joeD

After all that, Scott didn't go. Shocking. "The cheaper the crook, the gaudier the patter." Dashiell Hammett "The Maltese Falcon"

Scott- I would bring everything and throw everything. I think the fishing is definitely in flux, where every day is different. I am not convinced that the smallies in streams are spawning. Maybe they are. Maybe they're not. Prepare to be flexible in your approach. Good luck.

Sorry Mitch. I'm like Otis the town drunk on Mayberry RFD. I'll just go over here and "lock" myself up. As always, keep Barney Fife weapon-free. We don't want just anyone walking around with a gun now do we?

Whew! Been gone for a few days. Still tired. So, what's up whiteboyz? Geez. What ninnymuggins started this topic?

Let's say you are at a party. Maybe your own. You're talking to a friend about a common interest. A third person joins the conversation. The common interest leads to pleasant and lively conversation. Other people see your vitality in your conversational group and decide to join in. They too, have similar experiences to your own, and contribute positively to the repartee. But, quickly, a couple persons within this charmed circle, begin to have a separate conversation between them. Instead of excusing themselves politely to masticate on their new subject, they decide to turn their backs on the group and continue talking, as if the previous people and conversational subject never existed. Literally. You have a drink in your hand, ready to further illuminate the group with your brilliance, then the person next to you turns his back and starts talking over and above everyone else about something else entirely. That kind of behavior, while completely common, is, I believe, rude, boorish, and selfish. Yes, I know there is an ebb and flow to face to face conversations. But, turning your back on the group to start a different conversation is, well, unmannered. Impolite. What does this have to with us? (OAF) Look at any topic.(I will not name names. Very public and recent). Look how quickly we veer off the subject. A sincere post, generally a question or story, gets a few generic responses, then, gets completely ignored (backs turned to the conversation), and posters start their own conversations (threads), without once giving a thought to the original posting (conversation starter). Instead of excusing ourselves to start something new, we just swipe aside the existing conversation, and start a new one, better suited to what I (ME) want to discuss. Typing on a keyboard, to get responses on a screen, does not excuse our social need for public manners. Although Pollyanna-ish, how nice would it be to have a thread that "stayed on task."? That all responses were pertinent to the subject? Yes. You are correct. I am (insert your own insult). But, as a sinner, I am sincere (think Jimmy Swaggart crying to his "flock"). In sum, thread hijacking is just another little tack in the coffin of a polite society. Unfortunately, I am guilty of swinging a big hammer.

1. Black river is the clearest. 2. Al wasn't asking about fishing clear water. 3. Spinal Tap is not a good gauge about clarity. After all, Nigel got caught at the airport with a cucumber down his trousers... 4. Do not use the term "gin clear." It's an insult to gin. As if. ( "c'mon Bombay, let's get away from these ruffians, and get back to our leather club chair.")

It's also funny how a person asks where to bank fish on the lower Meramec turns into boating invitations for a couple people who don't even bother to address the original question. Yes, I get it. It's a forum, and threads go on tangents. Yes, I realize it's about you. No big whup. Still. "I know, everybody funny, now you funny too."

When the water is WAY down underneath the 44 bridge on the Meramec, accessed in Rt 66 St Park, you might be able to effectively wade fish. I mean WAY down. When it looks like a riffle that might hold hold trout. Other than that, you're wasting your time. Instead, go west to the Bourbeuse. Reiker Ford outside Union. Again, when the water dictates. That is, it is not chocolate, and is reasonably low. Or, find some creeks that flow into the M or B and wade fish them. In Eureka, your options for catching fish nearby are limited. PS: Wade fishing the M this far down is stupid and unproductive. Really. But go on ahead. Prove me wrong. You're an iconoclast that takes the path less trodden. Good luck.

No motor. And I'll add this, as everyone else is spot on with advise. Please do not underestimate how tired you will be after a few days of camping on the river. Even in perfect weather, 4 or 5 days of gravel bar camping is TOUGH. Fishing, paddling, sun, setting up camp, breaking down camp, rationing, gathering firewood every night, sweating while you sleep, etc. If the water is low and you're battling the in and out game of riffles, day after day, your trip can become less than enjoyable. Especially if your cooler is not cold anymore. Not having anything cold to drink WILL SUCK. Just more stuff to keep in mind. Your trip sounds great. I wish I could do it. Have fun and good luck. Oh, and don't do your own shuttle. Buck up and pay someone to shuttle your vehicle. They'll keep it at their campground until the day you need it, instead of you having your car at a public access for 5 days unattended.

