B-unit

I'm leaning toward the reel being set up backward also. If you turn the drag knob all the way up (presumably clockwise), does it get extremely hard to reel line in while it remains resistance-free while paying line out? If so, it's set up for the other hand.

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Glad I could help out, Bruce, although I'm now considering the Murphy's Law factor regarding fishing and cameras: it seems as if the whoppers can sense when you aren't carrying your camera... Your son executed one of the finest expedited river crossings that I think I've ever seen to land that fish. Faster, deeper water with gnarly rocks strewn about but the rod tip stayed up and the felt side stayed down. Despite her girth, that fish was quite a jumper, adding to the spectacle. Congrats to Matt.

I found the Fly Angler's OnLine website to be quite helpful in expanding my repertoire of patterns and techniques as a beginning/ intermediate tyer. I don't really care for how they've set up their website with sidebars and windows but nonetheless, the way the information is grouped into sections for beginner, intermediate, and advanced tyers (demonstrating particular skills and the patterns to use them with) seems very intuitive, i.e., starting with simpler flies and basic techniques and building from there. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/ As far as materials and tools are concerned, I'd choose some particular patterns that you think you'd like to tie and fish that are oriented for the beginning tyer and work on those first. It's definitely safer on the pocketbook to approach gathering materials as if you were going to the grocery store with the intent of getting just the ingredients for a particular recipe or two as opposed to trying to fill your cart with a general collection of ingredients that you may or may not use for whatever you may be cooking in the future. Things like dry fly necks are wicked expensive and you definitely can't just grab an "assortment" of those and hope for the best. Just one other thing that I've found helpful... Craig at Hargrove's once told me that "hooks aren't cheap" and there's really no reason to have a pile of flies on your desk that you're never going to fish because you're displeased with how they've turned out. Grab a razor, scrape that gangly fly off of the hook and tie it again until it turns out the way you want... why waste a hook? Have fun with tying. Fooling a fish with something you created (especially if it's your own recipe) is a real kick.

Skunked like a son-of-a-gun. No long-distance releases. No nibbles. No follows. No short strikes. No refusals. No nothing. ...I didn't even see a trout. Stoneflies, Woolie buggers in 3 colors, Sculpins, Hoppers with copper johns dropping off= zilcho. ...sure was a nice day to go for a walk in the river though.

Stole myself away from family vacation for a few hours of trout stalking at Cardiac hill on Friday. Did fairly well drifting a big, black, bead-head bugger through fast water and scour holes near fallen logs. Lucked into a few smallmouth by swinging and stripping the same fly. No interest in any of my surface patterns though. Water was clear and moving quite well. To the 2 guys with the f150 with the flat tire: thanks for the flies. Hope you guys made it home alright without anymore car trouble. Maybe I'll see you fellas at Hargrove's sometime. Thanks again.

... yeah, the raunchy old trailer really classes up the joint...

I went to check on the Mineral Fork today after leaving the Huzzah. Parked at Kingston and waded up (or around) to where the broken concrete slab and deep pocket used to be and then back. The water was clear but the flooding has made some pretty noticeable changes. Obviously the water was still pretty high today compared to what I regard as being normal (kind of expected that). Technically I got skunked but I was more or less just sightseeing and roll casting a pencil popper into a spot here and there, y'know, not really applying myself. (... that sounds believable, right?)... Anyway, the long and short of it is... clear + fast + kind of high... and things are moved around a bit. I'll try to attach a photo of the concrete slab spot I was referring to...

Tried to fish the Huzzah today. Parked at Scotia bridge and went up a ways (not far at all) until wading became too dangerous and difficult. Downstream from the bridge was the same deal; fairly high water moving at a pretty good clip. I guess I could have tried bushwhacking around, but it didn't really seem worth it considering the high probability that the pockets I might be able to get a good drift through would be few and far between. Water clarity was good however, so I could at least see through the water I was floundering around in.

The Mineral Fork is probably the stream I've fished the most for the past few years, but I haven't been "lately" (not since this past Fall). I usually wade from Kingston access up to the low-water bridge and back, or occasionally from 47 bridge down and back. I have some trepidation about leaving my car parked at the side of the 47 bridge but I haven't had any actual problems. I have, however, heard reports of several "smash and grabs" at the Kingston lot (...again, hasn't happened to me though, knock on wood). I've been lucky enough to land some 17"-20" smallies over the last few Springs before they disappear for the dog days of summer. I don't bother trying to fish there during summer weekends anymore due to its popularity with bathers and beach partiers (that's not a complaint per se, since they have just as much right to be there as I do... just wish they were a bit better about cleaning up after themselves, but I digress...). By mid-summer I rarely (if ever) manage to pick up any smallies over 10 or 12 inches... just goggle-eye, ambitious sunfish with mouths big enough to take a stab at a Sneaky Pete or hair-bug, and 8"-14" spots (seems like more and more of those every year).

-I strongly agree with the above points. -It takes a long time to grow trophy smallmouth. -Considering the various factors working against our bronzeback populations (habitat degradation, spotted bass, etc.), providing them some sanctuary would go a long way in giving them a fighting chance (in my humble opinion).

The road signs for 3620 and Besmer Rd are often missing or knocked over so you have to really pay attention on your first trip. Also, if you end up attempting Suicide, choose your way down the hill carefully; it gets enough use that there are some worn paths on the hillside that just kind of peter out or lead you to dangerous scrambles (...dangerous to your rod tip and waders, at least.) The Administrator has pinned links to the river levels at the top of this "Meramec River" thread, or you can use this... http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv/?site..._cd=00065,00060 ...the river entry point at Suicide is tricky when the river is up. The entry spot at Cardiac (at the shallowest bit/leading edge of the riffle) is easier but can get pretty swift with elevated river levels. Really swift, actually. Hope this helps.

Thanks, Gavin. Hadn't even thought of that one. Considering how often I'm near there for rides at Castlewood and Chubb, I should probably throw the bellyboat in the back of truck with the bike and check it out soon.

Trav & Materman: thanks for the welcome. Thom: thanks for the laugh. Fish Ogre: thanks for the tip on Catawissa CA. That's exactly the type of info I needed considering that spot doesn't even show on my DeLorme Atlas and Gazetteer and the MDC Conservation Atlas is vague to the point of omitting the ponds and lakes and really just referring to it as a Meramec river access point... and it's fairly close to home. As far as that Port Hudson and it's submerged dangers- I might wait 'til I get some more experience with my "personal watercraft" before I try anything tricky. I've spooked myself a couple times over the past few summers with underwater encounters... when it's really steaming hot outside I've taken to exploring lakes and rivers by swimming them with the aid of a "water noodle" with some flies on the bill of my cap, a pair of water shoes, some hemostats, one spool of tippet, a knife, and a fly rod, stopping to fish whatever likely looking spots I could find + touch bottom. More than once I've gotten entangled in abandoned terminal tackle had been presumably broken off on underwater debris. 20lb mono and treble hooks wrapping up your ankles when treading water can really get your heart pumping... and make you glad you brought your knife. The boat is a u-shaped Caddis. She hasn't made her maiden voyage yet (I'm having trouble breaking the champagne bottle across her bow... just seems to bounce off). It seems durable enough which is probably good for me considering my high velocity-low altitude backcast tendency. Thanks again for the info... greatly appreciated.

I usually do dark day=dark fly, light day=light fly or froggy-type colors around vegetation... I don't know if any of that has ever made any real difference, it's just what I do. Whitlock's Near-nuff Crayfish have worked for me in the past also, if you like streamers. Might want to wear your bike helmet if you're going to try to throw the biggest sizes though- big hooks and beaucoup lead.