timinmo

Eric, it maybe naive but the fact is they will more likely put rules into place that they like, rather than ones that we can not agree on here. If I read the reports right the SMA did work, as far as I could tell without increased enforcement, that many seem to be calling for, and according to their own reports, not always on the most favorable streams. I would like to see a start. If it is not right for every stream, so be it. My point is that we get across to MDC that we want better smallmouth fishing. I will let them figure out how to do it and if I don't agree with their rules I will continue to complain and criticize. I for one, do not believe we can walk into MDC offices and tell them what rules to enact on what streams. I can't see that happening. I don't even see that we all agree on any one set of rules here. Just a guess but do you wonder if all the biologist agree on what regulations would be best. Maybe they sit around arguing about what would work best on Little Creek and Small River. Tim

I think this whole thread has left allot of dead horses in it's wake. So I guess I find myself in agreement with Chief. While we can make suggestions to MDC, they are the people that will institute any new rules and will have to try to enforce them. I would rather leave what works best up to the experts. From my point of view, as an individual, I have several choices. First I can make my opinion known by contacting MDC and/or other state officials and agencies that I feel can improve things. Secondly I could join some organization that I feel represents my views, MSA being one, another might be the Conservation Federation of Missouri, which I think has the strongest voice in the state. Third, if I feel no existing organization represents my views I could start my own organization. As a last alternative I could keep beating horses to death on threads such as these, maybe accomplishing something maybe not. Disagreement will not hurt my feelings, so feel free. Tim

As a father who has a son that will spend his Christmas in Afghanistan as well as a nephew that is in the same place both serving their country, I would like to ask that the Ozark Anglers members remember all of our service people in their prayers. As any parent knows it is hard when your children are away from home, especially somewhere putting their lives in harms way, but at this time of year it is a little hard to deal with for me. My son spent Christmas in Iraq a couple of years ago and I thought I was ready for this, but that has not been the case. So please say a pray, not just for my family but for all the service people who have to spend their holidays away from their families. Tim

Gary There is no doubt that the MSA web site could be better. It has certainly been discussed. As to how we communicate, we have a printed roster with everyone's phone number and e-mail where available. Many times trips are planned at monthly meetings but the web site could be improved. When the main source of labor is volunteer help things are limited. Tim

I wonder about several parts of our discussion. Whether MDC has done everything they can to improve smallmouth fishing or not, they have put forth the effort of instituting some SMA. We could argue for more or different locations. They also put out the White Paper, like it or not. It seems to me both of these show a willingness on the part of MDC to try to improve smallmouth fishing. What can we do to improve the same? Apparently the SMA have improved the fishing where they were instituted, whether they have the staff to patrol and enforce the rules or not so why are we arguing about more staff? As far as no interest on their part, it seems to me the SMA and the White Paper shows interest on their part. I am surprised to see the animosity of some to a group that happens to be located in St. Louis. I'm sure the MSA never intended to slight the SWMO area it is just not where they are located. I think we are all after the same thing, whatever part of the state you live. I for one would love to fish some of the SWMO streams but I would have to drive over a lot of good water to get there. Given an extra hour of drive time or an extra hour of fishing I think we would all chose the fishing. Do I want better fishing in eastern Mo at the expense of SWMO? Of course not, I wish it was better everywhere. I just think we would have a stronger voice if we all joined together. Look at what Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, NWTF, and any number of other organizations have done. Not by fighting with the conservation organizations but by working with them to improve the lot of their chosen cause. I really admire the energy and enthusiasm that many on this site show whether I agree with every view or not. The discussion and dialogue are important. There have been several points brought up that I have never thought of and I for one value most of what is has been presented. Tim

Emery Met you at the MSA meeting, glad to see you here. As I expressed at the meeting, I have enjoyed the paper for many years and under your leadership hope to enjoy it for many more. For the guys who may not know the paper covers not only fishing and hunting but many natural history items,recipes, and points of interest in the region. Once again welcome. Tim

