jscheetz

Mrs Ducky, Good points! I agree completely. I will even go a step further with the alcohol. How about the parents that sit around with friends or at a restaurant and drink beer after beer with their kids there - and then they are "shocked" when their little precious grows up drinking. I always tell my friend who is always lamenting about his kids behaviour - "Do you think your kids are going to do what you SAY - or are they going to do what you DO"? I would suggest that 99 out of 100 times they will do what they see Mom and Dad DO - even kids can smell hypocrisy. I think it best to lead by example. Walk the talk. But people do seem to think it is someone else's job to clean up after them - my pet peeve is people walking into Quick Trip or wherever and right before they get in the door they just throw their cigarette on the ground. Complete disrespect for others - and like lots of things, if they will do that, they will most likely be apt to not care much about other people, or animals or the world around them. People that abuse animals abuse people. Usually bad behaviour is invasive. So how to stop it? I guess just try to teach young people the concept of respect and that each one of us is a part of one big whole and everything we do matters. OK - soapbox back to you Mrs D - JS

Great points Terry. I too have been around those that feel like the eagles are a nuisance, and the only thing that keeps more people from randomly shooting them is the relatively stiff penalties that can come from that. Unfortunately these same people are the ones who also think wolves, cougars, bears, etc etc are going to cut into their hunting supply, or their livestock, or eat their children - and these animals don't carry the same "clout" as our national symbol, so they are much easier for people to target. Once we decide that breaking wildlife laws and poaching any animal should be dealt with in a real and serious manner then we will see real conservation change. "Redneck target practice" is a problem as well. You get a couple of guys sitting down by the river shooting cans and drinking a few beers and next thing you know some bird flies by..... I have read so many conservation agent cases on just this circumstance - it is kind of too bad that these guys aren't taught more about respect, and the preciousness of life, both human and otherwise from the beginning - then maybe they would value what we have. Nice disclaimer mallard JS

Mallard - I think we should ALL use that disclaimer! Randall - definitions? YOU are the college man. Kickin, you say - I have several as a matter of fact - and when I am posting on the Ozarks forum I wear one that says "Git-R-Done" on it. JS

Paintball forum??????? You can't seriously be trying to juxtapose this forum of highly intelligent sophisticated fly fishing snobs with one of jobless, apathetic, soldier of fortune wanna-be paintballers can you??? How was that? Still working on my condescension. JS (This disclaimer is to state that any posts of a questionable nature are to be interpreted by the reader at their own peril. The writer of this post in no way supports the claims made in this post, or takes resposibility for their interpretations or uses. It is at the discretion of the reader to wrestle through issues of sarcasm, condescension, snobbery, lunacy, left and or right wing conspiracies, lieing, cheating, wisdom, enlightenment, or any form of subterfuge contained herein.)

Hey Kickin!! You KNOW I am just here for your entertainment. And yes - people do seem to like to pick on me. JS

Hey Mallard, glad to see your sense of humor in working order! And I wasn't offended, just having some fun with it - if we can't joke I really don't see the point of communicating. As for your thoughts on that Randall - geesh, don't think we should all have to walk on eggs - Just think it would be better if we all just lighten up and take things people say with a grain of salt - should avoid any hard feelings that way. As for my "condescending tone" - well if I sounded like I was a bit more hip and informed than the crazed out of control imaginary cartoon mob I described as Then I guess I stand guilty as charged. And pretty happy about it! Randall, I wouldn't want you to have to change your postings like this one - I would imagine that could really offend someone who was into those folks - but I like to think you wouldn't REALLY take em out back for a beating - well, OK hopefully at least a couple of them you would - but you know - it is all just talking and opinions and maybe even a bit of condescension hidden in there somewhere. But still pretty funny. So like Terry/Rodney said, lets all get along and just stick to talking about shuffling, and snagging, and catch and release, and slot limits, and wildlife regulations, and sports, and religion, and politics, and property rights - things that we can all agree on. JS

hehehehehe - Hey Randall, thanks for the benefit of the doubt, thought it was pretty funny myself. Guess Silver Mallard didn't think so - he seems a bit touchy. Funny how he seemed to have a fine sense of humor a couple of posts earlier when he was joking about PETA - looks to be some irony there to me - Sorry to ruffle your feathers Mallard. I know you have a fine intellect from your previous resume post - but you really should work on your sense of humor. I like to laugh at both sides. JS

hehehehehe - couldn't resist to finally respond to this thread. I really think there is a farside type cartoon waiting to happen on this one - Two wolves finally escape from what PETA calls their "dreary lives" in captivity -only to find that they have escaped into THE OZARKS!!!!!!!! (insert music from shower scene in Psycho) - - - next scene shows the wolves clawing back at their pens trying to get back in - behind them is a bunch of rednecks with guns and duck calls hanging around their necks and camo clothing on and cabelas hats, all running at them in a big ol' Ozarks carnivore cluster. Ahhhh yes - could be a good one! Good posts though - we have had other posts concerning wolves on this board and they usually go the same way - I too would much rather be in the wilderness with wolves (and have been) then the above mentioned "pack" of bipeds. JS

