2sheds

Way to go Brian ! Even without the photo, at least you've got a witness ... right ? Looking forward to my annual summer pilgrimage. Great to know that quality wild trout are thriving. Thanks for all you do to promote the good sportsmanship that keeps it that way.

Here is a direct link to the wording of the regulation: http://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/regulations/sport-fish-regulations/trout-regulations-and-permits/felt-soled-wader-ban It states that "The use of shoes, boots or waders with porous soles incorporating or having felt, matted or woven fibrous materials is prohibited" and applies to trout parks (Maramec Spring Park, Bennett Spring State Park, Montauk State Park, and Roaring River State Park) plus all MDC-regulated trout waters (A. Barren Fork Creek in Shannon County, B. Blue Springs Creek in Crawford County, C. Capps Creek in Barry and Newton counties, D. Crane Creek in Stone and Lawrence counties, E. Current River in Dent, Texas, and Shannon counties, F. Dry Fork Creek in Crawford and Phelps counties, G. Eleven Point River in Oregon County, H. Hickory Creek in Newton County, I. Lake Taneycomo in Taney County, J. Little Piney Creek in Phelps County, K. Meramec River in Crawford and Phelps counties, L. Mill Creek in Phelps County, M. North Fork of White River in Ozark County, N. Niangua River in Dallas and Laclede counties, O. Roaring River in Barry County, P. Roubidoux Creek in Pulaski County, Q. Spring Creek in Phelps County, R. Stone Mill Spring Branch in Pulaski County). The discussion on this website and this forum concerning disinfecting related items is "good conservation practice" and should be strongly encouraged. I read specifications and contracts for a living, yet remain confused concerning how this new regulation applies to items other than felt-soled waders, i.e., tennis shoes with drain holes in the soles, cotton socks worn under tennis shoes, aqua socks, etc. Many of us want to do the right thing, but also want to know that it is considered acceptable to continue to use and disinfect these items. The regulation wording "... shoes ... with porous soles ... incorporating ... fiberous materials ..." becomes inprecise. Rubber soled tennis shoes with drain holes are not prohibited, but aqua socks might be intended for prohibition - regardless of disinfecting. Can anyone from MDC help sort out the requirement vs the guidance ? Two reasons for this interest: 1) Make sure I do the right thing 2) Do our best to exhibit appropriate behaviors and educate others

For those with questions concerning the precise wording of the regulation, please hit the link in Chief's original post, then the link under "Related Information" = "Felt-Soled Wader Ban". Alternately, here is a direct link to the wording of the regulation: http://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/regulations/sport-fish-regulations/trout-regulations-and-permits/felt-soled-wader-ban It states that "The use of shoes, boots or waders with porous soles incorporating or having felt, matted or woven fibrous materials is prohibited" and applies to trout parks (Maramec Spring Park, Bennett Spring State Park, Montauk State Park, and Roaring River State Park) plus all MDC-regulated trout waters (A. Barren Fork Creek in Shannon County, B. Blue Springs Creek in Crawford County, C. Capps Creek in Barry and Newton counties, D. Crane Creek in Stone and Lawrence counties, E. Current River in Dent, Texas, and Shannon counties, F. Dry Fork Creek in Crawford and Phelps counties, G. Eleven Point River in Oregon County, H. Hickory Creek in Newton County, I. Lake Taneycomo in Taney County, J. Little Piney Creek in Phelps County, K. Meramec River in Crawford and Phelps counties, L. Mill Creek in Phelps County, M. North Fork of White River in Ozark County, N. Niangua River in Dallas and Laclede counties, O. Roaring River in Barry County, P. Roubidoux Creek in Pulaski County, Q. Spring Creek in Phelps County, R. Stone Mill Spring Branch in Pulaski County). The discussion on this website and this forum concerning disinfecting related items is "good conservation practice" and should be strongly encouraged. I read specifications and contracts for a living, yet remain confused concerning how this new regulation applies to items other than felt-soled waders, i.e., tennis shoes with drain holes in the soles, cotton socks worn under tennis shoes, aqua socks, etc. Many of us want to do the right thing, but also want to know that it is considered acceptable to continue to use and disinfect these items. The regulation wording "... porous soles ... incorporating ... fiberous materials ..." becomes inprecise. Rubber soled tennis shoes with drain holes are not prohibited, but aqua socks might be intended for prohibition - regardless of disinfecting. Can anyone from MDC help sort out the requirement vs the guidance ?

