exiledguide

I haven't tied anything in a long time but the last jigs I tried I used 3/0 Kevilar thread and I pretty much eliminated thrad breaking, have you tried it? Tom Manns Black Grape Jelly worm was hard to beat, he made a seven inch size for a while that was my favorite. I also threw more Maribou Jigs in lakes than than bucktail except in cold water. Thanks for all these post I just found my vice and materials and plan to start tying again.

I remember sitting by the radio on thursday nights listening to KMOX Outdoors at your service with George "Beartracks" Carson outdoor writer for the now defunct Globe Democrat newspaper. The winter bait at that time , this was around 1970, was a black hair jig and black Uncle Josh pork rind eel. Fished in the dead of winter in the midwest this bait produced some legendary stringers on Wappapelo and Lake of the Ozarks especialy at night, so I heard because at that time I didn't fish at night in the winter. Come to think of it I still don't. Also Virgil Wards "Tarantula" short arm spinner bait 1/2 oz Black or Purple slow rolled or a slow pumping retrive was was a real effective both night and daytime. A brown bomber slo trolled over deep points or humps while you sat in the boat and tried to stay warm was the third bait you wanted to fish in the winter. A 5'8" Fenwick 1257 Rod with an Ambassadeur 5000 baitcasting reel with about 20 lb Dupont Stren Line was about the top rig for jig fishing. A 6' lighter action Fenwick with 10 or 12 pound line was prefered for crank baits. As far as the Purple worm that was the color and Tom Manns jelly worm was the prefered brand at first we used large gold aberdeen hooks Texas rigged with a slip sinker. It sure didn't take much money to outfit yorself each year for fishing. I do stil throw a purple worm once in a while but prefer Watermelon, Pumpkin, Red and other colors. I guess Zoom and Berkley are the big plastic worm producers now.

Yes

Welcome to the forum . My wife and I spent a great week on Reelfoot Lake at Blue Bank resort in Tiptonville. I stil Believe it may be the best Largemouth,Bluegll and Crappie lake I was ever on. If you get a chance get over there next spring. Early in June Balsa B flipped into shallow cypress knees produced big time.

Thanks for the info, my wife is going to the Gateway tommorow and she will know what to expect coming home friday.

I agree, Also nothing is wasted in nature, any dead or dying fish you put back in the stream is used as food. It may be apples to oranges but in the early 90 I had a lot in a development with a heck of a problem with under 12" bass. The MDC suggestion was no release of under 12 " bass and only one fish over 19". It turned the lake around in a short time and I learned to appreciate 11' filets, so much so that when I get on a lake that has a 12' to whatever limit for Largemouth I have no problem keeping a limit under 12" and releasing any over the whatever.

You don't need to be sorry. If I had been on the James and saw that I would be as angry as you. But after I posted here I would be on the phone to the MDC wanting to know why,who,what and when this all happened and then talk to my state representative and senator and the govener. Go to the MSA meeting in your area and see what Ideas they have. This problem is not going to be resolved in a short time so be prepared to spend a lot of ypur future time on it . Or, you can just sound like an old etc. If you are willing to do this I will be glad to help. I am 69 years old and my last ambition in life is to do anything I can to make sure that my grandchildren will be able to take there grandchildren down to the old fishin' hole.

I'll drink to that.

I fished for them on Lake Catherine starting every November when I lived in Arkansas. They would move up lake to Carpenter dam along with the walleye within a day or two after the first Rainbow stocking. I never landed one over Ten pounds and I lost bigger ones but I doubt they would have went more than 15 lbs. Very seldom did any one down there catch anything over 20 lbs. One guy caught one around 50 lbs according to The Arkansas Democrat Gazzete And the year before a guy caught a 17.6 lb Walleye both were throwing crakbaits for Largemouth as close to the dam as you could legally fish.

Seriously can you tell me how a rainbow trout can be born in a test tube. I thought you needed male sperm and female eggs in proper water either in a stream or hatchery. Also I would like to know what genetically enhanced/modified foods are on the market. I thought I was buying natural food. Obviously chemicals are used for fertilization and pest control but I was not aware plants were genetically altered I thought newer plants were improved hybreds. The problem we find more and more is food from Communist China and Communist Viet Nam (sorry I guess not politicaly correct I guess the Army did too good of a job on me) on the shelves in stores. It is getting to be difficult to find Salmon, Tilapia, or catfish farmed in the USA you really look at the label. We eat alot of Salmon But I don't buy foreign produced or caught fish. There is no way I would buy this crap fish. I do have to add I could be wrong but I don't think so.

I agree I lived in Saline County AR from 99 till Xmas of 07 and if my bird bath froze over 5 times it was a cold bitter winter, moved up here and we've actaly had s#$@ on the ground for more than 48 hours more than a few times. Wait a minute what does this have to due with jigs?

