jdmidwest

You know, it got me to thinking today. I consume on average a 30 pack of Natty Lite on an average float trip weekend on the Spring River (2 floats). That usually generates a few gallons of urine during the 2 day period. Several hundred people dispensing the same amount. That really adds up toward the end where the drunks are all jumping off of the tree at the waterfall. Yum. How much water flow does it take to dilute that to the amount that really should not make a difference in the taste of the water inhaled by the stump jumpers?

Overweight girls in bikinis, there really should be a law against that. Maybe a government clothing ban on any bikini manufactured, nothing over a size 6. That is what usually ruins it for me.

The cattle in the upper portion destroy the riparian corridor along the river, erode the banks, muddy the stream, pollute the water with their feces and urine. There are no fences as he owns both sides, the cattle roam freely in the stream, along the bank, across the stream. It is a mess, at least it was a few years ago when I floated the stretch. I have fished alot of streams in MO, but that cattle rancher was the worst I have seen with his management of the land and water resource that passes thru his property. At worst around here in SE MO, you come across a cattle gap into the river that only allows a few cattle at a time to get to the water and drink, not swim and stand in herds.

I picked him up and flipped him over into the neighbor's yard. Momma don't like snakes of any type in the picking patch. When she sees one, she is done for a while.

I use a size 4 or 6 straight eye streamer hook with gold bead chain eyes, red thread, and a white zonker strip tied on top. The rabbit tends to snag the teeth and hook better. It is neutral bouyant which helps sight fishing on top. You can add some krystal flash, it helps to snag the teeth too.

Keep an eye out, Cabela's usually puts them on sale once a year. I have one of the 4wt 71/2 ft 5 piece that I picked up about 8 years ago that I like. It is a little shorter now since I closed the tip in a power window.

Al, I take it she does not participate in our little forum.

X wife always thought I was cheating on her. New one realizes that I like the outdoors more than sex.

Professional, permitted fireworks shows are being postponed around here because of the no burn restrictions. Several towns announced this week they are not going to have a show. MDC posted a fireworks warning also. Temps of 105 this weekend, no chance of any rain in the forecast for the coming week. Humidity is low, so low that the water outflow from my AC does not even make a wet spot in the yard. Good news, I saw a Mosquito evaporate in mid air yesterday. They have not been a problem around here. No grass for them to hide in.

My hat keeps the sunspots off my neck! And, I got a good deal on my $700 rod, it is worth every penny.

The only plant in the garden affected is the pole beans, I dosed them with a liquid Sevin mix and stopped that. When I put the traps out, the bugs started dropping down out of several Pin Oaks in the back yard to the traps. I played around Sat and Sun with the location of the trap and the wind. I would move the trap with the wind and draw them out of different trees. The first infestation I noticed was 2 years ago, they obliterated my next door neighbors grape vine. It was also the time a local farmer planted several acres of wine grapes. Last year was the first for traps, I put them out when I started seeing some in the pole beans. They seem to like pole beans, they attack from the top down. What I wonder, even though I trapped a bunch last summer, were there several that laid eggs in those areas of the traps and came back in force this year? Moles were worse this year too, maybe eating the grubs?

There are programs in place for farmers to develop watering systems the would eliminate the cattle in the river problem that would offset most of the cost. The problem is that the major cattle farmer in the area does not care and carries enough clout that the MDC and the DNR does not worry him. He owns most of that stretch. Been down that road, hit a dead end with no discussion. What ever happened to that new Dairy Farm that was to go in there, did that ever come about? While most think of it as pristine, it was really a better river 20 years ago. The upper river system has really declined from what it used to be. Most of the fishery management of late has been on the "trophy section" of the trout management. Walleye have declined in the lower portions. Smallmouth fishing has declined throughout. Goggle eye has gotten a little better. Better management is needed in the upper portion above the Scenic River portion, including the feeder streams and forest around them. Protection from any mining prospects is a must. More landowner interaction in the upper portions. Better management of the karst areas around the area to protect the springs that feed the entire river with landowner involvement.

