joeD

Good frigging grief. The amount of studies that our Ozarks streams have had to endure without any policy change is ridiculous. How long have we been picking at this smallmouth scab? The solution is so obvious, its not funny. But, given our current social and political climate, it is more important not to "offend" certain people than it is to actually use common sense and use facts to act accordingly. 1. Recognize smallmouth in Missouri streams as a sportfish, not to be harvested. Yes. NOT to be harvested. 2. That's it. Smallmouth bass are to be put back in EVERY stream in Missouri. There is absolutely no evidence that smallmouth bass are overcrowding any particular stream. 3. The ONLY reason why there are no, or few, large fish (15, or 17, inches and above) in streams that can produce them, is predation by the local fishing populace. Period. 4. That's right. LOCAL. LOCAL. LOCAL. Visiting fishermen from the "big" cities do absolutely NOTHING in contributing to the demise of larger fish in our Ozark streams. 5. I don't care. 6. I'll give you an example. Let's say your favorite stretch of river is the Meramec from point A to point B. 10 miles. You can keep a smallie of 15 (or 18) inches. So you do. In that same week in that same stretch, there are 5 other trips of 2 fishermen each that catch and keep legal smallmouth. The same thing happens the next week. And the next week. And the next week. Oh, and we have repeats from the first week. More people taking their legal limit of smallmouth. All season. It is their right. The following year we have the same behavior. Fishermen can legally keep a 15 or 18 inch smallie from this particular stretch of river. And they do. Week after week. 7. In the third year of "our" study, we find that catch rates for keeper fish are down. In fact, everyone is complaining that the fishing sucks. Something must be done. 8. Creel limits!! Why didn't we think of this before??!! You did. Doesn't work for smallies in Ozark streams. 9. Let's sum up. 9. The idea that taking a certain number of fish out of a finite population and area will lead to "better" fishing due to "less" competition and will produce bigger fish is complete nonsense. It will just lead to less fish. 4. We could talk to the end of time about the negative environmental effects of human industry on fishing populations, many true, BUT, in terms of our Ozark streams, the REAL reason we don't have great fishing on OUR streams is the "local" population of fishermen who catch and keep smallmouth bass without regard to rules or regulations. They don't care. Again. THEY DON'T CARE. Make any rule you want, IT WILL BE IGNORED. 9. Solution? 10. Catching and keeping smallmouth bass must become socially unacceptable for those who do it. It's seems Pollyanna, but it is true. Social and group behavior change must come from within, not dictated from governmental authority. Yes, it is up to US, the citizens, the fishermen, to make catching and keeping smallmouth bass in Ozark streams something that will have a negative social consequence. 32. since I can't stop typing and don't know what i'm doing, it seems the shark population should be robust, what, with all the little guys getting yanked out of the ocean by the japanese , the number of BIG sharks should EXPLODE! Shark fin soup DELUXE! Those male elderly Asians should be the size of John Holmes by now, since they've already decimated the tiger and elephant populations. *. I don't care.

I don't care if you carry a gun or not. Or your reasons for it. However, I would like someone to tell me, in the last, say 30 years, give me an example where a gun could have saved a life on an Ozark stream. Give me a published example where an innocent life could have been saved if only the victim(s) had a weapon. An example of a recreational floater murdered by a stranger on an Ozark stream. Or give me two or three examples. Or none. That's all. Not your reasons for carrying or not carrying. I'm like the honey badger, I don't give a sh**. Not hearsay. Not when you felt threatened. An actual murder that could have been prevented if only the victim was armed. On the river. By a stranger. In the Ozarks.

Preface: Let's just assume right off the bat, that we all know it's about money. Good or bad, it is another subject altogether. My take: Rivalries are built through time, where the collective histories of the people and institutions involved become so intertwined, that they have a life of their own. Generally, this is achieved through repetition and proximity. Fueled by the passions of successive generations as to their superiority. It is at once illogical, nonsensical, and wonderful, where elation and heartbreak are separated by just a free throw or field goal. Though the teams may belong to the same conference, their affiliation is not what drives the (any) rivalry. That is why I'm so, I don't know, chafed maybe, that Bill Self (who may or may not speak for Kansas) has decided that since Mizzou is going to another conference, then, well, he'll just take his ball and go home and not play us anymore. Because, history be darn, MO isn't in the Big 8, 10, 12 anymore. That's why. What? It's not as if the University of Missouri packed their bags and buildings and moved to Tuscaloosa. They're still in Columbia. Just a different conference. It changes nothing. The two colleges can play each other any time they want. Period. They are Kansas. We are Missouri. They still have a stupid chicken for a mascot, and will always have an inferiority complex compared to us. So, Kansas and Mizzou , quit your childish posturing and play ball. History is a terrible thing to waste.