I canoe and wade fish rivers/creeks in tennis shoes (summertime); bleach in mild chlorox when changing creeks. Is this now illegal ? Once back in the creek, I can't imagine how I would prove compliance with the objective.

I canoe and wade fish in tennis shoes and soak them in bleach before changing rivers/creeks.. Is that now forbidden ?

Brewer & Shipley's version of Black Sky is also killer-bee. Steve Cash (OMD) reprised the harp solo and did another for Ballad of a Country Dog..

Glad to see this property advertised on this forum. Other than a conservatorship of some type, I can't think of a better scenario than purchase by one of those who cares deeplly about these issues.

One more vote that, hands down, the self-titled 1973 "OMD" is the best introduction - the harp break in "Wanta Get to Heaven" is hard to beat. We always called this "The Quilt Album" due to the cover. For the estoteric OMD fans, I also recommend the "Lost cabin Sessions" which are some very early recordings and alternate takes, but not released until the oghts

Maybe its my turn to step up to the soapbox and repeat this speech, sans popcorn at hand. Probably the best conservation practice (from each individual trout's perspective) would be for us to take our photos from a distance of 20 feet with them lounging in the brook, rather than throwing sharp pointy things, or tramping their stream beds and eroding their river banks. But once we decide to become anglers, mortality rate > 0% becomes a fact. Newbees are best advised to hone their skills and learn the craft in trout parks and other put-and-take fisheries. Those of us who are tactful enough to teach will be gratefully appreciated by the few who will eventually find their way further into the wild. And those of us who find our way to these wild trout forums rightly expect to encounter a higher level of experience and a respectfullness to help sustain our insanely beautiful and treasured fishing spots. That being said, this is an information sharing forum and every one of us can learn more about how to improve out catch & release skills. I see this as a journey, not a destination. So everyone, continue to challenge yourself to step up your game - lead by example, minimize our impact, and help support these great Ozark resources.

And, as you have probably found, it is difficult to wade through the deep holes downstream of the public area at Lane Springs.

I fish Lane Springs in mid-summer and catch trout of all sizes. Some small with parr markings (obviously wild) and some of mature sizes. I understand that the nearest stocking point is 5 miles downstream at Milldam Hollow. What is the likelihood that the summer trout caught at Lane are stockers swimming upstream vs the wild trout that are obviously reproducing in the spring section of the river ?

Greetings Ray, I assume you realize that Tom and his musical partner Mike Shipley are incredibly well-respected songwriters, producing some of the best known folk music of our time. I met Tom in the mid-70's when I was a student at the University of Missouri - Rolla School of Mines (now Missouri Institute of Science and Technology). He would go rock climbing with Dieter Becker, a friend of ours from the KMNR radio station. At that time, Tom ran his fly shop out of the old Greyhound bus station in Rolla. He and Mike would play unannounced in small Rolla venues as a warm-up before tours. He even came out to the Mine Shaft to hear our college band play one night - incredibly generous with his encouragement. He could choose to live anywhere in the world, and picks the Ozarks ! Tom has been passionate about the environment (Eco-Catastrophe Blues) and contributed proceeds to a song (Stop the Dam) that was part of the effort to keep the Merimac River and its wild trout tributaries from becoming an empoundment. I am passing through Newberg on my way back home to StL as I type this, and believe that Tom still lives in the area. I believe he has a personal website that should be easy to find - am sure he would like to hear from you. -Bob in Dallas

We gave OMD a lot of airplay at KMNR (89.7FM Rolla) while I was at school in 1974-79. Would note that Brewer & Shipley are also a regular at Wildwood Lodge and that Tom is an avid troutfisherman, ran a fly shop in Rolla (in the old bus station), and has been settled in the Ozarks for 30+ years. Tom told me about the wild trout opportunities, but I was too tied up with classwork to check out anything beyond Montauk & Maramec Springs. The idea of an Ozark Angler's musical event is most interesting. I enjoy picking with Jason (Deercliff Furled Leaders) around the campfire on my annual trout pilgrimage to the Ozarks. I wonder what other common denominators run through this crowd ?

