laker67

My first solo outing. I asked the "Big Blue L" if he would be there with me. I didn't want a giant. Just my coach. May have raised the level at Bennett a couple inches in tears. It will get easier.

I'm sticking around I kinda like being part of a legend, if only by the big L

Thank you to everyone who came out yesterday to help my family say goodbye one last time to Laker67. You all confirmed what I knew for 50 years--that Rick was one heck of a guy and one heck of a trout fisherman. We will miss him like crazy and I will continue to try to make him proud everyday! Until we meet again, sweetheart....Sandy

Thanks, Phil. It must have been a glitch. It appears normal now. As I attempt to carry the torch, should I get my own login?-Sandy

Hey all. This is Laker67's wife, Sandy. I'm in tears reading your comments. As close a friend as he was to you all, he was my whole world! Yet I feel like, in some way, you all knew him better than I did. He gave the 2nd best part of his life to trout fishing. He will be buried with full military honors at Springfield Veterans Cemetery Tuesday, May 31, at 1:00. Feel free to join us if you're in the area. Brad, Kevin and I plan to make a trip to Taney following the service to share him with the waters he loved fishing most.

The 2 / 3 wt is SOLD, Thanks for taking a look

I suppose a guy could always get a longer scud.

Downsizing on the rods that I don't use anymore. Trying so save my wife having to deal with it later. I agree about the xp.

Me and that sage have some miles on us for sure. It is one of the finest rods I have ever used. It has landed at least 20 of my 32 fish over ten pounds including the big boy. It is quick response with backbone. The gray scud is standard equpment

I am offering for sale 9 foot 2\3 wt custom built rod. I have only fished it one time and it has been in the case ever since. $125 and you pay shipping. The second rod is a Sage XP 5wt and 8 foot. $400 plus shipping.

According to a local fly shop owner, if you spray the felt with "flex seal", it is legal. I have no idea what that does to the traction but it feels like it should grip. Anyone had any experience with this?

A former brown trout record holder. I have fished with him a time or two. Musician as I recall.

I always wondered if using game fish body parts was a legal thing back then . It certainly is not now. Lots of poaching and trout eggs were used back then. Russ and Doc were the two i knew for a fact.

I remember several of the locals taking home stringers of fish. And also have seen a few return later in the day and fish again.

I got so weak this winter, that now my lovely bride is making me stationary bike and walk when the weather is ok. She is like a drill sergeant. She is getting me in shape for summer time bssp and our fall vacation at our favorite trout stream this fall.

You are right about the crowds MoCarp. A busy week day might be 10 and a weekend might be 30. Of those whose fished, majority were local. When Dave Betherum and I started night fishing in 75, the biggest , consistent crowds were at night. They were bait fishermen at the big hole. A guy that everyone called"Doc", was the only one who ever ventured up by us. He would set out a bait rod, and then sit in a lawn chair and fly fish. We mostly caught bigger fish back then because they were there and not so much because we knew anything. But we did learn as we went.

I first met Duane almost 20 years ago, late night, on the banks of Lake Taneycomo. A great sportsman and a great friend. Happy Birthday buddy.

Way you go Pete.

Out of sheer boredom, the wife and I took a leisurely drive to Lebanon yesterday. Went thru KFC's drive thru and grabbed some lunch. Then we headed over to the park. We parked on the bank over looking the hatchery outlet where it meets up with creek. As we were enjoying our lunch, we watched 7 people catch 3 trout. One guy had the hot hand with 2. One of those two looked like to be in the 5 to 6 inch range. The other successful fisherman was just upstream doing the peppermint twist. That's where you twist your feet sideways a couple of times, then look around to see if anyone is watching. His presentation would be to cast the fly with his left hand at his feet. Then he would back pedal upstream a foot or so and repeat. We then stopped by the park store and grabbed some coffee and a snack before heading up to zone 1. There we watched 3 guys catch zero fish. We made one more trip through the park in hopes of seeing another eagle and then headed to the house. We saw hawks by the dozen, one eagle, one deer, and 3 trout. It was a nice get out with the snow cover in the woods. Might do it again today.

I can a rising new star for the TV series "Mountain Men".

I can recall that one well fw. Arrowhead "marine max" lost either 17 or 19 in one pop. I made a lot of money re-piping the water and pump out stations for them and others around the lake.

Utah is famous for cutthroats, would be nice to get some variety. I couldn't find much about the rainbow population, so I don't know if they are larger than the midgets we have or not. I am hearing two different stories on where our bssp fish will come from. The first I heard was SOH and now Utah. With no brood stock, you can guess how many lunkers they might stock into the creek this year. Of course we all know they will buy a few for opener and major holidays, and of course next November. So goes the fishing at bssp.

Sandy and I decided to take a short road trip today. We drove to bssp. It was 64 degrees at the park and there was a crowd to prove it. Lots of folks out to enjoy this nice weather. We took one rod and one fanny pack in case we decided to fish. We ended up walking part of the creek bank and talking to some friends of ours. The creek is in good shape with the exception of, they forgot the fish. Pretty slim pickins for this time of year. Our friend said he talked to a guy from the hatchery earlier in day. No brood stock left in the raceway and he said they were importing fertilized eggs from Utah. Utah? Maybe a new strain of mix or match rainbow trout. Maybe they will come up with one that grows beyond the "midget " strain. Stopped on the way out to visit with other friends. We had good coffee and a good conversation on their outside deck. All of the well drilling was located at the parking area across from park store. They said one well is going to be 1600 feet. Don't know how they know that, but that is what they told Corky. A great day to be out and about even if no fishing. Great friends, great weather, and great coffee.

A great discussion going on here. Keep it up. I have always been a no bobber guy. I always say that bobbers were not invented yet when I started fly fishing. I see them being productive in tailwaters, but not enough to make me switch over. I will admit that I did use a lighted bobber sometimes while night fishing. It worked well.