Quillback

Some duck hunter must have left their decoy at the ramp. Fishing was a bit slow, started off with the Ned rig and wasn't getting much action, so I went with the Rock Crawler and threw it and a Deep Little N for most of the time. Found a few biters on the cranks, 10 total with 3 being keepers. Mostly on rocky banks with wind. Water temp was 61-52.

If it was blowing over there like it did here yesterday, you had some wind for sure. But you got some nice fish in the boat in spite of it all.

I can't tell you how many fishing articles I have read about fall bass fishing, and they all will say that "Fishing in the fall is great because once deer season starts you'll have the lake to yourself." Not around here.

Another day, another foggy start. Air temp was 36 when I launched and I saw 81 on the drive home. No wind and a bright blue sky after the fog was gone, lately that has been a recipe for tough fishing, but today was a better day. Fish were biting well in the fog and it tailed off some once the fog burned off, but I could still find some bites. All on the Ned, except one I caught on a tube. Rocky banks without wood worked best, one of those banks was halfway back in a cove, the rest were main channel. Caught 25 bass, 6 keepers, but small keepers, none over 16". Mostly spots, I think I caught 3 largemouth and something like 4 smalls. Got a couple of walleye, one short and one just at the 18" mark. Decided to release Mr. Walleye. Most of the fish were close to the bank, not right on it, but usually in 5 -10 FOW. Water temp was 64 to start and was up to 66 when I left.

I fished out of Big M this morning, very foggy to start and did not hear another boat, but when the fog burned off the boats started appearing. I too thought it was pretty busy, I'm thinking the weather brought everybody out.

Dodging? I have answered your personal speculation, which is all it is. BTW you haven't offended me, I am cool with discussing this. Here's all I can find on MDC's thoughts on captive birds and disease spread: Released captive quail also may spread diseases to wild quail. Transmission of bacteria, viruses, and parasites from captive-reared to wild birds is certainly a possibility, although few such cases have been documented. Regardless, biologists emphasize that, if captive quail are to be released, strict health protocols must be followed to minimize the potential for disease transmission. Also of concern is in. Is that what you are basing your speculation on? Got something else? Of course they destroyed those birds, but did that destroy the source of the disease? Do you think Wyoming birds are going to bring avian botulism to Missouri? Where do you think it originates from? Farm raised birds? Seriously, you should research avian botulism before you make lame attempts to blame it on bird game farms. Another way to look at it, is you could totally end game bird farming and you won't end the risk of birds contracting avian botulism. OK, so must be something else, what is it? You still don't have anything credible to support your position, except your own speculation.

BTW, C4F, you're behind the times on current bass fishing clothing style. Buff's are what us fashion leaders wear.

BTW Spoon, you might want to research Avian Botulism, which was the disease, as I understand it that infected those Wyoming birds. You'll learn that specific disease is not caused by pen raised game birds, they can contract the disease, and so can domestic chickens, but it's source is primarily in wetlands. And it is not something that can be eradicated. You could completely eliminate game bird facilities, but it would not stop outbreaks of this disease.

Well, now you've gone to the personal attack mode, calling me absurd, and not using rational thought. I always take that as an acknowledgement that someone such as yourself has lost the argument. Why should I contact MDC? I have nothing to prove. I'm content to say that there is no evidence that wild bird populations in MO have been infected by diseases introduced from game farms.

Yep, I think one of the reasons my great grand pappy ate mush every morning was because he had no teeth. And they could not afford anything else. My MO grandma said all she ever had to eat as a child was corn bread and beans.

Well it is somewhat difficult to document. I see no real need into heading that direction either. But we always have the option of waiting until it is an epidemic and then trying to rectify the consequences. OK, well if you want to speculate go ahead. And you still haven't produced one shred of evidence that MO birds have been effected by disease from game bird operations. if there is a real, verified threat to MO game birds coming from game bird operations, then those operations should be shut down. You can keep trying to fog the discussion if you want by bringing in high fence operations, shadowy conspiracies, bear wrestling, Wyoming, etc. It's pretty funny stuff.

Considering the conditions, that's a pretty good day.

One of my great granddads ate corn meal mush for breakfast every day. I'm told he mixed it with milk. He lived into his 90's. I think what he did was take cornbread, pour milk on it, and made his mush that way.

Yep, I can see it being a concern, but according to those articles it is, as you say, a "possibility".

No problem. Still haven't seen any factual evidence of disease spread by pen raised birds wiping out local populations. But. you know the bios, so maybe they can help you out? Spoon, all you have is speculation that the MDC manages game solely based on monetary value. And if the value is high enough, they ignore potential problems, do really think that is how they roll? BTW Spoon, do you even read your own links? That link you provided was referencing a Wyoming game farm and the outbreak was contained there. Got anything local? I don't know why you keep referencing captive deer, but if you read the article you should notice that MDC did try to take ownership of managing captive deer, and they weren't "influenced" they were defeated in a court case.

Had a great uncle that flew a Mustang in WWII in Europe. He died when I was 12, I remember the pictures he had on the walls of his family room, but never had a good conversation with him about his experiences, I was just too young at the time.

Supposed to have a few days this week in the 70's. I don't see that as helping. Usually mid-November is when I start throwing a jerk bait around, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Well quite frankly your reasoning is also immaterial, and now you're bringing high fence operations into it which have nothing to do with birds,(and bear wrestiling? LOL). And you're also implying that MDC, which according to you, suspects pen raised birds of spreading disease, but won't take action because it may interfere with the few commercial enterprises that raise game birds. Have MDC biologists gone to the legislature and asked them to outlaw raising game birds? If they haven't, which I doubt, I don't think it is because they are afraid the legislature will give them a hard time, I would think it is because they don't see it as a realistic threat to wildlife populations.

Well, that solves the mystery, thanks.

I'm just not going to buy that line of reasoning, if those birds were a REAL threat I would have to believe MDC would shut it down, Hogs are much, much more destructive, and I would throw it out there that if hogs weren't destructive, MDC would probably not care if people hunted them or not. And if pen raised birds were disease carriers you would think the chicken and turkey producers would be raising Cain, but they aren't.

Then I also have to ask, if they are a real threat, why don't the MDC and AGFC shut down pen raised bird operations? I can understand them being a bit worried, but there doesn't seem to be a problem.

Maybe, but I don't see it happening in states llke SD or Kansas where there a large numbers of birds released on pay to hunt ranches. I would think in SD they would be seriously concerned if it were a real threat as those pheasants up there are a big deal.

I think there's a bit of a difference in releasing game birds and hogs. Not to sound like a wise guy, but I have yet to hear of a MO farmer or one from AR complaining that their fields are bring torn up by pheasants or other game birds. Hogs are a completely different matter. I'm open minded on this for sure, but I just have only seen anecdotal evidence of people releasing hogs for hunting purposes. Might make sense to create a huge fine plus jail time for anyone caught releasing a hog if it's an issue.

Yep, that's why I thought it might be a Spitfire, the elliptical wing ends. Just could not get a good enough look at it to be sure. Commemorative Air Force has one. Quote rom Wikpedia below. A second was auctioned in July 2015 at Christies, London. Being one of only four flying MK 1 Spitfires in the world, the aircraft fetched a record £3.1 million at auction on 9 July, beating the previous record for a Spitfire of £1.7 million set in 2009.

I agree, they can probably never be totally eradicated. But, if they have a herd (I refuse to call them a sounder) that's tearing up farmland, there is the possibility of trapping the entire herd and removing them from that area. I admit I find it hard to believe that hunters turn pigs loose so they can come back and hunt the offspring later. I'm sure it has happened, but you would not think it is a common occurrence.