Welcome back to Missouri Al. Given our current "winter," spring and smallie fishing will start in about two weeks. I can empathize with your duel home status and the attendant logistical nits. I too, have a second home. My wife affectionately calls it the "doghouse." I have to admit that I spend quite a bit of time there. I don't have quite the commute that Mary and you have, but I do have to leave our "main" (family) home, frequently with nothing but the clothes on my back. Regardless, it's good to have a native son back in our state, that, weirdly, has two pronunciations. PS: Big game tomorrow. Can Mizzou get the Bill Self monkey off its back? I'm more pumped for the KS game than the Super Bowl.

Still, I'm glad he's going to Mizzou. Unfortunately, like Jeremy Maclin, he will not last 4 years. He's that good.

The reason Mauntauk doesn't have a fly shop is because they don't NEED a fly shop. Probably never will. No reason to. Their modus operandi with regard to fishermen really hasn't changed for years. It doesn't seem to hurt or bother them. People and their money show up year after year. Why change? Besides, why, as flyfishermen, do we need one there? We have more sh** than we know what to do with. We make female "croppers" and home woodworking hobbyists look positively Luddite in our flyfishing accoutrement.

I agree. Excellent coach who generally went unrecognized, except for his trademark turtlenecks. I think when Larry Hughes left SLU after his freshman year, Spoon saw the writing on the wall as far as the direction college basketball was going, and it hurried his exit from the coaching ranks. Too bad. I wish there were more coaches like him, competence coupled with a personality and sense of humor.

California. Unintended consequences. Big fish though. (for a related story about hormones in California see: Mark McGuire).

Aww Dad, we're not done yet. Facts shmacks. Buzzkill.

Really? That's kinda funny. " I know, everybody funny, now you funny too." With that in mind, I'll have a bourbon now, since I've already had a scotch and a beer.

I didn't say pure. Living a colorful life and being respectful of others are not mutually exclusive traits. Also, one gets "convicted" of murder or rape or beastiality, not speeding. That's a nuisance that your attorney handles when he's not chasing women.

"Philosophising" might be a stretch... But, we do like to talk don't we? Truth: I have a drawn caricature of my dad on my wall, rendered when he was in college. He is on a soap box expostulating, while in the background there is a cow's butt with some stinking excrement on the ground. Apparently, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Nobody in this forum will be breaking the law anytime soon. We're not going to shoot anyone, nor are we going to get shot at. We are going to fish our streams just as we always have, having fun in the outdoors in a reasonable and respectful manner. I daresay that no one who posts on this forum belong to the class of buffoons and miscreants that we always allude to. While JDs post is valid and has common sense, his advise is redundant to the users of this forum. Because we (on this forum) already behave in a lawful, reasonable, and respectful manner, especially when it comes to our usage of the outdoors. It's like our law officers in St. Louis going to nursing homes and telling the residents not to go to Wellston and buy crack cocaine. Good advise, but...

Targeting walleye on the Meramec is like targeting a super-model at Pop's at 2:30 am on Wednesday night. Odds are about the same. Might happen though. Just ask my transgender "wife." (at least there are no children involved in the divorce). PS: The riffle below the Simpson Lake outflow (Meramec River, Valley Park) has produced walleye in days of yore, on Shad Raps.

I agree with Al 100%. I would like to amplify, if I may be so bold, what I think is the most important part of Al's post, which is the pure ENJOYMENT of watching Mizzou play. Yes, winning games is fun, and ultimately and obviously the goal. But watching Mizzou is, for me (and my wife), almost thrilling, bringing an, I don't know, "intangible" aspect to college hoops viewing that seemed to be missing for the past few years. Let me clarify. In watching Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas (for example), one cannot help but be amazed at the skill and athletic prowess of these elite players. Their coaches are the best in the business. The records of these programs speak for themselves. They play the game the right way, and are formidable to opposing teams. Yet. For all their skill and sterling won-loss records, I don't get the same jolt of excitement in watching them play (I'm a college hoops fan, regardless of Mizzou) as I do the Tigers, for all of Al's reasons. Also, and more importantly to me, and the point I'm trying to get to, is that, to me, there seems to be a grim determinism, a singular, machine-like, business-like NEED for these schools to ACHIEVE GREATNESS, and anything less is a failure. And that pressure to succeed (you have a multitude of All-Americans at your disposal dontcha know) creates skilled, athletic, winning basketball, but with no personality or joy. (Next time you watch Duke, count the smiles on the players during the game. You'll need just one hand). The national media sees Mizzou as a novelty act, the warm-up band to the headliner. Maybe so. Who cares? I think what they do on the court is wonderful. It gives me hope.

