jdmidwest

Interesting, I bought one for duck hunting out of the yak. Come to think of it, CO2 does funny things as it gets colder like freeze up. Any idea what models or brands?

I think you can credit Charlie Reading on that one, he brought it here when he moved from the West Coast. I think most of the old time flies were wet flies of various styles. Hair bugs and streamers. Bucktails. Maybe even the Prince Nymph.

Never trust a "golfer" to manage your fish! In 08, both candidates were untested on all issues, so Consevation may have come into play a little bit. But after the mess of the last 3.5 years, it should be clear what one has to offer.

My problem with boot foot waders are they are designed to slip on to your foot. Boot foots are usually like wearing lead boots that slip around on your feet all of the time. Stocking foot waders with lace up boots offer more ankle support and fit better. Overall, the stocking foot and wading boot combo feels more like wearing a pair of pants with shoes when you are wading. You can go farther and be more comfy.

I thought you were posting a warning about some ole guy was going to be howling at the moon tonight celebrating on your dock. Happy Birthing Day.

Pythons are becoming a nuisance down south in the southern states. If they learn to hibernate, they may be here soon. I am sure there are many pet owners releasing them into the wild in Mo just like down south. It is only a matter of time till they build up a resistance to our winter.

There are a few gravel bars only 2 holes down from Baptist that are used as campsites, but none at the access. There is a road as you go down the hill on the left that leads to a spot across from the first gravel bar campsite that is a spot for campers also. But you need a 4wd and expect to scratch some paint. I have seen campers there, even a popup. But I really can't swear that it is a legal camp. Horse riders use it. You should not have any problem making Baptist to Cedargrove in one day, Cedar to Akers the second day and still get in plenty of fishing with normal water. But, I really don't know how low that part is now. It may be rough pulling in the low water.

I think they brought them in to keep the Elk in check.

Most any of the better Goretex waders offer double layer protection in the knee and shin regions but would not deflect a fang from a cottonmouth. But I really doubt that will be an issue if you watch what you are doing. Goretex waders offer lightweight comfort and breathability in the summer and you can layer under them as the weather gets cooler. Waders also keep itchy weeds and other stuff off of your legs when you go busting thru brush. Buy Stockingfoot waders and a separate pair of boots. My experience with waders has been that I wear out a 2 pairs of boots before the waders start leaking. I have always used Orvis waders, they have a 5 year prorated warranty on the wader. Those little creeks are good floaters too. I have several spots in Butler Cty that I used to float during the summer. You can access deeper water than you can wading.

I am going to the Buffalo River this weekend for a jetboat smallie fishing trip. Buffalo River in Tennessee that is. Reports are that it is fishing good and has plenty of water.

I was in hopes that the improvements to Greer last year would bring a showerhouse at least, but that did not happen. I don't think they have electric hookups either. Greer is a nice campground, but only has a primitive toilet and maybe a water source by the host. Whitten has been crowded with campers parked all over the place by the ramp area the past few years. Last summer we stayed under one of the awnings of an RV parked there waiting out a nice thunderstorm, There were several to choose from and nobody home. I personally would not drag one down the rough road to Whitter or Turner, much less like to meet one on the way. I have only been up the the upper part of Whitten once since they improved it a few years ago. I thought it would draw the campers up there. Down side to any improvements to the remote areas like Whitten and Turner is the vandalism. They put out a park bench and it ends up as kindling for a fire. The pit toilets are for emergency use only and you need a mask to use one. Most of the time they are trashed pretty bad.

Leaves a good impression.....

Its a baby.

Your son caught a sculpin. https://www.google.com/search?q=mottled+sculpin&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=Uv7&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=78RXULiQGaXbyAHYlICgDA&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1600&bih=809

We spent Sat on the Spring River and I was going to meet a friend from Tenn. on Sun. afternoon at Riverton for an overnighter in the jet boat. It rained hard on the Spring and we never launched the boats to float. Sunday morning came and I drove into Thayer to check the weather. It looked like it was going to be more of the same for Sun. and Mon. so I called him. He was still at home and had not hooked the boat up yet. We cancelled for a better time. I drove on up to Fourche Lake and stood there for a while contemplating on launching the yak. The lake was glassed over and nothing was moving. Then it started raining and I decided to come on back home. From the looks of the radar, the rain stayed in Ark all day both days, so we probably made a bad call. I don't know if MDC is still burning a fin or not. Most of the time it is one of the smaller fins that are not really noticeable like the adipose fin

