Gatorjet

I don't want to be controversial, but just curious. Do you guys look at the opening day at the Trout Parks as the slaughter?

Rewards points are great. I worked out of town a couple years ago. Used my BPS credit card to pay for my stay at La Quinta. Got Returns points from them, company paid per-diem for out of town expenses. 8 1/2 months, got a bunch of BPS points and 14 free nights at La Quinta. Used all but 3 nights in Branson. Probably use the rest there this year.

Thanks again Phil and everyone at Lilley's Landing for hosting another great R.A.W. Tournament. It's always so wonderful to see old friends and meet new ones at R.A.W. Bob & Nick Wehnert

Looks like I missed a good time. Hope they're still biting like that next Saturday!! See ya Monday afternoon.

Ford, Chevy, Dodge is right. Everybody will have an opinion. I won't even mention brands that I have. A graph on the bow, and a graph/GPS combination at the helm. The important thing will be to learn to use them correctly. My first suggestion would be to turn OFF the fish indicator that puts the little fish on the screen. Learn to read what the bottom is like, the structure, and cover. Use it to help you locate where the fish should be. Those little fish things only show something that is not touching the bottom. They could be sticks, weeds, trash, or what ever. They can be useful if everything else is right, but they can also be misleading and confusing.

Phil has the "carrot floats" in the shop. Various bright colors for good visibility. My gear is all in the boat waiting for me, so I don't have one to post a picture of. They are about 1/2 to 3/4 " diameter, 1 to 1 1/4 inches long with a hole through the middle. You peg them on the line with a little wooden peg that comes with them. If I am fishing a very small or micro jig, I will peg them with a lead nail weight used for adding weight to soft jerk baits. I use a small ball bearing swivel with split rings on both ends. I put the float on the line from my Reel, then tie one end of the swivel to it. Then tie a 3 or 4 foot leader of 2#line to attach the jig. That way, I can adjust the depth of the jig by sliding the float up the main line farther if I need to go deeper.

I was able to take advantage of Phil's Fishing Buddy's offer, and spent a few days at Lilley's. After getting settled in and putting the Gator in the lake I boated up to Lookout. Actually just past the tennis courts. I fished for about an hour or so, from the tennis courts to the boat ramp. I caught 4 'bows in the 12-14 inch range, several 10", and one really thick 15 incher. All on a 1/8 ounce sculpin/olive jig. The majority in the same area around the "pink" house on the bluff across the lake from Point Royal. Monday was another story. Bitter cold, cloudy, and ferocious wind 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 35+. I started in the same area, but I couldn't feel the bottom or the bite with the bow in my line caused by the wind. I switched to something with a little more weight, a Little Jake's Spin-A-Lure in gold. I did manage a couple under slot dinks, and one nice 15 inch fish in the eddy on the downstream end of the island across from Fall Creek. I drifted from Fall Creek to Short Creek working the Spin-A-Lure along the bottom. That brought me a couple more 10-12 inch fish. Later, I drifted again from Fall Creek to Trout Hollow a couple times. This time with Gulp eggs, one pink & one white. I ALWAYS use a white egg with what ever other color I pick, just seems to work better. Agaain, a few stockers. Tuesday was a much better day. Clear sky, and lighter winds. I went down lake this time. Of course after Scott's record I just had to drift a little around Cooper Creek. Didn't really spend much time there though because I was on a "mission" to check out some of my favorite spots for the upcoming R.A.W. tournament. I was a little disappointed with my first spot. An Island I will not mention above the bridges. LOL. Nothing on the jig, but I did catch one very fat and colorful 15" fish on the Spin-A-lure. As I released him I gave him firm orders not to bite anything with a hook in it until Feb.6. Wanting some for the pan, I thought I would drift down to the Landing and pick up a few on Gulp eggs. I did catch several, but mostly really thin "new" stockers. I did have a couple to keep. In front of Bass Pro was better, with two more for the pan. Then, when getting ready to go down lake to check out a couple more of my favs, I turned the key to hear that click,click,click,click sound of a starter without enough voltage. Good thing Bass Pro was across the lake. One new battery. That pretty much ended my day. All in all, not the best 3 days on Taney, but not the worst either.

What BRF said! Thanks guys.

Just got back to Fenton,3:00 PM Wed. Have been at Tany since Sunday after noon. Fished from Lookout to Fall Creek Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. I didn't see any shad, and didn't try white. Caught 4 14-15 inch on sculpen/olive 1/8 oz jigs Sunday afternoon in about 1 hour of fishing.

I'm on my way down tomorrow morning for a few days. Sounds like I might have a great time! Of course, I always do, regardless of how the fishing is!

Almost 24 hours, 70 views. and no replies. Kind of what I got on a similar post last summer. I think the "best kept bass fishing secret in MO" wants to be kept a secret! We'll just have to find out for ourselves.

