Randall

Maybe make a separate class for triploids, the same way different trout species are classified differently, I don't know. I agree with the above posts about not being overly concerned with it.

Don't be afraid to set the bar high Michael... I say go for ten, two line classes per fish. Seriously though, what are you targeting? I'm gonna get the woman fly-fishing this year.

I haven't really fished it but i really want to learn to target hybrids on the flyrod and I imagine it'll be possible this spring.

I wouldn't mind seeing one. I live in KC and am looking for a place to catch hybrids besides the spillway below Jacomo. I'd probably post results this spring. Sounds like there are a few others who fish it too.

If its too nasty and rainy for the muzzleloader I might make it out.

I understand that but when you consider the effort being put into bouncing ideas around and examining the effects of these proposed regulations on smallmouth populations, you would be well served to keep MDC's likely position in mind. If they won't go for it, it's all for naught. I'll again suggest looking at other states with regulations similar to those you want here and figuring out why they exist as they are. This approach will benefit you in two ways: 1) the supporting documents will answer some of your "scientific" questions or provide insight to help find those answers; and 2) it will allow you to see what the other states are doing and the successes and failures of those programs. Dan's post had a pretty good example of prong 1 and Gavin's last post was a good example of the second prong.

Given the fact that I know nothing about smallmouth, I'm going to forego any input regarding what the regs would do for the populations. My concern is that MDC would resist, arguing that it would take substantial amounts of time and money to implement the regulations as described. The "ribbon" system of regulations in place on trout waters covers a much smaller area than the same system of regulations aimed at smallmouth management would. Determining which rivers and streams require which regulations would be the first task and would require empirical studies of growth rates and population density as well as other factors such as competing populations of both game and non-game species of fish. Assuming all that data is available, it must be analyzed and a plan for regulating the different streams must be drawn up. Assuming the plan is feasible, MDC must implement it. That means not only rewriting the provisions in the CSR, but posting signs similar to those on the trout streams and stepping up enforcement for a while to get the word out. The somewhat complex system of regulation would require educating the MDC agents and the general public through various publications and seminars. Again, a substantial amount of time and money would have to go into this project. A possibility for overcoming that argument would be to look to other states that have regulations similar to those proposed and find out what it took to implement them and why they exist as they are. I would be willing to bet that states that have the best smallmouth fishing have the best regulations. Look at their laws and if they're on point, find any reports that were written regarding the regs and then try to figure out if the research and conclusions in those reports are applicable to Missouri. That in itself will be a lot of work.

I don't have any experience with the Hardy reels but I have a Lamson Konic on my 7-weight (Konic 3.5 7-8 weight) that I absolutely love. I have used it in both fresh and saltwater so I doubt you'll have a need it won't satisfy. They don't come with spare spools but you can pick them up for something like $70. The reel itself is around $130. I will advise you to find a demo model and get it wet. I liked my Orvis Battenkill Mid-Arbor until I got it wet and the drag loosened terribly then tightened back up when it dried.

Sounds like you had a good day, glad to hear it with the cold. The deer on my land had a hell of a win... I didn't manage to shoot one but I wrecked a big coyote. Whatever you were doing, it was a fantastic day to be out.

I've never seen the park store open during winter. I would stop in Cuba at Glen's Taxidermy. I don't know if he has a fly selection but it's possible. If nothing else, he's a hell of a nice guy and could probably tell you where to go. I think the Cuba Wal-Mart may have a fly selection as well. I saw that they were selling pro-shop quality nymphs and bucktails in the sporting goods department a few years ago. Meramec Package Liquor (the one by the Casey's) is also a possibility but I don't think they have a fly selection.

Might be down for like Monday or Tuesday. I got a few deer around here that don't believe I can hit em with the muzzleloader and I just can't let them keep thinking that.

Bait chucking heathen... now thats funny

Looking to adopt?

