stlfisher

I am fan of the cooler weather as well. This morning was good sleeping weather... was tough to get out of bed for work. Looking forward to fishing Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this weekend.

Just a guess but it probably has to do with water level and angler pressure more than anything. Late summer and early fall usually bring shallower water and easier for the shocking to take place. Probably less traffic on the streams/lakes so it has the least effect on fisherman. Winter could be dangerous since the freezing cold might be worse than blazing heat. Again just a bunch of guesses. I would be interested to know how effective the shocking is at getting a true measure of the fish counts and size. I would thinks some fish that hold deep may escape the sampling...probably more of a possibility in deep lakes than the shallow streams.

glad you landed the fish and saved the equipment! I have my share of night mishaps....bringing back some memories now! The most memorable was standing on the back of a small rental john boat which was tied to the shore in a row with about 15 other rentals. I went to step boat to boat when a gust of wind from god moved the boat I wast stepping too. It up and vanished like a fart in the wind and into the drink I went....face first. It was good thing I was ok...my buddy was laughing so hard he would have been useless in a rescue situation.

Open year round, but I think they stop renting boats sometime in October...I can't rememember the exact date....I think the 31st though. If trout interest you 21 and 28 are the C@R lakes, no bait allowed until February 1st,then you can keep them. Lakes 22,23, and 24 anything goes and you can keep them all winter.

sounds like a sweet little trip....gotta love the night fishin as well... I have actually hooked a bat before...not quite what I was shooting for. Good to hear of the small brown's being caught...high survival should mean good fishing in the next few years. Same thing is happening on the Current.

I am big fan of the Chatterbait as well. I usually fish mine like a jig and throw it a lot at night. I'd just hop it on the bottom...caught some nice bass that way.

I have looked at the ION in the past and I am thinking of purchasing a 7 weight as I head into next year. Let me know how you like yours!

I have had good luck with the RLS reel from Cabela's. They are on sale for $99 right now too.

I'd be game for a return to the Big 8. I agree that Texas caused all this, but Texas will have many options in the end. They already caused the destruction of the old SWC. It would be awfully funny to see Texas end up in the Big 10 or SEC considering Nebraska, Colorado, and A@M are trying to get away from them. Missouri tried last year to get to the Big 10, but no luck. I am not sure where Kansas or MU will end up in the end, but they should be ok. However, Kansas State, Iowa State, and Baylor have some real concerns. Athletics drive the revenue and if you end up in a non BCS conference you lose a ton of revenue. Kansas should end up a basketball heavy conference such as the Big East...even though geographically that makes zero sense. The issue with the Big East going after Missouri is the football in that conferance is pretty mediocre and the ACC or SEC may try to pick off the schools from the Big East if all the major conferences decide to go to 16 teams. The Big East is not exactly stable either. I honestly think Missouri could challenge for the football conference crown in the Big East. Missouri would be middle of the pack in the SEC and some years lower, but could compete. The program has won 40 games the last 4 years and the Big 12 wasn't exactly a cake walk when we had Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma, Tech, and Okie State. We probably have a better basketball program than most of the SEC schools with the exception of KY (historically) and Florida. That could all change with the Frank Haith hire and Miami implications. The issue with the SEC is they have lower academic standards and that put's Missouri at a disadvantage. However, it would be pretty cool to have Florida, Alabama, and Auburn, come play in Columbia. You could have some great trips to the some of those schools as well. You should be able to keep the best talent in the sate at Missouri if you are playing in the SEC. I still don't understand Baylor's actions though. No one is going to want to touch them after all this passes. I suppose they don't have many other choices, but now I think they have absolutely sealed their fate. Their actions have also put MU and KU in a bad spot. Both should end up ok if the Big 12 dissolves, but that isn't a lock and now they have to thread the needle of protecting their institutions without angering other prospective conferences. I really really dislike Baylor and Kenneth Star at this point in time.

