eric1978

Again, ness' proposal is a practical solution to this particular issue, but does nothing to address the larger problem of the erosion of our rights as outdoorsmen and law-abiding citizens. I'm not saying this case should necessarily be used as a springboard to petition the courts, or that it would even be useful to do so, or if it's even possible to do so (i.e. hoglaw's input)...and it's always convenient to let sleeping dogs lie. But at some point we're gonna have to make a stand against private interests curbing our state-granted constitutional rights. The Prater deal sounds like it's easy enough to resolve, if it's not resolved already, and it really only concerns a small number of floaters on a small section of river. I'm more interested in the long-term ramifications of sitting on our hands and never asserting ourselves as a concerned body politic of anglers and paddlers.

Well your anecdote teaches a good lesson about not letting insignificant disputes escalate into litigation, but I'm not sure it applies to this particular case. Pursuing this case could (or could not) turn out to be a step forward for the public's right to access and use public waterways, so it could be a useful undertaking and not just a pointless, elaborate courtroom grudge match. The questions that have to be asked are: What are the possible outcomes? What are the chances of winning? Would it have any real impact on access and usage rights in our state? And would it be worth the investment in time and money? I'm not sure anyone will know the answers to any of those questions unless the chips are pushed in and the hands are turned over. And although no, this particular dispute is not a big issue for MO floaters in general, the slow but steady erosion of our right to access and use our state's small streams IS a big issue. The ownership society mentality has a firm choke hold on the public interest, and if we never push back, we're only gonna find ourselves more and more limited in our recreational opportunities in the great outdoors. Is this the moment to seize? I don't know. But we're gonna have to fight eventually, that much I'm sure of.

Wish I had six bills laying around. I so wanna trade in my Pinto for a Cadillac.

If this case were to be pursued, Ness, it wouldn't really be about the right to sit on Prater's gravel bar. The point would be to take it to the highest court possible to solidify floaters' rights in MO in general...all streams, not just Shoal. But I do agree it would be a very costly venture (definitely more than $1500 or even $3000 if it was taken to fruition), and fruition is far from guaranteed. It's possible it could go the wrong way and we end up actually losing more rights. It's a gamble, and only Chief can make the decision whether or not to put himself on the line and pursue it. I think he would find a lot of support here and from other organizations like MSA and possibly others. But still, the outcome seems pretty dubious, and I'm not sure I'd wanna do it if I were in Chief's shoes. Even if all the costs were covered through donations it would still be a very time consuming headache. It would be a interesting battle, though, for sure, and we'd at least get some answers to the questions we've been asking for years.

I got five on it.

You should join us F&F, and bring a couple hundred pounds of duck meat with ya to chow on.

The naked hippie will probably leave behind one of his cool tie-dyes.

And a total PITA to fly fish from to boot...no thanks.

Fine, I'll take the naked hippie if no one else wants him, as long as he makes at least one cast for every slug of beer he takes. And someone's gonna have to supply us a boat, cuz I ain't riding his little pink weenie all day. How's that Mako lookin' Wrench?

Yeah you got a partner and a Sneaky Pete lodged in your melon. You'll be safer with me.

Point and laugh? BTW, it's not all that uncommon...it's called Czech nymphing.

I saw a whiteboard with the rules of the ban scribbled on it in the fly section at Cabelas yesterday. I'd be willing to bet more people are seeing the news for the first time there than from MDC. I'll assume that MDC will be handing out info about the ban when fishing licenses are purchased for the upcoming season. If they don't then I have to scratch my head. The guys that go to the park this March intending to buy their license when they get there are going to be really PO'd, and I can't say I'll blame 'em. Not everyone surfs the internet and is exposed to as much info as we forum dwellers.

Your limited storage options are a major consideration, but the ability to pack it up to stow it away is going to be just about the only advantage a toon will offer you over a yak or canoe. You should do yourself a favor and take Gavin's advice...and keep your solo canoe at a buddy's house or in some rented storage. You can usually get an Old Town Guide 119 on sale at Dick's for around $350. I believe that's what I paid for mine.

The airheads are tied with that slinky material. The ones with the craft fur are Deadheads. They're tied differently and Tulip Glitter fabric paint is used for the head.

LMAO! That's classic. Someone needs to put that on a t-shirt or something.

Some people only check certain sub-forums instead of using the new content button. Keep doing what you're doing L2FF, and don't listen to these a$$ clowns, especially that Trout Philanderer or Papa Smurf...wait, did he have a red hat?

Awesome fly. AND I feel like dancing! Now where are my glow sticks?

It's just biology. Fish are cold blooded, which means the colder it gets, the less active they become, especially with the warm-water species that live in the lower Meramec. To find more action, head upriver and fish closer to the springs, target some trout, or put on your jammies and hang up your rods until March.

I have to say the sight of that does bug me a little. But boy it sure looks fun...like cranking in a bag of waterlogged sweatshirts. I bet the runs and leaps were exhilarating. On the other hand, he can still only keep his limit, and does it really hurt the fish more than a single hook rig? Does it hurt the fish more than allowing it to flop all over the deck of your boat? Does it hurt the fish more than tossing it in a box of luke-warm, low-oxygen water, beating the hell out of it all day, running it all over the lake, suffocating it for minutes on end, throwing it in a basket, then returning it to a strange cove with hundreds of other discombobulated and beaten detainees? I doubt it. But it does dovetail nicely with the tournament mentality in general...complete removal of fun, just show me the money! I'd say it's a perfect fit. I'd be more interested in seeing a petition on creel limits or culling rules, making tourneys CPR only, or a ban on tournaments altogether.

I forfeit the front seat next time so you can show the Philanderer what it's like. And I use barbs. Cuz I'm a honey badger.

Be sure to know the regs. Live bait is illegal in certain parts of the river.

What the hell are you talking about? LOL

I'm glad I was grandfathered in...it gets pretty ugly. Chances are it'll eventually be a Dateline segment. That's why I wear a mask.

If you consider that big ugly rubber lips a fish.

Yep, pure evil.