joeD

Both are are great whiskeys! I wouldn't mixem on a regular basis though. Sorry about your heritage though. HAH. Just kidding. I've no room to talk. Pure Ukrainian and Irish. Drinking and telling stories, but in a sad, defeatist way. YAY parents! Gavin: My rationale, as always, is that rules are for rule followers. Us. But Us isn't what the problems are when it comes to Ozark streams. We cannot legislate human behavior without immediate and realistic consequence. Which ain't happening. So, bark bark bark bark...

Oy. I give up. F****** trout. PS: Watching the Montauk river gauge more actively. F++++++ trout in Missouri. PS: I love catching big fish.

The only problem with Ozark streams, any stream, pick one, is the local population who live by it, use it, abuse it, and could care less about what YOU think. Same as it ever was. All this barking about legislation, and the park service, and liveries, and the government and what the government may or may not do is just that. Barking dogs. About nothing. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Our smallmouth streams suck because of a pervasive and ingrained mentality among a small subset of anglers and population who live, and have lived, by these streams, and have demonstrated a predictable, yet self defeating, way of treating their environment, and themselves, in a selfish and destructive way that no government or do-gooder outsider will change. We think of it as preserving the environment and making our natural resources available to everyone, with rules and regulations to manage our demand. They don't. They come from a long history, back to the hinterlands of Ireland and Scotland under the heavy foot of English monarchy from ages ago. Government was (and is) to be distrusted and opposed at any and every turn. This continues today. And I do mean "they."

What is it about trout that sends us over the moon? Why is so much energy and photography and writing expended chronicling the catching of a 6 inch colorful minnow (in a net, no less!).

I agree with you. I disagree with you. However, can you tell college hoops is just around the corner?

GODDAMMIT! NO MOTOR NO FISH! SPEAK CLEARLY SON!!!

Mr Hypocritical here. I am shocked, SHOCKED, that SLU didn't even make it to the pre-season Top 25 in college basketball rankings. Who cares, right? Don't I always say that? Rankings schmankings. Decide on the court. Well, I'm a little miffed, still. Geez. We are really fly over country. Kind of like Mike Matheny and the Manager of the Year vote. There is such a huge subset of the voting sport writing population with an axe to grind , that it is not even funny. ("Well, I predicted (so and so) to come in last place at the start of the season, so, since they (my prediction) performed way better than I expected, I think their manager deserves an award). Never mind that the original prediction was, not only off-base, but blatently wrong. Whew. OK. Ankle hurts after turning it getting off the ole soapbox.

Question: Would you fellas have had the same result, or success rate, fishing out of a canoe? In other words, was having a jetboat part of your success? Difference maker? (Remove knowing where to go and what to use from this equation. That is assumed). Splendid report and outcome. Enjoyed it sirs. (Envy and jealousy coursing through veins. Must. Stop. It.)

"Mills?" "Mills!" Yeah, we'll get right on it. The demise of the mill was and is the march of time running roughshod over everything we do. Or, if you don't like my sarcasm, then how about this: When that picture was taken, women couldn't vote and our black brothers were being mutilated and hung from trees on a regular basis. The demise of mills occurred because we didn't (and don't) need them anymore. Old pictures are cool. I get it. But don't romanticize the past as something better, or simpler, or more worthy of humanity.

In professional football, basketball, baseball, and, (geez Mom I guess) ahem, hockey, there are many teams who have legitimate shots at winning the championship. Not so with college football and basketball. The pool of realistic contenders is quite small, and, year to year, pretty much the same. The media likes to shove the "unpredictability" of college sports down our throats, when, the reality is directly opposite. Our national urge to always have a "winner" has corrupted the college sporting experience. Some colleges have decided to become "Google" and dominate a sport or two without regard to anything else resembling an "education." I'll lay off Coach Pinkel. He is a obviously a good coach and a decent man. There should be no shame in having a winning program, regardless of a "national" title. That is the concern of the national media and a minority of overzealous fans. Truthfully though, who cares? College sports is for bettors and Las Vegas.

Gary Pinkel was born to lose. If he wasn't, then explain all those losses. especially against ranked teams. South Carolina was just another sad notch in Pinkel's futility belt. You are what your record says you are. Get over it.

There are too many variables that go into knot strength when one is on the water. Knot variations and their ascribed strengths are usually a non factor in fish catch rate success. I know one thing though. When fishing braid from a canoe in moving water, if you get hung up in fast water, that braid isn't breaking. But your rod might, if you're not careful. Also, as previously mentioned, a lure reacting differently is not always a bad thing. Bottom line, as always, it's a preference thing. There is no empirical evidence either way. Plus, fish neither know nor care. They'll hit or not.

When the water is low, or normal these days, you can wade downstream from Washington State Park. There is pretty decent water below there. Don't bother if it is really murky. The park office is hit and miss regarding water conditions, usually miss.

Love old pictures. Notice how they are just pictures, moment in time, as opposed to composed and self conscious? I don't know where it is.

You have your answer. Interpret carefully.

Good luck with Alex Smith. I've heard he's a "finisher."

We laugh at our own peril. Our government counts on our apathy. That is why our lives will not be our own in the future. We will be bought and sold in the marketplace. Freedom of choice will be non-existent. And we stand by and let it happen. Don't believe me? Google. It's already happening.

Money is going to LA. For a reason. Cards aren't hitting. Two lefties. Misguided coach (Matheny; re: Mujica). Sorry. LAs turn.

Okay.

I'm sure the fish hated a softball shoved down its throat. Otherwise, please explain the gut.

If the fish are biting, I do nothing. If the fish aren't biting, I still do nothing, hoping they'll turn on. I keep going. Life is random. You can pull over at the sight of lightening, being safe of course, then, on the way way home, get broadsided by a drunk driver on a two-lane road. Either way, your actions have zero impact on the vagaries of life.

If you are spending one night on the river, then I guarantee you won't need 99% of the stuff mentioned above. PS: Make no mistake, there is nothing less refreshing than filtered river water. It's just an excuse to use a water filter. Which you don't need. PSS: Pretty soon, your trip will be about taking stuff, using stuff, instead of fishing. Tread carefully.

Gawd. Pictures don't catch fish, do they? Did you not hear me? Listen to me now and hear me later, I said, the plastic looks great. What more do you want?! I'll tell you. Catch fish with them and then ask opinions. Or, cruise around the burger joint with your immaculately restored Chevy, again, as usual, and wonder why no chix dig ya

Gary Pinkel= Norm Stewart. Winning records, but... But.

Will those white jigs catch fish when there are 5 or 6 or 8 generators running? This mother f***** will. Put that white jig to shame. Go ahead and catch those 12" rainbow stockers.