Brian Sloss

I agree with Al. As for can I have an opinion based on facts and not emotional reasons. I bet that goes back to Mr Fox's commercial. A lot of people got bent out of shape about that one saying he was faking and that his commercial was below the belt because he has parkinsons. That is bunk. He has every right to speak out and his opinion is very valid. Not many people have a better perspective than those who stand to be helped potentially by more and better research. To not include them in the debate would be like discussing your life in front of you, and not letting you speak. Is it emmotional on some level? Yes. Is it fair? Yes. Are my friends scientists? For the most part, no they are not. Though I do no some people who teach science on the College level. My Dad was a college math professor for years. I can't say I've talked to any of his old collegues in a few years, so I can't give their opinions for sure, but I would bet they would be for Prop 2. I don't think science as a community is organized to pull the wool over peoples eyes to get money and create a fully cloned human being. Science is not the enemy in my mind, the scientists are in my opinion trying to understand the physical world and help the human race. It is that simple.

3wt, Isn't leaving the fertilized eggs in a constant frozen state wrong then? I mean, we have probably millions of these fertilized eggs. By your logic they are human beings right now, so we better start lining up the women to get implanted. Because how cruel is it to freeze a live human being? Of course I'm being over the top, but by the logic that you lay out, that would be the only humane thing to do. I understand everyones passion on this subject and I respect the religous beliefs that bring so many to the conclusion that they have, but I respectfully disagree. And I also know there are those whose christian, jewish or other faiths that bring them to the exact opposite conclusion. I also feel that the only consistant opinion with the notion that embryonic stem cell research is wrong, would be that invitro fertilization is wrong. Does anyone want to outlaw that practice?

I have been reading this thread with some interest and I got to say, a Rush L. passage will never convince me of anything. Ads in politics are often misleading. Well, he is a 3 hour a day political ad. And before anyone asks, yes I have listened to Rush, Hannity and Bill plenty. I spend a lot of time in the winter in a car and often pass the time with talk radio. Why does the media not trot out scientists who disagree with the potential for stem cells? Because there are very few if any involved in this field that don't see the potential. I understand that a lot of people on this board will never agree with me on this subject and I respect everyone and their reasons for disagreeing with me, but I support stem cell research. By the way, how many people are against invetro vertilization? I bet a lot of people know someone who has had a child through this process. There are loads of eggs fertilized to do this. They are then frozen and eventually discarded (thrown out, destroyed). I think if the producers of said eggs (ie mom and dad), agree to donate the extra eggs to research, they should have the right. Also, I don't have a problem with the state or Federal gov't helping to fund the research. For that matter, I believe they have the moral obligation to do so. I hope I don't regret posting what I'm sure is an unpopular opinion on this subject.

Well its the 27th and I should be on a guide trip right now, but yesterdays rain has called off todays trip. Overnight the water went up a little over 2ft and muddied up a bit. It should be fine in a couple of days, but for now we are shelving todays guide trip until Dec. While it was raining yesterday, a couple of Eleven Point regulars (John and Jimmy) hit the river just before the high waters hit. The result was positive. Lots of quality fish, most taken on the Don's crawdad and black wooly bugger. Deep with lots of weight was needed. Here are a couple of pics of the same fish(big fish of their day). What a dandy!

Go crazy folks, go crazy!!!

I think it depends. On the Eleven Point the change in designation has meant no change in regs. Our blue ribbon area had the same regs under its previous designation. That being said, fishing has improved with changed management strategies. Though we did and do get wild reproduction, but not at a level that provides more than 150-250 fish per mile. You can still get them if you know where they are successful at reproducing though. They now suppliment that population annually and that really helps a lot. The reg change to 4 fish per day in the white ribbon area I think has really helped the white ribbon area keep more fish longer. The lower river has produced well this year and some large fish have been caught everywhere this year. It didn't hurt that they put a few extra fish in the white ribbon area this year. With the improvements to the hatcheries under way, hopefully we will see increased availibility of fish for all fisheries, not just Taney and the trout parks where they are located.

Cook heard you all did well at "graveyard" Sunday morning. Any report?

This weekend was our fly flingers weekend and we had a great time. About a dozen folks showed up to fish the Blue Ribbon area and while success varied from fisherman to fisherman, everyone caught fish that I know of. Crawdads and eggs were catching most of the fish and they needed to be deep. We had a BBQ and a raffle for TU after the fishing and I had a great time. Hope more of you can make your way this winter and spring. I also want to thank everyone who participated this weekend. Here are some pictures. here is the pic that didn't show up. This time I mean it.

