Brian K. Shaffer

Don't they stock 3.3 fish per every angler who bought a ticket the year before ? Right ? Am I missing something ? Perhaps the low flow would come into play.. and what is the CFS instead of gallons per day. (?!?!) Thanks - Brian

Look at the Winston Joan Wulff model. http://www.winstonrods.com/casting_clinic.cfm Just an idea, but c'mon on - 24 years is a long time. Pony up the bucks and get her something really nice. She will fish more.. that's for sure. My .02 - Brian

Its what ice skaters skate on when not on real ice. Brian

Glad you made it! Keep us all posted as to how the early fishing is. Cheers and good fishin' - Brian

I wonder how the browns will fair in concrete raceways... usually they don't do well. ( Hence the fact they had not raised browns in concrete for years. The browns were always in the earthen raceways. ) I hope they do well. The new pooper at chute 2 will very much be a welcome addition. If they are anything like the newer ones at the boat ramp at the State Park, I will be very pleased. Great pics Phil. Sorry the fishing was off for ya'll. Brian

I still say ticket that guy. 'Twas a shame they, SWPA/MDC, showed up late on this occasion. (there are signs at every access, he should've known better) Brian

Sorry - just bumping the Microwaved trout techniuque Phil taught me a few years ago. Bumpity-bumpity-bumping a GREAT Recipe! I have shared this one with many friends.. it works to a tee! Brian

Once again - Phil has the right idea. (he knows.. for sure..) Microwaved trout are easy and quite tasty.. as a snack or a meal! You can also check the recipe page here for more trout cooking instructions. Brian

So they brought the water up to 2high around noon.. and at 2pm the horm blew 1 BIG LONG ONE, adding to the 2 they had, there were gonna bring it up to 4 in a hurry...meaning 4 units are on is coming on line HARD. No pause inbetween. A guy was stuck on the island (again).... and i watched him. I watched him until I knew he was going be to trouble. ( I thought about breaking the glass at # 2 / for the inline phone, but I knew better..) So I took off all my gear and jumped in the truck, drove up to the gates below the powerhouse and hit the button right below the dam. Told the operator a guy stuck on the island. Knowing me - they shut down to 100MW and called MO Water Patrol. The guy was really scared.. but I calmed him down, telling him help - by boat - help WAS on the way. He got picked up and ferried across by an innocent bystander that just happened to see his arms flaying around for rescue help... big thanks to the couple for noticing a truly 'stuck' angler. AND IT ALL happened right before an MDC AGENT AND THE WATER PAROL BOAT SHOW'D UP. Should this guy have gotten a ticket or not ? (impeading the flow of hydroelectric power generation is against the law ) Brian

Sometime the horn blows when they kill the units.. they thrust them to the breaking point, then they let let off, so the horn goes off. It is pretty common (day or night) - the units let loose enough water that causes the horn to sound, but it was only 'peaking power' that caused it. Brian

Why no pictures thus far ? Please.. for goodness sakes.. somebody post a pic of this "killer-jig" or "jig's". Might even be news to us here in the Branson / Taneycomo regional waters. But, it's no longer a 'secret'.. believe me. Let's see it - Brian

So is public access back up at the dairy farm ? I knew the owner closed it off a couple years back.. so you gots to watch yourself around his property lines.. unless you get to know / meet the owner. Otherwise - he has been known to get kind of mad with people wading 'his' water, due to other anglers mistreating the luxury he offers us. I go as far as to check in with him every time I go, even knocking on the screen door one time.. and I pick up all the trash I see in respect around that area by farm. Did you fish the middle or lower areas at all ? The trestle bridge ? Glad to hear an update since I havent been in a while. ( ) Or were you below - and never touched the dairys water itself? nice report - Brian

Where else could you get this kind of useful information? Nice post denjac. Brian

hey Okie - off topic for sure, what year is that 4Runner/Cruiser of yours ? Still looks pretty nice my friend. Brian (owner of a 95 4Runner, still nice as well)

As someone who worked as a telemarketer for a few different organizations here in Branson, I was told to hang up on purpose by law if I called someone's cell number. Only if the caller gives you their consent were we ever allowed to call the possible package buyer back on the cell phone number. I worked for 3 different places. Marriott was the best at keeping up on the regulations to a T. Too many numbers, too little time int he minds of the 'upstarts'. Brian

BWise - did you go to the show ? I myself, did not. Unfortunately for me. I betcha' I could find some pics that were taken at the show. Brian

There should be. Brian

Ain't it nice when Orvis works like it should. Glad to hear both of you got "hooked" up! Brian

Ask the fish.. it's REALLY dry! Happy 4th to all! Brian

I'd say 32 inches would easily break 15+ pounds. Carp are not a skinny fish.. so I would say maybe 20+. Nice fish on fly (well jig), but still on fly rod. I would say a rather nice break-in to the new rod. Brian

OK.. so the weather is hot.. but so is the beetle and ant activity! I have been seeing a little beetle for a couple of weeks now, and the ants have been showing up in big numbers as of late. If you (like me) ever are tired of the same old indicator scud/midge rig.. or scud/sanjuan worm rig.. try to go after the fish with the dry. Target an area where fish show themselves rising rather constantly. If you find rising fish (rather they are midging or not, they ARE rising to the surface) you can easily catch them on terrestrials (beetles, ants, hoppers.. etc). It is early in the season for hoppers.. but the dry fly beetles are driving the fish crazy! The plain old dry ant, if presented properly will bring any fish that has been rising UP to to take your immitation. When times get slow with heat and low water.. look to what comes naturally for the fish, especially when the fish are looking for new means of food due to low water flows. Beetles. Ants. Crickets. Hoppers. Terristrials are my new good thing. (The big UGLY is something in and of itself.. so I'll touch on it later). Brian

Nothing can ever replace Phil's maps of the upper end. I cut my teeth on them there maps.. so to me, they are still golden. Brian

Well, here is the rod the day I got it back. But - SADLY - now it is down on one tip about an inch. Broken on a fish.. from the butt section. Brian

The pattern I know as the Bread Crust from Orvis is quite simple actually. If you get the peacock quill right you got the whole pattern. A simple brown hackle tied off at the front and you're done. ( add a bead anytime too! ) Best fishes - Brian

So did the lack of quickly enough catch and release inadvertandly kill this fish ? It certainly caused stress.. in and out.. a picture here.. but without being there and seeing it happen in front of me.. I would say it did play a role in this fishes death (although not a premature death in any way). What a tangled web was woven.. or better yet, the guy caught a HUGE bass took a bunch of pics.. talked on his cell after some of the pics.. went to the dock.. raised her up.. set her down.. raised her up again.. set her down. Death would ensuy on a fish handled this even in a good way - Brian