Aaron J Scott

That's exactly what I told my wife when she asked why I'd be out so late tonight.

If I want to get up to the Niangua to wet-wade for trout in the summer, I go up to Barclay in the morning, fish until the floaters start coming in (around lunchtime), then hop in the car and drive up to the 64 access and fish till I get tired and/or annoyed.

Yeah, I poked around the new MDC property by the ballfields a month or so ago and it was low, slow, and pretty littered. The lower access looked pretty good aside from the remnants of a clam bake by the parking lot. Weird.

Here's some intel:

Hey Dave, good to hear you had better luck than I did. Couldn't get anything dialed in. Like I said, it'd been a couple years since I'd been down there. Next time should be better!

Yeah, I didn't get out either. If you have any fun photos from the weekend, you can still play. Doesn't have to be fish photos. For instance, today (Wednesday) on the Fish Itch Facebook page is "best family photo" from the weekend (family as in at least two generations pictured, to be specific). Best photos get a pack of Bass Kandi soft plastics. We're also running an email contest all week--send your Memorial Day Weekend photos to itch@fishitch.com to enter to win a 160-count bait/lure set from Lockett Lures. That kit will be the deal for next week!

Hey guys. With the shortened week, we're not running a deal on Fish Itch right now. Instead, we're giving away free stuff each day via our Facebook page. Today, we're giving away an Optimum Swimbait pack for the best photo of a bass, striper, musky or pike that you caught this past weekend.

Hey guys, less than three days left to score this great deal. BASS Elite Angler Fred "Boom Boom" Roumbanis raves about these swimbaits. Here's a couple videos of him describing the baits featured in this week's deal. Boom Boom introduces the Top of the Line Double Diamond on a jighead technique Take your pick from three color combos for $6.49 each (50% off) now through Sunday night at Fish Itch!

This week, we have a great half-off deal on the hottest swimbaits around--Optimum Baits--with their new Top of the Line model and the Double Diamond Swimmer. The deal is for one Top of the Line and 3 Double Diamonds, and there's three color options to choose from. Each combo is $6.49 (normally $12.95) plus $3 s/h. The "Top of the Line" swimbaits features a line-through hook-on-top design that will keep you from snagging up in weeds and cover. It also ensures the fish doesn't use the bait to dislodge the hook. It has built-in tungsten weights to balance the bait so it swims (and casts) true. The "Double Diamond" swimmers are great to rig up on a jighead. There's a pre-cut slot for the hook shank. The diamond-shaped design gives this swimbait great movement in the water. If you haven't tried out these swimbaits, this is a great opportunity to experiment frugally. Give 'em a shot! Deals lasts until Sunday night at Fish Itch.

I received an email this morning from the chief of staff of Bob Dixon, my state senator, that said this: It'd be nice to hear an actual stance on this issue, but I guess in this case, "no action" on "no action" by the Missouri Senate might be the best action. I've been thinking a lot about this recently, thinking about how the NPS manages other parks and NPS-managed properties. A lottery system was instated on Half Dome in Yosemite NP, another heavily used park, to help manage use while they hash out a new management plan. Much closer to home, in 2009 the federal government sued a developer for 1/2 acre of damage to Wilson Creek National Battlefield (which falls under NPS jurisdiction), caused when a bulldozer "unintentionally" trespassed on battlefield land adjacent to private property. The suit was made on the basis of the Park System Resources Protection Act. (Interestingly, as a parallel to the ONSR issues, the Wilson Creek case involved road-blazing--the developer of the private property had sold 157 acres to NPS for the battlefield but retained a 200-foot strip of land in order to build a road. The problems came when the bulldozer strayed off-course.) What would NPS do if someone had, over time, illegally cut a dirt road through Wilson Creek National Battlefield? What would NPS do if someone parked their RVs in the middle of Yosemite?

Andrew, that's funny you mention a bike gang, because I was passed by a crew of 10 or 11 guys from the Loners Motorcycle Club yesterday while driving back from the Eleven Point. I was stopped next to the at one of the lights in Seymour and, on the green light, they made a glorious racket.

We have a great deal on Bass Kandi Baits this week at Fish Itch. 50% off retail, so $5.79 (plus shipping) for three packs of soft plastics. These baits are all the rage down in Louisiana, where they are hand-poured, but the secret is getting out. I shot the photos on the site of the baits and they have a soft but durable feel--I bet they have great movement in the water. And not only do you get a great deal and a cost-effective way to try some new baits, but with every purchase you make, we'll kick in a portion to conservation efforts. Check 'em out at Fish Itch!

Hey guys. This week, we're running a special on some previous deals at Fish Itch. $5 gets you any one of these, and you can buy up to six total. Great way to stock up on some nice bass worm hooks. The Secret Weapon kit is pretty sweet, too--includes a spinnerbait with interchangeable blades and a Recoil Rig for vertical presentations. • TipSee Grip-On Lights (50% off) • TruTurn bass worm hooks in blood red, sizes 1/0, 2/0, 3/0 and 4/0 packs (53% off) • Secret Weapons combo kit with quick-clip spinnerbait and Recoil Rig (62% off) • TrikFish Camo line, 8# spool (61% off) Deal ends Sunday night, or until supplies run out. Check 'em out now!

That's why this line is included.

At Recycled Fish, the organization was started with the tenets of C&R, but more and more often, we're promoting "selective harvest." Whereas some fish in almost any situation should be released (top-level predators, for example), there are many other species in which harvesting them is just fine. I'm wrapping up layout of our "freshwater stewardship guide" and we include a grouped list and advice on how to consider whether or not to keep a fish. I've truncated it to only include species pertinent to the Ozarks:

Well, that was quick--we're out of the Fish Sticks already. So I'll give you guys a jump on Itchmas Day 6, the deal for Saturday: 58% off an assortment of Grabber Warmers. If you've never used these--man, I can tell you right now, they work. I keep a few of them with my fishing gear and in my glove compartment for pre- and post-fishing trip use. They are nontoxic and odorless--and all you do is expose them to air. Just rip open the wrapper and you're good. With this deal, you'll get 13 total warmers in 4 different sizes--all for $5. This deal is for Saturday only at Fish Itch!