You drive by the entrance to Reed's Cabins on the way into the park, it is on the left before you descend the hill and has a sign pointing to it. The campground is on a constant flood plain, hence the sand all over. It gets washed out several times a year on a normal season. Most of the other parks, the camping is located out of the flood plain on hills. Montauk is what it is and is actually one of the better trout parks. The stream is more natural and is wooded on both side for most of the park. You can always find shade. But I would never consider any of the trout parks as world class. All are manipulated for the convience of the average fisherman that wants to bring home some meat. At least it does not have sidewalks running along the banks like some of the other parks. Good thing you did not try Meramec Springs! If it makes you feel any better, I drove 3 hours to Spring River in Ark. for a float fish with a friend and his son on Sat. It was raining so hard that we never left the porch or the cooler and came home without wetting a hook. But we still had a great meal and some quality bonding time.

I don't know about the flood of 2012, I have been there 6 times this summer and have not noticed any difference other than is has gotten lower each time I was there. I was there this weekend and it was low and clear, but did not get to fish it due to rain all day yesterday. We sit on the porch of the cabin and watched it rain waiting for a break that never came. Fishing has gotten slower all summer also. Fisheries usually float the stream and stock it from time to time with trout from a boat. With the low water, stocking has been limited to major accesses and fish are not scattered well. The crowds should be light unless there is an event like fall break or something. Fall is a good time of the year for the Spring.

I still have maters and picked my first pieces of Okra last week, then it was flattened by the windstorm last Fri. Squash looks good but not producing anything but blooms. Lettuce and radish coming along. Green beans are putting on and green peas are about 4 in hi. Getting some peppers still. I tilled a patch up in the back yard and planted alfalfa for the bees last weekend and it has come up nice. Mustard and clover in the parts of the garden that is not planted.

Trout are one of the most put and take fish in most states. Take them and eat them in the put and take areas like trout parks and stocker areas. That is what they are there for. Winter lake fishing, if you don't take them, they will not survive the spring warmup. Trout is edible, it is best fresh. When floating in the yak, I will gut the trout and put it on ice immediately. Same goes with wading, don't let them die on a stringer and clean them hours later. Gut them live and toss in a cooler. Eat fresh if possible. The meat degrades when frozen.

Soak for a while in some Italian Dressing and then toss them on the grill. Cook till white on one side then flip over. When done, skin should peel and meat should flake off bone. Blackened trout. Skin and dehead. Heat skillet smoking hot. Spray butter Pam on fish, sprinkle liberally with Cajun Spice and toss on skillet. Flip when meat is good and white, take off when other side is done. Best done outside on open fire or camp stove, smokes alot. Even trout park fish can be found with firm pink flesh if you try hard enough. Either of the above recipes works with both. To skin a trout, I gut and score the skin behind the head. Then I grab the skin with skinning pliers and pull it off like a catfish. It seems to help get rid of the fishy taste some.

Spending Sunday afternoon and Monday on the lower end from Riverton to 142. Floating the Spring River tomorrow and heading back to the 11pt on Sun. May get some fishing in around Greer waiting on my buddy to come in. Looks like a little rain for the entire time. Packed a gun and some dekes, I may try to find some teal while I am in the area.

The way I see it, in the legal vow of marriage, there is the binding phrase "till death do us part". Looks like he had to speed that part up some to conform. I condemn him for being dumb enough to get married the second time, or the third, or even the fourth....

But the presence of sperm does not support "virgin birth". There is some speculation of sperm retention in some species. Many species mate only once and propogate on the one mating. Birds do it as well as others.

Bees and sharks are a few that I know that have been known to have virgin births also. In a bee colony, if something happens to a mated queen which is the only egglayer, other worker bees that are female will start laying eggs that were never fertilized by a mail. The resulting brood will be worthless drones and the colony will be doomed. 2 sex reproduction is just a way of passing genes around. Virgin birth only duplicates the genes of the mother, if gene code gets damaged, that will lead to the death of the species.

I think I will just step out the back door, shoot mine, process it, and go back to duck hunting this fall like I usually do. Your way looks like too much trouble and time.