jscheetz

Great idea about the fake smallies Al!!! While we are at it - suppose it would be too extreme to ask them to run about 20,000 volts of juice into the decoys as well? Be easy to spot who did the gigging after that - look for the guy with the curly hair. As far as all of this - "sometimes make a mistake when the water is murky" nonsense. - - If you can't positively identify the game - YOU DON'T KILL IT!!!!!!! Geeeeesh - this is sportsmanship 101 - maybe some down in the hills haven't taken the classes yet. Growing up in Iowa - when a phesant got up 50 yards away in snow and a stiff wind - if you couldn't identify it as a rooster - it was simple - you just didn't shoot. Wait for the next one. It is not that hard to make sure. JS

When I was there a few weeks ago I had a guy walk across the river with his wife within 4 feet of me - right out through where I was fishing. There was at least 100 feet of space down river to the next fisherman and it was the same depth - guess they were just too lazy to go anywhere else. And to make matters worse - he was smoking a cigar and blowing smoke all over - I actually looked at him and just had to laugh. I am sure they wondered what I was laughing at - they were pretty oblivious to anyone else's space - as long as they were in the world guess that was all that mattered. So I turned to the other way, and here was this guy who might as well of had just a single 6 foot long piece of line tied on the end of his flyrod as he was just facing downstream and dropping his fly right into the fish congrugating at his feet. - He kept this up along the banks for most of the time I was there. I tell you I just started laughing out loud!!! The zipperhead cigar smoking oblivious guy in front of me - the cane pole fisherman behind me - was all a hoot - kind of like being at a three ring circus - clowns wherever you looked. I took a break after that and decided it was best to laugh about it rather than get mad - would have be easy to have flashed back to my youth and clocked the guy and fed him his cigar - but instead I had a good time with it. Because when all was said and done I caught about 40 fish that day - so not all bad. Bottom line - if you go to taney - expect plenty of goofballs - then you won't be dissapointed. Might start a new thread on the need for a special class to take to get a license to fish taney - JS

We can only hope there will be a Skynyrd/Welk jam Will they have the bubble machines going during "That smell"? JS

Gonefishin - it's nice to know it's not just radicals like me and PETA - under fire - but fine upstanding citizens like yourself getting hassled by the man as well. Seems like that guy was out to get you - you didn't run over his dog or anything did you? That is definitely going too far coming on your own property. But you are right - if we could get a few agents who were "special services" kind of guys - you know, like sending in the swat team - they should be on the gigging rivers the first couple weeks of the season at least to keep it in check, be at taney during the Brown spawn - etc etc - But since that won't happen, I think that is why some others have suggested dilligence on the part of us law abiders in trying to turn in the bad guys - not being vigilantes, although I think some things almost call for that - but just trying to keep watch on things. Anyway - I'm out here on the job, hunkered down in the bushes with my camcorder in hand and Sheriff Buford on speed dial on the cel. - Hey - maybe I could get my own "reality" show on Animal Planet - Camo face paint and all - "Can I see your license sir - and what's that bass with the hole in his head doing in your cooler?" JS

Ah, my old arch nemesis Gonefishin! Good to see you again. I figured you would appreciate another historical wildlife abuse connection! I believe it IS EXACTLY the same thing - whether you are talking about killing Bison by the thousands, or turning our heads the other way as a "old tradition" of unchecked gigging continues - it is all about abusing and misusing our natural resources. Different scales of abuse, but the same attitudes. As far as gigging in the old days and big stringers of fish in spite of it - there were a LOT less people in the "old days" - therefore a lot less potential giggers and or poachers. So I think technology has came to the aid of poachers evern moreso than those who try to do it legally. Nowadays with cel phones, super bright lights, much better boats/motors, gps units, various emergency radio monitoring devices, I think that it makes it easier than ever for the bad guys. So that is why I think that more strict rules should be enforced. And ya know what Gonefishin - I may not be the one who knows better - but the law of non-contradiction tells us that we can't all be right - so there is someone out there with the answer - I'm betting on the side of caution and preservation and conservation. JS

