Terry Beeson

Definately fill with water and get rid of the air in the bag. I've got the ZipLoc vacuum sealer system and it works OK. Kinda hard to get the vacuum started for some reason, but once it starts, it works just fine. I've got several things in the freezer from a few months ago and they are still just as good as the day they went in. Now for fish, I'm not sure I would use it, but that's only because the water trick works so well for me with fish.

I heard Ben Stein talking about the movie in a radio interview the other day. It made me want to see the movie. Now I really want to see it...

That's no excuse, Phil... Just hop on a redeye, re-aim the camera, and be back in Boston for breakfast with Marsha... Dang Just looked at the camera... You musta took the Concord!!!

Ditto to the above three posts...... 'nuff said....

In case we need to call you, Bill... What was that number again? Just kiddin'... I don't blame you a bit. I admit that I will lean in close when someone with knowledge like you has something to say. But I would not think about calling a professional guide for some free fishing information. That's just downright rude. Now if I know him, and he is a pretty close friend, and I want to call, I might say something like "are you busy?" and if he's with a client, then I'd just say... "OK... I'll call later or give me a call when you can..." Did these guys indicate who was suppose to be paying you for providing this information? Heck... I'd like to get on THAT payroll myself....

OMG!!!! You said the "O" word!!!! OK... Ok... OK... to each his own. But it ain't your father's Orvis... 'nuff said... In answer to your question... hands down.... a 5wt and either a 7 or 8wt. 5wt for everything but fall nights... Then the 8...

Well, when the weather and the fish are not cooperating, we know where to find you now, JB... I gotta check that place out for sure...

Naw, Jeff... Just memories of my band days... and invitations to "parties" from... Well... let's just leave it to memories...

Happy Birthday, Mr. D... Hope you're gettin' the rod yanked outta yer hand today...

Jerod, I've had an 8 wt yanked out of my hand at night... And not just by Duane or Leonard... Those big ol' gals can work better than a double double mucho grande expresso... And you hit the nail on the head with the golf club comparison.

Yeah, and.... uh.... well.... 'nuff said.... Good advice, Yak...

Careful how you answer, Jeff... I'm not sure we all want to hear... Have you heard Jeff's playing, hoglaw? Check out his website if not.

I remembered Pettigrew, but had to look up Red Star on Mapquest. My dad was the answer man when it came to local geography. You could name most any wide spot in the road in Arkansas and a lot of SW Missouri, and my dad could tell you where it was. Many times he would use that same answer as I gave... Somewhere between two other places nobody had ever heard of...

George, It's about halfway between Pettigrew and Red Star... It's on Hwy 16 west of the Buffalo River headwaters. It's about a two hour drive from Branson, but the neat drive would be to go down Hwy 7 and take 16 to Deer and over. But that adds some time and distance. That area is really beautiful and at times you'll think you're in a Burt Reynolds/Ned Beatty movie... But there are a few streams along the way that just BEG to be fished... Did you see any elk in the area, Clay? I'm betting they may be fanning out some from the Boxley area...

