troutchaser

Looking for: Bass Boat '94 or newer $8500.00 to spend prefer a 150 Mercury (might consider 115) close to Springfield, Missouri (1 hour drive, max) PM me if you have one to sell.

Shotguns can be a really personal decision. My brother is most successful with his high-dollar Benelli, but I can't find anything better than my Ward's Western Field semi auto - complete with machine screw front bead (painted white). It's what DuckyDoty would call a 'meat stick'. As for single shot shotguns, you'll probably get frustrated quickly. If you miss the first shot, you'll have to reload, and that just isn't feasible when hunting a fast-moving target like birds. I would recommend finding a used 870 at a gun/pawn shop to start with. Take a friend who knows shotguns and you won't get fleeced. Hope that helps you.

Where do you live? There's probably a tyer who lives nearby that could use another friend.

OK, guys. If you want real mexican restaurant food in Springfield, go to Tortilleria Perches. It's in the Elfindale Center on Sunshine, behind Firestone Tires and Pizza Hut. It's the real deal. As for true hot pastrami sandwiches, naru70, there used to be a place called Piccolo Joe's that had them, but he closed about 6 months ago.

Just a quick note on why you need both: Trout are picky! I've had days where I couldn't catch anything on a gold beaded zebra midge, but when I switched to a silver beaded midge in the same color, I caught dozens. Go figure!

So, John, are you telling us that there are midge hatches throughout the year on the local tailwaters?

Great information, guys. What about fishing tactics? Do you change anything for winter? I usually leave my dry flies at home during the winter and fish subsurface flies only.

I had a conversation over the weekend that prompted me to start this topic. I was talking to a fairly new fly angler about winter fishing and the differences one needs to consider. This included everything from how to dress to flies and presentations used. For the seasoned anglers, would you be so kind as to share your sage advice with the newer members of this sport? To those who haven't spent much time on the water in the winter months, ask questions. I think we could get some quality information posted here. To provide an example, I'll give you one of my winter fishing tidbits: Keep those wading boots loose. If your circulation gets cut off while you're in the water, your feet will get cold VERY quickly. Silk sock liners help keep the tootsies warm, too.

I plan to be there this year. I'm more than happy to bring something, but I don't know what that should be. What did you NOT have there last year that you'd like to have this year? (i.e. drinks, forks, cups, Rolaids, green bean casserole, etc.) Let me know what you'd like me to bring.

EEEEEeeeeeeewwwwwwwww!!!!!!!

I'm hoping to keep on top of this thread. PM me when any of you decide to go. I'm busy, but I live in Springfield, so I can usually get away for a quick trip. My usual fishing buddy has a problem with his hands cracking and bleeding in the cold, so it prevents him from going with me in the winter. That means I'm looking for winter fishing partners.

M I Z ! Z O U ! M I Z ! Z O U ! M I Z ! Z O U ! Funny, it sounds better when you do that at the stadium.

Wow! You're bound to catch something with a selection like that. I'd probably recommend adding zebra midges,black, red and primrose.

I've got an orange one, but my daughter promptly absconded with it. They're nice hats and they make it easy to spot a fellow forum member at the farmer's market, Wal-Mart, etc.

I'm in with the Griffith's Gnat.

Thanks, everyone. I thought it might be underclassed for moving water, so I wanted to gather your opinions. I'll just have to get a bigger boat.

You know, I thought I saw you the other day over by my office. As for the January 14 due date, I think it's a lucky day to be born on! It has been for me, any way.

Wow. Friendly bunch of folks aren't they?

The difference in hooks is simple, but often overlooked. Live scuds "swim" with their bodies rigid and straight. Only dead scuds are curved or curled up. In case I failed to mention it, scuds turn orange when they die. It's sort of the same process you see in shrimp. They're grayish until you cook them, then they're pink.

Here is how I tie my ostrich scud: Orange or ginger scuds are tied on a standard scud hook, #12-#20. Olive, gray, and tan are all tied on a wet/nymph sproat hook with a Kirby bend (Kirby bend is where you twist the hook point sideways just a bit). I weight them with the smallest lead wire I can find, but I don't wrap it around the hook. I tie a small segment of lead to the hook lying flat against the shank. I tie in the ostrich herls (2-3) and silver or copper wire, palmer the herl and counter wrap the wire, and tie off. Now, here's the secret: light a candle and slowly move the finished fly close to the flame, back first. The result is the herl on the scud's back will burn away, leaving a nice looking segmented back. I hold the fly in my fingers to protect the herl on the bottom of the fly from burning. Note: Do the last step slowly, or you'll wind up with little black bumps on the back of your scuds from trying to burn it too fast. That, my friends, will make one killer scud.

OK, guys, so here's the deal. I have a 10.5' jon boat and I'd like to use it on Taneycomo this winter. The catch is that I don't have an outboard motor on it. I have a big trolling motor, but I don't know if it's big enough to plow the boat back upstream if there is any generation from the dam. If I do need an outboard, what size?

Crippled brings up a good point. Your scissors are probably the one investment you don't want to scimp on. And for Heaven's sake, don't drop them on the floor! The quickest way to ruin a high dollar pair of tying scissors is to knock them out of alignment.

I actually prefer to tie my scuds with ostrich herl. As for fishing them, I tie them on as a dropper under a foam caddis or a hopper pattern in fast water less than 3 feet deep. Any deeper, and I just fish the midges.

You know, Cabelas has a deluxe tool kit that comes with all the tools you'll need (and a couple you don't) for $30-$40 (click here). I'd recommend it to get started. The only thing I've added to that set over the years is a new set of scissors and a Matarelli whip finisher. I've never fished around Columbia, so I can't recommend good flies to tie for the area. Sorry.

I know we've discussed this before, but I never really thought about whether there were too many trout. To me, that's like saying 'I have too much money.' When I stop to consider a few of the facts, it becomes fairly obvious that keeping some of these fish wouldn't be a bad thing. Specifically, when I'm being followed around by a dozen or more fish, all looking for an easy meal, I can't help feeling like there might be a problem. I'd be willing to keep the trout I caught, but I just don't catch anything that small. Honest. No, really, I don't. Stop looking at me like that. I might have to make a trip to Taneycomo this weekend and try keeping some fish. I'll see just how many dirty looks I get when I start cleaning them.