Thom

Click on this link or cut and paste it to your browser. It lists several colors of the slug-0 and can be ordered from bass-pro: There is also another minnow shown to the left. http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.Tex...t=SearchResults

The Picture didn't paste but I think this is the minnow you are describing. The manufacturer is listed below: Soft plastics have evolved into a well-rounded team, including valued players in mid-depth and surface applications. Three prime examples are jerkbaits, top waters, and crankbaits. One advancement has been the soft-plastic jerkbait, which began with Lunker City Tackle's Sluggo, and now the new "Sizmic" Flugo is taking the angling world by storm! It shot immediately onto the must-have chart and spawned a host of other jerkbaits, many of them with realistic baitfish bodies. They can imitate the erratic, flicking, fluttering motions of a small suspended fish in distress, yet retain all the subtleties and fish-catching attributes of soft plastic.

My pastor, who I have trout fished with a few times, called me yesterday and said his neighbor had a 10 # fish that he caught at one of the Busch wildlife trout ponds that are stocked in the winter. When he went over to see it the rainbow was over 10 # and the neighbor had another one that looked to be 15". I didn't know that they stocked lunkers or even the larger ones. Most that I have caught were 10 to 12 inches and hard to catch because they tend to stay in the middle of the lakes during the day. I don't know if this was one that maybe was a hold over that summered in deep water or a spring hole. I know that there are lots of small minnows, bluegill and crayfish for food. A couple of the lakes are flys only and catch and release until spring and a couple are anything goes.

Terry: Great to have you back and doing well. I had a complete replacement about a year ago and I hardly even know that it was done. No pain or problems. Before the surgury one of my friends commented to me that if I was a horse they would shoot me I limped so badly. Everyone that I talked to both before and after the replacement said that PT is the most important thing following the procedure to get up and going. It is a drag but I have a couple of frinds that faked it and skipped the staitening and bending. They had good surgeons but they still don't have the mobility that I have. Hope you can get back on the water soon. Thom

You might want to consider renting a slip from one of the resorts or Fall Creek marina and staying at a condo or motel away from the river. I do that most of the time. Sometimes when resorts are booked they still have slips available for mosest fees. I usually stay at Fairfield resort and dock at fall creek. It gives good access to the trophy area and downstream. It is also very secure and has an attendant all day. Thank your Son for me and my family for his dedicated service. Hope you have a wonderful time.

Guides and locals fish with small hooks and bait in the rocks to catch sculpen on the White river and then float them as live bait for the large browns there. Not my cup of tea but I tried it once there fishing out of Gastons and down through white hole. The technique we used was floating down a couple of times and locating where the fish were holding and then floating the rest of the day through the hot spots. Worked like a charm until we run out of bait.

You are right about the White river. I learned quickly if the horn sounds start for the bank immediately. Fishing at the State park you can get out to the other side for a good ways when the water is off. It is also good to remember the path that you took to get to your spot and wear a belt. If you hit a hole even a foot deeper on your way back you will go in over the top of your waders. Ther are enough long deep bends that if you get out immediately and go to the next access...White hole.., you can fish for almost 45 minutes before the water gets there and starts to rise. fishing is usually good on the rise. Then you can go to the ramp and fish another 45 minutes then to cotter and so on.

Good common sense advice. Most folks that do not observe stream ettiquite do it out of ignorance. Even if you suggest the proper flow of fly fishing they usually don't get it. I usually just wait a while and they move since most aren't usually catching fish anyway. If they seem nice I will offter them a fly that I am having sucess with and suggest that they might have better success with a longer drift. I they are really obnoxious I say something politelly like " Am I in your way...I can move to another spot if I am." It usually embarasses them enough that they move away a little. I fish for the sport and pleasure of being in God's beautiful outdoors and the possiblity of discovering some new technique or fly pattern that works. I don't allow anyone to rent space in my head or spoil my day. I just move away. Fortunately Taney is big enough to find another space and better company. It almost always is the best thing to do. Strangely enough I recall times that I have moved from what I thought was the best spot available to another available space less attractive and have made the best catch of the day or hit an unlikely hot spot I had never fished before.

