jdmidwest

Took a little trip to the Spring River this weekend for our annual float. Fished dam 3 to Riverside. The river was running about a foot higher than normal and everything has been pushed around from the flood. Gravel bars have been stripped of willows and sycamores. New holes have been made and new channels cut. Fishing was good even though the water was off color. Due to the current and my friends impatience, most of the fishing was done on the run out of the boat. I used shad raps and spoons to catch the majority of the fish. My best fish was a 22" bow, my friend caught another close to the same size. We also pulled out a nice walleye below one of the falls. Fish run in size from fingerling cutthroats to the big trout and walleye. Pretty good crowd on the river, first nice weekend of the year. Fished around the camp today with the fly rod and picked up several. Snail flies and wooly buggers were the fly of the day. Drove over the 11 pt at the Narrows on 142 and it is still running high. All local rivers around here washed out from a 3" rain Thursday. The flood is rumored to have washed out rainbows in the hatchery and smallies and a few stripers at the Federal Hatchery in Mammoth. The fish my friend caught had a chewed up tail like a hatchery fish. My fish was bright and fins were excellent.

Copper or Amber if you fish streams or hunt. Brings out contrast better and brightens things up. Gray works but it darkens. Last time I went for new ones, they had a 2 for deal. I had to go with the glass lenses and paid a little more for them. My normal pair is photograys. Otherwise, if you have a script, you can order them from Orvis or someone who sell sunglasses.

Thanks to our buddies in Mo Government, we have to choke on the ethanol junk till the mandate is repealed. How someone let this one slide through without protest is beyond me. Ethanol gas is junk. Ethanol production is a governement subsidized boondoogle that uses more resources than it saves. My 4.3 chevy engines do not like it. The boat and the mowers seem to run weaker too. And it cuts on gas mileage. Ethanol is a finger in the dike that someone dreamed up. We need to take control of our own oil production. We need to build more refineries to produce gase and diesel, not make some other environmental problems with the ethanol plants. We need to let the mideast oil companies sit on their oil while we use our own for a while and let them eat sand. We have the reserves and the technology to convert our oil shale deposits and convert coal to oil so why not do that? Why burn food products like corn?

I fish out of a sit in and a sit on top kayak, a Creek Co 8' pontoon, a 17' Grumman alum canoe, and a 14' Monark Jon Boat with a 9.5 Evinrude. I have also hunted out of all 4 successfully. I have never tried a solo canoe or know of anyone that has one. The only ones I have seen have been ones with full spray skirts and the owners wear helmets, and they were at Spring River or Upper St. Francois River during whitewater events. For the record, I have never tried a whitewater kayak, a belly tube, folboat, a bass boat with a bigger engine than a 50 hp., any ocean going boat, or made my own raft out of sticks either and can't give anyone my opinion about them. That said, a 12' kayak is a good size boat for someone that fishes streams and ponds in this state per my 5 years experience with them and personally trying out over a dozen different lengths and hull types. I strongly suggest you try out any personal watercraft before you invest in it if at all possible. You could end up with something drawing dust in the garage.

When I think of canoe, I think of the 16'-19' boats I have owned or fished from over the years and I think the guy in the other thread was looking at a longer boat also. My statements were a comparison to that size boat. I have never been in a solo canoe, so I can't comment on them. I am sure they are fine craft and anyone that wants one should buy one. I don't recall seeing too many of them on rivers. Just don't knock kayaks based on a few paddles in a rental boat. I don't carry 5 rods, I carry one rigged and a spare tucked away. I don't pack for a 5 day float, mine are day trips. I don't do whitewater, I hunt and fish out of them. The best feature is you are in a comfortable seat all day and your back does not hurt when you get out.

Having fished from a variety of canoes, inflatables, and kayaks, I still like the yak. Canoes draft too much water, are too long in tight spaces, easy to tip over, catch too much wind, and unless its a short solo boat, its useless to fish or float by yourself in a stream. There were times when I always fished with a friend and canoes were fine, now I go alot alone and my kayaks fit the bill just fine. I can carry them into ponds and lakes on certain areas. I can pack 3 of them on my luggage rack. Now all of my friends own yaks too. I still drag out the canoe when the three of us go on a family float. Alot of rental yaks are junk, my boats are top of the line and the hulls meet different needs. My Pamlico paddles like a dream and will take waves and current well. My sit on top can be stood up in, its a little slower, but extremely stable. You sit higher in it and its better for fishing. Both will carry a load and are comfortable to sit in. I can be dry and out of the wind in the sit in. After 5 years and 5 different styles I have it figured out. Sit ins have to have a open cockpit to get in and out of with waders. 12' seems to be an optimum length for around here. I had a longer boat, it started getting tippy like a canoe in heavy waves. One downside to kayaks, they are not made for big guys. 240lbs and less are okay, you just have to watch how much gear you pack. Each boat has its own weight rating as do canoes. But I am looking for another. I have not tried any of the solo canoes, I am sure they have a place. The yak I am looking at is by Native Watercraft, the Ultimate 12. It is open top like a canoe, stable, has a skeg, and made for fishing. I am going to try one out next weekend. My yaks both hunt and fish. I bought them for hunting and fishing was just an extra. The yaks are stealthier, lay lower in the water, and are easier to camo.

