bowfin47

Ostrich herl??? That iridescent herl sure looks like peacock herl.

In Louisiana, we've had to show photo i.d.'s for years... No problems. However, it really did cut down on the number of dead people that typically voted in each election.

How about my birthday: 4/24/2007

Please check out the Crooked Creek Section of this Forum to see Pat Smiths's request for letters to James Stephens, Chief of Surface Mining and Reclamation Division, ADEQ - RE: Legal no. 061019-NAP - Mountain Home Concrete, Inc, “Benedict Mine.” According to Pat a gravel operation that is already operating in violation of enviromental laws is requesting a permit to "legally" mine Crooked Creek.

Pat, I just sent the following to Mr. Stephens at: stephens@adeq.state.ar.us It only took a few minutes to compose and send. Every flyfisher who's ever visited north Arkansas needs to take a minute or two and do the same. Whether you've ever fished Crooked Creek or would just like for it to "be there" as an option for you, your offspring, or others, please drop Mr. Stephens a line. As a "regulator" (i.e. my day job for the past 16 year), may I please give a little advice? When you do write or speak at Public Hearings don't talk about "feelings" or give stories. Regulators can only base their decisions on FACTS. So, stay on message and use your time (opportunity) wisely. Tightlines, Kyle ------------------------------ James Stephens Chief of Surface Mining and Reclamation Division, ADEQ RE: Legal no. 061019-NAP - request is from Mountain Home Concrete, Inc, “Benedict Mine.” Mr. Stephens, While a resident of Louisiana, for over twenty years I have traveled to fish the "famed" creeks and rivers of northern Arkansas. Typically, I travel with my children, relatives and/or other fly fishers from south Louisiana. We try to spend at least one week on each trip and usually make several trips each year. We often arrange to meet up with friend from Arkansas and /or other states for these trips. On these trips, we eat stay in local hotels, eat in local restaurants, purchase sporting goods, and otherwise add to the local economy. In addition, since 1980, in almost every year, I have maintained a Non-resident Yearly Arkansas Fishing License and Trout stamp. During these trips, we often attempt to fish the famed Crooked Creek for smallmouth. Over the years, in order to have a minimal impact on the fisheries of your fair State, we have released every smallmouth bass that we have caught on these trips, and even so, we have seen marked degradation of this wonderful stream. As I understand, the Benedict Mine has already been operating without a permit for over a year and has violated the 100 foot set-back from Crooked Creek, as required by your Department. Therefore, the operators of this mine have already established a disregard for the environment and the laws of the State of Arkansas. Allowing expansion of the Benedict Mine will lead to further stream degradation. Bases upon the above, I do hereby request that the ADEQ - Surface Mining and Reclamation Division reject Mountain Home Concrete, Inc.’s permit application for their “Benedict Mine” operation. In addition, I do hereby request that prior to making any decision of the request for permitting of this currently illegally run operation, that the ADEQ - Surface Mining and Reclamation Division hold public hearings which allow sufficient time for comments from interested citizens of both Arkansas and from outside your State. Sincerely, Kyle Moppert 2170 Terrace Avenue Baton Rouge, LA 70806 bowfin47@att.net 225-343-0867 h 225-610-5847 c

When you tie a spoon fly, if it does not "flutter" with the very slightest movement...throw it away and start over!!! You have a very small window of oportuntiy for that fly to flutter in front of a red, and a slow wobbling fly may cost you that shot. So, test any spoons out before ya' go, and make sure that they "flutter" with the sightest pull. Some of the very best spoon flies are those tied by one of south Louisiana's best known guides, Capt. Danny Ayo. Danny's spoons are reknown for their fluttering!! Danny has instructions for tying his version of the spoon fly on his website: http://www.flyfishlouisiana.com/index.htm . I've fished with Danny many times and can guarantee you that this pattern is amazing! (So is he - Danny's a wonderful guide!!) By the way if any of you guys have ever wanted to catch reds - that is to sight cast to large reds in shallow water, this is the year! The distruction of so much of the shrimp and menhadden fleets by last year's hurricanes has resulted in coastal waters full of bait. When this is combined with the fact that due to loss of boats, homes, jobs and etc., only a very small number of sportmen have done any fishing since the storms. As a result, the Louisiana marshes are full of large speckled trout and reds... fat reds! Due to Katrina and Rita, many of the Louisiana Fly Fishing Guides had great losses of either property and/or bookings. As a result the FFF has placed a "Support the Guides Impacted by Katrina" section on the FFF National's web page: http://www.fedflyfishers.org/begin.php So, if you have ever wanted to site cast to large reds in shallow waters, I'd strongly suggest that you contact Capt. Danny Ayo or one on the other excellent Louisiana guides and then come on down. The Fishin's Great!!! Good luck and tight lines.

For Bream fishing, try Michael Verduin's Cap Spider. It's a great pattern!! Instructions can be found under Fly of the Month on the Pineyoods Fly Fishers website at: http://home.sprynet.com/~waltermc/

At the end of July, I'm takin' my three kids up to trout fish at Dry Run Creek. This means that I'm in the process of outfitting the two younger ones, my 6 year old son and 11 year old daughter. As my older son is already outfitted, this means at least two more of everything: new rods, reels, lines, a couple of fly boxes filled with flies, new polarized glasses, nippers, a "lot" of leader material and etc. (darn, this is getting expensive and we haven't even left home!) However, I need to find them some waders/hippers/boots. As kids waders/hippers/boots are somewhat hard to purchase here in south Louisiana, and as the waders will probably only be used once or twice a year (I hope to bring them back for SOC Conclave), I'd love to get a "deal" on some waders/hippers/boots that were "slightly worn" by another child. Both of my kids are small for their ages, my daughter is 4.5 ft. tall and weighs 58lb.s while my son is only 44" tall. If you have a any kids waders/hipper/boots gathering dust in the closet, I'd love to make a deal with ya'. Thanks, Kyle bowfin47@att.net

I sent an email to the Governor on 5-5-2006 and have yet to receive any reply.

If a your kid is fishing on Dry Run and catches a trout with a lamprey attached: Can he "kill" the lamprey on this Catch and Release Only Stream? Can you help?

The John Deer micro-jig was originated by Big Dale Wilkinson, one of Dallas Texas's Road Kill Road Table Tyers and a regular tyer at Southern Council Conclave. He ties it on a 1/100 jig. Big Dale ties a series of "tractor logo" micro-jigs, i.e J. D., Allis Chambers, and etc.