Thank you Mic, My only shot at BSC comes mid-summer. I found the hole downstream of 1st crossing, but apparently did not get far enough upstream. Will keep this in mind next July. I promise to protect and respect !

Floated Greer to The Narrows (H-142) week of July 25 with son Chris and brother-in-law George G. Water was at least 18" deeper and significantly faster than prior years. Brian and Ryan helped us out (as usual) with canoes, shuttle, and timely advice. I thought the fishing was excellent for that time of year. Ran into one stretch from Connor Spring to Boze Mill where I could catch a nice-sized trout on every drift - just a matter of how much time I wanted to spend. I would rate my smallmouth success as lower than usual, but didn't fish the back nine (Riverton to Narrows) as hard as this water deserves. With all of the spring flooding, there were some changes to the channels and gravel bar campsites, but no real issues. This river is a real jewel. Already tying up my flies for next summer's trek. Potentially with brother George in tow - If I can get him to approve the menu.

Starting with the premise that my only opportunity has been an annual late-July float trip from Greer to Narrows/Myrtle: 1) Don's Crawdad - dropper 2) Black MOAT Stonefly 3) Wooly Bugger (aiming for smallmouth downstream from Riverton) 4) Pheasant Tail Nymph - dropper (concentrating in slower water downstream from Riverton) 5) narrow minded enough to not even consider, although Brian has some crazy Red Prince Nymphs that showed promise this year

I'll echo Gavin. 1) Skip the Current (holiday weekend). 2) Daybreak and Dusk on Little Piney, walking from your Lane Springs Campsite both upstream and particularly down. 3) Day trip to Spring Creek 4) Day trip to Roubidoux I cannot imagine a better plan. I'd be with you if it wasn't a 600 mile drive from Texas. Jason (Deercliff Furled Leaders http://deerclifffurledleaders.com/DeercliffFurledLeaders.aspx) and I had a great time last month with this itinerary. Lots of different styles of water with a variety of challenges and rewards. Fish light and be sure to run deep.

Floated 3 days from Greer to The Narrows week of July 25. Water was 2 feet deeper than normal for that time of year and also higher flow. Did not have the usual level of success under the SH19 bridge on the night before our float. However, downstream did well with the usual stuff, MOAT Stonefly and Don's Crawdad dropper, and also a tinselly-red large Prince Nymph that Brian has in the fly box at Eleven Point Canoe Rental. Just need to be really heavy and deep. Spin fishing did best with #2 Blue Fox spinners, fished like a jig. Caught trout continuously with this technique from Connor Spring to Boze Mill. Saw a really big one at the outlet of Boze, but only got a chase & look desite several passes. Caught fewer smallmouth than usual, but didn't fish real hard downstream of Riverton. Quite a few changes to the river topography, although it still flows downstream toward Arkansas. The 3rd island is now split into islands 3A, 3B, and 3C. The Mary Decker log dam is nonplussed. A few downstream islands are no more. Most significantly, there is no longer a "left vs right" option to consider at Halls Bay Chute, its right only. Favorite gravel bar stops and campsites were still in tact, though somewhat rearranged. Most important, latrines are still where you expect them to be. So much for the upper section. Our float from Riverton to SH142 - The Narrows was also great. Didn't fish it as hard due to time management decisions. With the slower water, switched to a seal-fur wooly bugger <http://deerclifffurledleaders.com/OtherProducts.aspx> with a pheasant tail nymph dropper. Surprisingly caught more trout than smallmouth in this section - unusual. Understand that there are some large ones along the eroded mud banks, but did not tie up with any of them. Found one spot where I'm pretty sure the river has cut a totally different channel to the left, but no dramatic topography changes in that section. Morgan Springs Float Camp is a survivor. The hike up to the top of the Narrows is still worth the vista. You should have a great time. Looking forward to your report. As always, contact Brian & Ryan & Mike (especially Riverton + downstream) for the best info.

ROL is a beautiful spot to enjoy this river. If you want to catch the most fish and really learn how to make best success on the Northfork, you should book a guide trip with Brian Wise (works from ROL) or Kyle or Justin. If you want to do it on your own, be advised that these are wild rainbows (all the way downstream to Patrick Bridge) and that the level of challenge will be a couple of notches above the trout park experience. For spin fishing, I like the #2 Blue Fox spinners and the hard plastic rebel crawdad. For fly fishing, I like nymphing - Don's Crawdad, white or olive jig, stonefly, prince nymph, etc. Chose good spots, run deep, avoid drag to keep a good presentation. There is good info to digest on the ROL website and also excellent advise in prior posts to this forum.

