FishinCricket

All of the above.. All of us were fishing, and all were within (at the least) 5 feet of the "streambed".. We continued to float and fish, we floated another 250 yards or so.. When the Sheriff's deputies showed up (two separate cars) they pulled up to the edge of the river (which was a 5 foot drop off over our heads).. we were all in our boats and the exact words of the deputy were "you aren't allowed to step foot" out of our craft.. (Jason attempted to give example by stepping out of the boat, which is i think when he was told that if he kept it up he'd be in a world of hurt) He said "you are trespassing if you get out of your craft" That's my recollection, your honor...

The guy who I saw with a sidearm wasn't the landowner.. As he came crashing through the brush toward the spot on the bank that we were all stopped at one of us asked "Did ya find any morels back in there?" to which the man replied "I wouldn't say if I did... SOB's keep stealin' em! You folks realize you're trespassing, right?" Shortly after the landowner showed BACK up and changed his mind about calling the law... Something to do with one of us had been warned by him "multiple times" and that "That's it, I want you gone.. I'm calling the law down here!" 45 minutes later two sheriffs cars were on the banks of the creek telling us we were trespassing if we "set foot out of our crafts"...

Actually ALL of those photos were taken within 2 miles of each other (according to the GPS on my phone)... It is hard to believe that that first photo was taken within 50 feet of a bunch of canoes being loaded onto the bank! I was proud!!

On a serious note: You guys all know I'm just joshin around, right? I mainly fish with big (barbed) lures because I'm lazy and poor.. And I already own mosta this stuff! Wrench has been bringing me along in leaps and bounds in the fly fishing world, as have most of you (who can handle my obnoxiousness)... And I just recently replaced the beer nuts hat with a John Deere hat (a brown one with a bass on the brim), but if the fishing gets sour then the old pink beernuts hat will come back from retirement!

Beefing up the post count, Slim?

I just have reaaaally big hands, Pete... Oh, and I didn't intend to represent this as a one day report... Reading comprehension issues, buddy?

I debarb on occasion, but I don't concern myself with it much... And I do release them all.. The way I figure it, giving them sore jaws will help them to grow wary, which will lead to them growing old and fat... Besides, hauling them in on 8-12 pound test, they've got lotsa fight left in em when I unhook em... (vs playing them out for a half hour on 2 pound tippet)

and if society labels me a "sicko" for the way that I feel, then so be it.. But I make no excuses, and no apologies for my actions.. See, it's one thing to stick a fish with a tiny barbless hook (and slowly play him in so that he doesn't even realize he's been hooked until you reach down with the net and gingerly pick him up) and what I do... One major difference is that, when hooked with double (or triple) trebles, a fish truly goes into "get this thing outta my face" mode... And I thoroughly enjoy it.. If I am a sicko for that, then I console myself with the fact that I stand in good company..

Somehow I don't see that working yesterday... I'd say that sidling over to that Deputy and citing law would've only infuriated him.. Even Jason's simple question of "Which conservation officer did you speak with?" was met with a brisk "they'll all say te same thing".. The deputy wasn't interested in debating the subject. (which is why I think he should receive a letter) And I don't remember anyone asking for or receiving the name of any deputy..

P-Line has been doing well for me lately... Matlock, how do you go about getting a trademark ™ on your name?

The address is: Sheriff Ken Copeland Newton County Sheriff's Office 208 West Coler Street, Neosho, MO 64850-1437 (417) 623-2282

Smallie, he wasn't brandishing the pistol, he was simply there to intimidate.. (just like the Deputies) I dunno about the rest of you, but I am printing off at least two of these links and mailing them to the Newton County Sheriffs office... I'm also laminating one to carry in my dry box.. I can see myself doing a few more floats down that stretch this year...

That would rock! You must really hate your job..

Solus (in Dreds) blows me a goodmorning kiss Chief looks comfy My first fish KC's best fish (fat as a pig, too!) Double header! Rack another one up for the (green around the gills) Corndawg 'Nother hook up for Chief I'm pretty sure that, had it not been for Dylan being in the boat, Chief would have hopped on this train and avoided the take-out altogether.. lol A boy and his feeeesh (didn't get his name..came with woodman) Awe, look!!! Gingerbread's all tuckered out

nevermind the fact that we weren't "trashing" the place or "tearing up the property", avoid the many pieces of trash that have found there way out of the creek and into the bottom of my boat, ignore if you must the notion that none in our group even possess a stringer... Set all that aside, and lets talk legality here, whats the ruling? We are floating between two public access points on Shoal Creek and staying either in the boat, in the water or on the gravel bar... Are we legal? Cause if so then I'd like to know what I need to do to get that in writing... Cause Mr Prater (I believe that's what the the gentleman in the black ranger with the pistol strapped to his hip said the landowners name was) and the local Sherriff's deputies, who came down and forced us to go downstream and be gone from Mr Praters private property,they need to know the law... (or I need to be properly informed.. Which is it?)

Yeah, I've been really digging his lyricism... "My tongue has now become a platform for your lies"... Ever feel that way? lol Ya just never know what to expect from me, for sure... Like Justins Warren G quote above.. (my dawg!! What up?!?)

"Article paid for by the NRA"

This morning it's Cage the Elephant, Rage against the Machine, Megadeth.... Then Warren G and Blackstreet... No diggety, no doubt!!!

Braggert..

If wrench were here he'd tell ya... Or not? Lol, welcome back WrenchieFace!!!!

Total, or apiece?

Yeah, Charlie Reading went on a significant rant about it the last time I was in... Like anything though, it'll pass and birds will still grow necks...

Bummer! Well you two have a good one anyway, we'll bring back pictures of Dylan's many fish... Wonder what the official headcount is?

There will be children along.. Not that we wont be drinking...

And he said "To whom am I speaking?!? Answer me forthwith, or I shall smite thee with words of high intellect, grammatically sound and powerful!!!!" But little Hiawatha only shrugged and smiled as he floated past, for the Grammar Nazi was all bluster and little substance, standing there in the river flailing his willow stick to and fro... So Hiawatha turns his paddle through the crystal blue river one last time and beaches the bruised and battered canoe near the bait shop, in search of the sculpin that would complete the first stage of his right of passage into manhood...