After using canoes for lots of years, I have found Kayaks the way to go as far as portability, speed, stability, ease of use. That said, I have fished streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and duck hunted out of a Grumman 17' alum canoe and an Alumacraft 17' square stern alum canoe. Both have done well. The square stern and a 5hp motor make a great trolling rig on the 11 pt river. Alum is noisy and sticks to rocks when it hits them but they last forever. The new composites are great. If you want to paddle different models, contact float camps along rivers and float the different brands. Most use old town or buffalo. Some even sell them as a dealer new or used after a few seasons. My Grumman was purchased for $75 in Alton back in the 80's after several seasons on the 11pt. It is still functional today and the best way for two people to fish a river. On tailwater streams while generation is going on, I will stick to a kayak or other craft that handles fast water better.

I have always caught them on worms or jigs. They will take artificials if you pass one by them. I have hooked a few on rooster tails. We used to catch them all the time at Wappappello Lake when I was younger. The best time was in the spring while worm fishing during the white bass runs. Cut the rocks out of their head and you will have some Lady Luck charms. The dents on the rocks look like L's. Some kind of sensory device formed from calcium or something. Gives new meaning to rocks in the head. My uncle told me they are called drum because they drum their head on the bottom of the boat. They are fun to catch and put up a good fight. My aunt canned the fish and made fish patties out of them.

Which yak did you get? You are in for alot of fun this summer. Best investment I have made in a while.

Your rack should have a weight rating on it, the blazer I have maxes at 200 lbs. I have used 2x4 racks with success, cut notches on them to keep from sliding. Tie off bow and stearn to the bumpers. I have never transported more than one canoe, but mine is a 17' alum Grumman. I also suggest calling ahead and rent. Last time I checked, back hauls were as much or more than a rental. You can usually bum a ride back to your start if you are floating in a group. Downside, you have to go at their times and you are launched with everyone else. Most companies start after good fishing hours have passed.

I would probably go with a upper river float, high waters should have created some excellent fishing. The float from Alley to Eminence has some great holes and holds some big fish. Traffic on the river does not really pick up till school lets out so you should be okay. Contact local outfitters to get current stream conditions and areas that are floatable. After May, upper river is usually too low for the normal float camps to launch boats, but personal boats and kayaks do well.

You all are nuts, I rather eat a gar then nuts.... I am from Cape Girardeau for now.

How do you get them put on? Do you go to a local shop and ask them to mount them for you or do you do it yourself?

Gars have been invading my smallmouth streams over the last 10-15 years. All have been connected to the Mississippi River. The Castor, Whitewater, Little Whitewater, and the Saline all have gar in them now in the upper reaches. I used to consider them a nuisance, now I have learned how to catch them on the flyrod. I have a ball catching them now and have not noticed a change in the native fish except a few less sunfish. I tend to target them on hot summer days when the bass are shut down.

I heard that Spring River hatchery and Norfork Federal hatchery may have lost fish. One report was a 40% loss at Spring River due to clogged intake. I figure MO hatcheries at the parks were used to flooding and should be alright. How did Shepard of the Hills do?

10:20 AM, had another shaker about a 4 I would say.

Had a little earthquake here this morning at 4:40. Shaking was subsiding by the time I woke up then it picked back up. 5.4 on the Richter scale, first one I have felt since the early 90's. No damage, local news has something to do today, had to cancel the live report from the azaela fest to head to Salem Il to the epicenter.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080416/sc_nm/...Zlqm7EOWCYE1vAI Research supports the release of bigger fish back into the wild and keeping the smaller/younger fish. Makes sense. Most managed bass areas have a 12-15 slot to encourage more spawners. I normally keep the fish below 12 and toss all of the others back. When I moved into the subdivision, the pond was filled with 8-10 in bass and not many others. I started keeping a limit each time and now, 5 years later the average catch is 15 in. I also restocked with large bluegill that spawned and made good forage.

I don't know unless the size of the graphic on the header is larger than the older one. I dump the cache after a day. Of course, the dialup gets slower and slower, and AT&T highspeed does not get any closer..

