eric1978

Really pretty fish Phil. Nice pics.

I'm not sure scent on a crankbait would make any difference. It just moves too fast for a fish to stop and smell it. Possibly on a jerkbait you're fishing super-slow, but I doubt it. Of course I don't use scent on anything, so what do I know?

I know I'm not the only person fishing my favorite spots. Even on the small creeks I occassionally fish, there is evidence of other anglers (case and point). I'm just saying that it's okay to keep a few cherished honey-holes to yourself. Believe me, I don't have that many secrets. I wish I had more, so I could share more. I like to catch fish, so I guess maybe I'm a little selfish about it. But every time I see garbage in the river or see a stringer of smallmouth, it makes me clam up even more. Can't help it.

I've seen some old wrinkly black and white photos of some MASSIVE stringers from the old days taken on some of the same rivers I fish today. I can tell you the days that you catch numbers of BIG fish like that are few and far between, if they exist at all. You're right though, some rivers were hit really hard by the industrial revolution (Big River comes to mind), but many weren't heavily effected by it and were in much better shape a century or 75 years ago. I've talked to some old fellers with some good stories about the good ol' days.

I agree with you to an extent, but I'll add a couple caveats to your philosophy: Bigger bodies of water that hold more fish aren't as fragile as small creeks and streams. I have no problem telling certain others which stretch of river I fished or even which sections within those stretches were most productive, as long as I think the river can handle more people fishing it. Even then, I try to be selective about who I tell. There are many folks on here that I trust with that information, because I know they are conscientious anglers who practice catch and release. However, you have to realize there are a lot of lurkers on this forum and others like it, who may or may not be people you want hanging out at your favorite spots. Discovering productive places to fish is a pay-off of lots of time, money and energy spent searching for the magic holes. I think a nudge in the right direction for the right people is more than acceptable, but by and large I think finding honey holes is every angler's personal responsibilty, and it's more rewarding to find them on your own. I'm not saying don't take your best friends and kids to your favorite spots. Quite the contrary, I think good fishing is best when sharing it. But thoughtless and disrespectful anglers (I hesitate to call them anglers) can spread like the plague if you're not careful. Tell the wrong person, he goes and takes a limit. He tells a couple of his buddies, they take a limit, they tell their buddies...and so on. And the next thing you know, no fish. I agree with you that sometimes you think a place is fished out but in reality you're either doing something wrong or the fish are just off, but it is possible to decimate a fish population on a stretch of river. For this reason, I try to limit what I say on a public forum. I have a few favorite spots I won't tell about and some small creeks I would NEVER mention to anyone I didn't completely trust. They simply can't handle any more pressure. It's not that I don't want others to enjoy those places, it's just that you never know what kind of people they are. Many stretches of our Ozark streams are already heavily fished, and I don't really have a problem with keeping some of the fruits of my labor to myself.

I really wish I could give you that report, but it looks like the powers that be put the kibosh on my trip. The transmission in my truck went weird and I had to take it to the mechanic. Total drag. Skip at Green's Canoe said the river was still up, but that's about all the info I have.

Yep, me too. Tomorrow will be the third day in a row to reach 70 degrees, so I'm hoping they'll be moving around a little.

There are a couple, but they don't let on how much they know. Can you imagine how good the fishing was on their rivers when they were kids? I'd give anything to go back and fish during, say, the pre WWII era.

I'm heading down to an upper stretch tomorrow. Just wondering if any of you guys have visited lately and caught any smallmouth??? How about any nearby streams? Just trying to pick up a possible pattern or two.

Yep, that's what's in the Paddler's Guide. It's a good general reference for most of the bigger streams and creeks in MO, and lists most of the accesses and highlights of a float (springs and what-not), but is not especially detailed otherwise.

Yeah, that seat looked WAY too high for that canoe. Surprised she didn't swim.

I wasn't talking about you or any jet boaters in general. I don't have any problem with jet boats! I wish I had one! I just wouldn't use them on small waters, just like you said. My rambling, moronic post above was only about disrespectful people who litter and cause trouble on your favorite streams. That's it. They just happen to mostly be young guys. Hey, I was young once, too, (still am, kinda) and had my share of fun hootin' and hollerin' on float trips. But I never threw my garbage in the river and I never caused trouble with other floaters. They have a right to be there just like everyone else, but they don't have the right to ruin it for other people.

The MDC Paddler's Guide to Missouri has mile by mile descriptions for the James from McCraw Ford access at Hwy. 125 downstream 61.7 miles to Y Bridge at Galena. It also describes Finley Creek from Hwy 125 Bridge downstream 18.9 miles to the James River and Crane Creek from around Hwy CC 8.2 miles to the James. Can't help you with any other info since I've never floated those streams. You can pick up an MDC Paddler's Guide online or at an Alpine Shop type place, whatever you have in your area. They're about $6.

