zsmith62

Just out of curiosity, Why was this done? I am liking the new format so far, I'm just curious, thats all

The fast reply thing at the bottom of the pages is kinda neat, as is the status feature on the profile page.

I wasn't sure about it after looking around for the first few minutes, but after playing around on it for awhile, I'm starting to warm up to it... From what I can tell, it will allow for a little more social interaction between members. At least thats my first impression. I do like the feature that lets you follow updates on selected topics/forums is neat, will probably save me a lot of time at least... Just a couple of questions, what is the purpose behind the "vote this post up/down" feature in the bottom corner of every post? And the reputation feature on the profile page, whats that for?

Just got back from sending mine out... Man, that post office was crazy, I spent any where from 20 to 30 minutes just waiting in line, and then got to deal with that holiday shopping traffic...good times

Yeah, my idea for this fly actually came from a video on youtube with Ron Knight tying his version of the spinnerbait. It is titled "Tying A Fly-Rod Spinnerbait Fly" and says it was actually filmed at the 2008 Sowbug Roundup down at Mountain Home. He says in the video that he drew his inspiration from flies done by Tom Nixon back in the 50's. Mine are a further variation of what I saw done in this video, for starters, I lessened the actual amount of rubber legs, just because I like a little less bulk. Also, the one he does in this video just has plain chenille, I used both plain as well as the pearl chenille, just to add some flash. He paints his eyes on the heads, I glued some of those hologram eyes on there. The most noticeable difference, and probably just a case of me being lazy, is in the actual spinner arm itself. He actually forms his own by hand using wire, I just take the easy way out and bought a bunch of those replacement arms they sell for beetlespin lures... I'm not too sure it really makes any difference, it just saves me some time.

Okay, so it looks like I am gonna change my pattern as well, I just started tying these and they're kinda different, so I think I'll be submitting some of them instead. I've seen them on the internet a little and have been wanting to give them a try, it's a fly rod spinnerbait... Not too difficult to tie at all, but they're just unique.

I thought I had all the materials I needed, I tied a few, didn't like how they turned out so I re-did how I was gonna tie them and now have 1 done and need to buy more material...

That was good, although you left me waiting for some gratuitous violence, that would have made it a real winner...

I'm in, I'll tie up some Bend-back streamers in a baby bass color...

I don't know what can be done, but I'd like to see some kind of handicap access on the upper lake. Since my accident last year, I have not been able to fly fish on the upper lake. Before that, I had started going almost twice a week...

Yeah, I'm sure they appeciated the effort... By the way, I didn't realize that was you the other day when I was in the shop... shoulda introduced myself. Next time...

Neat thread idea, maybe someone will take notice. I voted the same as you on every one, except the first one, just because I don't really know that the occasional taking of a fish is really all that detrimental to the population. Besides, from what I've noticed, the only people fishing in blue ribbon areas are not the type to really keep the fish caught. I actually think that if a few fish are taken, the remaining population will have a better chance to strive and grow bigger in that particular stretch of water. I imagine if the one fish over 18 inches rule even posed a potential threat to the blue ribbon areas, the MDC would change their regulations on the areas. At least I hope so...

Well, I certainly do not remember my first fish, however I do remember my first trout. You see, my dad had never gotten into the whole fly fishing thing, or even trout for that matter. Anyways, once I was in middle school, I started making some friends that fished as much as I did. We got together to go fishing with each other a couple times. One time, we were wading the James river down by rivercut and my buddy Josh had brought along his newest "toy"- his fly rod. My buddy Denny and I both took our turns trying it out on the little sunfish in the river. By the end of the day, we had both decided to make the jump into trying fly fishing ourselves. We saved and bought our first fly rods. Needless to say, my Dad was curious about my new interest, he had never flyfished, his dad did, but that was a long time ago. My buddies and I got our new rods and decided we wanted to try and test them on some trout, and the closest place to do that being at Taneycomo. Josh's mom dropped us off at the dam, and we started fishing. This was my first time trout fishing, and had just blew all of my money on a new rod and did not think about the cold water I would be wading in to catch trout. I went into Taney bare legged, and soon found out why waders were important to wade fishing for trout, my legs were shaking and had gotten so cold I couldn't feel them. The lack of feeling in my legs was quickly replaced by frustration we all felt towards not catching anything. At the time we were fishing downstream of the boat launch. I started to make my way up towards the boat launch to try another spot when I ran across a guy who was catching plenty of them near where that big tree is in the water. He stopped to talk to me and asked how I had done that day, and I told him that it was my first time trout fishing, and had had a rough day. He then pulled out his fly box and got out the fly he had caught many on in that hole. He handed me a primrose pearl midge, showed me how to use it and left. Soon after, I caught my first trout, just a small rainbow, but I was hooked. I was only 13 at the time, but that was the beggining of an obsession that has lasted years, I'm 19 now, and it doesn't look like my interest is fading. I never caught that guys name, but I owe a good deal of my interest to the help he gave me that afternoon. Thanks.

