FishinCricket

I agree. Also agreed, completely. My only quarrel with the plan as explained above is outlined in bold.. I suppose it's just the wording of the TASK FORCE that bugs me (and a few others who are much more zealous than I), but you know what they say; "A rose by any other name".... (and now that I have said my piece) Also agreed, but do ya hafta be soooooo caustic about it? lol I officially suggest that the name of the thread be changed to "Interagency ocean policy task force" or some such, maybe with a byline of "them bastids is gonna burn our fishing poles and make us learn to crochet!" (Now don't nobody go gettin' to mad at me, y'all know I was only kiddin'... I think I'm one of those friends mentioned in fishinwrench's signature lol) Now this sounds like a logical continuation of this subject, eh? I hadn't really read a whole lot about the subject to be honest.. Don't suppose you got any type of specific reports or news or anything you can link us to?

bubble, bubble, blop, bubbly, blop bubble (may I borrow your lifejacket?)

Hey, now.. My morphedite pirhanna/crappie option wasn't cutting the mustard? lol I caught a crappie on the lake yesterday, I thought about taking a picture and posting it for you.. lol

well said.. (just remember that the parks all have single hook fly rules)

You are sooooo right, sorry about that... I failed to mention that the best part about chasing these smallies around the park is that you also get to sight fish to all the big lunker trout when the water is low and clear... I have hooked the biggest trout in my life during the winter season, though they usually throw my barbless hook pretty easily.. Mmmmm, yes, I can see that big old fat brown now coming out of that mass of moss in the backswirl at the Suzy Hole.. He was cruising slow when he saw the flash of maribou jig bouncing perilessly close to the edge of the current........ He... Just... Can't... Help... But... EAT IT! BOOOOOYAH! And he jumps, and again, and then he takes off upstream, one last jump.. And he's off... But at least he didn't take the jig (it's my lucky balck and white 1/16th ounce with the edges shaved off the round lead head, touched up with black and white painted eyes) Did I just say all that outloud?

Is it a darn Dam? lol Yeah, this subject is the reason for my (now annual) query here: Is it legal to keep these fish? I still say the answer is no, it is not. And I hope it stays that way, they are fun! But it is kinda odd how literally NO ONE is at my favorite haunts (like the suzy hole and just above the Bluff Hole) during the freezing cold days of winter, the fishing is a blast! (Just remember to keep the fish in the water or their gills could actually freeze and they will die and then I can't catch them!) Hope to see all of you down there, trust me (the way things have been going with the industry I am in) I will be spending pleeeeeeenty of time down there this winter.. lol Look for the GEO

The announcement thread is HERE and about halfway down the page they give you a link to www.bigbassbash.com, or you can just CLICK HERE for the tournament results. Cheers!

Ah, thank you! Nice name BTW.. Is that a Grateful Dead throwback?

You're on. Two questions: 1. can I take cash value for the beer? I don't drink much. 2. What's the prize if he goes 20+ inches?

Sounds pretty danged good.. Thanks! Now, (Buck'sHotDad1980 and) I need to know exactly where to procure the 2 pounds of crappie/bluegill.. lol

Ya think they left any of em in there for me to catch Wednesday? Any extra tips? Trolling for info...

I only spill all my C&R beans while fishing, so you boys will just have to come on down on one of those funky cold days and find out for yourselves just what smallies act like in Bennett.. cheers! Lol

I'll be the first to say I might take you up on that. Your best friend is here in the Ozarks, mine is a Professor at your University up there in Minneapolis. I plan to make a pilgrimage there soon to visit them and see their $20,000 extra parking space (no joke, it's truly that pricey apparently). I told him the only way I would come up is if I could find out what species to fish for up there. He says Crappie. Sounds like you would concur. I'll be picking your brain soon.. What's your website up there? Oh, yeah.. Welcome to the forums!

All those goggleye move up into Bennett during te winter months. No auger required.

Bwaah ha ha!! That's funny right there.. Not to mention possibly Freudian.... I figured one of you old farts would pick up on that reference... lol

Jigging is finesse fishing.. You have to give the jig the right bounce and bob at the right depth, and it has to be the right color.. It can be an absolute blast, especially if you are hitting a 10 inch goggleye in the suzyhole on every single cast! Lemme know when you wanna hit Bennett this winter, I am thinking about scheduling a C&R Meet and greet here....

Me either, I'm a jelly donut....

I catch lots of smallies, goggleye, and trout in Bennett during catch and release season with a maribou jig....

Same here

boy do I ever concur with that statement! Never heard of "grabbing" as you describe it.. Is there a seperate season or is it legal to do during gigging season?

What you are referring to is snagging, which is wholely different and not legal during gigging season... Gigging is done out of a boat with a long pole with a fork on the end... It's amazing how much you can see under those lights mounted on the front, it's definitely a sight oriented sport. It definitely possible to gig game fish, conservation actually puts signs up reminding giggers of how to identify a game fish vs a sucker. It's important to note that usually giggers cook and eat the fish right on the bank, and between that fact and the fact that the agents would have to ambush them during this process (usually done at night when the gigging takes place), there isn't a whole lot that can be done to keep giggers from illegally taking game fish. Gigging a gamefish is certainly not legal or advised, but it is definitely possible...

I second this motion completely.. (My friend says the river is looking pretty good but still a lil muddy and fast running)

Yes, pay no attention to the tall lanky guy with the weird bug name, he's only after your wallet! lol Mwah ah ah ah ah

I say we go for the last one, since the first one is off limits here and only a fool would argue the second one...

I can hear it calling, brother. I need to learn the worm technique a little better though... What do ya do for a living? Any uncharted locations listed here look tempting to you?