jdmidwest

Inside the waist band is a good place to carry on the water. Inside pocket of a vest or life jacket. Fanny pack or front pocket of a cooler works good. Most of the time in a boat or kayak, one is in the drybag. If wading, I carry it on me. In all the years I have carried, I have only used it once to stop an idiot from trying something on me. And it was totally by accident. Coming home late from work one night at an apartment I was staying at. Hopped out of truck, reached back in and grabbed the 45 Colt Auto. Turned around and heard "Oh shet, he has a gun". Tires were squalling and kids were running away before I knew it. Someone unknown to me had followed me home and was wanting to start something. Luckly, I never will know what. Lord knows how many times something was averted by open carry. I have no problem openly carrying in public on most streams. Only when there are big crowds does the pistol go undercover. Most modern finishes will survive submerged and come out ok with a good air dry and re lube. Sweaty salt is harder on Blued finishes. But most are stainless with some kind of protective finish on them that is durable and rust free. Internals are different, many untreated parts there. All firearms are designed to be used in all weather. But like a car, they need some care to keep them in good shape. Imagine walking up to the fire pit and finding something like that or arriving while it was in progress. There are many evil people in the world. Then there are the lowlifes that just feel they should make a living off others hard work. It happens, everywhere, everyday, to everybody.

Nixon did fight several wars about spending funds meant for other reasons on State Park lands. Does that count?

I officially called this one dead today. Have not been around them since Thanksgiving weekend on a warm day. Went down this afternoon and checked them, nothing moving around the opening. Opened it up and found many dead bees, no live ones. I guess the cold was too much for the weak condition they were in going in to winter. I am down to 3 on the farm. They were working and flying on Christmas during that warm spell. Still have my doubts about the condition of one of those, will probably only have 2 at the end of winter there. Skunks were working the hives this fall, there was signs of them around each of them deer season. Digging in the dirt, claw marks on front entrance. They pester the bees till they come out to defend the hive, then eat the little sweet morsels. Stings do not bother skunks much for some reason.

I saw them all over the place in STL yesterday. Collinsville show had them all over the place. I ran into them at Cabelas or Bass Pro too. Not quite sold on them. I have used some of the River to Sea products that work well. But don't know about that one.

I guess it is Hazelwood. Just crossed the bridge to Chesterfield to Bass Pro.

At least in Chesterfield. I was up there yesterday, almost everything with a Cabelas logo on it was on sale and going fast. Bare shelves, large holes in inventory. No sales on other branded material. From the looks of it, that store is closing soon. And maybe the Cabelas brand. That location has been failing for a while, almost everything around it has been on decline in the past few years. Not really sure of anything, but that is what it looks like to me. Keep an eye out, there may be some real good deals soon. Bass Pro on the other hand was fully stocked and not real agressive about clearing out any fall inventory.

Fish have been smaller than that. They have been getting 11" fish from Norfork last few years because of a bug in the State Hatchery. But they have it cleaned up now and stock bigger fish. I usually go down in Jan and Feb. Hope low water stays around.

HAPPY NEW BEER TO ALL OF YOU TOO....

Nice. My last fish came on a plate in Paducah Ky. today. Not quite as eventful as yours. Congrats.

That is about right, They washed over the dam 3 and where I watched them eat trout was on the slow east fork below the dam. At that time, it was a young fledgling about a 18" er. Back in that day, you could go down and catch all 4 species of trout also. But that day is long gone. Every now and then, I will catch a brown. But is has been a very long time since a cutt or brookie has taken my fly on the Spring River.

We used to have one of those motors back in the day. It powered a little ole 12' jon boat my buddy had. I remember a cold winter day running the Diversion Channel with 3 of us in the little boat. Never even thought about a life jacket back then, just the cushions we were sitting on. I have a kayak that size now. I am pretty sure that little jon boat was over loaded and over powered on most trips. Not something I would do anymore as I am older and wiser.

