eric1978

Yeah, I hate it when that happens. Not much you can do, though. Best you can hope for is that they conveniently stop to take a break or wade a little and you can pass them then. But you can't let other people dictate the pace of your entire day, so I just try to have a quick, pleasant conversation as I blow past them so they don't think I'm a jerk. Besides, they should have stayed home knowing I was gonna float that stretch that day. But on the positive side, I think fish that are spooked by a canoe get over it a lot faster than fish that are spooked by a guy stomping through their house...so if you're 5 minutes or so ahead of the guys you passed, it shouldn't really affect their catch rate. That's how I rationalize it anyway.

Yeah, pretty much. Don't get me wrong, I have fun hammering the idiot silver bullets out at Busch. But the only reason I go is because it's 10 minutes from home. If I'm driving two hours to go fishing, given the option between White and Blue Ribbon, I'd pick the latter every time. When I start teaching my kid to fish, I'm sure I'll spend some time on the White stretches...hopefully I get there within a week of the truck so she can catch a few.

Maybe "better" was the wrong word...I should have said most Blue Ribbons offer a more "authentic experience" than most White Ribbons will. If you like catching cookie-cutter silver bullets all day (or for 15 minutes 'til the creel is filled), then White will be "better" for you than Blue, and that's fine.

No, not necessarily beneath them, it's just that the Blue Ribbons generally offer better fishing. That's because it's illegal.

Kayser, I can almost get your fish's whole tail fin to fit in my screen. Resize that image, Boy! Nice fishies fellas.

I missed it, too. Great post. I hope I live long enough to one day make that drive.

If you consider MDC surveys and conclusions scientific proof, then yes. Google "MDC spotted bass management." The spots are not herding away smallmouth like a shepherd would sheep...it's a pound for pound replacement through competition.

You should, because you were starting to sound ridiculous. Nice cherry-picking on that last quote about the headwaters, BTW. You forgot to add the rest of the sentence...wonder why? That's pretty indicative of your modus operandi throughout most of this debate. When you gonna come up here so I can show you around the Meramec watershed and you can see how much fun it is to catch 10" spots where there used to be 20" smallmouth? I don't pretend to know your streams down there in SWMO, Chief. You should give us "Easterners" a little credit and realize we probably have a better grasp of what's going on in our backyards than you do. But seriously...you should bring Dylan up here some time and we can float a nice section and you can see what we're talking about. It's too hard for me to travel all the way down to you right now anyway...baby and all. That's funny...I was going to say almost exactly the same thing to you last night, but thought better of it.

You're about one beer away from telling me evolution is a myth. You can't change scientific reality to make it fit your argument...you have to adjust your argument according to scientific reality, and you're not doing that...especially numbers 2 and 5. C'mon Chief, those statements are undeniably FALSE. Obviously. And that's why, when you get a sudden influx of a new species of bass, it's bad news for the old species of bass. Nope...I said...spots stop short of where trout would typically be stocked...near the headwaters, which usually means some kind of spring, which makes the water too cold for spots to survive, which also makes the water too cold for smallmouth to thrive. And that would still affect only the trout programs, nothing else.

They don't man, trust me. They don't. But the smallmouth that were there before they invaded would have, but now they're gone. I don't know how to simplify the argument any more than this... Trout are stocked in marginal smallmouth habitat. Non-native spots have taken over prime smallmouth habitat. Trout generally eat food that smallmouth ignore. Spots eat exactly the same food that smallmouth eat. Trout are biologically confined to relatively limited sections of streams. Spots will spread from delta to headwaters, stopping only where the trout are stocked, just like the smallmouth. The analogy does not work. The two species you are trying to compare are simply too dissimilar. It would be like trying to make an argument against stocking trout in the Current based on studies of stripers in Table Rock. It's apples and oranges.

Yeah, unfortunately they're probably here to stay. But in the streams they've invaded, they pretty much stay smaller than 12 inches or so, with a rare bigger one here and there, and they're not all that much fun to catch, considering they've taken the place of smallmouth that can reach more than 20 inches. I know you're trying hard with the spot/trout analogy, but it doesn't really work.

