Terry Beeson

Did I mention the 82 fish I caught Friday night that ranged from 20-36 inches plus the two big ones - one 46 lb Rainbow and one 52 lb Brown? Caught 'em all on my 3 wt using 11X tippet on a size 32 emerger pattern... But, dang... I forgot my camera... Uh... What were you saying about fishing solo and stretching the truth there, Jerod?

Well, actually, "Mama" was working... healing the sick... and the rug rat was home and the plans were to take her to the stables so she could go to the barrel race and then head up in time to eat fish... . When she finally got out of bed, she indicated she did not want to go... That put me in a bind and the rain didn't help matters. Yeah, I have to say that Cindy is pretty good to me about fishing and hunting and I could probably go more. But since she doesn't complain about me going when I do (my first wife did) and encourages my hunting and fishing, I tend a lot of times to try and spend time with her over hunting and fishing. Funny how that works... Yeah, we need to try it again. I need to show you how much better fly fishing is...

I agree with Wayne on that one... You must REALLY be old, GF... I must say I have missed numerous takes when a canoe with a couple of blessed college girls have drifted by my fly rod... Hey Bobber... beads are cheap and effective, but holding up a couple of ice cold Buds works well too...

WRONG!!!!!! It takes THREE! One to scrape and TWO to watch for traffic... both ways, ya know... Five if it's in an intersection... (Aren't you glad I'm here, GF, to keep you in line... )

He keeps forgetting to bring the camera when the big pheesh are biting...

Better make it a 10 wt... Don't wanna be blamed for you losing one because you were under gunned....

Hey Phil... is that your guide helper in that pic helping to launch the boat (pic #7)? That's one ugly helper... Bet he eats a lot, too!!!

Careful... those big Buffalo River fish will put a big bend in your rod!! Just look at THIS monster!!!! (The one on the RIGHT!)

Wow... well to me there is NO ugly part of the Buffalo and the fishing is good in most of the floats-sections. For white water action (with the rain and all) go for the upper section. If you just want to enjoy the scenary and fish, then the lower section is better. Go to the Silver Hill Grocery website - click here - for some information. (At the bottom are maps and conditions and float recommendations.)

NO NO No No no, JC... There's a better way to use them... Click here and go to photo #8...

Capt, I didn't see that post or maybe it is from another thread? Are you talking specifically about the Spring? If so, then now we can begin to "point fingers" so to speak. You can attest to the "practicality" of fencing a stream dissecting a farm. The initial construction is one thing, but the upkeep is another for sure. I, too, have spent many hours mending fences torn down by flooding waters, tresspassers, determined cattle, the neighbor's bison, and even a black bear or two. Our farm was (and is) dissected from the NE corner to the SW corner by a creek that empties into a COE built watershed lake. It was never fenced off, but there is and will always be (as long as my mom, sister, and I own the property) a riparian zone of at least 15 feet. The cattle do not frequent the stream as we have ponds located on the acreage. However, they do have a couple of fords that they cross. The amount of cow manure going directly into the stream is minimal. (The farm is leased out now to another cattle farmer.) While large ag operations (chicken houses, pork operations, beef feed lots, and large dairy operations) are a problem, it is a little clearer now that the problem on the Spring is more likely from a housing development source. Again, storm water improvements and stricter enforcement and better land development practices are key. This from a phosphate and bacteria standpoint. (I wonder how I and other country kids survived swimming in creeks and branches all those years...)

Hey, GF... You sure that was KFF? Just kiddin'... yep, John is a good guy... Hey... he's an ol' Arkie!! What did you expect?

Does that include flies, gnats, and skeeters? I may be in BIG trouble!! I think that's purty much the case anywhere now, Wayne. Wonder if they technically could fine you for runnin' over a 'dillo, possum, squirrel, turkey, skunk, frog, snake, etc. on the highway?

Jerod, Just remember this... When floating down the river uncontrollably, do not yell "help" or "I can't swim" or anything like that... Yell "WOW! LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THIS BIG 32 INCH BROWN SWIMMING IN MY WADERS!" That way, you will have dozens of night fishermen swarming around you casting big streamers and one might just hook your vest and drag you in... Seriously, tho... I hope you're lucky enough that this rain doesn't mean units running all night. Only a few daring (insane?) souls such as Duckydoty brave the darkness of Taney with a unit or more running...

Yes...

