laker67

Murdoc, I found another name to put on your contact list. Andy Austin-Fisheries Regional Supervisor for the southwest region.

It did not sell. It is more of a collector item. To be a good tying vise it would need a new set of jaws for anything smaller than 16 hooks.

Thank you Bill! Input like this is what MDC and concerned anglers are looking for. I like the idea of the barbless hooks. The other proposal might limit some line class records, but I am certainly not opposed to it.

Everyone needs to take time and read these articles that taxidermist has posted. Especially the last one. Note the reference to "several fish over 30 pounds have been caught since 1972." Without exception, Arkansas has the greatest population of "landlocked" record class brown trout in North America, if not the world. Taneycomo has 22 miles of water to hide and protect large fish. Arkansas has at least triple that area. We need to work with what we have to give our fish an added measure of protection to reach that 30 pound mark. How many out there have caught a 20 pound fish from Taneycomo? Imagine, in 10 years time, some one like Jim Lowe writes this article in the Conservation Magazine. Since implementing the 24 inch limit on brown trout, Taneycome has produced numerous fish between 20 & 30 pounds, and an increasing number of fish over the 30 pound mark. Like I said earlier, MDC monitors this site. Our comments and vote might have an impact on future decisions. Twenty minutes of your time to read this topic and vote, could put your name in the record book some day. If not yours, maybe your son or daughter. We appreciate all input, in favor of or against. Thank you!

Oh Sorry!! I guess I clicked on the wrong topic button. I was looking for that one topic that people were talking and caring about the future of Taneycomo. I'll keep looking.

Hi Ryno, Long time no see. Are you still bragging about that brown from last fall? Did you vote?

You are 100% correct Dano. It would be in their best interest to help promote this.

Murdoc, I reported a few minutes ago that I was having trouble voting. Tried again and it's working now. I voted 314 times to make up for the other guys. {kidding} This limit increase could very well be the one most important thing that could push Taneycomo over the 30 pound barrier. To the person that catches that fish, let me offer my congrats in advance.

Very good Murdoc. An excellent poll. I have inside info that MDC is a frequent visitor to this web site. In conjunction with the new creel check, this is what they are looking for to evaluate and see if the size limit could be increased. Mike Kruse stated the very same thing in his reponse to Murdoc. they did not think that it would increase the #'s, but "boy howdy" look at the size increase. All browns uncreeled until they reached about 8 pounds. I'm going to head down there right now and wait for them to grow up! My vote is a big "yes". This is probably something for Dano, but every time I tried to vote, it registered as an error. Maybe be why you are not getting as many votes from all the lookers. Thank you Murdoc, I'll see you on the creek. MDC is looking for angler response, so get out there and vote.

Fly Fishing Gear. Tomorrow at Ozark Chapel in Laurie. A huge sale at this location starts at 8:00 and slots 15 & 16 will have 3 graphite fly rods, one vintage bamboo, thompson pedestal vise, and Heddon & System reels from the 60's & 70's. One graphite rod is a custom built 3 wt and never been fished. I also have some vintage fishing lures and knives.

Hey Trav, Just motor on up to the upper end. We've got some fish , we'll make room for you. I know it's not your favorite spot, but the welcome mat is out.

I would list my "home waters" as the Dry Auglaize Creek which would fall in the category of "others". It is located in Laclede & Camden counties. It is referred to locally as the Dry Glaize. It is where I learned to wade & fly fish as a kid back in the late 50's and early 60's. My first fly rod and reel was a Southbend combination, level and floating fly line with a no-knot eyelet to tie you leader to. Leader material was just a spool of mono tied on at the no-knot eyelet, the length of your rod. This creek was a warm water creek with bass and large perch. Smallmouth were a rare treat on the Dry Glaize. My "favorite waters" would be Taneycomo. I transitioned from bass to trout in the early 60's at Bennett Springs. About 1975 I made my first trip to T-como, and have fished it on a regular basis ever since. It is my number one choice in all of missouri and arkansas.

Dano, Thanks for the report. I heard that BSD shut down for 4 hours yesterday to allow some incoming water to clear out downstream. I would suspect that Beaver will have to run some water which will effect TRD. Let's hope for the best on this go around.

Send Murdoc a PM. "RDP Fly Rods"

Congrats! Biggest rainbow that I have seen this summer.

Don, I think that Terry "Baby Face" Beeson has a sinister ring to it.

Michael, Thanks! I'm glad that you are busy. You might be catching all my fish otherwise. Good luck tomorrow.

Thanks Leonard & Phil.

Michael, Thanks for the report. It must be "tuff" to sacrifice night fishing for day fishing. Did the water drop out to 701 last night?

kk, The minnows that you used, sound like the endangered Rainbow Darter.

Lake" turnovers" only occur when surface water temps reach 39 degrees.

Thank you Murdoc and thank you Mike Kruse! I can believe those release percentages for 2002. Right now,present time, I see a lot of 20 inch plus fish creeled. Not by night fishermen, but in the daytime. I've witnessed several browns come out of #1 in the past 4 months. Boat fishermen may be doing the same thing.

Zack, I'm not saying it's broke, but I think that it needs a tune-up. The upper lake has improved a lot since 1997, but in the last three years it has stalled out somewhat. More 20 inch fish are being creeled than ever before. You're down there alot, you see it. We are getting more first time fishermen every year. Look at the out of state plates in the parking lot. In the summer, most times they outnumber Mo plates. New people to the sport, normally keep the first 4 or 5 big fish they catch. The 4 pounders that are being creeled right now, would have a chance to become 8 pounders and a little wiser. T-como is a great fishery, would'nt hurt to make it a little better. The down side to the 24 inch limit, we would probably need a bigger parking lot.

fly2fish, My original post was to increase the lenght limit on browns only, not to change the slot on rainbows. But, making some changes in the slot would be in the fishermen's favor also. It would be nice if that could all fall together in one shot. Anyone from MDC out there lurking? Tell us what you think. Thanks!

Thanks Phil, I know that you have dealt with these issues in the past. As far as changing anything below Fall Creek, are you saying that they would leave the 20 inch brown limit in effect, and only apply the 24 to the upper lake?