From "A River Runs Through it" - "He told us about Christ's disciples being fishermen, and we were left to assume, as my brother and I did, that all first-class fishermen on the Sea of Galilee were fly fishermen and that John, the favorite, was a dry-fly fisherman." Now you can't go back. I can be catching fish on wet flies like crazy, but if I happen just out of the corner of my eye to see a swirl on the surface, I will be convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was a rising trout and will most likely spend the rest of the day with a dry fly tied on - whether it produces or not. It's just a sickness. JS

"Petting zoo for trout fisherman"

Got there late morn Wed. Although granted, it was a nice day, when I got there I counted 35 cars in the parking lot!! Don't you people have to work! So if you are looking for solitude - it's not here. But right off the bat as I started fishing a Bald eagle flew right overhead with his big trout so that was pretty cool. Then I did manage to walk way down to the flats and get out of the crowd. The outlets were kind of silly - literally shoulder to shoulder. Guess I have learned about myself that I have caught enough big fish in my life that I am not willing to stand in a crowded mall just to catch another. So I went downstream. Caught quite a few on gray scuds - about size 16 - about 18 inches under an indicator. Did see the biggest fish of the trip crusing the flats - had to be pushing 20 pounds - I tried to convince her to slow down awhile but she kept going. (probably going to outlet 2) Left at dark and then came back at 10:30 to fish late - there were still 12 cars in the parking lot!!! By 2 or so it had pretty much cleared out - although it sounds like Phil and Leonard were there - I must have just missed you guys - caught a dozen or so - about half browns, biggest one was 17" - so no monsters. Caught most on a white beadhead wooly - not moving it, just drifting. They wouldn't hit it if I was stripping it that night. Good trip, just crowded. Do those guys that stay in the same place at the outlets all day have some kind of boots that are permantly anchored to the bottom of the lake in "their" spot? Then they just slip into those in the morning and leave at night??? I kid you not that I saw several of the exact same people fishing the same little trickle flowing into the river when I left at dark as was there when I got there in the morning. Hadn't moved more then two feet in either direction - only the fact that they were vertical kept me from holding a mirror in front of their mouth to check for breath. JS

Ah yes, the good ole "shuffling" thread. It's kind of like getting my Log Home magazines - every couple of months they run the same articles about the same stuff! It won't matter if it's law or not. As I have said before - I have been to Taney many, many times and have NEVER seen an agent checking licenses etc etc - so they just aren't there to enforce the laws that are already in place. If they were, I bet you would see less shuffling as well - even though it's not a regulated law - some of the people who do it would probably be nervous if game warden joe was there on the bank watching them, their conscience would be heating up on them. I know some say they are "in the bushes" but that's just silly. If they are in the bushes when I've been there they must be sleeping! As to everyone who says "well what if I am walking across the lake and sort of shuffling my feet" - silly as well - If you sit and watch someone for a few minutes you can clearly see if they are doing the Taney shuffle or not. I realize proving it in our mixed up courts would be another story - but it is pretty clear to me. But some people will always just do what they want whether it is legal, or ethical, or whatever - whether it's snagging big browns intentionally, catching fish at your feet, or chasing wolves in airplanes and then landing next to them and shooting them. Guess some just like their "sport" without having to exert a lot of skill. JS

The good thing is - if you so inclined to shuffle and snag yerself a keeper - there is a good chance you also have three cousins named Bubba who will save you from the hangin. JS

I KNEW it was just a matter of time. JS

hehehehe - this is a fun thread. Secret spots, Secret flies, GPS hotspots - man, feels like I'm on the 007 board. I don't get to post on here tons, but I read this board FOR the comic relief (and sometimes am certainly a part of it) - AND for the fishing reports - seems to me there are plenty of reports, and lets be honest - it's Taneycomo -there are 7,000 fish at your feet!!!! So I really don't need detailed "secret techniques" - just like to see how high the water is and what's been good before I come down - although rarely does it work when I get there - but that is the beauty of fishing - by reading, fishing countless hours, etc etc - you always have something else to try. I have said before we just need to keep a sense of humor on this board and all will be well. I mean when Tightline says I look like a girl - I know it's just that he wishes he was a skinny good looking guy like me - he is just purging his soul - and I'm there for him. Maybe that's drama to some - I just think it's having fun, like giving your buddy crap when he loses a fish on the river - if you can't take a few jabs, better stick to just reading. Like the MDC report "Taneycomo is fair, powerbait on the lower end, scuds and midges in the trophy area" - no drama there!! Phil, I think the forum is just great! But could you just change the colors, and the type is too small, and gonefishin is always picking on me, and I don't like guys who use all the smilies, we need an environmental wacko forum for guys like me, and what if I want to fish WITH my GPS and a 12wt - is there a forum for that, and there should be a special girls gone grabbin section, and if I were king.............. JS

