straw hat

No spoonbill nxs! Sorry You will have to buy your cavier!! lol

Were there any external wounds to match those spots or were they evident on the inside only?

Used to eat young snappers as a kid. Mom made a soup out of them. Not bad if they were young enough.

Switching this conversation a little. This reminds me of when I was growing up. Any school I went to you had to take a civics class. Every year, every year, .... In this class you learned how to care for a flag, citizenship and social norms. This included walking on the right side of an aisle or sidewalk, taking your hat off when talking to a lady, always calling your elders Mr or Mrs (that included a 30 year old talking to a 60 year old), taking your hat off inside a building, etc. You never went to visit someone without bringing some food along. Now if I try to walk down the right side of an aisle in Battlefield Mall you will get run over. Ahhh, the good ole days!! How society changes.

great job Nitro

Cotner's Corner stopped carrying minnows when Bullseye took over a few years ago. That was my favorite place. That's what Moore's told me Ranger. She said it is just a mixture of all sizes!!

Well, I called Moore's and you were right. They only carry crappie minnows and they are $3.00 a dozen. A little better price. Thanks wuteversbitin.

Thanks for the tip. I will try Moore's. The Fellow's Lake Marina is out right now but their normal price is $3.50/doz. Ouch!!

Now that Tranthams is closed in Springfield I don't really have a source for minnows here. Does anyone know of a place? Especially around north spfld? Thanks

Wood and Water (use to be Center City Marine) in Springfield. Used them for over 25 years and no complaints.

We have had the discussion before about the increase nitrogen and phosphorus in Stockton and the subsequent increase in filamentous algae. And many have noted the clarity of the water this year and past. I would just like to add a note about the contribution of this algae to water clarity. The billons of microscopic strands of algae act to entrap sediment and microscopic plants and animals. One look at a sample under the microscope would astound you as to the sand grains, small pieces of debri etc that is captured. Now this clearing of the water is of a benefit to the algae. The clearer the water the farther the light can penetrate and the deeper the algae can spread. It helps the success of the species. As the algae reaches the top it forms a dense layer that will shutdown the light until the mass begins to die (lowering oxygen levels around it) and then float free. This mat which can be the size of a golf ball to he size of a volkswagon will float with the current and can land in some new area to help spread the species. Water clarity in some eutrophic lakes can increase 20 to 30 feet or more when the algae really gets going. Now add to this the jumping carp and the zebra mussel. Very efficient strainers of the water column. I amfraid it is just a matter of time. Clarity to depths of 40 or 50 ft? Only time will tell. It will be interesting.

Probably your best bet. Be careful not to get run over by a bass boat. Good Luck!!

And it is not just the people at the lake. Some one last October, in my driveway, stole my full (15 gallon) tank of gas, tank and all including the hose to the motor. I had it chained down and locked. He cut the chain and took it but was considerate enough to leave me the cut lock!! lol

Thanks for the offer Aggressor. That is really weird SJ. I would say probably not the usual place for a pro to pick up johns. lol

I have meet Doug several times and he seems like a good fair man.

Forget the damage to vehicles (slashed tires, broken windows, etc) and the rude people who fish right on top of you when you they see you catch even one fish. What worries me most is the threatening/dangerous ones. The drunks in boats, the drunk bank fisherman that threatren to beat the .... out of you and your wife (this has happened twice while bank fishing). I called the police in both cases. In one case no one ever showed up (They said they were very busy), even after several calls . In the other the police talked to the individuals and then came up and said they were not moving and I should just leave. The people who come along and cast across your lines, cut them and then fish in the spot where you were fishing. Bass anglers in tournaments that will 'tell' you they are going to fish your spot They run over your lines with their trolling motor and say they 'warned' you. I was out last summer in the boat and a drunk came by us and started circling us. After a couple passes they started taking their empty beer cans, filling them in the lake and throwing them at us. I got the boat registration number and called the water patrol. They said they would be there as soon as possible. My wife and I waited 2 hours and they never showed. Now some of these are major concerns and some less of a problem but when you are approaching 70, have a bad heart any of these issues is threatening. I am like most of you guys, I get very upset and what to holler, scream and pound someone BUT I can't do that. I have to stay calm. After a bad day on the lake I spend a couple days feeling terrible, erratic heart beat and am laid up until it settles down. There is no sense having a heart attack over this. I miss my fishing very much BUT I am still alive.

Things have gotten so much worse over the last few years for the wife and I that we don't go until at least June when the crowds drop off. We are thinking of quitting fishing all together. I also have seen too many arguements and threats over use of the ramps as well. Who was here first, taking too long, etc. You combine that with my health issues...well it just isn't fun anymore.

Is that just west of the 215 bridge (mile long bridge) by Hawker Point?

Managed to pick up a 8.4 lb Flathead on Stockton on the 21st on large minnows. Main channel on Turnback arm. It was 20' deep.

Today CC - almost iced all the way over Springfield Cove iced over Ruark Bluff open Maze creek and turkey creek were iced over as far as you can see. Sorry no more info. That is all I went past.

A friend of mine caught a 9 lb 10 ounce walleye back on March 9th of 1998. I am still jealous.

I heard the ice is melting up north but I didn't know they had traveled this far south for food!!! lol

I know of several 10 lb plus largemouth out of Stockton. Some have pictures in the archive. Also saw one crappie my brother caught at Stockton about 15 years ago that measured 19". Sure don't look at me for any in that size range though. lol

Not an eagle anywhere. I think they all went home for Christmas and will be back after New Years!!

The wife and I went for a drive around the lake today. Water still a little green at Hawker but not bad. Water temp 45. Ruark looked good and water temp 43. CC bridge looked good and water temp 42.