heads up.

A buddy of mine has the same bottle he fills with hooch for over night fishing trips. Lucky trout bottle.

Any Missouri fishing regs book will have it. No soft plastics (worms and grubs, etc) and no synthetic baits (power bait) and no live bait. You can use things like rapalas, rooster tails, marabou jigs and of course flies.

I definitely think you can get started with an inexpensive set up, $150 or less. Anything more is way more than you should spend just getting started (see how much you like it 2 years from now before upgrading). Also, getting a $500+ rod is like getting a $1000 set of Ping golf clubs when you can't break 100. At that point it is the Indian, not the arrow. As you progress and your skills improve, the higher end rods will make a difference. I'd suggest going to a store and trying out some different options. As for all the odds and ends you can get that will add up, you don't need them all and some are just over priced. Nippers for instance can cost a lot (6-7 dollars), but fingernail clippers do the same thing for 99 cents and you can get them at any grocery store. Get what you need to get started, remember to have fun, and if you really enjoy it, you can enjoy it for far less than most people pay to play golf. Yeah, the flies and leader and such will add up,but if you enjoy it enough, the expense will be well worth it.

I definitely think you can get started with an inexpensive set up, $150 or less. Anything more is way more than you should spend just getting started (see how much you like it 2 years from now before upgrading). Also, getting a $500+ rod is like getting a $1000 set of Ping golf clubs when you can't break 100. At that point it is the Indian, not the arrow. As you progress and your skills improve, the higher end rods will make a difference. I'd suggest going to a store and trying out some different options. As for all the odds and ends you can get that will add up, you don't need them all and some are just over priced. Nippers for instance can cost a lot (6-7 dollars), but fingernail clippers do the same thing for 99 cents and you can get them at any grocery store. Get what you need to get started, remember to have fun, and if you really enjoy it, you can enjoy it for far less than most people pay to play golf. Yeah, the flies and leader and such will add up,but if you enjoy it enough, the expense will be well worth it.

In a word, yes. There are too many otters on this river and I'm sure the same is true on others. They really have no predators except people and not many of us trap these days. Shake a trappers hand if you see him on the river, because we need them to help limit the otter population, because they do hurt fish populations from what I have noticed (unscientifically I might add).

Got out with my friend John, who helps us with a little of our guiding sometimes and we fished from the Greer confluence down to just above Mary Decker. We caught plenty of fish, probably 25+ each. No monstors were caught as the biggest fish was probably 16 inches. We caught fish on Squiral nymphs, crawdads, stones, and eggs bumped off the bottom. The fishing isn't as fast and furious as it was in say Oct., but it is still good if you put the fly near the bottom. A good report came to me from a floater from Turner to Whitten the other day and I think I will make a run down there when I get my boat back in a few weeks. We did catch a couple of skinny fish that looked to have spawned fairly recently, at least that is why I think they were skinny.

The large CAFO chicken and hog farms that threaten to do major damage to the Roaring river watershed is the fault of liberal activist judges? Now I've heard it all! It is far and away conservative politicians that would support such operations. This is happening under GOv. Blunt's watch and a Republican majority. But somehow it is the evil Democrats and liberals fault. If you are an outdoorsman, it should not matter your party affiliation on this one. An accident or a good flood starting upriver and coming down through Roaring River and into Table Rock Lake will prove that. Just notice the fish kill that will follow and I sure would not want to eat any fish that are left behind alive. I should just ignore political comments from now on, it will be a lot easier. What can we do and where can we find more info on this case?

Matt, That might be doable. Let me know.

Nice report. I have not gotten out on the river in a couple of weeks. Good to hear she is fishing fine. I might float a lower section when I get my boat back from its biannual reconditioning. Did you do better above or below Whitten? Trying to decide whether to run Truner to Whitten or Whitten to Riverton or stick to the blue ribbon area. I've heard good things lately around stinking pond, but have not gone out myself.

I've done the Michigan thing 6 times for salmon, but never steelies. That being said, the guys at www.fishbaldwin.com are great. Very affordable place to visit and great fishing.

I am not trying to argue with you and I apologise if I come accross cambative on the issue. I am not saying there are no shades of grey on this issue or others, but I think we know enough to take action as a country to try and reduce carbon emmissions and find alternatives. I am not saying you don't believe this, I am saying I do. The first few comments on this thread took shots at the existance of glodal warming, sorry if you were unfairly lumped in.

