joeD

Yeah, it's me. Get over it. Okay. First, which game(s) are you fellas going to watch? Tough choice, I know. What are the odds that our two (main) Missouri teams are on national TV playing games of SIGNIFICANCE? Me? Well, first, I am watching my two daughters play high school BB (last regular season game). But, I can guarantee that I will be on my phone checking scores, then, after, proceeding to the first available bar (or home) to finish a BIG Tuesday. Thoughts: SLU vs VCU is the game to watch. As a SLU alumnus, I have no bias. Look at SLU though fellas! Get on board. Have you seen them play? They play as a team. They are at the top of their conference, yet, not one of their players is in the top 20 in scoring. Even though they are the "local" team, they still play second fiddle to Missouri and, yes, Illinois, in the St. Louis media. Boo hooing much Joe? Yes. Chip on the old shoulder, huh Billiken fan? Possibly. However, right now, SLU is playing the best basketball in the state. They have a great opportunity ahead against VCU, who are as tough as anybody in the country. I will not watch Mizzou. I feel like a spurned lover who has seen the clay feet of my idol. Mizzou is frustrating to the extreme. Too hard for me to watch. Lame, yes. But... I'm a SLU Billiken. PS: I purposely did not go into specifics regarding player performance, coaching strategy, media input, etc. regarding our two teams.

Right now, Pressey's assist to turnover ratio is horrible, especially for a point guard. Hey, haircuts don't lie. I can't remember a player so skilled and so frustrating (usually on the same play) than Phil Pressey. Mizzou's defense is more problematic, I think. The excuse that these players "don't know each other" on the court is nonsense. The fact that they continually lay eggs on the road can be put at Coach Haith's feet. Yes, I said earlier, have faith in Haith. I'm not so sure now. My wife tells me to quit watching Mizzou "if it makes you so unhappy." Oy.

Well done, my brothers! See how easy that was? We went from a dyspeptic opinion to reactions of righteous indignation and outright name-calling to quoting "The Big Lewbowski" (which proves the overall greatness of the movie and its ability to bring people together). I am quite encouraged droogs! Using our malenky golovas, we can come to a harmonious conclusion! Sorry, gotta go. Vittamins to take, dontcha know. Nazdarovi!

Welly, welly, welly, well. How goes it my droogs? Just got back from a "holiday" with some quite lovely people in white coats. I had the old surprise visit from some of my family and friends, they were "concerned" about me, they thought I had "issues," and should "seek help." Being the compliant chellovek that I am, I happily obliged. Get some R and R you know. Well, let me tell you, my brothers, those friendly doctors, all smiley smiley, they sure gave my golova a working over. They made me see the errors of my ways, and then some. I even became friends with a malenky chaplain, who said: "Goodness is something to be chosen. When a man cannot choose, he ceases to be a man." Amen. It inspired me as much as the lovely Ludwig Van. I have come out of my recent clinical stay a changed chellovek, oh my brothers! No more of the nastiness of my disposition, the need for the ultra-violence and rampant episodes of improper sessions of the old in and out. I have finally seen the light, my fishing droogs! Unmuddied waters and azure skies, my golova is so right and clear. I'm even drinking straight moloko, nothing added. Ahh, it is good to be back my brothers! So, how now, what's new?

Will you guys quit trying to make a "movie," no, a "FILM" for Pete's sake? Good grief. Trust me, I love and respect what you're doing. But, stop with the trying to be some auteur with the camera and your fishing trips. Your preciousness is offputting. You are all copying the same crappy flyfishing film blueprint that has most sane people bored to tears. 1. Highway traveling. Yes, got it. Two lane rural highways? Yawn. Jeez, if traveling isn't boring enough, why would we want to see it on film? 2. The sun. Yeah, it's there. Don't film it. (But what about the rays of the sun Joe? Beautiful. Unless they're piercing your drunken, crusted eyelids). 3. Music. Don't get me started. 4. Setting the tableau. GAWD. Yes, moving water is pretty. Oooh, look, moving water! (But Joe, we filmed at the waters LEVEL, check THAT out!) 5. Music. Next. 6. Fish. There are so gosh darn few of them being caught on any fishing video. 7. Repeating. FISH BEING CAUGHT IS AN AFTERTHOUGHT TO MOST OF THE "FILMS" WE SEE. 8. Sunset. Can't forget that. Especially when filmed through a golden haze of gently swaying long grass. 9. People. Couldn't identify with anyone. Not in the shot. They were too busy making a "film." 10. Music. Nevermind. I realize that what I'm writing is quite harsh. And that I have no knowledge of the inner soul of our fellow fishermen who are posting these videos. I mean no offense. My point is, instead of doing what HAS been done in fishing video, do what YOU want to do on film. And surely it can't be highways and sunsets. Just because a TV show does it, doesn't make it right. PS: Did I mention music?

