ness

I suppose I can trust you guys to keep a secret. There are multiple, big fish at N37° 27.0058' W91° 39.6599'

I agree with Exiledguide. Coldwater -- you sound stupid and don't appreciate what you've got and quit complaining and it's all public water and go buy a place and pick your vacations better and work harder and trout are stocked anyway and just shut up.

Thanks for sharing, Justin. It's a great place and I want to get back there someday soon too. We passed through there a couple summers ago, and stayed in Townsend. Fished one day and a couple hours another day. First day was high water and lots of heavy showers. Did ok -- caught a nice brown, but we spent more time driving around trying to dodge the rain. The morning we were leaving I went up high toward Newfound looking to get a brookie, but got skunked.

I say we give Gavin a pass on this, and his other tirade about mishandling fish. He's clearly suffering from TSAD (tax season affective disorder). I get it too, but I've only got one return to file.

I've had Gavin's gumbo and it was pretty tasty stuff. I even bought a copy of the Commander's Kitchen book, used off Amazon, based on that stuff. One trick I learned from my brother (who's a trained chef) is to do the roux in the oven ahead of time. Mix equal parts flour and vegetable oil, pour into a baking dish and bake in the oven at 350 for 1 to 2 hours, depending on how dark you want it (Light for seafood, dark for meat). Stir it occasionally. Dump off any excess oil when it's done. I make big batches and store it in the ridge for up to a couple months. No more slaving over a hot skillet for roux, and it speeds things up quite a bit by having it ready ahead of time. No great Cajun in KC that I know of. Jazz is acceptable, but not great. BB's Lawnside BBQ has some decent Cajun stuff too, but the coup de grace there is the bread pudding with vanilla-bourbon sauce. I believe I just decided on a lunch location for today.

I've got two versions of portable fly tying setups: The Rubbermaid tub that fits everything I've got, and the no-name nylon bag thingy with a few compartments that carries a little stuff. If I'm heading out for a few days, have room and am staying in a motel, I'll drag the big one. If I wade/camp I might bring the small one with enough materials to tie a few flies. If I float/camp I don't carry anything. Never really cared for any of the pre-made ones I've seen. Either too small, too large, too gimicky, not laid out well or too expensive. Other people's ideas of how to store stuff usually don't work for me anyhow. So, I'd suggest spec out what you want, and get creative to find something that fits your needs at Wal-Mart.

Hey Sapp, welcome to the forum. I feel your pain -- with the long drives from KC to trout fish. It's just part of the deal, and I've gotten used to it. You can sure flyfish for bass and panfish too -- so don't overlook that. I've got a float tube, and I love to use it on small lakes or ponds -- you could take it around the edges of Lotawana, but I wouldn't venture out too far (but, I'm a chicken). I haven't looked at them in years, but here's what I'd look for: definitely go for a u-shaped tube. They're more comfortable and safe than a round one. I wouldn't scrimp on this purchase either. Get a good-quality one with a sturdy bladder and valve. Some of them have dual bladders now -- that would be something I'd want with my next purchase (so if one deflates you're not in such bad shape). I've never been interested in the pontoons: they're a more trouble to assemble and inflate, more involved to transport and cost more. If I had a truck and more room in the garage, I'd be more inclined to consider one.

Welcome to Ozark Arguers. Yep, there's a lot of good info out here. Feel free to ask away, or post up your own ideas or adventures. Have you got your boy fly fishing yet? A lot of the guys with younger kids and/or shorter drives take them down to Dry Run in AR.

Right now I see about 26. That's a little more than I usually see (anywhere from a couple to about 15) but I haven't been on much the last day or so. Does that answer your question? It does look like it's working to me.

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!