ness

I've never fished with Kyle, but I've known Brian for several years and he is a class act. Used him as a paid guide for the first time last fall with my two sons, and he did a great job with them. Good shore lunch too. He definitely knows the river, and can help you with your technique. It's a pretty tough river to fish, especially if you're mainly a trout park guy. You've got the right idea getting a guide for it.

I really like my Smith photochromic copper ones. They're not too dark, and lighten up some when you're in the shade -- which is a lot of the time when I'm trout fishing. Agree with Gavin -- the glass ones are extremely crisp and scratch resistant. I've had them about 10 years, and even had the frame replaced once (no charge). Since I got them (they're prescription) I've had to go to bifocals, so at some point I'll pop for a new pair. Big head here too.

Hey Andy, Welcome back. I'll try to catch you up on everything you've missed. There was lively debate on ***al **rming, and we are forbidden to talk about it now. **litics too. We got the didymo thing all figured out. Everybody is gonna quit stepping in the water, which should help. JDMidwest shot a cat for crapping in his garden -- then found out it wasn't the right cat. Speaking of cats, the big ones -- yes, I mean mountain lions are everywhere. And crap and tracks too. Shoot first, ask questions later if you see one. If the MDC comes sniffing around, it might help to claim you're Amish (I'm assuming you're not, since you got a computer and a Bronco, which I'm assuming is not the horse kind). Speaking of shooting, Eric1978 threatened to shoot somebody less liberal than him and almost got kicked off the forum, but Phil's giving him a tenth chance. Al Agnew went a bunch of cool places, saw some cool stuff and wrote a couple books and painted some pictures. Chuck Tryon, Dick Talleur and Virgil Ward all died. Mic coughed up the GPS coordinates of a 24-inch fish on Blue Springs Creek and got called on the carpet for it. A bunch of guys who have never posted before jumped out of the shadows and told him they enjoyed his reports. Turns out Coldwaterfsher is not Paul Dallas, but bears a striking resemblance to him. Chief's still around, seems to have mellowed some -- somebody said he was getting more fiber in his diet. If I missed anything, please help Andy out guys.

Hmmm. I didn't know he used to have a mustache.

A stream like BSC can only handle a couple fishermen a day. Since it's 90 minutes from St. Louis and all on easily-accessible public land, it's gonna get fished. But each one of us has to decide for ourselves if the pluses of writing a report justify the minuses. The reality of this forum is that this information is available to everyone. You don't even have to be a member to read what's on here, you just need computer access. And, it's here basically forever. Sure, all these streams are known -- a quick Google will get you the names. But that doesn't mean they're all the same. I elect not to post on the smaller, more fragile and intimate streams. I know the chances of me finding a car or two at the access go up if I talk about it. And, I know two cars means I'm not gonna bother fishing BSC that day. Call me greedy or stingy if you like, but if I drive the 4-plus hours to BSC, I'd like to get a chance to fish it. Also, I've never really felt the need to tell the world about my fishing (successes or failures), but choose to share the most with people I know -- and who think the same way about these things as I do. But, I don't really care if people look at it the other way either. It's the age of the internet, and the game is changing. I'm gonna tilt it in my favor when I can.

Dallas -- you're a pretty freakin' lucky dude!

But, can it sing?

Looks like a smallmouth with a largemouth paint job.

If it goes to 3 pages, just don't go in there. That's a sure sign of people talking past each other. That guitar thread might even blow on us.

Maybe it's the scientist in me, but: 'No evidence of breeding population' <> 'No breeding population'

PO, Not sure what transpired that made you not want to post, but I'm glad you did this time. FWIW -- there seems to be a new feeling around here of courtesy and tolerance. I hope it lasts, and I hope you'll post more. Chuck was a pioneer in more ways than I knew about before this thread. Your tribute to him is fitting, and I'm glad you posted it.

I'd just reel in, bid him a good day and go take in a Yakov or Soshi show. Life's too short.

Got me!

When I first got into fly fishing, his was the book that opened up all the possibilities close to home for me. I studied, marked up, bent corners, and re-read that thing a dozen times. I eventually broke the spine and pages started falling out, so I bought another but kept the original. One summer afternoon I was just getting out of the car on Mill Creek when Chuck pulled up next to me. I immediately recognized him from the picture in the back of the book, so I picked it up and made exaggerated looks back and forth at him and the picture. He laughed, got out of his car and we chatted for a while. He loved how marked and torn up the book was as he flipped through the pages to give us a tip on where to go. He seemed like a good, easy-going guy, and I've always remembered that meeting. The book is somewhat dated as to rules and regs, but other than that it's a fine resource and has good info on the basics of fly fishing as well as info on places to go in MO, and how to get there. Thanks and RIP, Chuck.

Finally got around to watching it. Great job, and you should be proud of those guys -- the can really handle a fly rod. And they've got great personalities too!

Funny!

Wait...it's not warming up????

Good enough for me.

I would highly recommend this group if you're wanting to learn more about photography. I attended a couple years ago in KC, and it was very well done. I just checked my notes to get the name, but there was a Doug Johnson who did a couple classes, and I thought he was excellent. One was on composition and the other was night photography. He's got an artist's eye, and a real enthusiasm for the craft. He's not gonna tell you how to do digital or talk much about gear -- there are other classes for that -- but he will help you understand light, composition, and a bunch more of other nuances that take you from snapshot to photograph.

Well, when you accept payment for something and don't deliver it, you're in a whole different place than poor customer service.

That's a shame. Hope it's a legitimate deal, but the lack of communication makes me wonder. Inexcusable, really, given you've sent multiple e-mails. You may ultimately want to open a case with PayPal or your credit card company if that's how you paid PayPal. In my experience, PayPal is going to offer minimal help and what you do get will be via computer, and relatively hard to understand. Don't count on any human contact -- apparently none work there. After my issues with them, I just won't use them anymore. Credit card protections are better in my experience -- especially Discover. If the merchant doesn't make good, I'd hope you'd tip us off so we can steer clear of them. (Now I'm off to see if I can figure out who it is) Good luck.

I was fishing down on the Meramec and managed to put a fly high into a tree. I pulled down on the line and got the tip of the branch within reach, grabbed onto it and started working the snag toward me with my fingers. Then it slipped out of my grip. The branch snapped up, and the hook was buried up to the bend in my index finger. So there I was -- standing there pointing my index finger skyward and what plan B would be when I noticed a spider crawling down the branch to check things out. This one was relatively large, I didn't know what it was and was heading for my fly/finger. Now, I'm not necessarily scared of spiders, but sorta do like to have the odds in my favor when one comes around. So, I pulled my finger straight down (which hurt) to get the hook within reach of my free hand, yanked out the hook (which also hurt) and let the branch snap up. Done, right? Welp -- not quite. I watched the spider ride the branch up, fly into the air then bounce off my hat and disappear. Now I'm not necessarily scared of spiders, but I do kinda like to know where they are. I ditched my hat, swept off each shoulder, checked all the likely places and still no spider. Then my mind started working on me: down the shirt collar, in the waders, puss-oozing spider bites, etc... and I let out an expletive that I'm sure could be heard from the spring to Suicide Hill. I started peeling off stuff but still no spider. Well, I stopped short of nekkid (you're welcome), but eventually got enough stuff off that I was comfortable that he had slipped away. But, for the whole rest of the day every little itch or twitch or anything would give me the heebie-geebies.

Datus? Is that you?

148 views. And, I think those are 'unique' views, because if I go out and come back in, the number doesn't go up.

I mean she, not he -- got a bunch of caviar too!