Here we go again. I posted in another thread with the article about this. What drives me CRAZY is this "old ozark tradition" crap. It used to be a "tradition" to ride on a train until you were in the middle of a Bison herd and then shoot as many animals as you could see, and then move on and leave them laying there. Just because it was "legal" and a "tradition" doesn't mean it was a good practice. History is repleat with "traditions" that used to be practiced regularly that we can now look back on and say "what were they thinking"! Times change. The environment and the landscape of our use of our natural resources is changing more than I think most people realize. Unfortunately gigging has LOTS of problems associated with it. I don't believe for one minute that there are all these "accidental" giggings of smallmouth or brown trout or whatever. I have witnessed drunken zipperheads out there gigging whatever they saw - and when I told the MDC they said "we can't catch them all"! I am sure there are plenty of guys who follow the rules, but I think that such a small percentage of people actually gig, that if we need to restrict it due to the problems then so be it. Sometimes the few have to sacrifice so that the many survive. Problem is - we live in this day and age where everyone wants to do whatever they want to do and if anyone wants to regulate them - be it their morality or their hobby - they won't hear of it - even if it is for the good of the whole. So I am afraid some traditions just need to die. - - - where I grew up some guys had a "tradition" of throwing sticks of dynamite in the water to catch fish - wasn't legal, but sure was a long standing tradition. JS

Hey Wayne, Good article. I can tell you that a few years back I was camping and trout fishing on the North fork of the White river. I didn't even know you could ram up that beautiful river in the middle of the night with a motor boat and gig fish. I sat on the bank and listened to a boatload of drunken giggers scrape the bottom all night - and from many of their comments I know they weren't just gigging suckers. They weren't "mistaking" browns for suckers - they were targeting them. As for the "policing themselves" comment - hehehehehehehehehehehehe that may be the funniest thing I have ever read!!!! There are many "locals" down there - not all of course, but many who sort of feel isolated from any law - as anyone who has lived out "in the sticks" can vouch for. They have been going out and spending the night drinking and gigging for years and ain't no outsider going to tell them what to do. I took this up with the MDC and basically got brushed off - with the same old, "there are violations in all areas, and we can't catch them all" nonsense that they usually spew. I don't even know if it is still legal to gig on the North Fork - but it sure seems to me that if you make it OK and the MDC turns it's badge the other way - then you are going to get lots of things speared. JS

Dang Fox, That dissertation had more points in it than the last State of the Union speech! Many good ones as well! I can't say that using an indicator doesn't make a scud fly look more natural or not - don't know if mine look all that natural anyway but... I still think that for me, when I fish without an indicator I cut down on the time between strike and set. Guess it just seems like the indicator is just one more thing between the strike and the set - one more sense in my brain that has to engage to get the job done. There are times when an indicator sure helps depending on the current, but it's just like feeling a really light walleye bite - it is just a feel thing to me. Of course it could be my inner snob cause when I use an indicator sometimes I feel like I'm fishin' for bluegills with a cane pole JS

Hey Stranger, Fox has a good point about tippet size - I have been fishing right next to someone who is catching fish like crazy and I am only catching a few - both using the same fly, same presentation. But then I switch to the dreaded 7x tippet and can't keep 'em off. So sometimes just going down a size helps. Also, I would suggest if there is a bit of current, not using an indicator. If you have floating line that should suffice. Yesterday they were hitting pretty lightly and the reaction time to set the hook is longer when using an indicator than when you feel them take it. I was drifting a scud with just a wrap of wire around the body for a little weight, and no other weight - and in 1 to 2 feet of water. If you are fishing deeper water then you may need some more weight, I just think the scud moves more naturally without very much weight. If you are used to an indicator and haven't fished much without one then it may seem a little weird, but once you start to feel the strikes or "pickups" I think you can catch more fish that way. JS