First of all, I did read past the 1st paragraph and just because I came to a different conclusion than you did does not mean I am under-informed (very arrogant assumption). The fact remains that just because you can point to an open letter by a few scientists(not all of which I would consider appropriate to the study, many are though), does not change the fact that the vast majority of scientists believe that global warming is happening, that we are a cause of it to a certain extent and that we should try to do something about it. Whether you hate Al Gore or not, there is truth in Global Warming in my opinion. If you disagree, fine, but I feel TU is doing the right thing by considering the possible effects on our fisheries. Also I don't recall saying ethonal was the answer, though in conjunction with solar, wind,nuclear and a myriad of other possibilities that we don't know about yet, it might be. I'd like to see what can be done if we commit to becoming energy independent like we did when we diecided to go to the moon. But trying to do something is better than just saying pick your poison and hoping that it all works out

The first paragraph alone makes wonder when they simply say that climate change can't be stopped so we should try to become resiliant through wealth building. But we can alter the level at which we affect it to a degree and I can't believe that is a bad thing. As for the signatures, there were degrees that I would have to think would apply to climate studies and some that do not apply at all. Social sciences and economics do jump out. Also, no one has answered when the nobel prize was given out something where the science was proven to be "junk".

ANY carbon pollution of the atmosphere is negative, but HOW negative we are not sure. The Earth has an amazing ability to adapt. We simply lack the long-term data to draw conclusions. Then why should we gamble our grandkids and great grand kids environment on the hope that the earth will adapt. We at least can all agree that carbon pollution at the levels they are now are bad, then we should be able to agree that something needs to be done. For the sake of future generations. Also, how great would it to be energy independent, given the lack of stability in the mid-east. Developing these new technologies will create jobs as well. I simply just don't believe that global warming is a hoax and besides there are numerous reasons to work towards carbonless energy sources.

Al, Could not agree more. The nobel Prize is not given out to "junk" science and if some one can point out a time when the nobel prize was given to what was later proved to be bad scientific work, I'd love to hear it. Mind you I said science, not a subjective field like politics.

I for one am glad that TU is acknowledging the potential impact of Global warming, it would be irresponsible for them not to, as the vast majority of scientists think it is important and only a handful think otherwise. A hatred for Al Gore should not shape an opinion on this matter and that is what I am hearing most.

Thanks, I may have to join you if you don't mind the company.

Have been toying with the idea of taking a fly rod and trying to get some top water action for stripers. Does anyone know a good time of year to try this. I hear that the fishing can be awesome when they are chasing shad near the surface.

I'm officially old I guess, but I don't feel old. Thanks for the birthday wishes.

Granted I am hard on stuff, as it gets used more than most peoples, but I have have never had a pair of waders last more than a year to a year and a half. Within that time I am always getting wet. I have used the cheapest waders to $300 waders in brand names like Orvis or Simms. Now I just buy the cheapest breathable wader I can find, because they will all leak on me in about a year. That is my 2 cents.

Hey guys. I have been using my drift boat for guiding on the Eleven Point for 4 years now and though I have gotten down to the Spring river to wade fish a number of times, I have never taken my drift boat and have not floated the river in a canoe. Was thinking of going with some friends down that river for fun and to do something different. I know the river is big enough but was worried about all the rock ledges doing some damage to the boat. Would the spring river be a good candidate for using my drift boat? Has anyone with a drift boat used theirs there before? If so what would be the best stretch? Thanks in advance.

They tend to do the deed in shallower water, but it could happen in deeper water I guess, but it would be less likely I think. Another good question for the biologist though.

We have fall and spring spawning trout in the Eleven Point due to the different strains in the the river. I don't know which strains exactly, a good question for the biologist. We will see spawning through Dec though and then some more in April or somewhere around that time. Also, with the hatchery fish you could see some spawning efforts when you would least expect it.

Took 3 guide trips in 4 days and the fishing was solid. It was not as fast and furious as it was a month ago, but still quite good. We fished deep with Stoneflies, crawdads, squirel nymphs and eggs. Yesterday we spotted fish on gravel in numerous places indicating the spawn is under way and of course avoided fishing to those guys all together and I hope others will as well. If you leave those fish alone, we may get a few extra fish in the next year or two if we are lucky. Also, if you see this behavior from fish, please avoid wading these spots, so as to not step in any redds. Good fishing to all.