Thanks for the kind words about my father. I was raised in much the way he treated his fellow workers. I hope to think it worked well. His work ethic and attitude toward others has also been learned from me by my son. I am very proud of both! If you stay at Lilley's when you visit Taneycomo I would hope to meet you some day. I'm not hard to recognize, just look for the big, green, loud thing on the lake. Bob

No, Al Wehnert

Forgot about the Glock look alike, ISSC M22. Very similar except has an exposed hammer rather than being striker fired. All the "big gun" remfire copies seem to be ammunition sensitive, and problems feeding.

Dub, sent you a PM about meeting up. I'm also going down there Sunday thru Wed. this comming week. A well needed fishing fix, and pre, pre-fishing for R.A.W. Getting a little OT now, so getting back to the OP. Golden Blend, I hope you've learned at least a little so far.

Hey Dub, gonna see ya in a couple weeks?

I mostly use the PJ's jigs. I like the flattened head design that kind of works like the description of the Zig on the site you posted. The Zigs do have some interesting color options, I'll have to try some. When talking to a guide from Arkansas at the St Louis Boat Show a few years ago he described the "pop & drop" method they describe on the Zigjig site. I have been told that Taney trout don't react to it as well. I have tried it some, with out much success. Although, I didn't do much better working the jig slowly and trying to feel the bite. Do you use the pop & drop method at Taneycomo?

I have read a lot of posts on several firearms forums about the P22's. They seem like a hit or miss, some report no problems others nothing but problems. A lot of concern with the die cast slide, early models had faulty magazines, etc. The "pot metal" slide really doesn't bother me. I also have a Henry, a Golden Boy 22 mag. It to, has what could be called a "pot metal" receiver, Braslite. Top notch accuracy isn't my major concern. I have a very accurate High Standard HD Military for that. It's like fine wine, old but very good. The thought of thge P22 was something to shoot with that is close to several of my center fire semi-autos, full slide, poly frame,fixed sight. The Sig Mosquito would be another. Along with the Chiappa 1911-22 (an ergonomic clone of my 1911's). Both are also die cast. Hum, after all this, I have confused MY SELF!!! I think I just go and buy another deer rifle! LOL

Can't agree more! I have fished R.A.W. for I think 18 years now. The past 14 with my son. Most of the people in it look at it as a reunion rather than a tournament. I have told Phil that no matter where our names end up on the board, I win every year just having such a great weekend with my son!

Nice toy! Now ya got me thinking. Because of the current ammo crunch and high prices, I have been planning on getting a Walther P22. It's a semi-auto a lot like my center fire pistols. The only other "cowboy" pistol I have is a Ruger Superblackhawk. Fun to shoot, but since a basement finish project, my loading bench is out of operation for a while. 44mag or even 44spcl can burn up a lot of $$ for plinking. A S/A 22 would also be fun to take with me squirrel hunting. Knocking over a couple bushy tails on the ground with a revolver would be good practice for the 44mag during deer season.

Was all the internet hype,and misinformation created by the Anti's to slam hunting again? It seems like the group was trying to manage a herd for trophy bucks. Personally, I have a problem with that, managing an entire herd of healthy deer, with the possibility of a trophy would be better IMO. Too much desire for a trophy, rather than the enjoyment of the outdoors, has once again given ammo to those who would deny us that pleasure.

I wasn't thinking. Now that you mention it I guess that is the only private ramp abouve your place. Didn't think of it being private either.

From just above Lilley's you won't have a problem with shallow water, also the lake is wider so boats fishing along the way shouldn't slow you down a lot. I have thought about trying bass in Taney, just haven't done it yet. Let us know how you do.

Because "it" runs down hill, the answer is public sewer systems with lift pump stations that move the sewage to modern treatment plants away from the lake. That would be unrealistic only in terms of the cost. I'm sure the people who own all the multimillion dollar homes that have caused most of the problem don't want their taxes increased to pay for it! Then there is the EPA, and getting approval for locations of the treatment plants. Finally, the resistance of the people near the plant locations to having them built close to them. All in all, despite the banker's optimistic view, it will remain the "Sewer of the Ozarks" for longer than most of us will live. Too bad, I hate it, but I do catch fish there!

Why would you want to "run" from Lookout to Rockaway? You'll be running over a lot of great fishing. Navigational hazards will depend on lake levels due to generation at the dam. With enough generation for a lake level of 705 or so, no problem just run the middle of the lake. less than that, shoals below Fall Creek, and Short Creek. Just stay on the side opposite the creek inlet. After Short Creek, you can run anywhere. Travel time will depend on how many boats are on the lake. Often there are so many in areas that you have to just idle past them. Also, you will have to go through a "no-wake" zone across the entire lake in front of Scotty,s Trout Dock just above Branson. Others will probably have better info for you, with my jet, I don't worry too much where I run. Also, Lilley's, and other resorts or marinas will have maps showing the shallow shoals.