I've been so busy I haven't had much time, the last thing I tied was a couple of Bendback Decievers in a baby bass colors. Been meaning to try and post a few new patterns, but I just cannot find any spare time...

Thanks for everything you've done for me, I hate to see you go. I'm sure wherever you wind up you'll have good luck. I hope to meet the new owners soon, I'm sure they'll be great...

It's great to see some reports coming out of Crane, I miss being able to fish there more than anywhere else I cannot get to anymore. I had only fished there 4 or 5 times last year, but really fell in love with the place. Someday, when I am able to access the stream again, I will. I just see it more rewarding to catch a fish out of there that is so small than just a run of the mill stocker at some of the other places around here. et84, that second picture was great. I hope you don't mind, but I cropped whoever's butt that was out of the picture and copied your idea of using it as a desktop. You are right, it makes you feel like you are there. I actually have a question for someone who is more familiar with Crane creek than I... Not too long ago, I was reading Danny Hick's "Ozark Blue-Ribbon Trout Steams" and came across something in the Crane section that seemed a little odd... The book was copyrighted in 2002, but when describing the fish, he says: "Crane is not a large stream but it grows big rainbows; some are reputed to exceed 10 pounds, and that is likely accurate." He then goes on to say something about how he would walk the stream and see fish in anywhere from the two-pound range, all the way up to 8-pounders! He says something about how he had noticed that within the last couple of years, the fish have been seeming to shrink, because of what he thought was poachers, otters, and the extremely low waters that the creek experienced in the 90's. Hicks said he had fished there all the way back into the 60's, but it seems to me he hadn't been there in quite a while, at least not since they had shrunk down to their current size. My question is, were they ever that big? What caused the shrinkage?

Yeah, who is this "Beason" guy???

Still here...just been "lurking" lately

Don't know how I missed this, I've got over 30 different podcast stations downloaded to itunes, but hadn't seen this one. Gonna have to download....

Where are you guys finding the formulas for the leaders? I've been interested for a while, but never got around to doing it. I don't really know how much money it would really save (just like tying flies), but it just seems like another way to really get more "involved" with your fishing.

I don't know how to respond to this last post, so I'll just quote what OTF said earlier in this thread... I'd be willing to bet Dan052 was just hoping to get a reaction. This has been a fairly civil debate, lets not let it get too rough here. So, Dan052, I suggest you take it somewhere else.

Part of me understands why they don't want this number to go public, but come on, if someone's life is in danger, expecting someone to make it all the way to the top of the stairs by outlet two is ridiculous. The way I see it, the responsible thing would be to make a public number. I don't know if it would be possible, but could they make it so there would be consequences for raising a false alarm? I would just hate to see someone get caught in rising water and be hurt or killed because the SWPA / CoE felt the need to keep these numbers thier own secret. In my book, that's not very responsible.

Great points all around Chief, now that you say some of that, it does make a lot of sense.

I will say this again- I do not think that a resevoir on crane would produce a lake big enough to really produce much commerce. We already have enough lakes just like the one being proposed here. Unfortunately, I doubt the McClouds could be protected, since the really aren't native. Probably should be, seeing how they are so rare, but they aren't. I do not know where CBNMO was going with this, but this lake would be a lot like Springfield lake. I live close to Springfield lake, and other than maybe the gas station selling a carton of worms every now and then, I don't think Springfield lake really brings in any extra money to the area.

True, but putting a dam on Crane will not create a Taneycomo or anything else that will really increase commerce in the area. Sure, the area may see a slight increase in business, but I think that will taper off in time. The lake that is being proposed will not be of sufficient size to support any kind of tourism. Of course, as Dutch stated above, there are the people who support this, but then again, they are the ones who will turn a profit from this being done. I just do not see why we cannot first try and use some of our existing lakes, you'd think that doing so would be cheaper in the long run. As far as the town of Crane itself dying, I believe only one other guy said anything about that. In the long run, I really do not think that the town will be changed much. Like I said, they may initially, but how about in twenty years? Putting a resevoir nearby won't really do all that much for the local economy. I think that the best quote from this whole discussion came from Ozark Trout Fisher. He said: "The attitude of those planning this is basically "We'll do whatever costs the least in the short term, no matter the impact on the environment". It sickens me. It is people like those who want this reservoir, that could ruin everything this country is about. THEY ARE SO SHORT SIGHTED." So, yes this may potentially put some extra change in the pocket of the guys that own property around there, but this is just as much OUR stream as theirs. Even if it did produce some great fishing resevoir, there already is a one of a kind destination already there.