The problem that is mentioned with toothpick incicators causing tangles and knots can be nearly eliminated if you trim the stict as short as possible and insert it from the bottom with the excess pointing toward the fly. I never get tangles that way. Use the smallest indicator possible for the fly used. The ones that have a slit on the side and rubber tubing inside work well and come in different sizes. That allows you to change with the fly an conditions that you are encountering change without cutting off the fly. They are also very light and make very little disturbance when presented properly. Little pricier but last longer than most. To repeat what has already been said "a dry indicator in clear water without any chop is the best way to go but takes a little practice to get used to. I often catch fish on the dry when using it this way.

Brilliant idea. Thanks for for all of your efforts to make this a first class forum. I saw the one yesterday for Brittiny's webcam. so sad that folks have such warped minds and lives when their efforts could be invested so many worthwhile things that give eternal rewards and blessings.

I tend to agree with you about the ID being a good idea, but passing a law just months before an election to desenfrancise folks who have voted for years was not a good way to do it. If the Missouri congress wants to revamp the law now would be a good time to do it giving people time to get the paperwork done. Make it a process that would be without red tape and foolish rules that now exist. A good way to start would to have the election registration offices to provide forms to legal register voters that are not dead that they could take to the license offices to get a photo ID that would be only good for voting and do it for free. That would meet all of the constitutoinal issues that struck down the law. It would be a simple process to check public records to determination validy of the voters residency and eldigibility. cut out the political crap by the license bureau and political pundits. They tell you that the patriot act requires them to do all of that stuff. I called three license bureaus and got three different answers as to what I had to do. It's crap, pure political crap. Hey LMW: I just noticed from your profile below your picture that you are from Edwardsville. I lived in Collinsville for about 20 years and pastored a Church in Edwardsville for 5 years. Great community and folks. I know lots of fine people there and both of my son's played football and wrestled against the dreaded EHS teams. Hope to meet you on the stream sometime and get aquainted. Good talking to you even when we may disagree. I find that I often learn more from folks with whom I disagree than those who nod yes to everything I say.

You are absolutely right it was Rangle. I couldn't recall his name. I was just making the observation that it wasn't the new congress but a long time member and he has held this position for some time. Of course the press conveniently omited that because it wouldn't have made a good sound bite. caption "top democrat" is also not to acurate because Rangle is a character but his positions seldom get adopted without much compromise and toning down. Actually the new members of the Democratic congress are much more to the center (moderates) and hold political views close to their Republican conterparts. I am taking a wait and see approach to how the new mix works out. Pelosi has already been shown that her far left position is not going to be the direction of the Democratic caucus by the rejection of Murta her choice for majority leader. Let's give them a chance to function. There will be plenty of time to take pot shot later if they don't make progress on the real issues. remember that during Reagan's final two years a Democratic majority led by Tip O'neal of Mass. who was also a bit bit of a left winger did a great job of working with Raegan to put partisan politics aside and arrive a win/win solutions to the economic recession and recovery.

My last trip to Taney I started out on size 18 midges and was getting hook ups but pulling out after just a short time. I was not getting any to the boat. I switched to an exact fly on the same 2487 hook but in a 16 and had just as many strikes and didn't lose a fish. I usually tie the 16 body near the same size on the 18 as I do on the 16 so only the hook is larger the actual profile in the water column is nearly the same and I think the tail and point of the hook mostly dissapers anyway. I usually start with and use 18 size because most of the bigger fish I have caught have been on that size. Maybe it is a coincidence but almost every fish I have landed over 20" have been on smaller flys. It may be because I am more careful not to break off or pull out when I am going smaller.

