Flysmallie

I think we may have given you a bad impression about the area. Yeah there are more people around than most of us would like, but it's still a wonderful and beautiful place. I have three daughters (2,7&12) They absolutley love the area. We live in Springfield, but spend at least one week a year and several weekends there. We also spend at least one week a year at the beach and have been to Disney. The people in Branson are just as friendly as every where else. I don't think the places have changed as much as everyone's overall attitude, and that is all over the country. If I was you I would take them back and let them enjoy what you enjoyed. Yeah sure, it's not the same as it was when you were younger, but it will be all new to them.

Hey you can't say Sand Bass to these Ozark people, they just look at you weird. I grew up in Marlow, OK and spent a lot of time with my family on Texoma drifting for cats, trolling for stripers and catching those sand bass. You are lucky to live so close to a beautiful lake.

kscatman, To me Pomme de Terre in the best lake in the state for sping fishing. I used to have some friends that owned a marina at the lake and I have spent a lot of time on that water. Fished a lot of tournaments and have always done very well, especially in the spring. One good thing about the lake is it's not very big. In the right boat you can run from one end to the other in 30 minutes, something I have done a lot. I haven't fished it seriously in a couple of years but I doubt things have changed much. I'm sure the fish are still doing the same thing that they were doing the fifteen plus years that I did fish it seriously. I'm not saying that I'm the best fisherman on the lake, but I bet I get you into some very productive areas without spending a lot of time learning a new lake. I don't have a way of posting a map with the spots on here (not sure that I would want to) but I could fax you something that shows the areas that I have done the best at during the spring. Or if you have a map we could get together on the phone and I can point out some good areas. PM me if you are interested. When is the tournament? I might just have to pre-fish it for you. Thinking about it makes me all tingly inside Their are some real monsters in that lake. Once fished a tournament in April and thought I had a good chance of winning. We were sitting in the boat slip in the marina putting our fish in the weigh-in bag, and all hope faded. The guys right next to us had two fish over eight pounds! I'll take second place any day to a bag of fish like that.

Thanks everyone. It looks like I still have quite a decision on my hands. Let's hope I make the right one!

I'm seriously considering buying a pontoon boat. I know that several of you either have them or have fished from them. Most of the time would be spent in warm water streams like the James and Buffalo. I would also like to have the option of being able to carry enough gear for an overnight float. Any recommendations on brand or size? Any recommendations to buy or not? I have never been in one but have spent a lot of time in canoes and float tubes. Thanks Ronnie.

This has to be the best looking forum that I have seen. Great Job!!

flysmallie, i respect your opinion on hunters, but many many years ago, when people settled this area, they killed off the local predators. we then hunted deer and turkey to the point that they were nearly wiped out. conservation efforts have brought them back, but without predators in a food chain, we get overpopulation and starvation. i'd rather be shot than starve any day of the week. i believe that hunting is ethical because it serves several purposes: 1) thins out the population so that there is enough food to support the population during the winter, giving us a healthier and stronger herd. 2) puts food on the table- venison is lean, high in protein, and tastes good. 3) high populations in parts of the state have significantly affected farmers' profits- hunting, once again, thins the herd so that there are fewer deer to eat the crops. 4) hunting has created a multi-million dollar industry that provides jobs. 5) creates a healthy obsession- a good hunter will spend time in the woods scouting and hanging stands, and late season drives can be a workout too. I don't mean to be condescending, i really don't, but i take it personally when people say that hunting is unethical. hunters that use what they kill are ethical, wasteful hunters aren't. Okay, so maybe unethical was not a good choice of words for hunting. I know that it is a very valuable resource for our state and brings in lots of money. And I know that the herds need to be thinnned. My wife did some extensive damage to a car by hitting a deer. And for those of you that are familiar with Springfield know that you shouldn't have to worry about hitting a deer at the intersection of West Bypass and Chestnut Expressway. The point I was trying to make was that if it was illegal I would have a reason to ask people not to do it, just like if shuffling was illegal then I would have better luck at asking someone to stop. Don't get the two confused, while I don't hunt myself, I wouldn't want it to be illegal. The benefits of hunting are too great. But I don't see any benefits to shuffling, except for the person doing it. So please continue to enjoy hunting. Don't be upset by my bad choice of words. Like I said, all of my best friends hunt. And If you kill a nice buck send me some jerkey, I love that stuff!!

