ness

We got only about a quarter inch last night, chance of more coming but not much. For you weather geeks out there, this is a pretty fun website: http://www.weatherspark.com Tons of info all presented graphically.

Good post -- kind of along the lines of what I was suggesting earlier. We can't go back, and we need to be smart about reintroductions into the current environment. 'The way it used to be' isn't necessarily the best answer. Things have a way of balancing out over time, and when we interfere there are often consequences we didn't think of. I don't know enough to say whether this was a good or bad move. In the research I've done the last couple days, because of this thread, I've found little information about the benefits they expected to accrue from this other than providing humans an opportunity to view and eventually hunt elk. The good news is they've taken a measured approach, kept them in a pretty well-defined area, and feel like they've got their arms around disease worries. What were the fiascoes you referred to Al? Surely pheasant don't rise to that level?

That's just scary. That's why I always wear water wings on the tailwaters.

That highlights the main issue I have -- if we're going to reintroduce an animal, we need to understand the current environment. As much as I'd love to have things the way they were 300 years ago, including shipping all you back to Europe, it's just not possible. So, we've got to work with what we've got, or modify what we've got so things work better. Problem is, you hit all kinds of resistance when you try the latter, or you take a chance at screwing things up beyond repair. I don't know how elk will fit into the current environment -- but I know there aren't any predators. So, I wonder if their population will sky rocket unchecked. Things are drastically different than when they last lived here, so reintroduction based solely on the fact they used to be here isn't enough. Nature will find a balance over time, but it may not be to our liking. And, it make take longer than we short-sighted humans can comprehend. I also don't know how quail, bear, mountain lion or other natives will fit into a new order.

Haven't really kept up on this topic, but I have a question. Does anyone know what the logic was for the reintroduction of elk into MO? I'd like to think they felt there was a benefit to it. 'They're native' or 'Arkansas did it' wouldn't seem to be good enough reasons, and I've got enough faith in the MDC to think they gave it a little more thought. Somebody mentioned it was a pet project of some MDC brass. Any evidence to support that?

We got a heck of a rainstorm here tonight. Really enjoed watching it for the 10 minutes it lasted. Everything got a good soaking. I hope we get more tomorrow.

Lady-freakin'-Gaga??? Seriously? I can't see past the 'oooh look at me' hairstyles and costumes. Kinda like Marylin Manson meets the Jetson's. She might have some talent, but she's already lost me, just like Flock of Seagulls did. Too much good stuff out there to waste time on that.

Heck no you weren't cheap. Phil says the top guides, like Babler, are lucky to get $20. You might wanna call this guy and ask for $$ back Seriously -- sounds like you're thinking you should have done more, but you did what felt right given what you knew at the time. I think the biggest 'tip' you could give at this point would be to spread the word about him. Right here would be a pretty good place to do it !

Yeah -- the original Winstead's is still there. Not sure when they opened. We eat there every holiday season as a tradition. There are 3-4 more around town.

Just had Freddies for the first time last week. It was good, but we've got a local joint, Winstead's, that serves that same style (smashed) hamburger, ice cream, etc. I'd rather patronize the local guy whenever possible.

I think it depends on several factors. Guides aren't necessarily taking home the whole fee. It they're working through a lodge or something like that, they'll be splitting the fee. They usually cover their own costs like gas, food, maybe tackle, insurance, licensing, whatever. It's not waitressing, but it's not a way to get rich. If a guy busts his hump for me, I'm gonna let him know I appreciate it verbally, and will a tip. Most of it's gratitude, but part of it's a little selfish -- I want the guy to remember me. I've done as much as 25-ish percent. But that's just my experience based on elsewhere. Phil's comment that most would be happy with $20 makes me think the expectations are pretty low for guides on Taney. FWIW -- I have a lot of respect for people that can do that well. It takes a pretty unique skill set.

I'm with ColdWaterFshr -- nice sticks. I guess I'm glad I muted my 'puter before listening because I mighta missed that.