I have stared at an ice hole and wondered what I could do with it. Lucky for me, she left and went on her way.

Went in today and all the low dollar stuff was gone, but still some great deals. Other than the crank baits, I picked up a Booyah frog or 2 cheap, some shad imitations by Strike King, and some interesting jig heads with a gold willow blade made for the ole Ned rig. I am a sucker for gold when it comes to lures, I hope this will be the killer combo for next season. Gold flash added to a Ned Bait, has to be a winner. At .48 for 2, I will toss one in the trees and laugh if it don't catch a fish.

Picked up some firetiger 4ft Rapala cranks here for 48 cents each here locally. Walked out with $70 in lures and spent $12.

I have had good luck with Orvis guide weight waders. I even have a pair of their breathables in camo for ducks. They hold up well and are comfy. Their preformed foot can be tough to get in a dry boot. I have never seen a custom wader. I have always bought retail. Lacrosse, Drake, and Ball are other brands I have worn, but they were neoprene or rubber. Talk to a fisheries guy and see what they use. They spend a lot of time in them.

I would say its a first production and maybe worth something one day, maybe. But it is a nice work of art, probably will not see a piece of mono on the front end.

White vinegar makes horseradish hotter. If you can find a source for the roots, you can make it as hot as you want. I had a boss that liked everything so hot you could not taste anything for a week. Not a very good cook so it always killed the bad taste of food he made. Same way with peppers. He could even ruin horse radish. http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/horseradish/make-horseradish-hot.htm

Define "custom made". Are you wanting features or better fit?

Since back in the 90's and I don't think they did it very long. I remember them growing up a little after they first stocked them, watching them feed on the fresh fingerling brown, cutthroat, and brook trout they toss in. I always wondered why they did it, introducing a major predator when you are trying to establish another bunch of fish . And that is probably one of the reasons you hardly ever catch a brown, cutthroat, or brook trout on the Spring River. There are those fishermen that target the lesser known species of the Spring River. The trophy musky and the walleye. They are there, lurking in the deeper holes. There are native chain pickeral there too, you catch one of them every once in a while.

Spend more time in Tennessee. Still trying to land that hog smallie that weighs more than 6 lb. Came close this year, broke a rod. Almost yanked it out of my hands. I horsed him in too fast not knowing his true size and species. But I got him to surface and had a witness, then he dove for the deep so fast the drag did not slip. He would have broke the 6 lb barrier with room to spare. Still in conversion from stream and river fishing to lake fishing. Gaining ground but still have lots to learn. I spent the first 50 years of my life in water less than 10' deep for the most part. It is a whole new world in deeper lakes.

I squealed when I picked out a $8 Booyah Frog to use. But it works. Just very careful to make sure line is good, don't want to break it off.

Not always a farmer. I overheard a Ftard bragging around a campfire about hauling a load of horses down to Texas and backhauling a load of wild hogs. Of course, he also bragged about dumping them out on public ground. He was just some drunken guy that stumbled into a campfire and struck up a conversation. Probably many more just like him. Then there are the ones that feed them and have guided hunts. All seem to proliferate the problem.

Beats a new gig.

Public land should be left alone sometimes. We need to preserve some nature for the future. If they leave it alone and manage it as a natural area park, then I would be happy with it. Grand Gulf is a natural State Park with minimal interference. Outside of the parking area and boardwalk, it is still nature. I would be happy with maintaining the 11 PT area like that, or returning the pastures to forests and making it more of a wilderness. Echo Bluff is not natural, its a resort. Concrete, pavement, steel, and artificial light. It is like a city park. I don't think I would like to see that on 11 PT. Then it could become more commercial like Current River.

11 pt can be waded. You will have to be willing to hike a little and drive around. This time of year would be the best, lowest flows are right now. Last fish were stocked in Oct. or Nov. Grab a map and take off. Best wading would be above Whitten. There are several accesses and trails. Wear orange, Alternative Firearms Deer opens this weekend and runs thru first of year.