loo10

Well, I seen a Stimulator fly... And I seen a Instigator fly... Why, once I even seen a Butt Monkey fly with a big ol' eye... But I ain't NEVER, EVER...seen no Hibernator fly!!!!

Uh...those are not flatheads. I've caught alot of flatheads in the Missouri River and there is a huge noticable difference. The mouth is as wide as the head on a flathead. Flathead is at the bottom. Nice fish either way.

How much should the boards being down @ Powersite affect depth? I've eased thru places at Fall Creek that were barely 2 feet as is.

I know it's still early in the game but maybe some of you that get to fish quite a bit can help with this. Does it appear the channels have changed for us boaters? For years, we knew the navigation routes thru Fall Creek, along the bluffs, etc., but I'm assuming some of this has changed. Saw the one big tree just up from Phil's last weekend. Hate to meet that after dark. New maps forthcoming eventually I hope. In advance..............Thanks for your replies.

Nice fish Phil. Congrats. You dragging or jigging those jigs?

Im sure this is a stupid question but I'm going to ask anyway........... if the scud population is decimated, can they be re-stocked so to speak? How'd they get there in the first place? Might be a good question for Mike Kruse at MDC.

Congratulations Michael............... a World Record is a World Record!!!!!!!!

According to Springfield News-Leader's morning edition, all floodgates shut off at 9am yesterday (Wed., 4/16) morning. To all you locals, is that confirmed? If so, some pics of water levels please.

Here are a few of the pictures I took on Saturday. They start at the dam and go downstream. I tried to take some that maybe you hadnt seen yet. View of all 10 Floodgates open. Looking down into the mouth of the floodgates. This is the cable below the dam. It is hanging in the water. This was the view of Outlet 1. Die-hards at Outlet 2. As you can see, the redbuds are out in full force too. These trees represent Lookout Island. This is the sign at the mouth of Fall Creek. This shows how high the water is. Normally you must look way up to read this warning sign. The upsteam end of Fall Creek Dock. It has collapsed. This is the dock at Cooper Creek MDC boat ramp. Normally, this is where we get into our boats. This fella caught a trout while I stood there on Saturday..... fishing right off the boat ramp @ Cooper Creek.

I thought the water patrol asked people to stay off the lake??????? I think with how dangerous it is...the responsible thing would be to stay off the water and advise others to do likewise. Come on Bill.

Phil, If you need help getting boats out or anything else, yell. I can be down there in 30 minutes. Email me. You guys, and all along Taney are being lifted up in prayer. ~Rich

Thought I'd share this "first" at Taneycomo. This past week, we were in town for a SEMA Conference but we were able to fish each evening... mainly cause Phil allowed us to rent a boat stall at his place to store my boat each night. Thanks Phil! Anyway, my report isn't real good because I had serious engine issues and had to quit sooner than anticipated. But clear water was coming thru the generators and colored water over the spillway. If you ran up to the cable and fished the clear side....fish could be aggressive. Once the colors all mixed; it wasnt very good for us. One eve we were down (like everyone else) at Roark. As we finished and were drifting back towards Taney's main flow, I looked up and saw two gals wading across Roark up to their necks. (I guess, mostly they were swimming.) I pointed them out to the guys in my boat when I heard someone yell, "Stop right there! Stop! Don't go any farther!!" It was the police. My guess is these two gals had shoplifted at the Landing and had been chased down the bank until they ran out of land so they went right in. Water temp on my gauge said 53 degrees. Oooooooo! The smaller of the two stopped and turned around, wading back out on land to the policemen. Her bags (wet) were confiscated and she was promptly cuffed. But the larger girl kept going across. The police continued to yell for her to stop. She finally made it to one of the docks on the far shore and began struggling to climb out. There wasn't a ladder and she was having quite a time with it. I began to worry that the cold water might take it's toll on her so I asked the police if I should help her out of the water?? I don't believe they answered me. Finally, the girl was able to get a leg up on the dock and swing herself up. She stood up on the dock and again the officers told her "Stop. You wait right there!!!" She ignored them, adjusted her thong which had climbed halfway up her back, and started up the ramp off the dock... Wet jeans, shopping bags & all. We could hear the sirens in town. So then I asked the officers if they wanted a ride across???? They said no, that officers were on the way. Quite a time on Roark. A few trout. A few white bass. A few black bass. And a couple o' gals making their getaway!! You know.......Taneycomo just ain't like it used to be.