Below Valley Park is a veritable cornucopia of everything. You might catch a largemouth, spotted, drum, catfish, walleye (yes), crappie, car parts, human remains, you name it. But what you won't have is "action." Anything you catch will be luck. Go when the water looks green and is not a raging torrent. Shad Raps and live bait.

Other than losing to the Rams in 99 and having top-notch facial hair and sunglasses, what has Jeff Fisher accomplished?

1. Albert Pujols could have had it ALL. Sign with StL. Plenty of money. Become a baseball God. Become part of a vanishing tradition. Red jackets. Stan. Bob. Lou. Red. 2. In other words, become an integral part of the St. Louis social fabric, that no monetary contract could convey. 3. But. He didn't. 4. He went someplace else. More money. 5. Good for him. 6. He owes us NOTHING. 7. We owe him NOTHING. 8. People of all sorts leave one job for another all the time. Professional athletes are no different. 9. That is right. 10. Professional athletes are no different. They do what is best for themselves and their family. Just as you or I would do. 11. Let me repeat. 12. Lifelong respect or a ton of money. 13. Money will ALWAYS win. 14. Respect? Awww, that's nice. Go sit over there in the loser section. 15. BUT. 16. Albert is gone. 17. So, baseball number-crunchers, I'll ask this, and it is quite logical and simple. 18. Who will make up Albert's 100 RBIs? 19. His 30 HRs? 20. His Gold Gloves? 21. Slugging %. 22. On base %. 23. Leadership? 24. We ignore Albert's numbers at our own peril. Look at them again. They are beyond impressive and probably will not be duplicated in our lifetime. 25. Cardinal management made a business decision. So did Albert.

The MVC will probably get two teams in, the conference winner, and the tournament winner (if different). Three might be a stretch, regardless of RPI. Just look at Missouri State a few years ago. The days when 11 or 12 smaller market and/or mid-major teams get invited to the final 64 are over. I think the selection committee learned its lesson a few years back when Billy Packer and the rest of the CBS team, along with the "power" conferences, threw a fit when many of the at-large bids went to smaller schools, quite a few for their first time. I think the focus will be on the big boys, while the "wallflower" schools hope for a few crumbs from the committee. Too bad. The same can be said about the television media broadcasting the same 20 teams over and over and over. I think they underestimate BB fans desire to see different schools play, and overestimate the demand to see NC or Duke for the 50th time. There is plenty of good basketball being played all over the states, I wish we could see more of it. Yes, I know it's about ratings and money.

SLU has been away from home for more than a week, so losing to a solid Loy-Mar team on their last day isn't so bad. I'll be at the home game vs Vermont next Wednesday the 7th, should be fun. I watched the Ohio St-Duke game also. Coupla heavyweights going at it. There are at least 5 or 6 high school All-Americans at any given time on the court in games like these. Look at Kentucky or Florida or N.C. too. Thing is, it is rare to see any of those all-americans stay all 4 years at their school. That's why they call them "factories." One star leaves, and is replaced by a player just as lauded and talented. So, Al makes a good point. For mid-majors to compete and have success, they have to have players that play together, and STAY together, forming a cohesive unit. Sure there is talent at that level, but those schools don't have it up and down their bench like the big boys do. That's where coaching and team offense and defense makes a difference. Early bracket buster sleeper: Cleveland State.

I love it fellas! College basketball rules. Having Mizzou and SLU playing at high levels IS exciting. I have some reservations about the Tigers' size and rebounding, and SLUs lack of athleticism, but...you can't deny the positive vibes concerning "our" teams. Should be fun. More to come. PS: Look at all the analyses pre-playoff of the baseball Cardinals. It just goes to show, throw the ball out, and let'em play. Answers are hashed out on the field of play.

Wow. What was that thing eating to get so big, armadillos? Congratulations.

Your key sentence was buying "your first pair of gore-tex..." Gore-tex is the gold standard. Yes, I know other brands have come up with similar breathable materials and have had them branded, but, I still think Gore-Tex is the best. Why? Well, one, my friend is longtime employee of Gore and keeps me updated. But, two, more importantly, Gore-Tex is always out front of the breathable and rugged material market, other brands are merely copying what Gore has put out. By the time competitors have caught up to Gore's latest, they (Gore) are already onto something else. I guess I do have a bias. Regardless, buy the best Gore-Tex you can afford. I like stocking foot because I can buy a shoe that I want to go with it. Getting old and out of shape sucks. Comfortable, well fitted shoes are a must. Simms are wonderful, but wildly expensive. I really like the Cabelas brand of Gore-Tex waders. Good value. I think neoprene is on its way out.

Watching St. John and Arizona college hoops. I thought Sean Miller from Arizona looked familiar.... :Little Larry.jpg]

Speaking of Red...I think I might queue up "Spartacus" in the ole VCR thingy. Come to think of it, I have some extra peach wine coolers that I need to dispatch...