smallmouthjoe

I floated it once and waded it few times around Cherry. I have yet to catch much out of it. Send me a PM the next time you get a trip going. Thanks, Joe

I need to get a float with you on Shoal sometime this summer Chief. I'm working in Neosho all summer again and I need some help with Shoal. The Elk and Indian I can always manage a good day, but Shoal is another animal. Thanks for the report. It looks like your padwan learner can be elevated to the status of jedi night.

Interesting, I know there has been a push to catch and eat Lionfish down in the Caribbean and the silver carp has had its common name changed to silver fin in order to make it more appealing to eat. I wish we could eat tall grass fescue, I despise that stuff.

I heard the author of this book give an interview on NPR this last summer and it sounded pretty interesting. At one point in the interview he compared the wild stocks of fish we have in the oceans to the buffalo that use to range the plains. We have replaced 60 million buffalo with 80 million cows at the cost of millions of acres of prairie ecosystem. I need to get my hands on a copy of this book this summer.

I would really like to get in contact with him, or at least see some of the research he has done in regard to the Kingfishers. Would you mind sending his e-mail my way? Maybe he could send some of the research he's been working on with allomones.

Thanks for the papers Tim. The one about the interspecfic communication between the chubs and the sticklebacks is really interesting. I may use it for a paper presentation later in the semester.

No I'm not looking at shrekstoff specifically, really any chemical that could cause a change in behavior (decreased activity, tighter schooling, etc.) in the minnows. Be it some sort of chemical that is unique to ciconiiformes or from the digested remains of cyprinids containing shrekstoff. That is an interesting point and may be worth further study if I do find anything. Is the chemical alarm from something unique to ciconiiformes or is it due to the digested remains of cyprinids that contain trace amounts of shrekstoff?

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Thanks for the link SB, those folks are probably going to be who I get in contact with to plan the trip. I'll bring all my own camping stuff and food so that should save me some money.

Excellent suggestions guys. I might try calling shepherd of the hills tomorrow and see if I can come down there and find some. Hey Eric, you can send your control sample to MSU. Just dump in a box and send it to the Biology Department Head with a note that says, "from your adoring students". Better yet send it to the president. Thanks for the suggestions guys.

Hello everyone, I have a strange question, does anyone know of any Great Blue Heron rookeries? I'm doing a project for a class where I'm testing whether members of the cyprinid (minnow) family will react to chemical alarm cues in Blue Heron feces. I've got a decent idea on how to test it, the problem is I don't know where to come up with fresh Heron poop. I may need it in large quantities and this is why I would prefer to find a rookery and I do need it fresh in order to prevent any breakdown of the chemical. If anyone knows of one or has any alternative idea on where I could come up Heron guano please let me know. Thanks.

Thanks for the info. i didn't know if there were some kind of restrictions on taking downed wood for fire. I'm really looking forward to the trip even though it's a year away. I've heard that the best time to go and catch smallies is in June or July. When do you usually go up the boundary waters?

Hello everyone, Well in about a year I will hopefully be receiving my BS in biology and to reward my self for countless hours of work and sacrifice I've decided that I will go on a great adventure the summer after I graduate. Ive researched many places and there's thousands of great places to go for a great fishing trip in North America. But I just don't want a great fishing trip, I want to go as far as I can out in the wild as well. From what I hear Quetico park offers both great fishing and vast open wilderness that is, for the most part, left untouched. I know of the permit you must obtain and I know about most of the fishing regulations, what I'm wondering is if I've missed anything? Like, what is the policy on camping? Do I need to bring all my own fire wood? Is being armed something that is prohibited? What's the bear situation, I know it's grizzly country? I would really like to have any input from anyone who has been there. It's a big trip for me, my first trip outside of the country. I'm sure I should apply for a passport immediately in order to get it in time. I do have a year and a half to figure all of this out and I want to make sure all my ducks are in a row. Any help would be great. Thanks

Hello everyone, Me and some of my buddies are going to BS this Friday and fishing around the Cedar Creek Area. I was wondering if anyone had been fishing down that way lately. I've don't have that much experience on this lake but I do have a lot of time put in on Table Rock this time of year and was planning on approaching Bull Shoals the same way. Suspending Jerkbaits, swimming a grub, float and fly near bluff ends and channel swings. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks and take care. I should add that I will mainly be targeting bass, but I would love to have any info on other species that are biting right now.