Hey Charley, I guess it depends on what kind of fishing you want to do - but I can tell you a few years ago I bought a kayak - and it was maybe the best gear purchase I ever made. Fact is you can just get more places with a kayak. I am always going back through the trees of a small flooded lake around here and other boats can't get back that far (but the bass can) I have a 9 1/2 foot perception - it is actually pretty wide and very stable. Downside is that there is not a ton of room to carry stuff with you - but I have a small box with what I need and fish mostly with an ultra light or the fly rod from there anyway so don't need tons of gear. The shorter boat is really easy to manuever in tight spaces - and have had it on ozark rivers as well as rivers and lakes in Montana. I MUCH prefer it to a belly boat for fishing, provided you can get close enough to drop it in - but at only 38 pounds you can lug it a little ways if you have to. I like to fish alone - and I like the peace and quiet side of fishing - my one friend who I go with sometimes likes his big boat and throwing big loud lures and that side of fishing - which is still fun - but for me when I can slowly paddle right up alongside a bunch of turtles on a limb or get within a few feet of a heron and watch him fish - then that is a bonus, and really why I'm there in the first place. And the kayak will definitely get you there. And catching 3 to 4 pound bass on a topwater on an ultra light in a kayak is about as much fun as a person needs to have in this life anyway. So if you like the peace and serenity of being outdoors - I would go for a yak - plus they are so inexpensive you can't really go wrong. JS

hehehehe Great story Griffin!!!! Kids and minnow buckets - seems like I used to be able to sit and watch the minnow bucket for hours as well! And if you could stick a crawdad or two and a couple of baby bullheads in there then it was even more entertaining! JS

Seems kind of funny that we have to even bring up the question doesn't it? Seems so common sense to want to verify who is actually voting to make it fair and just. If you are afraid to show your ID for anything there must be a reason! Of course it's too late anyway - I just came back from LA and the guy in charge of security at the airport could not speak English. I don't mean he didn't speak it well - HE COULDN'T SPEAK IT! I had my guitar and we stood in a long line so when I got to the front I asked him which way I should go since I didn't want to be hassled for taking on my guitar in the wrong line - and he could not understand - he had the airline uniform on and everything - was pretty scary thinking he was in charge of security and I have had many more two sided conversations in other countries in the middle of nowhere with people who have no reason to speak English! So voter id? LEAST of our problems - JS

Sounds like fun - good luck!!! How come no one every presented this opportunity at career day in school? JS

Are you kidding? Me and Griffin skinned it alive and ate it raw - sushi style right there in the boat!!! Yeah!! Git-R-Done JS

GF I am just glad I can entertain you Gotta have a little fun when you are the minority voice. JS

GF - so you'd just be sittin at home cookin up supper while I'd still be out there killin fish eh? That ain't very cordial of you! Yeah but you are a licquored up hillbilly that can type and run a computer! So that helps! So now we gotta show our manlyness by killin stuff AND posting properly???? Geeeesshhhh - this is gettin harder all the time!! JS

Hey GF! - I just don't get on here enough - been too busy - mostly been locked in the studio on a couple of records right now so haven't even gotten out to fish much lately. Banjo? Sounds like you're heading deeper in to the south as we go - do do do do do do do do do <-- (think banjo and movies, and a kid in a rocking chair etc etc) Now if you WERE a gamblin man, I think I may have to take your bet - you with 3 fish on a stringer and me catching 3 and lettin 'em go...... better get your wallet out. JS

hehehehehehehe - Griffin, THAT is good!! Most of you that have read my posts already know that I am a C&R guy - don't mind people keeping small legal fish to eat - but think there should ABSOLUTELY be a moratorium on keeping big Browns in the fall because they are WAY too easy to catch and or snag. I can just say that I am thankful and glad that as a man I don't judge my selfworth or feel I have to show others my "manlyness" by having a dead animal on my wall. I actually feel a bit sorry for those who do. There is no reason other than pride or greed to kill something for a trophy. A picture is just as good for showing someone you caught "the big one". Duuuuuuude - it's 2006 - We've moved past that era in civilization. JS

Hey Wayne, I kind of agree with Al on this. I have been involved with many environmental organizations and causes and I have found that most of the people involved are just regular people. I think what you are talking about is the celebrities that make a big deal out of some cause and get a lot of press for it. Unfortunately lots of these people don't always reflect the nature of the movement they purport to be speaking for. Seems that if you say you are an "environmentalist" you tend to elicit reactions from people who have lumped everyone who is trying to preserve and conserve the world into one "wacko extremist" cult of somekind. But I have friends who go and protest at abortion clinics. Just regular good people who see something that they feel is wrong in the world and are doing what they can to make it right. I wouldn't want to lump them in the same group as that goofball knucklehead Fred Phelps. But some people do. So it's important to look at the "grassroots" people involved in these things instead of just the most visible person that seems to be talking the loudest - they don't always speak for the masses. That's just what I have seen anyway. JS