After just being reamed out by a disgruntled jet-boater on another post, I find it hilarious and comforting to find I'm far from meanest guy on here. You kill me, ness.

Excuse me, sir, but I never once called someone using a jetboat a "jack_ss or idiot" (though many others have and you don't seem to have a problem with them), although I do believe that a jetboat used improperly or in the wrong place can be very dangerous and imposing to others using the stream. I never accused you of being one of those people. I simply stated that if a jetboat could not easily be run up from the next downstream access, the river may be too skinny there for anything but a canoe or other non-motorized craft. I have just as much respect for someone fishing from a jetboat as someone fishing from a canoe, as long as the river is big enough to accommodate it. You never mentioned anything about your grandfather's physical limitations, so you can't expect people to know that a canoe would not be practical. Had I known of another access for you to use, I would have happily told you. You're blowing my comment way out of proportion. You have every right to take your boat anywhere you want within the law, and I've never taken it upon myself to tell you or anyone else what they can or can't do. You sure are defensive, though, so perhaps someone else has. I've never been anything but respectful on this forum, and if you don't like my opinions, you should ignore my posts. I know I'll be ignoring yours. Good day.

Okay, this is the most relevant definition of "keel" I could find: 1. (Transport / Nautical Terms) one of the main longitudinal structural members of a vessel to which the frames are fastened and that may extend into the water to provide lateral stability So I guess Al's right that what's on my canoe is not a keel, since it seems a keel is intended for lateral(?) stability. I'm going to pretend it does something.

Those are some really nice fish...flies?

Hmmm...I always learn something. I thought it was a keel, but your use of quotation marks now makes me wonder. Does it have another name? I'm surprised you say it doesn't have an effect on tracking or maneuverability since it is a point of friction in the water, and the shape of it you would assume would be beneficial to tracking since it runs front to back. I'd also assume it would slow a turn (to some slight degree), since it is just a little more resistance to the direction you're turning. I can see it being insignificant and there solely for structural purposes, but I was hoping to find out it added some benefit as well. Oh well, still very satisfied with it.

What do you use instead of split rings wrench? I don't care for them, either. I feel like they fray up line when it gets pinched in the ring. I thought about trying clasps, which would make switching easier, but haven't really given it much thought.

Any reports?

Sounds like a great week of fishing, all things considered. Those spots in your pictures haven't been missing any meals. Good report!

+2...never hurts to help.

I considered that, but I don't fish tubes all that often. They're usually a desperation move for me. Might not be worth it to buy all the makings, I'd just like to have a couple dozen of a couple colors for a fall-back.

The irony is I was pretty drunk myself last night when I typed that (I don't usually drink that much). I feel stupid.

Idiots are defined as a creature that wears a tank top, he has a beer at 8 A.M. An idiot gets on a canoe with a pile of plastic beads that will soon be garbage on the basin of your favorite stream, all prepared for a chance to glimpse the sacred boobie. The idiot drinks his beer and crushes it on his forehead. the idiot asks the women if they are impressed. NO TIME! More paddlers among us! Carry on, frat boys...more to see up ahead. Get out the water balloon launcher and hit the one with the bigguns. Success! You ask the idiot if he wants to fish, and he replies, fish...fish for what? I'm here to get hammered...teeheeeteeheee NOw look...hundreds of his type are reaching our area. Drunk. Jello shots. Garbage. do you have a rod idiot? hell no i have no rod. I'm here to get punked up! Get me to my tent so I can get something on. where is your food idiot? we don't need no stinking food...we have canoes and women Is it time to camp? there's a tent put it up. Where do you go to school idiot? Oh one of those colleges whre we get together a bunch of gyus like me to ruin the streams for guys like you. How many of them are you? Like the stars he tells me. As many as the stars. And then I see them , a neverending line of idiots flowing over the fields and gravel roads to infestate the beautiful, peaceful water that one sportsman wants to fish all day. Do they go first. Do you blow out first and geht the heck away from these idiots. Move now. Paddle fast ...save your trip go on your own....break away...you can't be saved...they know not what they want nor what their souls tell them. Flee. Flee you crop of idiots and next time just get drunk in the gymnasium. I'm going fishing and you can't stop me. That was one vague recollection of a trip with idiots quite a few years ago on the Meramec. I look for weekdays now, especially weekdays on the off season. Peace and quiet, what you would expect, and the chance to catch some fish. To answer your question, an idiot is someone who keeps your float from becoming enjoyable and productive. Look for shirts with college markings, look for cars instead of trucks, look for an inordinant amount of gratuitous boobs and look for the sounds of stupid people in the background then run......!!!!!!!!