I keep hearing how easy it is to get a photo ID. My wife who is now disabled would not be able to vote in the last election had that law been upheld. I went to get the Mo ID card that she would have needed. I presented her old drivers license and the worker told me that that was not enough I also needed her birth certificate so I went back home and got her birth certificate and then they told me that that had her maiden name on it and now I needed a marriage liscense. After the third trip and standing in line three times we had her ID. As it turns out she didn't need it. My mother who has voted for years could not get an ID in time for the election because her Birth certificate had to be sent for from Italy where she was born even though she had been a citizen and ironically a poll worker for years. By the way one of those reasons in the court decision was based on the Hancock , a republican, amendment that states that no law can be passed without funding provided. The ID cost 11 dollars and we finally have it. We had nothing to hide. Just wanted to exercize our right to vote as we have for the 38 years we have been married. The voter registration card which now used is verified and sent to registered voters and has as many safegards as any ID. If you think an ID is the answer just ask any of the illegals in this country and they will tell where a photo ID, SS card and drivers license can be obtained for $50 Dollars. I have seen them and you can't tell the difference.

I don't know what news source you are reading but no new member of congress proposed a draft. It was one old legislater who proposed it and it received an immediate and unanimus nooooooo from all of the other congressmen including the new ones that commented on it from both sides of the aisle His point was maybe if more of the elite of this country were forced to serve their country and not hide in a remote base in Arkansas like Bush or hide behind a Rhodes scholarship in England like Clinton during a war (which is what we are in) our troups would not need to be called up two or three times after their tours of duty were over. I'm not sure if he doesn't have a point. I agree that there aren't many of the current politician in Washington that would support. None of the ones that face election in the 2008 electionwould except maybe Kerry and he would be for it and then against it later depending on how the wind was blowing.

I watched bret Rader with a couple of clients on the water two weeks ago when I was at TC. and observed his fishing methods like I do most of the good sportsman as I stood feet downstream from him. He was not walking in the water between his clients and was in fact behind them and to their left standing in about 6 inches of water tutoring them and talking to them. They were out in the stream below the crowd at outlet #1. No one catching many fish in the outlet but his clients were. He was not shuffling or walking back and forth between them. Believe me if I thought he was I would have expressed my displeasure looking him in the eye not blindsiding him on a forum. His clients were novice clients and were catching fish. How do I know they were novices'? I saw them casting the fly rod and landing the fish. I didn't approach him or talk because he was with clients however I have encountered him on the stream often in his rig. I mostly fish from a boat because of my knees. Bret always waves and if he is stopped asks how you are doing and is very easy to talk to. I don't think he is lacking for business because he alway will give advice or whats working even what he is using. I have fished near him in the throphy water several times in the hot spots that I know. He never crowds you, swamps you with his boat or moves when you come by. Some do! I have never been near him without seeing his clients catch fish....often doubles. Never tried his flys but I tie some that are very simular. The pink scud that is simular I have tied for years. It started as a mistake because I put the maribou on the wrong end so I just trimmed it short. When I used it and it worked it became a part of my scud box. My last trip to taney I had my soft side tackle box stolen with most of my estimated 1000 flies and 15 boxes. so I may purchase some of the patterns that he ties until I get caught up with restocking..

