joeD

I went to Sappington School on Gravois by Grants Farm. Steve Mizerany's wife was our "lunch lady." Big, blousy, bee-hived bottled blonde chomping on gum. Classic!

The soldiers who were chosen to raid Osama Bin Laden's compound were "elite." The designers and builders of the Hoover Dam and Mount Rushmore were "elite." The medical professionals who make our lives less painful are "elite." When you fly on a plane, wouldn't you want your pilot(s) to be "elite?" Our lives are enhanced by writers like Mark Twain, Shakespeare, Plato, Elmore Leonard. They are "elite." So, someone explain to me why "elite" is now considered something to be avoided and an object of derision and scorn.

The Bevo Mill area of south St Louis used to be scrubby Dutch and German. Now it is Bosnian and Asian and Muslim with a sprinkling of good ole native hoosiers. People move out, people move in. Fish leave, different fish move in. But, most likely, your fish were inbred and stupid.

So, judging by responses, if the Yeti cooler was $30, then a lot us would have one. Once, as a callow youth, I propositioned a comely co-ed with an offer of $5000 if she would sleep with me. She said "Sure." I responded, "What about if I offered you $10?" She said "Hell no, what do you think I am!?" I said, "We've already established what you are, now we're just haggling over the price." There is truth to Missouri's motto of the "Show Me" state. And the fact that our state animal is the mule. We have an absolute knee jerk reaction to things that are deemed "too expensive" and have a perverse pride in our love of living the "low life." As if it is some sort of moral defect in earning a substantial living and having things that, while "expensive," some can afford and are, simply put, "better." Anyway, Wainwright sucked eggs tonight, time for another Busch Beer, and raise a glass to Mike Shannon.

Oooof! Ozark that was harsh dude. Just kidding. My wife bought an Alabama visor for me, when my daughter and her were visiting, still haven't worn it. Weird. Usually. I could care less. Just a hat.

1. I would absolutely LOVE to see a Yeti blow a Coleman!!! 2. It's funny how many posts say that their coolers are fine as long as you keep the lid closed. No sh**. But, how can one access anything FROM the cooler, that you want keep cold, without OPENING the lid? 3. But, I have no willpower, so I am always digging my hairy appendages into the cooler. So. There's that. I'm quite sure most of you are more disciplined than me.

Ahhh. Surviving is one thing, living is another. Remember, regression analysis is a dead end. But, you go on ahead, don't let me stop ya. Drive to work in your unairconditioned Ford Pinto, peanut butter and jelly sandwich safely tucked in your brown lunch sack, already becoming a gooey mess, while your wife diligently goes to the creek and washes your clothes by pounding it with rocks, all the while defending herself against unwanted male suitors, with a newborn babe at her chest. Don't forget, you must preserve your homegrown vegetables in your garden for the coming winter. Forget about that new fangled "thang" you have your heart set on. Four blades indeed! Still, question still stands.

Kind of a semi-serious question. Passing time. If I sound apathetic, well, I don't really care... Anyway, $300 coolers? Wow. Anybody have one? My thought process in asking this question is...never mind. We don't have time. So, getting back to me (where was I?) ..Oh yes.. COOLERS! It was hot this weekend, and Monday. I was fishing in Arkansas. My choice of cooler(s) was, unfortunately, made out of convenience, not performance. So, therefore, the magical spectre of the Yeti arises. Me being a simple chimp easily swayed by advertising, I am somewhat intrigued by the siren song of an expensive, "performance," cooler. Or ice chest. And fishing platform(?!). So, what say you, dear rabble, experts in all things fishing? Me? I have many conundrums that puzzle my pumpkin. 1. Waste of money? 2, Because, just get a bigger cooler and add more ice? 3. Does the ice matter? Hotel vs bag? Block vs cube? Dry ice? Frozen water jugs? 4. What about cocktail ice? 5. Two small coolers vs one large? 6. How many coolers have you bought in the last 5 years? Does it equal $200? See, I think we, as anglers, have no problem spending money. Rods, reels, clothes, trucks, boats. You get it. So, why do I (we) blanch at the thought of spending boo coo bucks on a, dare I say, important part of our equipment? Because, I really do think keeping things cold is important when you're out all day on the water. So, Yeti coolers. PS: I can remember a comedian making a joke on Johnny Carson about the new "twin-edged" razor. He said "What's next, a razor with FOUR blades?" General laughter ensued, accompanied by the comedian's incredulous facial expression. Yeah, well, you had to be there. Michael: I don't know anyone who could get through the day without two or three juicy rationalizations. They're more important than sex. Sam Weber: Ah, come on. Nothing's more important than sex. Michael: Oh yeah? Ever gone a week without a rationalization?