Spent the day on Friday at the lake. A bit cooler than had been forcast, but really nice for Feb. Fished rebar to Outlet 2 area in the morning, caught quite a few on midges and scuds. Tan scud about size 16 seemed to be working the best. LOTS of people for a Friday morn in Feb - stood at rebar and looked up and down and counted 40 people within sight - and more came by afternoon. So that being the case I headed downstream a bit to get away from the crowds - did just as well down there anyway. Mostly drifted the tan scud with no indicator and caught 36 fish in the last three hours, so was pretty good. But most were small My last trip there was the first of Dec and we caught over 40 fish and NONE of them were as small as most of these - last trip most were in the 14 inch plus range - this time only a handful were there. Anyone know why this is? Did some experimenting as well with some stuff on top - when the wind was blowing and there was a chop they would chase just about anything making a ruckus on top - caught the biggest fish that way stripping of all things a triple club on top - about a size 6 or so - pretty big, so missed a lot of the smaller ones, but sure was fun! Lost one really big rainbow. Another great taney trip - JS

fishin - I'm exhausted as well - it's been fun! I will say one more thing - even though there may be things I would like to see changed and laws I'd like to see better enforced etc etc - the bottom line is this: There just are not many places I can go swing a flyrod all day and end up most days catching 20 or more fish. So I guess it's not all that bad JS

Perfect loo! I know we're all fly-fishing snobs here and whatnot - but I think most of us can at least laugh at ourselves sometimes - I mean you ever wonder if the guys from the Catfishin' forum stop by and read our posts every once in awhile just for a chuckle? JS

I don't either - but I do believe for one in the frying pan it still stands at 100% JS

Bill, I have brought up the possiblility of at the very least making the upper mile or 2 C&R only in the fall - or at least no fish could be kept over 15". The Browns are way too vulnerable this time of year in my opinion. I would rather see it that way all year, seems like it makes sense to me to try to have bigger fish. Gonefishin - I agree that the take fishermen bring in the bucks - but are you trying to tell me that if taney doubled or tripled it's 10 pound plus fish, that you don't think Branson would benefit from all the anglers that would come from around the country for a shot at that? I fish a lot in the west, at many C&R areas where there seem to be no shortage of anglers from around the world coming in to spend their money in the local economies. I really think there is a reason more people fish on the Dream Stream section of the Platte than do at the local bluegill pond- - - - that reason is BIG fish! So why can't taney be both? Make an area suitable for C&R with the goal of producing trophies, and keep an area where people can catch some lunch. But alas -until MDC enforces a few rules on the books, it will be sort of hard to think C&R is the answer. At the very least if the area was C&R none of you would have to worry about someone looking at you snobishly because you kept a fish - cause we'd all be looking then!! JS

Phil, You are hard on us all that live a few hours away!!! That cam is awesome! Planning a trip as I type. Great work on this entire site as well!! JS

Checking those prices - it would certainly appear that life is cheap. JS

Gonefishin - dangit - You are gettin all worked up again - you were having lots more fun talking about backing ferrets! - But really, you and Porochi sound like you would rather be fishing in the middle of nowhere by yourselves - and that sounds pretty good to me! Like you P. I always think taney is too crowded, but MT is a long ways away - so I try to enjoy it no matter what - because when all's said and done - It's Fishin! Even though people irritate the heck out of me sometimes! But you know - the world has taken shape - for good or bad, by people telling others their opinions about things and sharing information and viewpoints. Sometimes this is met with open ears - sometimes it's met with "a punch in the mouth". I grew up keeping as many fish as our limits would hold - and laughing at Virgil Ward on TV when he threw big fish back. But now I am of the opinion that it is better to let 'em go. Not that I think I am "holier" than anything. Just my view. So if I come up and start lecturing you - you should probably punch me in the mouth - or anyone else that is rude enough to lecture. But if someone comes up to offer as Phil put it "constuctive" advice - or to share their view on something they believe in in a calm and courteous manner I would like to think you could see them as someone who too is passionate about what they do - just like you are. They just may want to outwardly express it and you don't - no biggy. Cause if I punched everyone in the mouth that every tried to give me advice in this life - my hands would be too sore to fly fish! JS

Hey all, Are all of these stocked fish - "stocker size"? 9 to 11 inches? Or do they stock a number of big fish also? JS