If you have had a place on the Bourbeuse for 40 years, and then ask for advise with a name like "basscatcher," well, then.... Listen to Gavin. Oy. But, given the B., water color will determine your success. Especially at the end of March. Brown is no and green (or greenish) is go. Simple as that. 40 years. Good grief.

I liked it, I guess. Good effort story and picture wise. Easy to scoff at it, but, I won't. You were out there doing it. Recording it. Sharing it with us. Good on you. Thanks. Fishing is fun, right?

Freeze gallon water jugs for your food cooler. As they (frozen gallon jugs) melt, use as drinking water. Have another cooler filled with ice. Keep as much food or drink as you can, OUT of your coolers. You'd be surprised. If you're floating in the summer, then, having ice is critical. Having nothing cold to drink halfway through a long, multiday float is absolutely demoralizing. Example: Instead of taking a ton of beer and using valuable cooler real estate keeping it cold, take a 12 pack or less, and bring a bottle or two of bourbon (decanted into a clean plastic liter soda bottle of course). That liquor doesn't need a cooler. See? Thirdly, why is a (specific) cooler playing such a large part in your plans? I think your Yeti will understand if you have to leave him home on this adventure (sniff).

Thank you. We need the rain. We need a good flushing. (Ha ha very funny! Didn't see that one coming). We need more rain.

Well, if you all were part of the "good guys" and were were carrying weapons like you're supposed to, then you wouldn't be in the position your in, what, with gaping wounds and being held hostage in the middle of Courtois creek....Shoulda listened to your mom.. Now, about all that space junk flying around, up in the air, not to mention the constant air traffic overhead, don't you think it's time to reinforce your roof and add to your homeowners insurance?

Don't want to get all Gene Hackman on you, but, "we're coming together as a team!"

You are more likely to die from a blood clot than a snake bite. You are more likely to die of a heart attack than get lost in the woods. You are more likely to die in a car accident than become separated from your "group" and have to rely on waterproof matches for your survival. Your high cholesterol will be more likely to kill you than being super cold where you would need a space blanket. Your beer gut will kill you more assuredly than being trapped in, say, an avalanche. Those survival items are nonsense. There is no empirical evidence that supports the theory that having "survival" gear increases your chance of living in a desperate situation. It always comes down to luck, and keeping your s*** together. So, really, if you want to live, then live your life like you WANT to live longer. Otherwise... Why do we spend so much time worrying about things that are statistically irrelevant happening to us, than preventing the actual reality, the reality that we can control, from plaguing us?

Or, quit fly fishing for smallies. Good grief. Look at it this way: If you want to get laid on a regular basis, do X. If you don't want to get laid on a regular basis, do Y. Why do you insist on doing Y? That's the question.

"what's happening with them sausages Charlie?" " Five minutes, Turkish." "It was two minutes five minutes ago."

Good luck fellas. I was there this past Mon Tues and Wed. The browns are still spawning, and are very scattered. Fishing is pretty mediocre if you want big fish. More to the point, the algae problem in the river is absolutely obnoxious and I think is a great impediment to fishing success. High, sunny summer temperatures, combined with constant low or non-existent flow just made the greenery in the White explode. I believe we are paying the price this winter. I have never seen so much crap on the bottom. I have no doubt that nice fish can be caught, but, it will be that much harder. Get ready for seaweed.