If I were you I'd call my State representative State senator and the Governer and ask them to pass the laws you feel we need and let us know how you did. Believe it or not a few years ago when I was living in Arkansas I called Representative Lamont Cromwell, State Senator Shane Broadway and Gov Mike Beebe In January and got "Helments to Hard Hats" legislation passed by the end of that session. I also would suggest that you be ready to be dissapointed by the answer you get but don't loose your cool listen to their reason for not supporting our right to hunt and fish and then let us know. All the reasons that I have heard can be worked out with proper legislation.

Middle of May to middle of July was always my favorite time. Last two weeks of May usually meant the best Bass fishing and still pretty good crappie fishing but the best was the Bluegill spawn in the strip mines in southern Illinois around Millstadt, Bellevile etc. Before these properties were sold for development a #10 Tom Nixon Black Gnat Plain wet fly and bedding bluegill quite often equaled lot of up to 12" slabs. Then Memorial Day meant the opening of Smallmouth season fishing the Big Piney, Castor rivers and Marble Creek then the third week of June was off to Nortwest Ontario for Smallmouth Walleye and Northern Pike and then back to the Big Piney and the Illinois strip mines. I had 7 weeks vacation and usually took 4 to 5 weeks between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. Usually Sept and October were also good for Largemouth Bass. Before I retired in 1997 the strip mines I fished had been developed NO FISHING signs went up so I bought a lot at Lake Sherwood in St Charles count and if any thing Crappie and Bluegill fishing was even better. I wonder if the fishing there is still as good. After moving to central Arkansas I spent a lot more time fishing in the winter and even after I moved back to MO I find I fish a lot more in the cooler months except when there is #@%$*&^ snow on the ground. Yes I did say 7 weeks vacation, I worked for UPS.

I am of the opinion that you have a right to charge whatever you want. I wish more landowners would make their places available. Would be happy to pay the going rate. This is the first time in probably 30 years that I don't own any rural land or lake development property just to have access to fishing. Your rates seem to be very reasonable. Does anyone else have private access available on any of the Ozark streams?

Not new here either, but the straw is new and maybe solves the problem I had with the line getting wrapped up in the hook. Thanks for the tip I'll give it a try.

Whats wrong with you Eric don't cloud the issue with truth.

Gee I'm sorry I thought you would know Boaz Mo is the reading near Delaware Town on the James River and Shelvin Rock is also on the James River.

What does the term poach smallies mean? I assume it means to illegaly fish for them but it might mean some thing else. Your original question was why are members afraid to say where they fish. When Al Agnew post a journal of a great fishing trip he gets criticism from all angles and he knows more about Missouri Stream Smallmouth he ranks up there with Devo Mckinney and the late Vern Clemens In smallmouth knowledge. Why would anyone else post on here that he waded below Shelvin Rock and at the top of the second hole down on the deep side in the rocks just off the main current in what looked to be 4 to 6 foot deep throwing Chartruse Shad Gulp Alive 3" minnow on a 1/32 oz with a size 1 red cycle hook I caught and released at least 24 smallmouth With a dozen over 12" topping at almost 18" in about an hour. I used a 5'6" Tourney Special spinning rod and a Shimano Spirex 2000 reel with 6lb Trilene High Vis line. Fished it as a jerk bait all bites came when I let it fall. Also the water level at Boaz was about 2.4 foot. Now everyone can rip me because they dont believe me, or I used hi vis line or i didn't use an expensive Rod or reel or what ever. Or when the river is below 3 foot and you are floating the James you might stop and flip a bait in there and catch and release a few.

You are busted Agnew, as a 40 year member of the River Des Peres Yacht Club and 35 Year Member of The River Des Peres bassbusters we do not take kindly to folks giving away our secret fishing hole. At our next meeting you can be sure rude things will be said about you and you will be band for at least a long time from using any of our facilities on the stream or in our harbor. We also want it known that those smallmoth pictures were actualy Nat Lead slough carps caught at the "secret spring hole" and be forewarned that the SSH canoe club do not take kindly etc

Great news. I had Colon cancer in May 1997 when I was 55, every day is a bonus. Wishing you the best.

Good report Joe, I waded at Shelvin yesterday from 10:30 till noon caught a 13"plus SM on my first cast and a 14"LM shortly before I got out and nothing of any size inbetween. This is only the second time I've fished there and the first time I've waded with the water that low but I plan on wading there a lot more as long as the river level stays below 3 foot at the gauge upstream at Delawaretown. I also used a 32 oz jig instead of the 1/16oz I used good drift and almost no hangups.

If you buy it with the LL Bean credit card you get free shiping and if you buy larger items like furniture you you have reduced shipping charges.Orvis has free shipping both ways with the Orvis card.

Looks great, keep us posted!

I ve worn felt soles since I slipped about 25 years ago on a big slippery rock on Marble Creek and broke a finger when I put my hand down to stop my fall and spent the rest of the day at the emergency room. Since then no slips no injuries. I also advise everyone to carry a collapsable wading staff with them on any stream they wade.