All of a sudden. Chief and I see eye to eye on more than we let on...we're men of mystery. Sounds like trout food, and plenty of it. The rivers are loaded with that stuff...lots and lots to go around. Crawdads on the other hand... Sure, why not? I jumped into this one out of pure boredom anyway. Kill da wabbit.

Microorganisms? They don't have baleens. Yes, the trout eat what my beloved smallmouth fry eat in the relatively few miles of water the trout inhabit. Whoop-dee-do. I'm not worried about that cold, infertile spring creek anyway...the smallies don't grow that big there. Okay. Sounds like you keep forgetting that spots are not native to every stream in MO. Maybe you should scroll back up and check out the lesson Drew was given on the difference between geography and geology. Hey Brother, I'm just following MDC's lead...they seem to think smallmouth can handle competition with trout, but not competition with invasive spots, so if you're saying they're wrong, I guess we've found ourselves a first. I can just see the headline now..."Chief slams MDC for being run by a bunch of Eastern MO idiots!"

I assume you're talking physically?

I don't think this is political, but I'll remove it if I'm asked to... Here are some insurance company CEO salaries for 2008. I wonder how many families had to lose loved ones so the hotshots could buy another house in the Hamptons. Did these parasites really "have to" make this much profit to keep the business afloat, especially at the expense of someone's husband, wife, mother, father or child? Stephen Hemsley - UnitedHealth Group Total Compensation: $3,241,042 Richard Barasch - Universal American Total Compensation: $3,503,702 Jay Gellert - Health Net Total Compensation: $4,425,355 Michael McCallister - Humana Total Compensation: $4,764,309 James Carlson - AMERIGROUP Total Compensation: $5,292,546 Michael Neidorff - Centene Total Compensation: $8,774,483 Dale Wolf - Coventry Health Care Total Compensation: $9,047,469 Angela Braly - WellPoint Total Compensation: $9,844,212 H. Edward Hanway - CIGNA Total Compensation: $12,236,740 Ron Williams - Aetna Total Compensation: $24,300,112

No it can't, you know it, and you know why. The encroachment of spotted bass is not insignificant...they are taking over entire river systems instead of being biologically confined to certain sections. Spots directly compete with smallmouth in prime smallmouth habitat. Any fisheries biologist would tell you the same, would they not? Otherwise your beloved MDC has made some strange decisions to stock trout but remove the limits on spots in non-native streams...explain that one.

Drew, buddy...I've held my tongue half a dozen times now and no longer can. It's been explained every which-way I could imagine, but I'll try once more to see if I can get through. The trout themselves may not be self-sustaining in most streams, but the trout programs ARE. The revenue from trout stamps and daily park fees pays for the hatcheries and the other aspects of the programs. MDC does not siphon off funds that would ordinarily be going toward management of any other species, native or not. It is an entity unto itself. Without trout stamps, there would be no trout; without trout, there would be no trout stamps. Ya know? And since you got me talking, I'll add this...you know that I'm passionate about smallmouth...if I thought that the trout caused any kind of real impediment to smallmouth populations, I'd be an absolute opponent. But c'mon, if there is some encroachment taking place, it's in such trace amounts and in such a small percentage of total Ozark stream miles that it really is insignificant. The trout aren't going anywhere...they're here to stay, barring some unforeseen government meltdown. So I suggest you embrace them, study the angles, and go after them. They're a cool species to learn and fish for, especially if you go at it with the long stick...it really is gratifying, and I was a hold-out, too. And if you're really that concerned with returning Ozark streams to their natural state, I'd start petitioning for the demolition of the White River dams, which have posed a much greater detriment to excellent smallmouth habitat than a hundred miles or so of trout stocking has posed to marginal smallmouth habitat scattered throughout the state.