Great fish guys. Seems some big ones are coming out. I also went fishing Sunday, on the upper Meramec, in less than ideal conditions. Unfortunately, neither my partner nor I brought a camera or phone, expectations being low, given the conditions. Ten minutes into the float, and my second fish, I caught a 4.2 pound hog (weighed). Thwart measurement was around 20 inches, maybe a little more, maybe a little less. But the girth was incredible, very heavy, with a HUGE gaping maw. Sorry no pix. (yeah yeah yeah. no pic no fish). Really, if Mitch or Al wouldn't have posted, and Greasy, I wouldn't have said anything. Seems weird/cool that we all caught big fish in basically the same timeframe. White Superfluke, natch. BTW: Struggling with VCU.

Here we go ... Kim English ...Get well soon young man, we need you. SLU- Good win. Kept it together at the end. It'll serve you well later... Thought #1: Mizzou, really, is absolutely toying with the opposition. Good or bad, no one can stop them. Except themselves. Thought #2: SLU will be hard to beat because of their defense and sound offensive fundamentals. Too, Rick Majerus will not be outcoached. Conclusions: Two. Number 1. Of course. These are teenage and slightly older boys we're talking about. You never know. Number 2. We have SLU and Mizzou together this year in the tourney. Now THAT is something to be excited about. DISCLAIMER: As Gene Hackman said as Coach Dale in the movie "Hoosiers," "I apologize for nothing." That is the way I feel about college hoops.

Atta boy. Keep on truckin'.

Hmm, let's see...Ozark streams I haven't floated or fished, but would like to. Or streams that I used to frequent, but don't anymore. Interesting. I'll just file that under "Just Another Thing in Joe's Negative Column." Sub-Heading: "Things I Would Love to Do but Won't, Because I'm a Spineless Slug and Am Too Lazy to Make the Effort." Meramec, here I come! PS: Good post Al!

That was a COACHES vote. And it was a TIE for first - Bill Self and Scott (?) Hoiberg (?) of Iowa State. Haith won the AP Coach of the Year for the Big 12. (Gee, I wonder why? Could it be that there were no nabobs from the conference voting?) MIzzou is getting punished all around for going to the SEC. Let it go. It'll be over soon. JLIG. Just Let It Go.

That's my friends fish. I'm the one behind him doing nothing. Just along for the ride.

Now, let's talk about my alma mater, Saint Louis University. . Yes, I know. The ugly step-child that we'd rather not address. City school. Media ignored conference. Fat coach. Unremarkable players playing a decidedly less than telegenic brand of hoops. Yet. If you didn't watch (or were not there) our home win 2 nights ago against Xavier, then... well, you won't understand. I believe we will make the tournament. And we will be roundly underestimated. We will give our opponent(s) fits. Why? Because our stifling defense, coupled with our deliberate offense, will eventually frustrate our opponent, especially in the second half, into taking bad shots, hurrying their pace of play due to the low score, and perplex them into submission as to why they aren't kicking our butt. And our coach will not be outcoached. He will not make a mistake. So. If I can fit into my SLU hoodie, I'll wear it proudly (I do anyway). Mizzou will get the attention, but my heart is really with the Billikens.

They have NO shot at a 1 seed. Syracuse. Kentucky. Duke. North Carolina. Then: Kansas. Michigan State. Ohio State. Or: Substitute Kansas and North Carolina. Maybes: Indiana. Murray State for number 2s. There's a bigger difference between a 3 and 4 than a 1 and 2. Things are good.

This is my friend. We used spinning gear and jerkbaits in high water in January. This was the biggest. We also broke off at least three that were just as big. Not to mention the 30 or so other browns in the 2-3 pound range that we didn't photograph and were put back. We also flyfished on the day they weren't generating. I'm not bragging. I've had plenty of tough days on the White. My point is, if one is going to go through the trouble of booking rooms at a resort, buying gas and food and booze and cigars and licenses, inviting friends, ON A FISHING TRIP, shouldn't actually catching fish be somewhat of a priority? Especially when water levels are unpredictable? Obviously, I don't understand the philosophical rigidity when it comes to flyfishing ( "I just like it" ). It almost seems as if your hand would melt if you actually picked up a spinning rod. Not to mention the existential hell you would go through for straying from the zen of the "art" of flyfishing. But, who am I to get in the way of someone's desire to fish a certain way? Really. We're all after the same thing, one way or another, fish or not.