I almost decided to quit commenting on this forum because of the general lumping of all groups such as the dem this and liberals that. I don't know why folks think if you group folks under a slam name it gives some credibility to your comments. Some of the recent comments recently has restored my faith though. I served as on Missionary teams in Africa, Mexico and other places outside the US. They always were amazed at the governmental corruption that existed here and the violence in our cities. I thought how about your country but they looked to us as a model. Just for the record very few Democrats ever said cut and run. It makes good election rethoric but isn't so. If you want to listen to Rush he will tell you that they have. There are many plans that closely resemble what we are doing with the constitutional congressional oversight which doesn't exist now. Many of those veterans and patriots are just concerned at the lack of oversight and utter waste of resourses in the war effort. The investigations of the Halluburtion was just the tip of the iceberg of the concerns. The chairman of the setting comittees would not even let the issue get out of committee. Harry Truman got elected because he questioned simular descrepency that were far less expensive. Democrats also support the troops. Not with just bumper stickers and rethoric. I personally collected money for Christmas bundles, body armor before it was endorsed and letter campaingns of thankssent to Iraq. I never sit in a resturant where a service man is seated and let him pay for his check. The largest donation I ever received was outside of a union hall where most of the stickers said McCaskil. Yes I received donations for this tangible from my Republicians friends also. Never heard any of them say they didn't support the troops. By the way i understand that only two of our legislative representives have sons or daughters on acitve duty. I am proud to say that his is my Representative Todd Akin. I also know Muslems that are American citizens and do not subscribe to the kill language that is quoted out of context in some of the other parts of this thread. If you read the old testament there is simular language if quoted out of context of the New Testament and the forgiving love that Jesus taught to us. Jesus also said of those who would be cast out in the judgement that they would perish in a lake of fire. By the way that is His authority and He will take care of it. My job is just to warn others of the empending peril. My suggestion is this. Democracy has spoken. Lets not pre-judge either our President or congress before they have a chance to work together. We might be pleasantly surprised. I can see a win / win cooperation as the best solution for both parties. Reagan (a conservative Republician) and Tip O'neal (labeled an east coast wild eyed liberal) did it before and I believe that we can do it again if we put name calling partisan politics last and America first. Let's pray for our President and the elected congress to work together to achieve the best solution to the crisis in Iraq and Afganistan.

Had the same results in the same areas week before. also fishing just off the current behind the island at lookout was good. Anchoring in the still water and throwing toward the condo bank about 10 feet out from the boat. Just a very light twitch occasionaly fishing gray scuds, bead head zebra midge, hares ear or 1/100 pink jig. Dead floating egg fly orange, multicolored or chartruse all with a red dot also worked well. Getting hits most drifts.

Your facts are right about wwII but you left out one little item. We won and had a surrender in less time than we have been in Iraq to this date and we were facing Germany, Japan, Italy just to name few. The countries that we liberated and fought with were on our side. The Iraq people are not. We essentially have replaced one despot with at least three others who will take over the country and desert us when we leave weather it is tomorrow or then years from now. It's interesting to not that our commander in Chief whom I respect for his courage and detemmination is just next week making a trip to Vietnam on a trip to enlilst that and other asian countries to engage in reciprol trade agreements. Vietman was a nation that Johnsom told us if we lost in our struggle with terrorism with them it would start a terrorist threat across the middle east and communism would eventually control that hemisphere. The domino theory I think was called. Vietman won and we cut and run in the nick of time rescueing our diplomats and soldiers by air. Vietman and the region is one of the most stable and productive amoung those asian countries. It was a trumped up was based on lies of another administration. The facts that we must rely upon for decisions were manufactured but we as loyal americans trusted the politicians and fought bravely and with honor to defend what we beleived was our future. Many brave and honorable men and women lost their lives defending the power base of polititians and an industrial military complex. I carried one of those brave soldiers back and forth to the VA hospital in St. Louis several times many of which he was denied treatment for the cancer inflicting his body from being sprayed with agent orange. They said that agent orange did not cause his cancer. Long after his death the VA admitted that the agent orange had caused his and others cancer and gave his mother a small settlement. He was in heaven looking down on the sad state of affairs.

I fished last week below fall creek and did very well on #16 copper tung head zebra midge olive thread and copper wrap for the ribbing. I used a 1/100 hot pink maribow jig fished about 12 inches above the midge. I fished that combo about 18inches below the smallest float that would ride the tough wind that was on the water last week. I would catch fish on both flies. Watch for the fish feeding on top and fish 18" below the if they are breaking water. If not action was happening on top go deeper. If that didn't produce fish I fished deeper up to 6 foot and would catch fish until they started feeding on top as shallow as 12 inches. Good areas that I had success on was in front of the condos above short creek. Below short creek on the side opposite the docks in about 6 foot of water and in the shallows strait out from short creek. I found that switching to another fly occasionly (eg # 16 grey or olive hairs ear or even an egg fly (charatruse with a red dot or pink, salmon or multicolored) would also pick up the bite for a short time if the trout werent midging. I used 6x rio leader but there was a good chop on the water most of the time. If the water is not moving and no chop on the water be sure to try to drop the ling and float as gently on the water as possible. It is not necessary to make super long cast especially at the expense of slapping the water. Even with the tough conditions and only one day of 1 hr water flow I managed to catch 20 to 25 fish each morning in 2 to 3 hours out.