This one had a happy ending, later reports that the dog owner was fined for letting the dogs run wild. Homeowner that defended property is cleared and cat will survive. Just found out today that if you live in Cape Girardeau county outside city limits, dogs can run free with no restrictions. Nothing you can do about it, Sheriffs dept will penalize those that harm those unrestricted dogs. Seems like pet control is just a city thing....

Phil, you fixed them both but things are loading pretty slow again at dialup. Since the change, it has been loading alot faster. I'll let you know if it continues.

Good to know Al, I know where to drop them off next time I go thru TDL. My prob is when you involve the law, they tell you it is against the law to dispose of an animal. The last one stated to me that an animal does not know boundry lines and he does not know it is trespassing or causing you harm so the owner has a right to sue if you kill it. Humans trespassing can be shot on site if they are threatening you on your own property. Since when is a dogs life more valuable than a human? Animal rights group would shudder at the things that go on at a farm. I have dispatched strays, sick livestock, and pets in my life. I have always considered it the humane thing to do. When coyotes attack cattle, we attack coyotes. When the chicken coop gets raided, coons and minks get trapped. When the garden gets raided, squirrels, coons, ground hogs, rabbits die, no matter if the season is in. A farmer has a right to protect crops and livestock. Free ranging dogs can cause alot of damage to livestock and fences. I have been around animals all of my life, and have always been in control of pets, livestock, and wild game. I have always loved animals and have always had a pet. Crow, squirrels, rabbits, flying squirrels, wild turkeys, deer, dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils, fish, snakes, lizards, pigs, horses, chickens, ducks, and some mean coons have all been pets of mine for some amount of time. I would hate to dispatch some kids pet, but owners are too stupid to realize that not everyone thinks that the little biting dog is cute.

I have attached what I see here. I have also attached a screen showing a problem that I have with the upload attachment part, it cuts off at select a file. No big deal, but if you have time, just another glitch I see here.. Using dialup, Firefox 2.0.0.13. I could not get the webcam to load at work Friday on highspeed last week on IE7 or Firefox or Opera.

The point of the matter was the problems with people not controlling their pets. I did not mean to make this a liberal/conservative matter, other than the point, if you don't read the whole story you probably won't get it. The mindset to the story is made with the headline. There are far more dog owners than non-dog owners, so the headlines slanted to the majority, in my opinion, I don't have any real facts to support my theory, just observations. While I don't have a problem with dogs, I do have a problem with owners that fail to control them. A well maintained dog is a joy that everyone should enjoy in life. That is my beef, not politics. The other pet peeves against the media just surfaced. Thom, you have seen my dilema also with the dogs. The law is on the side of the pet owners, not the persons being harassed by the uncontrolled pets. I too have had many problems since moving out in the country in a rural subdivision. I carried a 38 for a while when I worked in my garden after being threatened by neighbors rotweillers. Several occaisions their rots and a pitbull/border collie mix chased my daughter and girlfriend in the yard and myself while working in the garden. Others had similiar problems, they attacked a family member on a horse at a nearby property. Local law enforcement, after I filed a complaint, stated that if I killed them on my land I would probably receive a punishment. Fortunately their poor care led to some sort of disease that killed them off. One was shot by a neighbor up the street, although it was never proven that he shot it. It was attacking his cat and he used a pellet rifle. I am currently having problems with neighbors weiner dogs in the trash and in the yard. I caught one in the live trap twice, the second time I returned it when he was home. He acted like it was no big deal. His daughter lives on the other side of me, she came out on the deck and asked me if I had any problems with dogs in my trash. She had not seen me bring in the trappe dog. She was sure her problems were with the adjoining neighbor, not her dad's dog. Even after explaining that I had a trail of white castle boxes from her yard to her dad's yard, she still would not accept that it was the dog I trapped. The little dog comes across when it is out and nips at your heels. I have been bitten and so has my girlfriend. The owners son in law is a Cape PD officer. Now you know the rest of the story. How can you shoot someone trespassing on your property and endangering your well being and not shoot their pet? Should we just have to live with it?

I don't think he was trying to fleece me with the old bait and switch. He is a friend of a friend and he was pretty straight forward. He said he was not trying to sell me anything as he did not have anything to sell. He had just sold a nice 6hp for 360 the day before. His son runs the parts and new sales as a separate business. I found the Champion recommended plug online which is an 841 (j8c), he actually carries the old j4j plugs. Once again, who do I trust, what the plug manufacturer calls for or what the service manual calls for 40+ years ago? I do try to buy local if possible and being in retail, I understand the concept of markup. But $9.95 for a plug was a little steep. Other parts were inline with other suppliers.