jdmidwest

It was a cool waterfall back in the 80's, then the channel opened up on left side and dewatered it for most part. I remember running it in a canoe, about a 4 or 5 ft drop.

Some 6 lb lines I fish have a smaller diameter and are harder to see than some 4 lb lines. Depending on the weather, water clarity, and how I hold my mouth, I could catch a trout on 12 lb test. With a cigarette butt for bait. Trout have no sense of rhyme or reason why they want to feed. The only pattern I have found is find a trout, don't spook him, and keep putting something in his face till you wear him down and he makes a plunge for it. They all have a weak spot for something.

I have always erred to the good side. The trip that broke the tooth that led to the cancer in TN was to Center Hill Dam. We were fishing going to fish for trout and the trophy smallmouth that was rumored to be in the area. Most states, you have a fishing license and add a trout stamp, you are good to fish for trout, and possess trout. Some states, the trout stamp is required on waters that trout are stocked in. TN, out of state, $36 for Fishing, $99 for All Species, for a yearly tag. No clear definition on whether or not you need a All Species to catch and release trout in that state. I even called Game and Fish and could not get a clear ruling. They only stated that the local agent would have to make the call if he saw me catching a trout. I punted, bought a 3 day, All Species tag for the trip and caught a bunch of little trout, the largest about 13". Never got checked. Saved about $10. They could not void or credit me the original money I had spent for the Annual Fishing Non Resident and make me a new All Species Non Resident. They wanted to stick me for the new tag in full, no upgrade option. It was a messed up ordeal. And no clear definition of the rule.

I have always been told they taste like chicken. Turkey is the only game bird I enjoy. I cook waterfowl from time to time, but give it to someone who enjoys it more than me at any chance. I don't bother with any other flying things.

Wrench needs to pack his bags and air guns. He could retire the rest of the season.

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Mountain Home was rated among one of the best places to retire for a sportsman a few years back by one of the outdoor magazines. Lots of places to hunt or fish public land. Cost of living and taxes pretty reasonable. Seasons right temp wise. You get all of them in mild variences.

When are we having hoot owls and redtails for dinner? You need to come down to Bollinger County for one of those recipes.

Was there a circuit breaker on the system?

I always thought the Canebrake was coastal Florida, but you are right, same species.

Timber rattler. No canebrake in MO.

I have been in this boat several times. Some of his ideas are good. Ultimate Walleye Boat

Dry weather brings them out.

Both are sunfish, main distinction is the gill flap extension out further than bluegill. And the color is different, among other things. It is a species of the Mississippi watershed, bluegills are more wide spread and commercially farmed. Bluegill are more related to the red ears. They are different on the tree of life. There is a mouth distinction, but they are both similar. Lateral line arches on the bluegill, spines and rays of fins are different. And the fact they tend to hurt the smallmouth populations put them on my good to eat list.

Is Phil catching any fish in Alaska?

Nice fly. Welcome to the gang of gang up on's. Most of my records went back in the water to keep them going. It tends to irritate the ones I fish with, but we saw the fish, its enough. Its the memory that counts.

Kill all the longears any way you can, they suck down more smallmouth meat than any gigger does on the Meramec. They hit the eggs, they take the young, and they hurt the adults guarding the nest.

Next time use a gig and you will get less flak. Looks like a big ole Heron got ahold of it. The best size longear was on a tributary off the 11 pt river. It hit a beetle spin as we were walking up the creek and it was probably a state record. Back then, no digital cameras, we looked at it and let it go. It makes that one look small, but I have small hands. Longears eat alot of smallmouth eggs on the nest. They worry the smallies to death guarding them. Them red bellies are fair game no matter how you get them. They rank next to invasive carp in my book.

I have a feeling that me and a buddy will be there also. It may make a difference. From reading the story and seeing what little has been done since the drawdown, it seems like the nail is close to being driven in the lid of the coffin. It will probably end up being a pond choked with lily pads. Or blown to extinction. NFS does not restore any fishing to its former self, just lets it grow up and go away. I have seen a few Tiff Lakes in the area go away also or be drawn down to make the fishing suck. Access roads go away from streams. Our kids will have less public access than we had.

It may have been a joint effort.

Hellgrammites are clingers until they are rolled loose and float free. Shaky head may be the trick or finesse rigged on light jig hook. Roll some rocks around and see how they act naturally. Then rig accordingly. I don't think they are swimmers in the wild

That still does yoga...

You did not miss a thing. It died a long time ago when the NFS started managing it.

Stopped into the new Gander Outdoor in Jackson TN this afternoon on way back from Pickwick Lake. Its about the only one I visited on a regular basis in the past. New look, new products. Opening day of new store that was there before. Remodeled with all new fixtures. They carry Native hybrid kayaks and many others I had not seen. Almost all the stuff in the store was higher end, no Gander branding. Fly tying materials now. Lots of guns. Overton section. Bows, guns, camp, and fishing took up most of floor space. Impressed, but walked out empty handed. Same as before, better deals elsewhere. New blue color.

Now I know the rest of the story. Back in the 80's, I found this lake. I was never a lake fisher from the get go. But I learned quick, Spring floods ruin streams. You have to have a back up plan. Crane lake came up somehow. Exploratory trip with the canoe hanging out the back of the Mazda pickup, 6' of bed and 17' of boat. You could counter balance it with camping gear and it would not break down the middle "much". Big ole stinger. Crane Lake, miles off the beaten track. Used to have a nice little camping area and a boat ramp. We could drive up after work and pop a tent. Run a trout line out. Build a nice fire and have a good nite camping. Get up, run the line and take care of the catch. Then grab the rods and work the lake in the canoe. Hop out at the dam and fish the stream outflow below the dam. Enjoy youth and life at its best. And bring home a nice mess of fish for the freezer. It was a nice peaceful hide away we could use from time to time. I caught a nice 16 lb channel cat below the spillway on a ultralight and 4 lb test with a buddy assisting. I watched F4 Phantoms out of Lambert buzzing the lake on low altitude passes, they would tip the wings and wave at us when we would wave back from the canoe. Then I made another friend that knew about it too. We tried to sink a boat there one time by accident, he had replaced a battery the night before and busted the livewell fitting letting water gush in. I noticed it out in the middle of the lake when my ankles started getting wet. I have teal hunted it in the morn and took the blind down to fish. I paddled it in the yak one morning in the moonlight to duck hunt one Thanksgiving morn. 35 years of enjoying the lake. Over the years to follow it changed under the NFS management. They closed off the camping and removed the toilet. They failed to keep the meth heads out and let them ruin what was left. They decided the lake needed to be choked with lily pads and coontail grass and planted some. They let the road go. They drained it. Now they just decided to kill it. Exploring the future of Crane Lake. I never knew it was started as a private lake.