Yeah, this one isn't black and white so I'm not surprised at the outcome. Coulda been much worse, or it coulda chewed up a bunch of time and money. So, you get to float and Prater gets to be an azz. Yeah, it's always nice to dream about exposing a jerk for what he is. But, like in the story of my crazy neighbor I told a while back, time, patience and keeping to the high road are best. Just let the Shoal Troll do his thing. I still think it would be a worthwhile project for MDC/MSA/OA/somebody to put together a piece on the how the laws work and distribute the info to local law enforcement in problem areas and figure out other ways to get the information out.

You should have a real solid evacuation plan if somebody gets sick, hurt or even homesick -- maybe have somebody shadow you on land. Some of those places could be hours from a takeout, other help, much less momma. But, I 'd bet you know that. Oatmeal, rice/pasta/beans, fruit, dried fruit, nuts, jerky, pita, gatorade or other mix. Maybe some homemade granola before you go.

There's another good one!

Hey CF, that was a good one

Bump. Inquiring minds want to know....

All I got was the 'test' ^joke. Welcome!

Ahhh -- don't sweat it. Branson's a love/hate thing for a lot of folks. I'm not much of a 'show' guy either, but I've heard enough from folks to believe they're worth checking out if it's your cuppa tea.

Things we've done down and around there that we liked include some stuff already mentioned: Silver Dollar City, Big Cedar, Eureka Springs, Shepherd of the Hills (the play, but there's the hatchery too), Dogwood Canyon. We loved the lodging at Big Cedar, and the food was good too. Clay Self, the singing cowboy in the bar restaurant at BC, is a crack up. Ate at Top of the Rock and remember it was good, but don't remember what I had. Cool view too. We never did a show, but there's a bo-zillion of them and some are sposta be excellent. It's probably a taste thing. It's almost like we felt when we went to Disney World -- just too freakin' much to do. So just pick your stuff, have a good time and don't look back.

I've never had the patience for fancy knots. Now my eyesight and dexterity work against me more than before. Stoneroller has some good thoughts. Saliva lube is important, and if you slowly seat the knot, minimizing the friction, you'll be better off. Triple surgeon is a good enough knot. Start with plenty of excess, make sure you really tie it right, and snug it down without overdoing it. A lot of leader problems end up being things other than knot problems. Fresh tippet and leader are important. If you've been fishing a lot and tie on a new tippet, make sure the leader is good too. If it's getting dinged up, bite the bullet and put on a new leader. If your leader butt is too large, bite the bullet. If you're tapering down more than a size or two, bite the bullet. If your tippet spools are old, bite the bullet.

Sweet -- keeping it in the family! Here's a couple pics to whet your appetite: After a full day in western Kansas: The day our pup learned the concepts of "deep" and "slippery"

I'd wager most world records are a lotta 'luck'. Right place, right time kinda stuff accounts for most of it. But heck -- he was out there doing it, while I was working. Seems like every time I hear about a record, there's a discussion about the person or the method, and it tends toward the guy somehow not being worthy or the method being sub par. It is what it is -- the biggest recorded bass in the state caught that way -- and that's about it. The interesting part to me is where he caught it. The record is just another meaningless number to file away in our brains until the next best fish comes along.

Quail have a lot of predators. Coyote, raccoons, snakes, bobcats, foxes, turkeys, squirrels, you name it. Not all of them can fly. Predation is greatest at the nest -- eggs or chicks. I think the rest is pretzel logic. If there was habitat, quail would be plentiful, coyotes, the same ones you claim rarely eat quail, would eat quail, but it wouldn't make a difference, because of the habitat? I've read a lot on the whole quail thing, and it's not completely a habitat issue. It's the single issue people latch onto, but there's more going on. The whole mix of wildlife has changed over the last 50 years. Turkey and deer are back in abundance. Quail are down. I tend to think there's a connection. On the habitat side, you're correct -- plowing to the road is a major factor. But, pesticide and herbicide use is up, pastures have been converted to fescue. Quail eat bugs and seeds. CRP is reverting back to cropland at a very fast pace due to reduced payments and an incentive to grow corn on every available patch of land.

Geez. I guess I didn't realize they sold them that early. I started mine from seed in Feb and they were less than a foot tall when they went in the ground a few weeks back. Tallest is maybe 2 feet right now.