I have already stated that I feel shuffling should be illegal. Whether or not it is enforceable is unimportant. There are laws in every area that are not enforced. Wearing a seatbelt is the law. But if I'm sitting a a stop light next to a cop, and I'm not wearing my seatbelt, is he going to pull me over. Probably not. But when I have a passenger in my vehicle that does not normaly wear a seatbelt, I do have something to say when it is the law. Right now if I see someone shuffling all I can say is that I think it is unethical, they probably don't care. I also think it's unethical to climb in a tree with a high powered rifle and wait for a deer to come strolling along minding his own business. But that's the hunter's choice not mine. I'm not so radical that I belong to PETA or protest hunting, all my fishing buddies love to hunt, I just choose not to. Now If it was illegal and I saw someone doing it, then I would have something to say. If we are to keep this act legal, since it makes it easy for some to fish, then we need to look at legalizing some other methods of taking fish and game in the state of Missouri. First we should legalize snagging. Right now our wildlife code states that all gamefish that are not hooked in the mouth must be released to the water unharmed. I know that I would have to consider fishing bass tournaments again, especially in the sping when these fish are on the nests. Another thing we should legalize is netting. Why should these shufflers have to go to all the trouble of bring a rod and reel, all they need is a net. Kick up a few rocks, net my limit, go home. I could be in and out with my limit in just a few minutes. And for all those deer hunters out there, how about baiting. We, as a state, have found this practice so unethical that we have rules against it in the state. (Wildlife Code - CSR 10-7.431) And this is no different than what shuffling is. This is the same basis that Arkanasas has used for their shuffling law. It states on their website. "No chumming is allowed in catch-and-release areas. This is defined as “to dislodge or deposit any substance not attached to a hook which may attract fish.” Chumming in catch-and-release areas is prohibited because normal trout feeding behavior can be disrupted and the stream environment can be damaged. One common example of chumming is tossing canned corn into the water to stimulate feeding. The technique of dislodging material from the streambed to attract trout, known as the “San Juan Shuffle,” is also considered chumming." Can I buy some of that feed at the hatchery and just use it? I know I'm on a rant, but I will end it with this. Several years ago our own Phil Lilley published an article called "Taneycomo Shuffle, Follow-up ". In that article he quoted retired MDC person Spence Turner as saying, "If Lake Taneycomo anglers requesting shuffling regulations were honest with themselves, the reason they want to make shuffling illegal is the belief shufflers are catching more trout than they catch." Anybody here want to agree with Spence, I don't think Phil does, and I sure won't. Catch something big! Ronnie

Illegal Ronnie

Good luck to ya Don. I had planned on fishing Sunday, but I don't know if the warden is going to let me out. Something about getting some things done around the house. That lady is getting harder and harder to live with. If I get out I'll look you up. Catch something big!!

Scott, I did really well on black zebra's, an olive wooly and crackleback in the trophy area. Pretty much anything that you throw in there was working last weekend. And the weather conditions were about the same. You shouldn't have any trouble catching some fish and a nice cold to go along with it. Oh, but it's all worth it. Good Luck.

The really annoying thing is that the "Shufflers" know what their doing is wrong, but still do it. I was down on Saturday and noticed that there was a spin fisherman that was catching way more than me. I'm usuall in my own little world and don't pay much attention to the people around me when I'm fishing. But I noticed that there was always some splashing coming from his area and every time I looked over he was realeasing a fish. But he was casting out as far as I was casting. I was starting to doubt my own abilities until I started watching him. He would cast out, look around to make sure no one was watching, and then slowly reel in and stop his retrieve when it was right up beside him, few moves of the feet and presto fish on! Once he realized that I was closely watching him he packed it in and left. I felt what he was doing was wrong, but I don't do well with confrontation. As long as it goes well I'm okay, but If they get mad, then I get really mad. Had this happen a few times fishing bass tournaments, wasn't good. I here to enjoy myself and relax, not raise my blood pressure. Maybe the hatchery could setup a stock tank for these losers to fish out of.

I was out there and it was cold!! The snow came down pretty good a few times but nothing major. Enjoyed the fishing, did good with midges and an olive wooly. Had a nice brown inhale my indicator. Blew up on it pretty good, reminded me of a smallmouth attacking a popper. What size hook should you use on an indicator pattern?? Flysmallie.

I don't know, but I have been bass fishing a couple of times when it was sleeting and the fishing was unbelievable. I'm not talking a little sleet, more like an inch or more in the boat. I'm not sure what causes them to bite in these conditions, but if you can handle the cold, it's worth the effort.

Well with the weather we have had lately I don't have much to get excited about! And now it looks like the flurries are off as well. Clouds and wind.....not real fond of wind. But I will venture out anyway. Unless there is another incident like last night. Two year old, projectile vomiting, 3am. Parenting is great! See you guys on the water.

Just checked the weather report. Snow Flurries and Wind for Saturday!! I LOVE fishing foul weather. Should make for a great day. Watch out for me though, spent my whole life chasing bass in a big boat, can't cast a fly all that well. I'm gonna hook something, don't let it be you. Flysmallie