Tomarrow starts our 2nd annual fly flingers weekend at the Eleven Point River Canoe Rental and I sincerely hope anyone thinking of coming to the Eleven Point to fly fish will come by. We will be BBQing Sat. night and holding a raffle to benefit Trout Unlimited. Get a hold of us if anyone wants to make a last minute trip to the Eleven Point. phone:417-778-6497 By the way, the river is looking good and the fishing should be as well. I will give a report after this weekend.

Water levels should be fine with a little stain, but that may help fishing. Went out yesterday we were able to catch fish. I think by this weekend fishing will be good.

The river has come up aout 1.75 ft from yesterday, but it was running low. It is brown right now. If it crests pretty soon, levels should be ok this weekend, though it could be a little stained (a little is ok, a lot is tough). Will need to see where it crests this afternoon.

Mark, The river is on the rise, but not too bad as of yet. Tomarrow afternoon will be the test of how high and off color it will get. I'll be checking the river first hand a few times tomarrow to see what conditions will be for a Wed guide trip and will post it here on this thread. Also, if your fishing down here this weekend, we are having a fly fishing weekend this Sat and Sun and will be raffling off a fly rod and flies if you are interested in participating (proceeds to TU). Click on my email if interested and I'll get you details if you want.

If it was below Morgan spring, it probably got cleaned pretty good.

It is upcoming as soon as my pictures arrive.

Good report, glad you had a good day. Was your catch rate better on the top half or lower half of that stretch? I'd been finding the uppper half to fish better, but starting to get reports that the lower is picking up as well. Just curious how it was for you.

I always thought Rolla would be a good location with its proximity to the Current, Meremac, Little Piney, Mill and Spring creeks. Plus it is a larger town and has the University. Probably not enough interest in the area to support it locally though.

I've been hearing lots of good reports this year, so I'm psyched. Even on the slower years I've been, there have been plenty of fish to chase. Should be fun.

Phil, Though Alaska is on my short list, summers are a no go for a few years to come with the type of business I'm in. I didn't realize you were in business leading trips to Alaska, just thought that was your vacation. I'd love to do something like what your doing in the future, just to a destination I can hit in the winter. Do you know of anyone or have advice about getting involved in something like what you are doing. You can email me or send a pm if you prefer.

We ussually stay at Red Moose Lodge and had their largest cabin reserved, but our group had thinned to much smaller than expected so we had to downsize. We are staying at the BBT motel right next to the BBT fly shop in Baldwin. This will be the 5th year in a row and maybe the last for a few years. I love it there, but we are thinking of trying some new places. Argentina come to mind, but it will take time to save the nickels and dimes. Also, maybe Canada or saltwater down south. Who knows, always looking for suggestions.

Off to the Pere Marquette tomarrow and will get back on Thursday with a salmon report.

Not sure what info you want in this PM. The Barren fork is probably an hour away. As for guide trips, I still have plenty of open dates this fall, but you should call about availability @ 417-778-6497. Be happy to take you out on the river. I'll be out of town from Sat-Fri this week coming up. Brian Sloss

The Barren Fork is a nice little (and I mean little) wild trout stream north of Emmince. I've only fished it a handful of times. You will probably be the only one there. Don't make a trip just to fish it though. Rather make it a side trip while fishing other rivers. The fish are pretty small. 12 inches is a very nice fish there, but 6 inches is more likely. Beautiful fish though. You can only fish a little way before you hit private land and a cable telling you not to go any further.

Leaving for salmon on Sat. night. Between 160 and 142, there are no other take outs, but Fredick enters in the last 1.5 miles out of 9.

George, Here is Stacy's rainbow. What a beauty!

They recently stocked below Greer and the fishing will be awesome from Greer to Turner for a while. They have not stocked Turner to Riverton this month because of gigging season, but they put more trout in this summer than in the past and there are still plenty of trout (see twosets report). The last report I got below Riverton was a couple weeks ago and the smallies were good, but not great. We flooded bad below around 142 last weekend, so I don't know how the water will be below Fredrick creek on that stretch. Remember that Greer to Turner is Blue ribbon, so know the regs. We want those fish to grow everyone.