For you they'd be best "stuffed"!!! JS

Bet you'd put one on a stringer if you could. JS

hehehe spirited debate is awesome! But ya'll gotta lighten up a bit! I did assume that when P. said he wouldn't say a thing if they were netting them in the trophy area and keeping 10 dozen - that he had a sense of humor about it. And when I wrote that that same attitude is well documented of the hundreds of people that used to go watch thousands of pigeons be shot - it was a bit of sarcastic wit as well. Maybe not the best, but hey, it's a hard job! So a sense of humor on the board is fun and can also be a good way to make a point, but if we all have our defenses up - guess it won't work. Guess I should have stuck more smilies in my posts. But if you agree to let all your trout go - I won't bring up the Black-Footed ferret (humor) ^ JS

Knuck - Only suggestion I can give you is to read BEFORE you type. There was no comparing pigeons to legal taking of trout. I think if you re-read - I specifically said that "attitudes" was the problem. To quote Porochi "But you know what, I won't say squat to you, even if you're in the trophy area and netting them and keeping 10 dozen." Now lets quote you if I may "took what they wanted in excess with little regard for their fellow fishers/hunters." - Now look at your statement and the one above. Shazamm! I think we are on the same page afterall. JS

Hey Fish Hunter, The area in MT was the East and West Rosebud rivers - just north of Redlodge. Beautiful place - truly God's country - just real dry the last few years. Porochi - I am sure there were many people with attitudes like yours back when the thousands of people were out "sport shooting" passenger pigeons. You know - didn't want any "busybodys" telling people what they could and couldn't do - after all, it was legal and none of their business. Wasn't their job to be the pigeon cop. Seen any passenger pigeons lately? JS

I know this is the "taneycomo" forum, but since there may be a number of people new to the sport in general, I just want to reiterate what I said earlier, that taney is a lot different due to the amount of stocking that goes on here. Wild streams are affected by a greater number of issues (as Phil has posted about the low water in Missouri). Last year fishing a stream I always fish at in Montana, the water was so low due to drought that many fish were dieing. As a matter of fact we stopped fishing because the fish just didn't look like they were hanging in there too well - even trying to be careful and get them in quickly they looked pretty bad. But.... there was some bozo there putting fish on his stringer as fast as he could catch them regardless of their condition. I am sure the population took a nose dive there due to the drought, and of course the MT fish and game couldn't change regulations on all streams, so to my way of thinking keeping those fish just because you could wasn't the right thing to do. So just because it is "legal", doesn't always make it a good idea. You just have to use common sense and try to put the needs and concerns of the fish population and conservation ahead of your own. Once again, usually not a problem at Taney, but just food for thought for anyone just entering into this awesome adventure. JS

It really is a different beast when dealing with taney. Unlike wild streams where I really hate to see anyone taking out fish - whether it's legal or not - taney has 'em dumped in there by the truckloads, so it is a bit like the local buffet, take a few to go. Unfortunately that is also why so many people don't respect the laws and why you have so many poachers there imo. You go there and see hundreds of fish swimming about, and they are dumping in more - people figure there is plenty. Problem is that most non-serious fisherman there that I have talked to don't know about the slot limit, so to them a "stringer of fish" is just that - whatever you catch you put on the stringer. My last trip there, out of about 25 fish only 2 were below "12 - so that is good! Somebody must be eatin' the small ones! I wouldn't worry about anyone looking at you funny if you are within the law. Some fly-fisherman can be real snobs for some reason - but these are usually the "drug store" fisherman anyway - the guys with the most expensive gear, always smoking cigars on the stream, talking loud, and mishandling any fish they do catch. Real fisherman will usually be supportive in you enjoying what they enjoy - fishing. For everyone who wants to put a "monster on the wall", my thought is, take a picture of it, blow it up to 16x20 and put it in a nice frame, hang the fly you caught it on from the frame, put the rolled up leader you caught him on in the corner of the picture, maybe even a leaf or two from the trip. That way you will have a great conversation piece, show you are a conservationist, and be able to let the fish go so that you or someone else may be able to experience the real joy that comes from catching a fish like that. Just my 2 cents JS