Whatta win for SLU! Against my fourth favorite team, no less (my favorite team is my two girls' high school field hockey/basketball/soccer teams). I am so very happy for the SLU program. Their suffocating defense and smart offensive playing was a joy to watch. Bully for them, they both deserved, and earned it. I'm quite sure that this loss is a mere speed bump on Butler's way to playing deep into "March Madness," but that should not take away this significant home win for SLU. Say what you will, but the best Division 1 men's college basketball currently being played in Missouri is by SLU. Not Mizzou. Not Missouri State. And yes, I realize that a Jesuit city school that belongs to a conference that most sports fans shrug off (the A-10), is a hard sell (no football team). But, aren't you guys tired of Mizzou's chronic underachievement?

Forum members: Please accept my apologies for my recent spate of negativity and alarming lack of judgement regarding posting decorum. I regret my choice of words and hope you will forgive my tactlessness. As Marcus says: "Because you got no discipline, you got zero f...... initiative...You're just too pathetic for words. You're a f...... loser and you f...... know it." Amen. I know it is early in the new year, but I can't help but think I am a frontrunner for the Rex Ryan (ahem) "Foot in Mouth" Award. Again, my apologies to all. No offense was intended. Sincerely, Joe

This is what one would call "navel gazing." Things change. Now what?

Every year, 15,000 people die from gun violence. We don't care about them because they are black and poor, mostly. 15,000. Every year. Been going for ages. 15,000. Always. Yet nothing is being done. Take your magazine and assault weapon and mental health issues and gun control arguments and shove it up your butt.

What would happen to our beloved streams if, tomorrow, the MDC declares that smallmouth bass cannot be kept on any stream in Missouri? That's right. ALL smallmouth bass in streams must be released. You know what would happen? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Our catch rates will remain the same. Of course, there will be anomalies, but, basically, nothing will change. There will always be a subset of the fishing population that have no scruples, and will always harvest fish,. Always. On every river, in every town. And we know them. But, we will do nothing. Our excuses are at once, myriad, and typical. Again, and I mean this sincerely, the MDC is barking up the wrong tree. Smallmouth fishing sucks in Missouri because of the asshole local fishermen in each town by a smallie stream that catch and keep fish on a regular and continuing basis. Period. The regulations put forth by the MDC, and, yes, society, do not apply to them. They will do as they please.

Gavin- I disagree. I hate Sunset Hills cops. Parking lot would not have done. Growlers was close enough. Here's my issue: I think we (as Missourians) are quite lucky to have the MDC as a governmental agency managing our "sportsmens" or "wildlife" or "natural resources" needs. However, I think they are quite wrong, and, purposefully stubborn, when it comes to smallmouth bass. Why? Because they're studying the wrong thing. One can study a certain fish species forever, and then what? Fish do this. Fish do that. Their brains are the size of a pea. Instead, the MDC should be studying human behavior. For example, why, as an agency, or as a society, do we let people who knowingly break the law, (or the Wildlife code), continue to disrupt and ruin the public domain? I thought it quite rich when one of the MDC reps took umbrage when one of our illustrious members voiced his frustration with the constant "studies" of the MDC without tangible "legislation" (for lack of a better term). He actually stood up and, in his best bureaucratic throat, " Well, I disagree with your statement, we DO listen to your concerns..blah blah blah..." I'll wager that, in three years, none of the three MDC reps that showed up tonight will have anything to do with smallmouthbass management. Not their fault. PS: I was the guy ...

A father died with his sons. Yet, apparently, this story is about YOU. And what YOU would've done. And what happened to YOU when such and such happened. Or YOU would never have done (fill in the blank). Little sympathy, lots of advise. Tsk tsking. (Haaaaaaaaaarrumph! He shoulda...I woulda... why didn't he...I can't believe..blah blah blah). Don't believe me? Then look at how many times the pronoun "I" occurs in our responses. It's always about us isn't it? (yeah but, Joe, if the good guys had guns, it never would have happened)!

I'm offended. They were wearing clothes.

I went to the meeting. The MDC did a presentation on the results of yet another smallmouth survey and study. The results? Smallmouth are fish that due stuff. Some of it pretty cool. How does that effect you? It doesn't. Further study is needed. Carry on.

So, as I have posted previously, there seems to be a dearth of good fishing trips, no, scratch that that, good fish catching trips (good action, a healthy number of lunkers caught) on the Current. Constant low water? Constant pressure? Mixture of both (obviously)? Or, maybe, we're not as good as we think we are?