joeD

My mistake then. My interpretation of your original post was that you have one foot in the Ozarks and one foot in Montana, and, have an inner, somewhat opposing fishing conundrum, as to approach, environment, and fishing philosophy when pursuing fish in your two home waters. I could care less about who has gear, or the lack of it. Just a response to a "simplicity" angle. Which can sometimes ring false. Fishing is fun. So is "talking" about it. Beats politics, Mizzou sports and the Rams and, now, Grant's Farm.

The assumption being that more gear equates to less effective and successful fishing. That people of monetary means are necessarily bad fishermen, because they have expensive cars and have expensive equipment, and so easily fall into the working class hero ethos and mythology of the clueless blueblood fisherman." My simple tastes and way of life are superior to your soulless striving. " Al, as someone with two homes and the wherewithal to fish as you please, be careful of our sympathy and tolerance over your existential fly fishing angst.

Les Miles hasn't left LSU yet. Neither has any other coach. Mizzou isn't a destination program that attracts elite coaches. We will have to be satisfied with a coach with "solid" credentials and a "passion" to move Missouri football to the "next level." Which will be tough to do.

Fly fishermen use vises and books and hackles and hurls and feathers and all manner of accoutrements, trying to reproduce an exact replica of various water borne meals for hungry fish. To be presented by carefully designed and priced rods and reels and line and the attendant proper clothing. All that effort to place a well researched and vetted imitation of, lets face it, a little insect. All that with a physical choreography of using that fly rod to place that fly in a particular place. Yes, it is a skill. Yet, year after year, a drunk (as I'm described) like me catches fish after big fish with a cheap piece of white plastic bought from Wal Mart. Now, who do you think is more skillful?

Mizzou is in the SEC now. And they have money. I hope they are not timid. Promoting from within would be a mistake. Fortune favors the bold.

Guilt over not using a fly rod? Someone tell me why using a fly rod to catch fish is the alpha and the omega of angling prowess?

...humor. Public posts get public comments. Which is healthy for American freedom, unless, of course, one disagrees... rps is correct in blocking me. I have no right being a negative Nellie on his food site. Cook on brethren!

But Mitch, you did score, right? Beautiful wife? Beautiful kids? Nice home? You don't need babes anymore. Right? Mr Panfisher has an excellent point. But, just not quite...dissimilar in ..how to phrase?...

Also, they seemed to panic a bit when they got down by 10 in the second half, and started to chuck up 3s as if there were 2 minutes left, not 13, when it started. Encouraging. That is my default opinion for now.

"Listening to a foodie is like watching The Food Network — it’s just just listening to someone gush about how good something tastes when you have literally no way of actually knowing just how good it actually is. You just have to sit their nodding approvingly while saying, “wow, that’s so awesome” while they drone on about their bone-in ribeye methodology that you’ll straight up never use Foodies all function with the same modus operandi: they’d rather talk about their food instead of enjoy it; impress you with their vast culinary knowledge rather than be the strong, silent type. If I wanted to sit at a table and have someone describe the food to me, I’d go to Beni-fuckin’-hana. Call me a simpleton, but some people are more steak-and-potatoes kinda guys while others are “this sashimi platter is so well balanced” kinda guys. Me? I’m takin’ the former. " "Life’s about the journey,Bro. Not the destination. But, there’s a group of people out there who fervently disagree with this notion. These people are worse than lumbersexuals, worse than mixologists, worse than people who go running by tailgates on Saturday mornings. Foodies. Now, Merriam-Webster defines a foodie as “a person with a particular interest in food; a gourmet.” I define foodies as “uppity dickheads who want to mentally put you on the ropes by talking about how ridiculous it is that California banned foie gras.” You wanna tell me about the BBQ joint run out of a gas station that you went to in west Texas? Or how about the banh mi sandwich you had in ’06 at a San Francisco popup restaurant? That tickle your fancy, Bro? Well, not me. I’d rather listen to someone tell me about their fantasy football lineup dilemmas than listen to you jerk off the hipster chef that made you a grass-fed pork belly truffle-infused quesadilla at your favorite taqueria." BroBible You guys no longer have the moral or ethical authority to roll your eyes when women talk about shoes, shopping for shoes, or wearing shoes.

It's a results environment now. Pressure to win immediately, or, at least, have a winning record and draw fans. Mizzou didn't look to shabby last night against a tough Xavier team, playing at home. Xavier is good, have a good coach, and a good early test for our Tigers. I was not disappointed by the loss. Actually, they were somewhat better than I expected. It will serve them well, knowing what to expect and how to perform against a good team in a "hostile" environment. Pfft. I say that statement every year. Hope springs eternal as it is said...