An elaborate fire ring is hardly ever necessary...a simple pile of rocks or some other obstruction facing the direction of the wind is usually sufficient. However, we will ocassionally build a ring if a wild fire is a risk when there's a wind factor and a dry environment (if it's extremely high risk we'll often forego the fire altogether). If we do build a ring or any other kind of wind-shield, we always make sure to scatter the boulders out in the most random and natural-looking fashion possible. We also take a stick and spread out the ashes and cover the remnants. It's tough to make the spot look like a fire was never there, but fortunately, the next flood will wash away all evidence of one...as long as you've taken care of the ring. It's more important to thoroughly clean up when you're out backpacking in the forest, but an eyesore anywhere is a no-no in the ethical outdoorsman's rule book. I don't think you're being too critical GD...it's our responsibility as outdoor enthusiasts to leave nature as it is, as best we can. Nothing ruins a peaceful trip like signs of other people.

Up here around St. Louis, some of the hard maples and burning bushes are turning red, sweetgums and ashes are turning purple, and the elms are going yellow. The walnuts in my backyard have lost most of their leaves, so in a week or ten days, things should be starting to pop.

I wondered about this when I started fly fishing, too, because I couldn't believe the outrageous prices of quality tippet. The answer I got from those who know is this... Tippet is manufactured with a different process that makes the line smoother throughout the whole spool...that is, regular fluoro (or mono) will have skinny spots and fat spots, where tippet is somehow made with a more consistent diameter, therefore producing a finer, stronger and more supple line. I use regular 4# or 6# Seaguar for the moron stockers out at Busch, but use quality tippet when fishing for real fish on real water.

The man in office didn't raise your rates...your insurance company did. I wouldn't even consider some cut-rate cheapo policy unless I was under 30, perfectly healthy, and had a bunch of money in the bank. Read the fine print closely before you sign up, remember that every insurance company puts profits before your well-being, and pray you never get seriously ill or injured. Good luck.

Sounds like a terrible business decision made by Dish...I have a feeling they'll be losing a lot of customers over that. Losing Nat Geo and FX would be a bummer, but any cable subscription without FOX News would probably make it worth it. Give me Discovery, HBO, the other "news" channels, and the Sunday talk shows...they can keep the rest of the garbage for all I care.

When I catch a fish, I put it back in the river to share with the next angler to come along. When you catch a fish, you take it home. Go ahead and keep every limit of fish you catch...it's your right and I won't admonish you for it. But don't sit there and pretend those who conserve are more "self"-righteous than those who consume.

Scrolled down bottom of the screen. seen it was oneshot's birthday. thought I should say happy birthday. so went and got me glass of water. came back. said happy birthday.

Why you draggin' me into this? Here's what I think these guys are saying Chief...The complaint is not so much that folks keep the stocked trout from a White Ribbon stream, but rather the incredible rate at which they are taken. Here today, gone tomorrow. Why not drag it out a little and let a few other anglers enjoy the catching? I see it at Busch come February 1st, and a more disgusting site you'll never lay your eyes upon...slob upon slob stacked tighter on the bank than the fish they're after. Asses upon their buckets, trash scattered all around their feet and blowing into the lake, and Powerbait-decorated Christmas trees drooping over the water. Wasted and rotting fish left behind, mud trails so wide and sloppy it's as if a herd of buffalo passed through, and not enough room for a flyfisherman to stand a chance. Overnight, it goes from a place everyone can enjoy to a freakin' zoo of white trash in rubber boots who descend in droves to cash in on their big 7 dollar investment. Now, the trout have to be cleaned out from the lakes before summer, and I know that, so I just kind of laugh at the absurdity these people display during their frenzied quest to bring home 4 mushy trout for dinner. In a matter of days the lakes are all but emptied, and so be it, it has to be done. But in some of the White Ribbon streams, the stockers could live indefinitely. No, maybe they couldn't successfully spawn, but they could survive to grow large (or at least larger), so why not let them, and give a few more anglers a chance to do some fishing, instead of the free-for-all, furious rush to the river to scoop out the precious meat and go home? If we're trying to make things fair for everyone, slowing down the rate of removal sounds like a better idea than the binge and purge scenario we have now.