Heat rises and if white shingles reflect heat, in theory it should draw heat away in the winter from the roof and the house. Why not a reversible roof system? Of course, in some locales, you have enough snow to make the roof white in winter. Energy efficiency is a great idea. Not only does it save resources, it saves money. I am all electric at present time. I would love to install water heaters on demand on my faucets and showers, they are a great idea. Downside, electric ones are not really that efficient or produce enough hot water like the LP ones. Solar power is great, if it really caught on and became more affordable. Ground source heating and cooling is great, but it is expensive and has its quirks. Hard water, size of your lot of land, and expense is its downside. With all of our technological capabilities, we should be able to design homes that are energy efficient, affordable, practical, and appealing. Unfortunately, most are built without much planning, use the cheapest materials and contruction methods, and are way overpriced for what you get based on the market. The only things most splurge on in new homes affect the curb appeal, not practical values. Most don't think about the efficiency of the home in the long haul.

Divorce worked just fine for me.

One thing I have learned, any place you go on a Saturday, expect all kinds of other people that don't really get out any other day of the week. You should not expect to see what you would on the other 6 days of the week. If you fish a trout park, Sat. is the biggest crowd. If you float, Sat. is the biggest float day. If you fish a lake, Sat. is the biggest boat day. Sundays are usually less crowded, Mon thru Fri are finest.

Never eat rabbits before the first frost. It is more about the rabbit fever, tuleremia, that you worry about. Wolf Worms are just a parasite form of the bot fly that goes away in cooler weather. Few squirrels are affected by wolf worms. Deer get them.

I used a canoe rental service and determined my point of departure time at my leisure along with a few other folks. I did it on a Saturday in the peak of summertime float. My point is to use your head and avoid the nonesense instead of moaning about it.

Gave up on zip lock bags and dragged out a kitchen size garbage bag to dump the bugs in. As of now, I estimate the bag probably weighs 15 lbs or better and will dump tonights catch in the morning before trash pickup. Bugs are still coming in to traps in swarms. Picked up another trap in St. Gen. today. Everyone is sold out locally.

Garden took a turn for the worse today in this heat. Lower third of the tomatoes curled up and lost their leaves. Jade Beans dropped about half of their leaves. Cucumber vines started turning yellow and wilting. Corn is a gonner, tasseled at 3'. Even hotter later in the week.

I think this is another slam on the government worker at the USFWS that does not know what species is involved in the declaration. BTW, when I was growing up, it was classified as the Yeller Bass. Walleye were Jack Salmon. Longears were Red Bellies. Then there were the Horny Head Suckers.

What if you were that guy that liked to fish that private little cove on the lake that held alot of fish, then one day, it became "Party Cove". Same difference. Its public. When in public, you have to deal with public. Or you could buy land, create your own stream, and do with it what you wish. I don't go out to eat on a Friday or Saturday night because I know everyone else is going to be there, service will suck, food will be poor, and I will have to wait for a table.

If the drought keeps up around here, we are going to have a timber kill. Driving thru Perry and St. Gen counties today, I noticed several trees turning brown and loosing leaves already. That thin soil does not hold much moisture. My poplars started turning yellow and dropping leaves like fall here this week. Pin Oaks are being attacked by Jap Beetles.

I just toss them back.

I have owned 5 kayaks as of late and paddled many others. I personally fish out of either a Mainstream Kingfisher or Pamlico by Wilderness Systems. I have owned 2 by Old Town and another by Mainstream. I was wanting some imput from an Ascend Sit Inside owner, there has to be several out there. I have a cousin that owns one of the Ascend sit on tops and have paddled it. It has a stable hull design and was worth the money he spent for it. I have no desire to stand in a yak and fish. But I don't want to get tossed out of one each time I hub a downed tree. Stability is a plus factor.

I saw what they did to Pluto.....