Guys I don't pretend to speak for Matt or MSA but I think if you were to form a SWMO chapter it would be what you make it. This is not some big corp. it is just a group of concerned fisherman that would like to make things better. Will more voices be heard better? We would like to hope so. Why I joined was to try to protect/ improve the resource. For me it is more of what I can do to improve and/or protect our fishing and stream resources, not what someone can do for me. I wanted to try to improve, what seemed to me, to be headed downhill, so I became involved. Have I improved things? Don't know, but at least I have tried. We can all sit back and complain how things are so bad. If you believe that, are you just going to be satisfied, or are you going to try to improve it? Well I am off my soap box. Hope to see you on the river. Tim

Guys I have been a member of MSA for about 10 years. Never underestimate the power of numbers in lobbying, it always helps if you represent more people. With that said individual letter writing is also a very powerful and a few letters or e-mails can do a lot of good. If you don't feel MDC is doing a good job letters to your elected representatives can help to get your point of view across. I know they are not supposed to be political but I think any state agency takes notice when a state rep. or senator calls. I say this because I worked for a state agency, not MDC, and anything from one of the local rep. got very quick attention. As to forming a SWMO chapter, I think it would be great, but there would be quite a time lag between the publishing of the White Paper and any organized opposition. I am not a very active member in the present chapter but do agree with the idea and appreciate the job that Matt is doing as well as the other hard working members. I don't pretend to speak for MSA but I would think that some well thought out letters now would help to keep this issue fresh. I also don't think you have to be a expert to write a letter. Express your concern. Ask questions if you have some. Why was your stream not considered? Tell them what you want. I'm just a guy who likes to fish but I have found the MDC receptive to my questions. Their replies were not always what I wanted to hear but they did listen, I think. Anyway I am going to start now. Will I change things? I have no idea. I know that I won't change things if I do nothing. Another Tim

Hey I'm here

Max I find it easier to use the regular USGS site and go to the real time water data. The info is basically the same but I just like the way it is laid out. In short the gage height doesn't tell you anything unless you know about what is normal. The discharge tells you how many cubic feet of water per second that is going past a certain spot. The USGS site gives the gage height in graph form and you can chose the time period. The discharge summary will tell you how much water is going by, also in graph form. If you look at the 20% figure and the stream is under that you can bet the water is really low. The 80% figure is that 80% of the time the cfs are under that amount so if you are over the 80% figure it is very high and probably not fishable. In graph form you can see whether the stream is rising or falling and where the level is. By and large I usually will not go if it approaches the 80% level and much prefer rising water to falling water. If the water is under the 20% level and I am planning on fishing a small stream with a canoe, I better plan on some dragging. The streams which I fish often I will have some idea of what a good gage height is and can go by that. I also keep notes on streams so I know if I had to drag every riffle at a gage height of say 1.37 and it is running at 1.85 it will probably be a more enjoyable float Hope this helps. Others have explained it better. Tim

Hey Chief It has been along time since I saw any one throw a Tiny Tad or Tad Polly. My Dad swore by the Tiny Tads and I have caught quite a few good fish on them. My only problem is that I am almost afraid to use them for fear of loosing any. The last ones I bought were from a collector. I don't know when they stopped making them but I have not been able to find a new source. If you know where they are available please throw me a lifeline. To the original topic. In the canoe I have one box of jerkbaits, mainly LC, one box of topwaters , mainly WTD some poppers, one box of cranks, ranging from shallow to deep, one box of mixed lures, and a box with hooks and weights. These are all in a soft bag that has three outside pockets which hold soft plastics. This was a reduction of what I used to carry and the rest of the stuff is in a backup bag at home. I also have a wading bag which holds basically the same thing except rather than 10 or 15 topwaters I have three or four of each type lure and only two or three different soft plastics. I find things tend to grow, so periodically I have to go through and weed out what I have not been using or resupply what I am short on. Tim