I have to agree that Bush is not as dumb as people think. I watched the entire speech that he made at springfield and learned many new things that I didn't know. Just to mention a few: Democrats don't believe in freedom of religion, Democrats don't believe in freedom of speech, and the topper that Matt Blunt is actually Jim Talent's son. If you don't believe it look at the replay of the introduction. It might be noted however that Talent quickly denied it and walked over to the commander in chief and told him so.

I've fished both up and down stream at Cardiac and done well by wading. I can't imagine carrying a canoe up at either spot unless you plan on taking breaks on the way up or making two trips ....canoe on one and gear on another. I still wouldn't attempt it. They call them suicide and cardiac accesses for a reason.

Many of the smaller lakes in Illinois stocked redear because they do not overpopulate like bluegill and other sunfish do. Years ago I fished Lake Murphoboro in southern Illinois and they had some whoppers there. You often thought that you had a bass or catfish on when they took off. Big slabbers and fought all the way to the boat. Me and my two sons fished with fly rods and red wigglers and when they were on it was a blast in the lilypads. Thom

I was staying at Stetson's on the white in Arkansas couple of years back and in their lodge there were about 7 browns 5 pounds and mounted over on the wall with names on them. I was giving the owner a rough time kidding him about keep the large browns for mounting. He said only one of them is really from an actual fish the others are made from pictures taken either by the guide of guest. I could not tell the difference. It's not such a big deal to me if folks that come down once or twice a year occasionally keep a trophy for their wall. I carry an inexpensive digital and take a picture to torture my buddies that are not retired yet when I get back home. if I would be inclined to put another mount (from pictures) on my wall and had $100 plus dollars I could just give the picture to the taxi guy and have it done. I usually only upgrade if it is larger than my son's last mount. I always release the large ones hoping someone else will enjoy the thrill that I just had. My last trip in September I released one over 20" that had three flies still in its mouth and one hook in it gullet that had probably been cut of by a bait fisherman to release. If I decide to take fish home for lunch the 12 or 13 inchers are the best eating anyway. I will be at Taney Oct 29th for another week. Hope to run into some of you on the water or at the dam lot. I usually dock at fall creek and fish in a procrappie trackeror wading at the dam. Plan to stop at Lillies to check out the fly shop.

Are you sure you mean copyright? This is information given to me when I was once in the embrodeiry business. This may be considered an art form and you may not take a pattern that is protected by copyright laws and sell it or produce it in large numbers. You may produce a simular product for personal use but cannot display it in a business. You may make a product and give it to a grandchild with for instance a Cardinal emblem that is simular but not exactly the same as the orginal. Is it ethical? I think that is really splitting hairs to make a few flies for a fishing trip. If I am guide and taking clients or giving them away in numbers its not right. Does this law apply to fishing lures or flys? See the information from the web on copyright. Quote: "What is a Copyright? Copyright is a protection that covers published and unpublished literary, scientific and artistic works, whatever the form of expression, provided such works are fixed in a tangible or material form. This means that if you can see it, hear it and/or touch it - it may be protected. If it is an essay, if it is a play, if it is a song, if it is a funky original dance move, if it is a photograph, HTML coding or a computer graphic that can be set on paper, recorded on tape or saved to a hard drive, it may be protected. Copyright laws grant the creator the exclusive right to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute, perform and display the work publicly. Exclusive means only the creator of such work, not anybody who has access to it and decides to grab it." Interesting topic though.