Today's deal at Fish Itch is for Fish Sticks Lure Enhancers, a great product to add scent to baits and lures. Rather than sprays, which can get everywhere--including you and your boat--these work more like Chapstick. That way, it goes on much easier without any mess, and it stays on longer, too. It'll even stay on during coooooold temperatures, so it's a favorite with ice fishing guys, too. Right now there's just 4 left scratch that, 1 left, so apologies if you're reading this late and missed the boat.

Hey guys! We're a few days into our 12 Days of Itchmas at Fish Itch. There's a few hours left on Day 3's deal--an assortment of Tru-Turn Blood Red Aberdeen hooks in sizes 2/4/6/8 at 52% off, only $5! We're down to 12 sets right now, so get 'em while you can. Deal ends at midnight PST, so 2:00 a.m. here in the 'Zarks. On the Fourth Day of Itchmas, we'll have spools of Triple Fish/TrikFish Camo Line in 8 lb. and 10 lb. test for 50% off. We're selling these individually rather than as a set, so you can pick from one or the other--or get both! As for Days 5 and 6, all I can tell you right now is that they are both products that can be appreciated anywhere this time of year, but especially if you're heading up to the Ice Belt to do some ice fishing--and one of 'em works great all year long.

Right now, the trout parks are open for winter catch-and-release season on the weekends (Friday to Monday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.). If you can brave the cold, it's a great time to learn. I've taken a buddy of mine up twice so far to teach him the basics. Compared to the regular season, the parks are pretty quiet this time of year, but there's still plenty of fish to be caught (and released!)--plus the banks are maintained so you don't have to worry quite so much about putting your backcast in a tree. So, in short, get out there! A few other tangibles you might consider but don't necessarily need right away: Spools of 4x or 5x tippet Nontoxic splitshot for when you need to fish deeper Floatant and dessicant for dries Some larger flies A pair of nippers--just grab a pair of nail clippers if you don't want to buy anything As for the flies, I'd pick up: elkwing caddis in 10/12/14; Cracklebacks in 12/14/16; some San Juan Worms; scuds/sowbugs; and go-to nymph patterns like hare's ear, prince, pheasant tail, copper john and red-fox pine squirrel. Oh, and wooly buggers. Can never go wrong with wooly buggers. Most of those will catch fish just about anywhere in the Ozarks but are darn near fail-proof at the trout parks.

Oh yeah, Fly Rod & Reel is another good general publication. Forgot about that.

You might try Fly Fisherman or Fly Fusion. Both are good, general and accessible magazines that I think a fly angler with any level of skill could pick up and enjoy. I really enjoy the Flyfish Journal, but I've not been able to find it at the stores locally in the last few months (unless I'm not looking in the right places). Beautiful photography, great essays. The Drake is another good one for more hardcore anglers; however, neither one of them (at least the Flyfish Journal) doesn't have a particular focus or section on fly tying. Once you get deeper into fly tying, Fly Tyer can be really interesting--but a lot of seems to feature patterns that are not quite as applicable to our Ozarks streams, like very specific dry flies or salmon flies. But still a good source for ideas on patterns and materials. Of course, for about the same price as a subscription, you can join FFF or TU and receive their magazines. Both Flyfisher and Trout are quality publications.

I can't remember if I've asked this before--are all of the water intakes/releases for the four generators at the bottom of the dam? I assume they are, but I've never known for sure.

Oh, it's all over Facebook already. The Bingo Bugs are pretty lightweight. I don't think there is anything weighting the body of the lure at all. They cast very easily with a fly rod. You'd probably want to add some sinkers to your line if you are casting them with a conventional rod/reel.

Thanks! I hope you dig 'em. And you got in right under the wire! We just dropped our latest deal--up to 63% off RockyBrook Sinker kits. These are really cool. They are sinkers made from actual limestone. They don't sink quite as fast as tungsten or lead, but they sink at a more natural rate of speed. We have two kits for sale--the yellow one (normally $6) has smaller sinkers and lighter tackle (3 packs of hooks), and the green one (normally $8) has larger sinkers and heavier tackle (5 packs of hooks). Both come with a bobber, appropriately sized snap swivels, and a pocket guide. Give 'em a try!

If you haven't signed up for Fish Itch, now is a great time. We're about to kick off the 12 Days of Itchmas and we're having a big giveaway to let everyone know. On Dec. 5, we're switching to daily deals for 12 days to offer 12 great products at half-off or better. If you sign up for Fish Itch before Dec. 5, you'll have a chance to win all 12 of these deals--from tackle to clothes to a fly rod outfit. It's a $400 value, and all you need to do is register for the site. On top of that, we still have our regular weekly deals up until Dec. 5. Right now, we have a two Bingo Bug kits from Lucky Bug Lures. Bingo Bugs are these innovative lures that combine the best of a crankbait with the best of a streamer fly--great head-wobbling action with fluttery feather movement. I tried these out at Bennett last weekend and the fish were trouncing it. (Granted, it was Bennett, but they look really really good in the water.) If you're needing some gift ideas for Christmas, check these out--the kit includes a nice waterproof double-sided fly box. That deal ends at midnight tonight, and then we'll be on to the next deal--if any of you fish any super super clear waters and need help sneaking up on spooky fish, you'll want to check it out.