jdmidwest

I live in the worst place for some of the things I like to do. 3 or more hours to trout fishing. Nice lakes are 4-5 hours away. But living is cheap and so is gas. Good to get away from home on the weekends.

TN valley lakes are completely different than anything I have fished here in MO. We fished Cumberland River Drainage and they have big red balls and cables. Would probably get sucked thru the gates at Pickwick. Pickwick lake at the upper end backs up over shoal that gave Mussel Shoal its name. It also starts a man made drainage at Yellow Creek about 5 miles above Pickwick Dam that runs south to the Gulf in a series of canals and lakes. Pickwick and the TN river is a big river with barge traffic. You never see much dredging going on to keep a channel open. It turns north and runs up thru TN and KY. Kentucky Lake forms in the river below Pickwick and you normally see the upper lake start at Savannah where the boat was found. I have seen them holding water in Kentucky Lake all the way up to Pickwick. They operate the dam at Pickwick to where the lake levels never fluctuate that much except during fall draw down and spring rise. Maybe 8-10 difference at most. So, that generates alot of current thru the whole system. Below the dam, water levels rise and ramps flood, but never on the lake. We lost main engine on the Nitro back in the fall about 5 miles above the dam. We were drifting around 3 miles an hour with the current and the dam was putting about 90,000 cfs at the time. I think 6 gates were open with some generation also. I can't imagine how strong with 200,000 cfs would be. I have never been on the lake or river with that much generation. Fishing is usually bad with that much going on. They were from Obion County up around Reelfoot Lake. They may or may not have known the dangers. Here is a shot below the dam last year with 8 gates open. The river was fishable, but we could not get close to the dam due to the waves generated. Probably 90,000 cfs there.

World Shooting Complex in Sparta is a nice place. Blago's best achievement. A friend of mine has run a shop there since it opened. The retail part never took off well. Take a boat and camper and enjoy the fishing in the stocked strip pits.

No cables, you can fish right to the dam on either side. Usual lights, sirens, and warning signs. Probably launched out of State Park ramp by dam and was fishing close because of motor issues. Lots of current, trolling motor was probably no help. I think Pickwick has 16 or 18 spill gates an two locks. Not sure how many bottom discharge generators. They keep the lake level pretty constant. With all the flooding, they have been putting over 200,000 cfs thru since Dec.

A boat fishing a youth school tourney went thru the spill gates at Pickwick Lake this weekend. They are searching for 2 15 year olds and the 43 year old mentor. I have been fishing the lake for several years now. The past few seasons have been some of the highest water ever. Pickwick has spillgates open almost non stop lately generating alot of current above in the lake. If you lose main motor, a trolling motor does not stand a chance if you get too close to the dam. From the looks of it, that may have been the cause of this accident. Sadly, it seems to happen every year lately. Boaters beware on lakes with big spill gates like this one. https://m.facebook.com/burtstaggsnews/photos/a.339731556186984/1555537084606419/?type=3&source=48 https://www.kfvs12.com/2020/02/26/search-missing-boaters-near-pickwick-dam-transitions-recover-operation/

I put the rice in gumbo. Red beans goes on top of the rice in red beans and rice. Old boss of mine made some killer gumbo, he would add some alligator meat if he could get it. Local Cajun restaurant has all you can eat gumbo on Tues Lunch menu. Rice is in theirs too.

The Griswald family, classic Chevy Chase. "Daddy says I am the best French Kisser.... " Eddie's side of the family was priceless. Christmas Vacation is on the DVR along with Fletch.

Or Babler went over to the darkside and started giggin...

Every day on top of the dirt is to be used to its best advantage. We never know the time and place usually, but the end will come. Medical treatments tend to shorten that time with the doses of poison and radiation they use. I have used that in my calculations. It probably zapped a good 10 years off my life.

Looks like frost forming on its tail.

Don't forget to lay them on bank and set the rod next to them for the glamor shot. Be sure they are calm and done flopping for the best shot.

Just stick a knife in it and call it done. Put and take fish....

I always hunt in afternoon so I don't get shot.

Walmart bags get them back to the house. But mesh bags spread the spores. You have a few months to rest before you try your new skills.

How wide is it? Looking for a 50 or wider. Open boat inside so I don't trip over anything heading up to the troller. Send me a pic

I am still looking for a 16' with a 25 jet tiller.

Brian Sloss still has lodging at Alton, but Hufstedlers own both Float Camp locations at Riverton and Alton. Great folks and will take care of all of your floating needs.

Zed's dead, baby. Zed's dead.

Daffodils popping up here. Maples budding. It's Feb.

I broke down a few weeks ago and went to the local Boat Dealer/ATV guy/Furniture show in local mall. Sells Alumacraft and Evinrude. I left him with my name and number to price me out a 25 HP jet tiller and jon rig. Still have not heard from him. He lost me when he asked me what a jet motor was. I pointed to a jet ski in the show room, one of those but bigger.

Neighbors don't care..

My dang vest weighs too much now, why would I want to tack another chunk of worthless metal on it. The real reason for the program, not enough interest in MO small trout streams. Big promo to sell more trout stamps. Feed the cash cow.

Special agents..

I hit them years ago. You have to sneak up on them. But they are special. I spent some time in KY years ago. They had a little stream that was put and take trout during a certain time, it ran out of Fort Campbell. Not much flow, steep muddy banks. You could hear far off explosions and about an hour later, the stream muddied up. Shell practice upstream. TN has the same thing, small streams, put and take during the winter months. Fished around Loretta Lynn's place. Pretty little creek but trout limited to access areas, the stockers did not go far to dump the load. At least MDC tiny streams sustain a few trout. The Ozark springs keep them cold all year.

I thought the moderators were to judge.