Loved and respected coach has cancer and decides to quit after season. Yet, his timing and motives immediately come into question. God bless America.

Remember, Al is somewhat small in stature and in good shape. No one talks about height and weight when it comes to kayaks or solo canoes. It makes a big difference. A fat chump like me wouldn't even be considered in a target kayak demographic. For good reason too. Just something else to consider.

Referring to "basketball."

10-4.

OMG! The Meramec is ruined! People know everything now! Bourbeuse, here we come!

Great fish 1973! Second time I've seen a big fish pulled out of there. Maybe I should quit walking my dog there and fish. Splendid! In November no less. FISH ONNN!

Yes, Porter is that guy. BTW, I agree with everything you say Al. I just like taking a differing position. It's sports for the love of Mike. Kind of a chicken or egg question anyway. Also, wouldn't it be nice if Locke had a stud receiver?

But what they got isn't enough. And, no, you don't absolutely HAVE to have a stud to be successful. I agree somewhat.. But it sure helps. Also, I've had season tickets to SLU for years. Make no mistake, Larry Hughes made a huge, positive impact. He was a marquee player that gave SLU a national audience. And energized a middling program to what it is today. Claggett and Highmark and Donnie Dobbs and H Waldman were all decent players. They did OK. Then came Larry Hughes. A stud player. Look what happened. No, not a national title, but a program that became desirable and an engaged fan base that was before, at best, mildly interested. The Final Four last year was Duke Kentucky Wisconsin and Notre Dame. No underdogs. No little engines that could. Those teams had studs. You need 'em.

When you land a prize recruit, it energizes the program and the fan base. Look what Larry Hughes did to SLU. Could you imagine if Bradley Beals went to Mizzou? I don't care if he leaves for the NBA. Studs make a difference to your program. I get it Al, Mizzou is no big whup and will have to win through development , since they are no longer seen as a destination for local athletes. I don't like the coaching turnstile anymore than you do, but, at some point, we need a stud player in which to rally around. My point is, coaching kids from freshmen to seniors is a thing of the past. Steve Stipanovich and Jon Sunvold (speaking of Norm) wouldn't be playing for 4 years in this day and age. So, I changed my mind Al. I don't want to win now. I want to win YESTERDAY! Regardless, Ill still watch. I love college basketball.

The P-D is correct, unless Mizzou gets Michael Porter Jr, in 2 years, we will suck, and, thankfully, Kim Anderson will be gone. I just don't think he is suited to coach at this level. Hopefully I'm wrong. But, next year will be his last. Basketball reality now is not Gene Hackman in "Hoosiers" building a cohesive unit. Recruiting stud athletes is. Then making sure they stay in school and not in jail. Sorry, I don't want to see "growth" or "improvement" or "maturity." I want to win NOW. And don't give me that nonsense about "building a program." Please.

Follow a stocking truck for fishing success. Hmm.

I agree with Pinkel. Team business that he has a policy of keeping mum. There is no "right to know," No ones business. Mauk is done and let's move on. Happens ALL the time in campuses all over. Though a football player, he is still just a 20 year old college student. Leave the post mortem and pathology alone.

Yeah, but do those states have world class gigging? "World class" is of course a goal, something seemingly out of reach, but worth doing for the benefit of all anglers. The comparisons of Ozark waters on a fish to fish basis compared to other states and their idiosyncratic waters is wrong and misses the point. We are trying to make MISSOURI stream smallmouth fishing the best that it can be. Which is pretty darn good if one thinks about it. There are of course bigger and more fish elsewhere in our country, but, that's just it. They are elsewhere. And their biological environments are different. So, catching bigger, sometimes, and average size, sometimes, in other non Missouri waters doesn't mean our own Ozark jewels are somehow second class. We should embrace and nurture and try to improve, if possible, what we have in our own backyard, instead of longing for the greener grass on the other side of the fence.

Even though their advise is sound, I guarantee if Al or Gavin want to catch trout, they sure as hell aren't going to go to the Meramec. Neither will any other smart trout fisherman. Yet, I realize the need for some anglers to tilt at windmills and seek out failure, embrace it actually, for the minute chance of success. Difficulty as the attraction. Me? I'm old and want to catch fish when I go fishing, so I don't go there (unless to jerkbait fish in the winter below the park). Regardless, good luck. The water is very low and very clear right now.