Yes to all, depending on the pattern and the conditions. Sometimes you want to swing and strip, bring it across the bottom, bring it through the middle of the column, or up high. The retrieve can vary significantly as well. Sometimes you want to strip slowly with pauses, sometimes short and quick, long and quick, etc... For example, my personal favorite, the Zoo Cougar, is designed to be fished by stripping 6-8" at a time in little bursts, like a wounded baitfish. A t-sculpin, on the otherhand is designed to remain on the bottom and to be stripped in as though it were darting between rocks as a real sculpin would. The general rule, therefore, is that there is no universal retrieve apart from the rule that you keep the rod tip low. I would start with a wooly, cast quartering upstream, mend, let it drift to where it is quartering downstream, then strip it in with varying retrieves until you get hit. All it takes is one good day and you'll be hooked. The learning curve is significantly less than when you first start fishing so it shouldn't take long.

I'll echo what Gavin and OTF said about location. I've fished cardiac during the winter and the only thing I caught was a cold. I'd also recommend Prince nymhs. If you like to streamer fish, sculpins and Galloup patterns might net you a solid brown or fiery rainbow. As far as the dropper, I prefer to drop the lighter fly. Some may disagree but I just feel like I get a better drift when the heavier fly is acting as an anchor and the lighter one can just kind of do whatever. When the heavier one is dropped you have the lead fly's drift potentially affected by the dropper and I just feel like it takes away from the overall presentation. As far as a scud/glo-ball combo, I'd do the scud then drop the ball about a foot off the scud.

Wow, I thought I was bad with 7 rods. Admittedly, none are TFO but my next purchases are going to be a Teeny 9 or 10' 8wt, a Deer Creek 12' 6wt switch and probably a 9' 4wt Professional series. I fell in love with the rods when I was fishing with Jeremy Hunt and Ty Ingram. Compared to my Sage DS2 8 wt, the Teeny was a rocket launcher, and the price tag is unoffensive to say the least. I also was impressed by the Prism reels. The first fish I caught on a TFO setup was a 24" brown on the Teeny/Prism combo and the reel worked flawlessly. In addition to the products, it sounds like they have an outstanding customer service program. I look forward to owning some of their rods.

So if I stay at Lilley's Landing I'll catch a state record? Sign me up!

That sounds reasonable. I think the semantics are a matter of personal interpretation though.

So what you're saying is that the dense population of rainbows in NFOW could not be sustained through natural reproduction which occurs in the manner that it does in that river?

Fished the spring and the river the day before and after Thanksgiving with great results. The river was high and muddy so I had to go big. Ended up catching about 2 dozen over the full day, with one being what I usually think of as big, just over 20 inches and about 4 pounds. On the downside, it was a stocker that had been in the hatchery for a while and seemed like it was on the downhill slide, especially given the fact that after a 30-45 second fight it took me about 15 minutes to revive it to the extent that I thought it had a chance at survival. Never saw it swim off, but it held its place in the current for several minutes before I left. The camera died when I was trying to get a picture. The day after was unreal and may have been the best day of fishing I've had on that river. Again, there was a downside. I talked to a guy floating who said that he traps on the river and that the otter population has absolutely exploded.

I found a couple documents produced by the Missouri Department of Conservation to supplement what Greg said and posted. http://mdc.mo.gov/fish/sport/trout/wildspawn.htm http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Documents/25.pdf See page 3, 10, 26. The report located at the second link states that there are several streams in Missouri that support self-sustaining wild trout populations, the NFOW being one.

Just to make the point, I was under the impression that some spawn in the fall and were done and others spawn in the spring and hadn't started. Definitely a good post to make sure the information is out there. I was thinking about making the NFOW a stop here in a few weeks but I may forego that experience in favor of not inadvertently making scrambled fish eggs. When will the eggs hatch?

Interesting. That contest kind of runs contrary to the goal of every fisherman I've ever met- granted my acquaintance base is somewhat limited and less than diverse.

I've tied some tricos down to a 26. I bought some 28 and 30 but never really messed with them. Brian, when would it be practical- assuming possibility- to use a tippet with a .22# break point? What would break point of the knot be? I know I sure couldn't successfully use it or a hook smaller than probably a 30.

After the semester ends I'll be tying lots of streamers, mostly Galloup stuff as well as slumb busters, leeches, sculpins and maybe some warmwater stuff like clousers and crawfish. Also be cranking out the generic nymphs: copper johns, p.t., prince, h.e., s.j., and my go to blue ribbon/wild stream fly... the m-80 nymph.