gwh

Saw on several new wires reports that BassPro is thought to be working with investment banker on possible offer for Cabela's. Reuters reported that one of the investors in Cabela's is pushing the management to sell the company. Thought I saw sales of Cabela's in the $3 billion range. With BassPro being privately owned not sure of sales number. Consolidation will reduce competition in the outdoor equipment and apparel industry. Sure there would be government review of this deal. In St Louis the two stores are 5 miles apart, at times it hard to get in the door of either one.

Several large fish hauling truck came in to Bennett on Friday and parked by the hatchery. Were still there on Sunday afternoon when we left.

They had plans to put a cleaning station in a few years ago but when the budget got cut it was put on hold. The restroom issue has a lot to do with the habits of some folks that use them.

Stripped woolies by Gage house, Holland dam, top of island to dam. There was a guy at the dam that was almost half way to the dam from where we had been fishing and only waist deep. Also must be a tree that washed in. Saw several folks hang up and break off on the east side

Caught fish on weighted olive nymphs drifting deep and brown woolly worms on sinking line. Size OK but caught a few that were 6-8". Just did not see the numbers of fish in the stream as we did in early and mid June. Could be due to flood and the number of folks there fishing. Saw a lot of people cleaning 4 fish. Water clearing up but had 1/2" in a hour Fri evening. Be carefully wading a lot of new deep holes in zone 1. Bottom very soft in several places where lot of gravel was moved around. Hole above the dam has filled in a lot. Did not fish zone 2 as they were packed in down there most of the day. Lots of campers both in and outside the park. Most motels had no vacancy sign up Thur when we got there.

May be tough fishing this weekend but amount of rain we have had and will get in next 18 hours should help the stream. Stream is still fairly clear but up 8-10". Fishing has been good. Need a good flush to get rid of some moss.

Mountain lion was hit on I-44. http://www.lebanondailyrecord.com/news/local/article_66e37716-f8cb-11e4-ad5b-078b5da4b475.html

Quick trip to Bennett before turkey season starts. Water is up a little and we had a few showers on Sat. Green tint to water with quite a bit of moss being kicked up when you wade. You could see your feet when you were waist deep, go much deeper and you had to feel for the the rocks. Fishing was very good for us. Size was better than what we saw two weeks ago. Olive was the key for catching them. We missed a lot of fish, but still hooked a bunch. Crowd was light. If you can get down this week I don't think anyone will be there. Might go back after I kill a bird this week nothing yet this morning.

For sale 1976 - ProCraft 1760 Pro model - 17', 140 Hp Evinrude 1977, Pro Trailer single axle. Electronics go with boat - Lowrance Mark 5x and Elite 5. Motor Guide 12 volt. Tires, cover and batteries (2) new in 2014. I am second owner of boat and it has been kept under cover since new. Boat is in St Charles County near Augusta. $4,250 cell number 636-248-8016

Here is a link to the Lebanon paper and there photos of opening day. http://www.lebanondailyrecord.com/news/local/collection_5267c670-c05e-11e4-a7f2-9f61d143e85e.html Measured 8" of show at our place 1/2 mile from park.

In the Lebanon paper today. http://www.lebanondailyrecord.com/news/local/article_9fbcb166-c134-11e4-b509-9b62fe32907f.html Insurance should cover this.

Roads are getting slick. Talking 2-4" by morning then ice in morning changing to rain in afternoon. A few folks here. Tons of hotel cancelations. You might be able to get a room if you want to come down. Two eagles are flying around in zone 1. Tons of fish in the stream. Just looked out window snowing hard now. Drive safe!

I emailed the IRS Liquidation Specialist that advertised the auction and she says the deal has closed. So the money has changed hands and there are new owners.

Gov signs to stay out were up at the end of Dec. IRS web site says that winner of auction has 60 days from sale date to pay. So money due by Dec 19. Then the IRS will issue title. Not sure how long that takes. Might be March before folks can get to there campers.

Auction is Nov 19. http://www.treasury.gov/auctions/irs/lemo_real_7564.htm

State to have meeting on Fri Oct 10 @ 6pm to present info and plan for park. Bring your questions and comments.

Fished the past 5 days. Had both good and tough days. Weather front and weekend crowd might have had impact on fishing. Talked to several good local fishermen report that it has been slow since mid week. Fish size was good, sure caught a few smaller ones but most were nice size. Kept enough for two good fish dinners. Need rain to flush out stream and then rain/snow this winter to recharge the water table. Have seen rain go both north and south of area over past few weeks. Had lots of material from stream cutting last week still floating down. Starting to see a few leaves fall. Did not do that well stripping sinking line, best drifting midges (black and olive) and pheasant tail nymphs. Last Friday a orange micro egg on size 18 hook did very well in the PM, did not do that well after that. Weather was good, tough leaving last night. 39 days to fish during reg season.

Paper reports 12 1/2# brown caught in zone 2 on Wed. http://www.lebanondailyrecord.com/news/local/article_a4e09a34-1da8-11e4-8df5-0017a43b2370.html

Last Jan we saw two otters above the dam at Bennett. One had a fish on the bank of the island eating it. The other was swimming and came up to the surface to look at us every few minutes. Watched them for a few minutes as we fished up stream. Did not catch a fish in that area. Moved down to zone 2 and got back in to them.

Weather man is calling for +20 mph wind for Lebanon area on Friday. Leaves should be cleared out. A lot of leaves have come off this past week. Weather looks great Saturday to Monday. Tired of tying flies ready to fish.

Bman what line would you recommend for the 5 weight Bank Robber?

Folks at Larry's would be the ones to talk to. http://www.orvis.com/fishing_report.aspx?locationid=7411 You can see they dont have much snow and the roads are clear. Water is only up a little (9") http://mostateparks.com/page/58502/trout-cam

It has been held on the first saturday in May the past few years. Have not seen a official schedule for 2013 as yet. gwh

Weather was cool on Fri & Sat morning but warmed each afternoon and the fish were hitting. Saw several fishermen with good size fish. Much better size than what we have been catching over the past few weeks. We had one at 1.35 lb and four over 1.0 lb. They were hitting small pheasant tail nypmhs and white tread jigs this trip. Color of the trees has peaked and the leaves are falling off. On Sat afternoon it was hard to hit the water with a fly in Zone 1 at the Island. The construction crew worked on the hatchery races both Fri and Sat. Article in Trout Talk newspaper says that it will be done soon. Looks like just a little more concrete to be poured. There will be a meeting on Oct 30 at 6 PM at the nature center to talk about States plans for 2013. Public is invited, I plan on being there. Crowd was light this weekend.

Fished zone 1 & 2 with olive, black and rust midges. Caught fish every day, some more than others. Weather front that came in on Friday slowed them down a little but picked back up on Sunday afternoon. Fishing was better mid morning to early evening. Caught small and large trout, had one that was over 1.5 pound. Water was very clear. Moss will be cut next week (Tue/Wed). Not that many people fishing over the weekend. Could always find a place to fish away from others. Weather was great, had to turn the heat on as it got down to the low 50's a few mornings. The storm that came in on Friday knock a few trees down in the area. Got rain but did not color the water. They were working in the hatchery, four carpenters were building forms, should be pouring near the discharge soon. Most of the floors have been poured in the races. Keep a eye on your rods, another rod was stolen out of a unlocked car.