I don't know if I've cooled down enough to conversate about Dixon trotting up the court with 8 seconds left ....(AAARRRGHHH). P. Pressey. No points. No assists. No rebounds. 4 fouls? (Basically). Let's not talk about turnovers. So tell me again why Dixon (despite the last play) is the 6 th man? Uh, where was Ratliffe Frank? He belongs ON THE COURT! Oy.

The Current is absolutely getting pounded. Weekly, certainly, daily, just about. Not the Meramec though. But here's the thing, for me anyway. One has a better chance, pressure notwithstanding, of catching more, and bigger, trophy size included (say 5 lbs plus), trout on the Current than the Meramec. Yes, the Current can be vexing, but the potential on any given cast is so much greater than any stretch on the Meramec. Honestly, there are just a scant few areas that reliably (if that) hold trout on the M. Your chance of catching a big, bruising, brown trout is negligible. Unlike the Current, picture evidence is almost non-existent. Time is running out. Fishing days are finite and, increasingly it seems, harder to come by. Use them wisely.

If you want to catch trout , skip the Meramec completely, and go to the Current River. Skip Blue Spring Creek, unless you're a masochist. You can fish Bennett Spring, which is a trout park. Yes, there are other little places here and there that have trout, but, your odds of catching anything are small, just like the fish that are in these little spots. Some fishermen hold these spots sacred for some reason though. When it comes to trout fishing in Missouri, the Current is the alpha and the omega. And it is a day trip from Columbia, just a spell down 63. It is well known though. There are references online that a smart guy like you can access and make a sensible decision as to where to go.

If you're staying at Gaston's, they'll have the lowdown on what to use. Read John Berry's reports on this forum. He'll tell you all you need to know. BIG HOWEVER: What are you going to do if the Corp is running water? Are you going to hire a guide? Rent a boat? Go to Norfork (if they're not running water)? I don't know what you mean by fishing the outlets with lighted indicators. But know this, fly-fisherman. Learn to love a spinning rod and a jerkbait. And ask yourself, is it more important for you to catch fish, or is it more important to you to FLYFISH for your quarry? One doesn't go to the White River (and Gastons) to sit on the sidelines.

Reality check: Kansas has a NCAA championship title (in basketball, of course, the only sport the rivalry matters), they have won the Big 12 conference title almost every year for the past 10 years, and have beaten Mizzou more often than Tiger fans care to admit. Mizzou cannot claim that kind of success. Usually in college sports, rivalry games have a more "toss up" kind of feel. Where, in any given time period, the win/loss ratio is about even. Unfortunately for Mizzou, the win ratio is heavily tilted towards Kansas. This is not an opinion. Facts will prove this. Sorry. When it comes to basketball, Kansas is number 1. Mizzou is an also-ran. A shoulda. Woulda. Coulda. In an odd year they might be better. But until Mizzou wins conference titles, wins NCAA championships, beats Kansas year in year out, they will always be looking up at their rival.

I think it was the esteemed and sensible former senator from New York, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who said that "all politics are local." And that is what "this" is. Even though we have a common interest, smallmouth bass fishing on Missouri Ozark streams, witness the passion and divergent opinions on how best to achieve angling harmony. So, now you know what the MDC goes through when enacting fishing regulations. In point of fact, our MDC is, in general, quite stellar when it comes to protecting and advocating, for its citizens. How to best allocate finite resources for the good of all. A thankless and daunting task that, really, makes no one happy, but no one really that sad either. Politics is compromise. That is how civilization moves forward. There is no absolute "right" way to manage (if we can, in our hubris, "manage" nature") our beloved smallmouth bass. What we can do, however, is keep an open mind, focus on our commonality, not become entrenched in personal differences, and try to better "our" fishing experiences. Or not. ("Bartender!.....More of the same!....glug...) BTW: Didn't I just say that the problem is not the MDC, but the "LOCAL" fishermen. Yes. I. Did. And yes they do. Period. Local f****** a******* are ruining OUR streams. It's not you. Or me. It's you know who. F*** them. THEY ARE THE PROBLEM. Quit dancing around it. Geez. ("Bartender!.... Another!....slurp..)

Now that I've mulled it over, I realize that if I didn't jump to conclusions and fly off the handle, I'd get no exercise at all.