I think Clark W. Griswold added something to be bottom of his sled like this. It didnt end well.

Maybe so. I need to give it that good ol' Rapala wobble. How can I doctor-it-up to reduce the wobble? Good luck if you try them. I'd be interested in your results.

I have thrown the Salmo Bullheads several times in the upper lake. I do not believe I have even had one hit on them. I don't understand it. Now......I might have a confidence problem with them. They look GREAT! But everything else has seemed to outfish them for me. I'm anxious to see if any one else has had a different experience. Just my nickels worth.

Nice pic Tim...thanks for sharing. I need to come down there and fish RR sometime. I've never fished it. Always was a Bennett man and now I always go to Taney. I'll be sure to stop by and have you steer me in the right direction. Rich

Remember that Countdown Rapalas sink 1' per second; letting them sink to different levels before you start your retrieve sometimes makes all the difference. Rods: Bass Pro has had Microlight rods on sale for $29.95...very good rods at great price. Reels: recently I've bought some Mitchell 300's and have been very pleased...under $50. Good luck. Finally.....practice C.P.R.....catch, photo, release.

Heard Fuji was under new ownership so we went today after church; thought we'd check it out. New plates, new look....show was good....food was excellent!

Well.....you gotta be sitting on a tractor.

I've never even heard of these lakes. Sure made me horny for summertime! Thanks.

I went to Opening Day at Bennett for many, many years with my Dad. It was such an experience for a boy. I'm old enough to remember when the store was right behind where they sound the horn. The first time I walked in, it was like when the door opened in the movie, The Wizard of Oz, and a whole new world exposed itself. The wall behind the counter had a big painted sign that went wall-to-wall with slots for the size of the lunkers being caught and the names of those who caught them. By days end, there would be many names on that board and we always looked for the names that were listed more than once. There was walls & walls of lures and flies, and other things a trout fishermen couldn't live without. The place was filled with men getting ready for the next day which was the Opening of trout season. I was totally changed in those moments. I learned to trout fish standing alongside my Father, the best fisherman I ever knew. We stood at the big hole formed above the dam and we faced downstream. We fished with either Doty Raider spinners or cheese worms....and we caught lots of trout. My waders usually leaked some but I didn't care. Those days with Dad were the best of times. Years later, late in the evening when Dad would get tired, I would walk down from Larry's Cabins and walk to the Springview Fly Shop; which was open all nite. I was accepted as just another fisherman by the others in the store and so I would hang out. My Dad let me go because he knew it fed something deep inside me. Eventually I'd show up back at the cabin...but I couldn't sleep. There were two times in my life I couldn't ever sleep... Christmas Eve and Opening of Trout Season. Some things are just too exciting to a kid. Dad's gone now. But I believe he's fishing the "Living Waters" in a better place waiting for me. I stopped going to Bennett after he died but finally went again a couple of years ago. I don't fish at the whistle these days. I prefer to have a good cup of coffee and watch the show. Besides....the coffee goes right thru me these days! But when it thins out a little late morning....I'll put on my waders, rig my flyrod, choose that self-tied fly and head to the stream. I'll remember all the memories & gifts he gave me that I never thanked him adequately for. Then I'll catch a few rainbows for Dad.

Great report Duane. Enjoyed it very much. Never fished Crane before.

Phil, I loved the second photo. The wide one. I've seen that so many times. Excellent. Thanks for sharing. ~Rich

I envy you so much! ~Rich

Reminds me of an experience I had at Maramec Springs on Opening Day a few years back. I was casting with my flyrod and some guy celebrating his 100th year of baitfishing walked right behind me. I didnt see him. And needless to say, I almost got him. He yelled, "Watch it!! This ain't Bennett Springs!!" I said sorry but he needed to watch when people were backcasting. That didn't help matters as then he wanted to fight. (Now fighting a 100 year old is a no win situation.) I couldnt help but shake my head and laugh. Basically, he stood downstream of me and mouthed the rest of the morning. Your trip down to Lake Springfield sounds like fun. I keep thinking I'm going to go down there and "scratch the itch" but I never have. Let me know next time you're going if you want the company. loo10