Boy did you ever put a couple of new twists into this conversation... First... If you have never cast a fly rod before, then I would advise very much getting that first fly casting lesson before investing in a rod. With that said, I would recommend you definately lean toward a medium action rod for your first one. A medium-fast may be just a bit too much depending on your natural ability. A medium will allow you to make the common beginner's mistakes while still giving you a decent result. Once you learn that art of fly casting and can control the path and speed more, then a faster action rod will be more beneficial. With that said, again, go get the lesson, then cast a few rods. This will help you more than anything in choosing the right one for you. For your style, a med-fast rod might be OK. With what you said, I'm assuming you're in the Little Rock area, so go to Ozark Anglers out on Chenal and have them put a couple of beginner type rods in your hands. I'm sure they will give you a couple of beginner pointers. The AFF event you're talking about will present you with a couple of really good casting instructors who will help you a great deal. Now, the other twist... Saltwater fly fishing. If nobody has told you yet, it is TOTALLY DIFFERENT than fishing a tailwater or lake. Depending on what you are fishing for, you may have to be a really advanced caster to even get close to a fish. You're going from a 8-9 ft 4wt or 5wt to a 8-12 wt rod. The casting stroke is somewhat different and you have to be able to get the line out there in an instant and when I say out there.... I mean OUT THERE... I know several really good stream casters who were smoked the first several times they went after something swimming in the brine. All I can say is get those lessons the PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE before going to FL. Then don't be disappointed if you need to switch to casting or spinning gear to get something on the line. Just be sure your guide knows your casting abilities before you get there. This might clue him in on what species and where to take you. I should add... To prepare for your FL saltwater fishing, get yourself a tape of a man with a very excited tone of voice saying over and over again: "TWO O'CLOCK!!... SEVENTY TWO FEET!!.... CAST RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS NOSE!!.... NO!!... IN FRONT OF HIM!!... YOU'RE TOO MUCH OUT!!.... AGAIN AND TO THE LEFT!!... THERE... NOW STRIP.... STRIP!.... STRIP, STRIP, STRIP!!!!!..... STRIPSTRIPSTRIPSTRIP!!!!!!!! SET!!!!!! AWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!! too bad... shoulda had 'im.... OK.... NINE O'CLOCK!!!! FAST!!! CAST!!!! NOW!!!! NO.... TO THE LEFT!!!! STRIP!!!!!! STRIP!!!!!! SET!!!!! AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I really want to emphasize and echo Dano's comment about casting the rod you're looking at. Most beginning casters will do well to choose a medium action rod over a fast action. The rod you're talking about is a really good one for sure. But with ANY rod choice, I've learned (the hard way) that you need to cast a rod before buying it. If your casting style fits this rod, I'd go for it. But for sure, I would cast a medium action rod and this rod before making the final decision. Greg is right about the Hobbs Creek reel, too. It's a good reel (I have one) but if you drop it, you can bend and even break it pretty easily. I had to buy a spare spool for mine when I dropped it and broke (thank goodness) just the spool. As for the choice of a 4wt over a 5wt... well... whichever you buy, you'll soon find yourself looking at the other for your next puchase... While 5wt rods are probably in the vast majority on the tailwaters around here, there are plenty of 4wt rods being waved around as well. Along with 3wt, 6 wt, 7wt, 8wt... So, all in all, a 4wt is not a BAD choice at all...

Hey... I never said I wasn't crazy... And not to worry at the moment, Soggy... the Killer Yorkies are busy holding the couch down....

Never been to Boston, but been to western Mass... Did ya pahk ya cah in da yahd, Phil? Yeah, be sure to get some good Italian while there. A former coworker from Boston and many who have eaten there have bragged on it for sure...

Pedal steel with distortion, phase, wah.... yeah, it ain't yo' daddy's steel guitar. Wonder what Zane Beck would say? George Thorogood is a good rocker, but his slide style is his... But nobody will ever touch Duane Allman on slide...

Good photos... Great place to photograph... Thanks for posting...

Jeff, I don't know about you, but I KNOW Leonard is crazy... But that's got nothing to do with fishing... He's just crazy... period... Anyway... welcome to the forum. And I hope you can fish next weekend...

OH.... digging for his cell phone... whew.... Yeah, I forgot he/you were out of town. SOMEbody was flippin a spinning rig out there this afternoon... his face just out of the shot... That is pretty cool, Web, to watch it "live"...

Well, I guess Michael now has two sponsors.... Clackacraft.... And... Doty Flies, Inc... Next time tilt your head down a little more so we can see the BCO cap... Congrats, Michael... (Just think... One day we can say, "Yeah, I knew him way back when...")

Yep... That's Hevi Shot for you... My third shell in the duck blind is usually a Hevi Shot load. I've had good luck when I need to "reach out and touch" a duck on his way out of range...

Looking at the webcam... Is that you out there fishing, Phil? Catch a biggun to give us some entertainment...