I think Mizzoui has a shot as the 14th member of the SEC, but they better be careful how they manage the inevitable implosion. They need to protect their legal rights while remaining on the good side of the remaining BCS conferences. The administration at Mizzou doesn't exactly have a great track record at managing any type of crisis...makes me a little nervous. Personally, I think Mizzoui is a much better fith with the Big 10 than the SEC and would be more competetive in the Big 10. Our academics line up much better with the Big 10 as well. I am not a fan of ending up in the Big East at all. Any non BCS conferance would be an absolute disaster for Missouri which is why Baylor is freaking out at the moment. They are pretty much screwed when the Big 12 implodes. When this get' resolved I am hoping the SEC comes calling Missouri. Missouri calls the Big 10 and says take us now or we go to the SEC. The Big 10 might have to bite on Mizzou in that scenario.

What a toad. Great job and congrats!

Do you mean haul line before your back cast as Eric stated or as you are in your back cast? I think I experience the same issue as the original poster. When I make my first haul the line does not get pulled through the quides as it rolls out behind me (it kinda sticks in the guides so to speak)and I am left with some slack near my hauling hand when I do the second haul.

As far as fly rod's if you aren't too picky about the size of the fish I would fish a 9ft 5 weight. IMO it is a good all around rod and will handle most fish you will encounter. The only disadvantage is casting large heavy flies can be a challenge on a 5 weight. It is plenty of rod for the fight though. The longer rod helps to cast longer and control you line better. A short rod is better in tight situations, but you can roll cast in those situations. I have always felt short rod's are for more specialized fishing situations and may not be the best for an all around type rod. The 9 foot length enables you fish small ponds and lakes more effectively as well. You will likely get's lot's of differing opinions, just make sure to cast any rod before you buy and buy what you feel will be most comfortable for the majority of your fishing situations.

Excellent bass...especially for Busch. 35 has some nice fish. Hit it in the fall with some big bass baits and you might get into a bonus Muskie.

To me it is a minimal inconvenience and small expense to help keep the streams healthy. Seems to me lot's of folks want to have a clean healthy stream as long as the sacrifices to keep it that way don't affect their current practices. OB stated it well a few posts above.

Remember below the spring branch is red ribbon trout water....no soft plastics allowed in that stretch.

I think the walkway/rock/ugly area currenty is directly below the dam area in the right hand corner (if you are standing on the bridge looking at the dam). It is not like a sidewalk next the stream for mile on end type thing. More of a prettier concrete slab (if that is possible) with more access over an ugly concrete slab that makes access difficult. Not a bad idea IMO.

Looks like a sweet trip. Well done!

The meeting mintues are just as 3WT said...meeting minutes...and not the actual worded law or press release. I will wait to see what it actually reads, but I think we are jumping the gun a bit discussing the wording. And TF besides lawyers need poorly written laws so they have something to argue. The MDC is a laywer's dream in that regard. I am just kidding TF most of my buddies are lawyers.

I am fine with the ban. There are many things that affect our streams that need attention besides this issue, but this seems like a logical start.

It is nice to read stuff like this...Good deal fly smallie!

Congrats on the brown...beautiful fish. Enjoyed the underwater shots too.

Nice report...glad you got out with your son! Sorry the fishing wasn't as hot as normal...I experienced the same results the weekend before....slow and only managed a few rainbows and 3-4 small browns from this years stock. Hate to see those huge brown harvested from the bait area. Hope the MDC does something to prevent that.

Well we had an interesting weekend and we only managed to sneak away for a hour or so on Sunday morning to fish a spring fed pond. Caught a few largemouth, but really only fished for a few minutes before I had to head back to STL. Unfortunately, we spent a fair amount of time in the emergency room after a family member accidently took a few shots below the belt from an automatic paintball gun. It was not pretty, but he will be ok...eventually. Think I'll stick to the fishing.

I am heading down to Popular Bluff this weekend with my girlfriend to visit her cousin and her family. All in all it should be a fun weekend with some fishing, paintballing, 4 wheeling, and frog gigging (apparently they think this will be funny watching the city boy do this..and there probably right). I am looking forward to a quick weekend out of the city. Anyway, my girlfriend's cousin's son who is twelve has expressed some interest in doing some fishing Saturday morning. Anyone, know any good areas in or near Popular Bluff I could take him? I think he wants to do some Catfishing and I don't think he has a lot of fishing experience. I might try to put him on a few bass if things go well. He is a really good kid so I would like for him to catch a few in the limited time we will have.