XP 590

Love soft hackles. Can't beat the feeling of that tight line tug. I've fished primarily #16, red, orange and olive. A guide at Taney turned me on to them about 10 years ago and they changed my fishing. Funny thing was this guide didn't think browns would rise to them but I've been slaying browns on another stream all this year on soft hackles.

I'll be the first to admit I don't have all the facts here, but if something has the POTENTIAL to do so much harm, I'd rather err on the side of caution and keep up the pre-emptive ban. As the old saying goes: It doesn't do any good to close the barn door after the horse is out----or something like that. Put the burden on the parties that want change to prove the change WON'T be harmful. Invert Interest- as your interests note "respect for God and Creation", I share the same. Maybe we should leave God's creations in the place where He created them?

We got the opportunity to have a kids trout fishing outing with a group from my buddy's church the other day. Took them to our local city trout pond here in Columbia. I know it's kind of cheesy, but having that pond five minutes from my house has given me the opportunity to start bunch of buddies on trout fishing. We had about a dozen kids and about six of them caught fish. The others were just as happy to see trout caught.

Right, if you remove Powersite, Lake Taneycomo would be......... a river?........wait, is it a lake or a river now? I'm confused! Discuss amongst yourselves.

Cool report. One thing though, as noted in your citation, Spring is singular, not plural.

Thanks, I found the article. http://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/outdoors/2014/10/09/going-deep-divers-discover-unseen-world-bennett-spring/16938583/

A buddy was down a few Tuesdays ago and said there were some pretty serious divers in the spring. They were going deep, beyond the narrow chute into the big cave to do some mapping. They told him it could only be done during low flow, at normal flow they couldn't get through the opening. He couldn't remember what group they were part of. Anybody have any info on that dive? I did see a blog post from Troutnut 69...aka High Plains Flyfisher a few years ago with some awesome photos in the spring. Just curious if anyone had info on this current dive.

Dude..YOU are the smallmouth guru! I've been reading your blog since it came out.

I'm not a fan of government or the IRS, and I feel horrible for the people that were living there or have campers there, but let's put the blame where it belongs. Like it or not, if we live in this country we have tax obligations. (for the record, I don't like it) This Johnson guy says " no one would give me an amount"?????? Then why did the reporter go directly to the courthouse and find the document with the specific amounts? According to several reports, he was notified ONE YEAR ago that the judge OK'd the seizure and sale of the property. Did HE notify his tenants??? Apparently not. Another report said he was notified specifically 90 days before the actual seizure and that his tax troubles go back over 10 years. Did he notify his tenants, including the 72 year old Air Force Veteran living there? Or did he just keep collecting their rent knowing about the $hi+storm that was coming? Even the IRS put out public notice three months ago and according to several news reports, they were stunned that the owner hadn't notified his tenants. The only sympathy I have is for the tenants.

Never checked for a license but did get a warning for expired plates parked at Bennett one time. Guilty as charged. The funny thing was, my car had been parked for about 4 hours and when we got to it, a seemingly flustered park ranger appeared mad that he had to wait that long to track me down, me being the violent scofflaw that I was. Basically stammered out that he'd been watching my car for hours! Major steakout for my expired plates. I was surprised he hadn't called in the choppers to look for me. After Barney pulled away, everyone in the area was laughing and scratching their heads about the whole thing.

Do I hear 21? I can never guess. That is a beauty, thick and tall. Photos never do them justice. That river is holding some seriously overlooked browns. Let's hope they remain overlooked.

Love those overhead views. I'm not familiar with this area of the Niangua, I never get past Barclay. Where is the land that this post was started about? Thanks

My bag phone takes better pics than that caveman flip phone Beautiful smallie.

Love that spot at Bennett. We nick-named that the Roach Hole years ago because Jerry up at Weavers sold us a little fly called the Brown Roach that just killed in there.

Agree, if it looks like a poacher, walks like a poacher etc...........

Agreed. So many forums are just mean and nasty full of angry litlle losers hiding behind their computers! Phil sets the tone hear and the few rabble rousers that occasionally, rarey, show up seem to get the message pretty quickly.

That little one counts as a trophy in my book. A wild trout, stream bread, in the stream where they are very spooky, a rare thing in Missouri. * I got a video by Landon Mayer about chasing trophy trout, and expected it to all about monsters, but he started out by saying a trophy trout is what we make it. Whether it's a monster that we've been stalking, a 4" wild or native trout, or finally catching ONE fish after a long day of struggling. I've only fished Crane and BS Creek for the wild experience but want to try this one.

I have confirmed that he does indeed have two sheds. But they are just ordinary gaden sheds! He would much rather talk about his fishing.............."Paging Micheal Ellis"

A good day fishing? Any day I'm not stuck in this stupid office. I admire your persistence. If you could find a few buddies that fish that area, or a local fishing club that might help. Maybe someone in that local area might volunteer to go with you a few times as a mentor? I don't know anything about that river or type of fishing, but I do know this forum is loaded with information and help.

Woodman, don't sell yourself short, it can't be that easy. You are a master craftsman! Besides, Tupperware seals in the extra freshness! Me trying to build something wooden, with my limited skills is like watching "a monkey humping a football", if you've ever heard that phrase. Thanks for offering to share your talent, I hope people do take you up on it.

Looks like Mr Hanky from South Park. Can't argue with the results.

Very Nice, I'd hate to lose on of those!

SWEET! You need to lay off the RUSH though, that stuff will fry your brain.

Tan Vat to Baptist will involve lots of pushing off the bottom at the current water level. Beautiful stretch to walk and wade fish though. Baptist definitely has better parking and is a more common put in point.

Beautiful fish. I have a question about something, not to start an argument or anything, but I'm really curious. I see more photos of big browns on the White that seem long and lean, and more from Taneycomo that are fat like footballs. I've fished Taney alot, only once on the White. Is there a big difference in the food sources on those rivers? Scuds etc? I'm curious what other people's experience is. Again, I'm only speaking from posted photos that I've seen. Thanks for any info.