Nice I like the design. Thanks for the pic. I may try to pick some up tomorrow if I can get some time. I'm thinking that the same colors that work for me on SB's will probably do the trick for the swim jig. I can't wait to try it out.

Many good rivers are < 3.0 hours away. If you live in Springfield there is of course the James. There is not a section of the river that is too difficult, I feel comfortable floating it in the middle of winter. For an outfitter I'd call these folks, http://www.jamesriveroutfitters.com/ But if you could find someone to drop you off and pick you up it would save some money. This would also increase the number of rivers you could float that are closer: Finley, Beaver, Sac, Crane, Swan, etc. Second choice would be the Elk River. The fishing is great, especially on the upper sections. I'm sure Wacky-worm could help you with the outfitting. Third choice would be Jack's Fork. Again, good fishing and great scenery. I would get into contace with Two Rivers Outfitters for a shuttle. http://www.2riverscanoe.com/

I may be in the minority here because I like to fish slow and methodically for the most part. But I do always have some fast moving stuff on in the summer. 1) Topwater: Buzzbait, 3/16 in black with a hint of yellow in the skirt. The Sammy knock -off that Academy Sports puts out in leopard frog. 2) Cranks: Rapala dt4 in their crayfish color. Norman middle N, baby N and crappie crank in their crayfish color. Bomber 4A Chartreuse and black (stained water). 3) Spinnerbaits: I like the same as everyone else, compact design, double willow and white with chartreuse. 4) Jigs: This is my bread and budder bait. I use a variety of silicon and rubber skirted bass jigs mainly. Even in the winter I still prefer to use them over hair but this last winter showed me the value of hair jigs. I use the standard commercial bass jigs: bitsy bug, baby booyhaa, in 1/16-3/16 mainly, but I have a fellow who is tying me some jigs and I love them and they have been getting used a lot lately. I will prefer PB&J in clear water and Ozark Crayfish in stained water. The Trailer is usually a chigger craw but I will sometimes use a beaver bait if I want a slower fall. Color of the trailor usally matches the jig: Green Pumpkin, Cinnamon, pumpkin with green flake, etc. 5) Soft Plastics: A 3-3.5" tube is a great bait anytime the water is clear. Fluke is just fun. Beaver baits in 3.5-4" are very good as well. A wacky rigged senko is still something I will use from time to time. In the winter I use a shaky head with a 4" green pumpkin finesse worm. A 4-5" grub is something I will also use from time to time. I wish I could go into some more detail but I have to run.

Yeah I'll take anything, even a picture of what your swim jig looks like. I just want to get an idea of what works the best around these parts. Thanks Randy.

Thanks for the info. I've been trying to decide on a good swim jig model. Since I've never really done it before and since I'm very cheap I want to get some idea of whats best before I buy. Thanks again.

That sucks, I'm sorry you got wet. Nothing wakes you up like water in the 40 range running over your waders. I'm glad you got a chance to get out and catch something. If you don't mind me asking, what type of swimming jig do you use?

I use a 6' Med Cabela's pro-guide for my small cranks on rivers. It has the feel of a med-lt and is a good rod. It's on sale for 30$ bucks right now and I may have to buy a couple more. Also Ham's suggestion on the browning medallion series is a good one, I have to rods from that series and really like them.

Well I took the tent out this weekend and it performed very well. I took my lady with me and the two of us had plenty of room and if it rained we had plenty of vestibule space for our stuff. The only thing I don't like about it is the size when packed. It's marketed as a backpacking tent and I can't see me being able to squeeze it into my pack and still being able to pack all other necessitates. But it will be a great floating tent. Thanks for the help again guys.

Yeah I was thinking about putting a jerkbait on but didn't because I wanted to dedicate the whole time to the float and fly. I have a bad habitat of trying a new technique for about 20 minutes then switching to a confidence bait if I haven't caught a fish on the new one. I'm trying to get over that.

I love that place for a quick fishing fix. Really I just love that section, caught some nice fish out of there. Thanks for the report.