My prediction is James Franklin will keep his composure under mounting pressure to remove him as Mizzou's QB. Gary Pinkel will be steadfast in his support of Franklin's mediocrity. It is a stone cold lock that Franklin will not last the season as a starting QB, Injury will put him, and Mizzou fans, finally out their misery, and a new era will start. That of Missouri being a football nobody in a more competitive conference. The good news is, you can still see elite teams playing at Faurot Field. They will be coming out of the visitors locker room.

And they don't pound trout in Montana? Or, are the fishermen different out west?

PS: I love you guys! THAT (pictures) is what I'm talking about! Good picture Trophy. Unlike me, showing, not telling. Still, I believe buzzbaits are like math: There are innumerable ways to "get" to 1.

Trust me, I have hundreds and hundreds of dollars in jerkbaits that I fish for two or three days in January on the White River. I am by no means immune to buying "stuff." Just saying, there is a complete and forceful industry that wants, no, requires us to buy their "stuff," so we can become better fishermen. Thing is, the fish don't know that. They live in water. They'll hit a crude lure made in 1920 just as easily as a lure with 10 years of research behind it and manufactured with the latest state of the art materials. Don't get me wrong. I am not advocating or espousing the theory that "the past was better." While I quite agree that rods, reels, lines etc. improve on a regular, if not yearly, basis, I cannot say the same for lures, or the fishermen who use these lures. I have asked before, considering all "improvements" in fishing hardware and such, are we better fishermen now, than, say, 20 or 30 or 50 years ago? Which brings us back to buzzbaits. Really, is one brand or style better than another? If not, then what's the point? (It's personal choice Joe, you dummy). (Oh, Okay. True, Because, if something worked all the time, then there wouldn't be so may lures available, right?).

Cows have meat. When butchered and then cooked over an open fire, mm mm mmh. No wonder smallies hang around cows. They're jealous!

Buzzbaits are or should be, a dime a dozen. Hook, skirt, piece of cheap tin. Everything else is marketing. If you want noise, attach a fan or a radio to the end of your line. As long as there is hook dangling somewhere, you have a chance. After all, WE all know what fish want. Fish want a multi-billion dollar industry to catch them. We know nothing.

Becoming Ozark Chronicles all the time. Strangers not wanted.

Ok. I give. You rascals are too sensitive. Meanwhile, I'll cheer my daughters on in Field Hockey. Until basketball, thank Gosh. THEN soccer. Oy.

Exactly. Your fantasy teams are in EUROPE! My brother in laws' team is TOTTINGHAM. Tottingham. Yeah, that name will instill fear. May has well be named "Arnold." Sorry Arnold.

It's early! Privatize profits, socialize losses. Why pay when one can get somebody else to. Out of one's control, so there is no responsibility. Something bad happens to you? Hey, go to your computer and ask for money. Not "God Bless." But "God bless America!" "The Lord helps those who help themselves." To a second helping.

I am partial to smaller, and narrower, and slightly faster streams. I think current plays a major role in year round fishing. I think big fish relate to wood more than rocks. At the same time, as a veteran flailer of the Mineral Fork in its heyday, I know that smallies can be everywhere, all the time. Also, I do love those long, grass edges after a riffle, Big River comes to mind. Fact: Almost all of my big fish have come in 3 feet or less of water. But, in answer to your question, I prefer a stream with a fairly steady diet of riffles with 2 to 4 foot deep runs that have grass on the edges, rocks underneath, and downed trees or logs following. Not asking too much. Current is my key.

Remember, this is EUROPEAN LEAGUE SOCCER. Not American. Our national team can barely compete on a world stage. It's one thing watching a single exhibition of 2 foreign teams (that happen to have the worlds premier players), and quite another supporting your local pro team on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. Unless the ESL folds and comes to America, then, well, good luck.

I have no sympathy because I don't believe them. However, I could be wrong. Therefore, let's help them and give them money. That's what they want right? Why go through insurance? Why ask friends or family for help? Let's just go "online" and have strangers pay for their loss. Oh, by the way, "God Bless."

If you love them, why change? Grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, Once you change and get to the other side of the fence, there will be another fence and the grass will be greener on the other side of that fence. And round and round it goes. If you are satisfied with what you have, there is no reason to change, I know it's tough not to buy and/or buy into the latest and greatest thing, whether it is equipment, or lures or whatever. There is plenty of input vying for your attention telling you that what you own and use is incorrect and is keeping you from becoming the best angler you can be. Don't believe it. Unless, hmm. Horses. Wagons. Cars. Airplanes. Rockets. Medicine. Clean water. Education, Birth control. Womens rights. Nevermind. Buy it. What you have is crap. Get with it and progress.

So, fishwise, any thoughts? (Selfish, I know)

It's weird. Now that we can easily digitally record everything, when it comes to stream fishing for smallmouth bass in the Ozarks, we record and display nothing (except for big fish). Goes to show how special we know our resource is,

Hopefully you caught 158 fish.