One question... How many of you guys have ever owned or worked on a cattle operation? Especially one with a stream dissecting the land... not just bordering it... and not just little ol' weekend 10 acre - four cow "ranches" either. First of all, we are still "chasing ghosts" in that there is no "proof" as to the source of the E. Coli levels for this stream. That should be the first step here. THEN we can start pointing fingers. Second, the E. Coli problem is still not the "big picture" in our water quality issues. High levels is a potential problem but there are MUCH "bigger fish to fry." I agree that land ownership gives no right to pollute especially since "we all live downstream." But, MTM, I'm not so sure how you come up with the practicality of fencing a stream. Riparian buffer zone, yes, I agree one hundred percent. Ponds and tanks, totally. I'll even give in to fencing streams that border farms. But fence off one that runs down the middle? Easier said than done. I think we need to be concerned with E. Coli levels, yes. But we need to be looking more at PHOSPHATE levels from commercial fertilizer and chicken litter as well as erosion problems from land development and lack of riparian zones. Those are the bigger issues that need our attention far more than family farms. Land development - housing Golf courses Large commercial agri operations Golf courses are probably the bigget contributors to water problems than anyone even realizes. They are building more and more golf courses and the amount of commercial fertilizer used on them rivals any farming operation 10 times the same size. This fertilizer pours phosphates into the stream at alarming rates. Missouri has done a pretty good job with housing developments, but still, this just adds more problems to the water especially when the development is next to a larger stream. Look at the fiasco on the Norfork tail waters. And then you have to look at the septic systems for these developments. A couple of dumpings into the White system have already occurred. Arkansas is, MAYbe, finally coming out of a deep sleep into a state of semi-concious slumber. The answer? I wish it was so simple... it's not... Nobody can "wave a magic wand" and make the problem go away. But the things that need to be put in place in my humble opinion are these: - Tighter controls on commercial development within a (TBD) range of major streams. Major stream designation by MDC. - Mandatory riparian zones (15 ft or more) on any stream of certain size or larger. - Tighter controls on golf course and similar operations on amounts of fertilizer and drainage. - Storm water controls for "high dollar" land developments and large commercial agri operations. - More and better enforcement of these and current regulations. - Funding for R&D on storm water/drainage prevention strategies and practices to improve conditions. These are just my opinions, for what it's worth, and that ain't much...

What use to be a nice relaxing way to spend some time on the river and enjoy the scenary has, sadly, become a floating party time for many folks. I can't, for the life of me, understand why some idiot thinks no more of a beautiful stream they are floating that they would discard their cans, bottles, and other trash in it. I can honestly say that even in the ignorance and stupidity of my youth, I NEVER left trash other than a few cigarette butts in the woods or water. I do regret even that. OH... there WAS that lucky fishing cap I lost in the upper Little Red that time.... Click here....

I don't know if a rusty dun is a fly... It is a color used by thread and feather manufacturers. Maybe it's just a rusty dun thread, rusty dun hackle... Where did you hear/read the name?

You mean she would pass up the opportunity for such stimulating conversation with a bunch of expert night time fly fishermen? I think we found world peace, cured cancer, stopped global warming, and found out who really shot JFK... But we did come up short on why they turned the water on at midnight... Hey Seth... You shoulda stuck around... I know I had some snacks in the truck and Michael did... I'm sure we could have rounded up some peanut butter and crackers to keep her occupied while we were shootin' the bull.... I also had a Busch Light left... She could have had that and napped...

Sorry I didn't make it guys... Was suppose to take the kid to a barrel race, but she backed out... By that time I was too... uh... upset to make it up there...

Nice Smallie!... Sounds like a good mornin'...

Naw, CC, the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers are going to keep 'em at bay and the folks around St Louie and KC are gonna run over all of 'em... OH Wait... they're already in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida... they must have crossed the bridge at Vicksburg... (I can tell a lot of people have never seen one of the li'l buggers swim...) Seriously, tho... The MO and MS rivers will slow them down a bit on a northern trek and the cold weather won't help... But with global warming, who knows? By the way, they seem to be adapting pretty well to cooler climates... Can't wait to see 'em crossing Lakeshore Drive in Chicago...

WF... I've always had to use the line, "it's not the size and length of the rod, it's what you do with the wolly bugger..."

Glad you made it OK, Duane... and glad you only caught 4 more fish... makes me feel better about leaving... OK, Michael... here's my list.... Money Talks - AC/DC Get Rythm - Johnny Cash Remedy - Black Crows Foggy Mountain Breakdown - Flatt and Skruggs Welcome to the Jungle - Guns 'N' Roses Country Boy Can Survive - Hank Jr. Wanted Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi Ol' Man Down the Road - Creedence Clearwater Revival Swamp Music - Lynard Skynard Bounty Hunter - Molly Hatchet Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way - Waylon Jennings Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith Hot for Teacher - Van Halen Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down - Merle Haggard Dr. Feelgood - Motley Crue Enter Sandman - Metallica No necessarily in that order...