I grew up in Missouri, reside in Texas, and return every year for 3 weeks of floating/flyfishing. So I have researched this question to the point of excess. Here's my 2 cents: Current, Northfork, and Eleven Point are all wonderful summertime float trips. Each has a unique character and deserves consideration. But for best trout catching success in summer, there is no doubt that the Eleven Point River is the best choice. If you want to try an overnight on the river, the two-day float from Greer to Riverton includes great scenery, springs to visit, abundant trout (Greer to Riverton), and smallmouth (Turner to Riverton). I just returned from a 4 night trip to the Eleven Point and can echo that it is fishing very very well (particularly for mid-summer). If you stick with your one-day plan, you just have a tough choice between 2 great options: Greer to Turner/Whitten vs Whitten to Riverton. I might be tempted toward the latter in order to enjoy the spring at Boze Mill Dam, but it really is a coin flip. Your best advice for trout fishing on the Eleven Point is Brian Sloss andy Ryan Griffin at Eleven Point Canoe Rental. They are a great source for canoe outfitting, last minute tackle, and valuable insight. I would tell you to fish deep in the seams and dropoffs. And since this water will be moving fast (much faster than other Missouri canoeing streams), you need to give this top priority. * With spinning rods and the high+fast water on the Eleven Point, this means heavy jigs, deep diving rebel crawdads, and #2 and #3 Blue Fox Spinners (my favorite and fished like a jig - best success among the spinning fishermen in our party the week of July 25. Because you need to be on the bottom, expect to lose quite a few lures to snags - so come prepared. * Flys need to be deep, maybe 9-12 feet of leader - depending on the spot. For trout, I like a MOAT stonefly (2 large tungsten beads + lead wrapping) with a Don's Crawdad dropper. I catch plenty of smallmouth on the same. Downriver when the water is slow and a bit warmer, I switch to a wooly-bugger with a pheasant tail nymph dropper. Hope your guys have a blast. This is a special place !

Swang thru Monday (8/01) during my drive back to Texas and can report that the upper end is wet and well. Really enjoyed using dad's #2 - 7' flyrod, sort of like casting a feather. Best results using a Brian Sloss red tinsel prince nymph as an attractor with a pheasant tail dropper - good takes from nice fish on both. Ultimately left it up in a tree next to someone's white jig and pinch-on strike indicator. That marks my best spot. Thanks to everyone for the strong "catch and release" ethic and for keeping this jewell so well maintained.

Will be in the Camdenton area over the next few weeks and was wondering if anyone fishes the Glaize Creek at Toronto Springs (just east of Montreal, MO) ? If so, what kind of fish do you catch and can you share any tips ?

A bit more info, concerning "The Narrows". "The Narrows" is commonly used to refer to the MODOC maintained access on the east bank of the Eleven Point River at Highway 142. Water cools a bit from the confluence of serveral springs within a mile upstream. Smallmouth are good in both directions. I've heard you can pickup some walleye downstream from here. The original name "The Narrows" comes from a geological formation north and west of this highway access point. The peak of this formation is a narrow ridge that separates Frederick Creek from Blue Spring and several other springs. You can drive near the top by starting at the river access, heading west on SH142, and taking the 1st road on your right heading north. A short walk from the parking lot will take you to the top of "The Narrows" where you will find some 1920's picnic tables and a couple of CCC era overlook points. Continuing walking down the hill for a mile or so will take you to Morgan Spring (also historically significant from Civil War days and to high school biology labs). Another FYI - This is also near the southern boundary of the old Pigman Ranch, where the Beatles stayed during their visit to the Ozarks in 1964.

Kyle - The other thing Brian didn't directly say (because he is gracious and un-arrogant) is that Eleven Point Canoe Rental in Alton is your best source of up-to-the-date fishing info for this river. Its definitely worth your while to use them to shuttle your stuff, just to swing through the shop and get the latest briefing or pick up some hot flies.

So what size hooks should I be tying for cicada patterns to interest trout ? The cicadas I see around the house look to be about a size 6 on a 1X short, similar to hooks for top water bass bugs.