stlfisher

Very cool. Looks everyone was having a great time.

I was watching the sportsman channel last night as I was falling asleep, but the host's of 'Angling the Great Lakes" were on Lake Taneycomo. They mentioned their quide was out of Lilley's Landing or they launced from Lilley's. Don't remember exactly or the quides name...I was struggling to stay awake, but the name Lilley's caught my attention. They had a section on Turkey hunting the area as well. I am not sure how old the show is, but they were catching lot's of trout. Anyone else ever watched this episode?

I would tend to agree. I fished at 200CFS a few weeks agon and it was defianatly fishable but pretty high and that water is moving. It is at 270 CFS now so I think the park would be high, but fishable. Outside the park would be challenging.

I have done well at Bennett with a brown zebra midge, gold wire, cream/white collar dubbed, and a gold bead.

Man Buzz that sounds like a very scary experience. Glad your family is safe and doing well.

Great looking gills. Have a few locations like that myself. love it when they get on beds this time of year...fish after fish after fish. The big gills are an absolute blast on a fly rod.

There is so many on my to do list I wouldn't even know where to start. Montana, Alaska, New Zealand and Chile like many others have mentioned. Taimin in Mongolia would be awesome too. Jurassic lake in Argentina (while it is brutal to get too and tough conditions) sounds like something you have to do to say you did it. http://www.wherewisemenfish.com/_Argentina_Trout_Fishing_Jurassic_Lake

My aunt and Uncle and grandpa live in Joplin. They are ok as well as their home, but without power. Could have been much worse. They are right off Rangeline. Sounds like and looks like massive damage.

Gotta say the fishing has been tough to come be for me. Every weekend i have been able to go the streams have been blown out. Finally, caved and took last friday off to fish....streams still quite high. Was going to go Tuesday, but on the way to the lake my mom called and was in the emergency room...she fell and broke her ankle. Busted my hump Wednesday and Thursday this week so I could hit the pond after work yesterday. Forecast was mid 70's, cloudy, and light wind. Was geared for some topwater bluegill and bass action. Despite the forecast it rained all day, never got above 62, and the wind was blowing. That little blob of precip stayed over the area all day. Was hoping to go Sunday, but just found out my girlfriend's grandma is very sick and won't make it through the day. Off to Farmington tonight and then home for a bit tomorrow for my nephew's birthday and to give my mome a ride over. Back to Farmington tomorrow night and most of Sunday. It has been an eventful week and spring to say the least. I am ready for a vacation.

Try floating the Arkansas River in Colorado. There are many outfitters that can guide you. For an easy relaxing float stick to Class 1,2, or maybe class 3 rapids. Anything higher might be too challenging for the kids . Kinda depends on your desired adventure level. We did a class 5 Gore Canyon years ago. Had to take a swimming test beforehand and got launched out a few times...all the good stuff. My buddy got bounced almost straigh up in the air and ended up in my lap somehow. Naturally, I lauched him over the side.

Nice report. Really liked the blog and the pics of the changes in river. Thanks for posting

Yeah, it would be tough to pull off logistically as you said as that would require some additonal manpower etc. The above ideas were just something I saw on the outdoor channel. It was pretty entertaining to watch and different. By putting everyone on the exact same playing field it tested the anglers skills a little more evenly. Simple and fun is probaby better and you can always tweak it for following years once you find out what works,what doesn't, and angler input. Hopefully, everyone just has fun with it and enjoys the day whatever the rules.

I think the logic behind it is the $3 daily tag for the trout parks during the regular season takes the place of the $7 trout permit fee. The parks are stocked more and fished more heavily that other trout areas. If you fish them a lot you end up paying a little more for that resource. $3 every visit instead of $7 for the whole year elsewhere. During the winter you need a trout permit to help cover the cost's of the winter season. You are not required to buy a daily tag since you can't keep fish and the pressure on the resource is less, but there are still cost associated with keeping the park open etc. One way to look at is it $3 every visit during the regular season and $7 for all of the winter season and every other trout water in the state. I agree that rules can be a little funky which is why I always buy a permit to be safe.

I think the idea beyond the beats is everyone fishing the different beats and then rotates on to the next one. That way everyone fishes each section and can't complain they didn't get to fish a certain stretch. Everyone fishes the good water and the bad water. It might be overkill for a friendly type tournament, but probably the fairest way I can think of. Anyway, all sorts of interesting things you could do...you could make all the teams fish with the same 5 flies. Each team member would have there own personal set of said flies. You loose one tough, only 4 left! Might make for some fun, a little challenge, and something different.

I always purchase one because it is only 7 bucks and I fish a lot. The way I see it the more I can do contribute the better.

You do however need a trout permit to fish the trout parks during catch and realease season right?

I fished Friday and the water water was really moving from the Wire down to Tan Vat. The changes I saw were dramatic as well. The trees along the bank 50 yards up from Tan Vat are all gone...yeap all of them and that hole seems to be much deeper. The laydown just below the hole at Tan Vat is also gone. The first bend down from the Wire is also different...not as dramatic and i can't really explain it,but it was different. I think the tree was pushed more toward the bank and seemed less turbelant. I too experience wading issues on Friday and to be honest decided to just hit the park in the afternoon. It was running at 200CFS and boy it was moving. As far as the park...The fly fishing only actually seemed shallower in some spots....it may make for some great dry fly fishing this year at normal levels. A few more laydown's in the park were noticeably different or missing as well. I am anxious to see the changes I couldn't see because of the high water. As far fishing for me it was tough on Friday...I had so much split shot it was nearly sinking my indicator. I caught 12-15 fish with one kicker about 17. I seriously was nervous while wading outside of the park a few times. Moving gravel under you feet is unsettling to say the least! Really anxious to get back and see more of the changes.

The fly fishing tournamments I have seen usually divide the river up into 3 sections. Each team fishes those sections at different times during the day. This way everyone fishes all of the water and no one camps out at one spot all day. This might be the fairest way to divide up the water.

I think spinning reels with little cleo spoons, rooster tails, and cranks could do well (especially for the browns). Maribou jigs are always a great option. Usually, early in the morning and late in the afternoon are the best times. I usually cast across the current and work the bait back as it drifts downstream or work it back directly upstream. You will get into more brown trout below baptist until you hit the white ribbon section. Browns are tougher to catch than rainbows, but there are some big fish in the river.

Snagged nice to meet you this morning. Thanks for the flyline...I will put it to good use. Good luck fishing.

Anyone watching the new season? I caught two episode's last night, but saw a preview at some point of Capt Andy of the Time Bandit pushing down Capt Keith from the Wizard. Then I saw on last night's episode's the two crews had an altercation at a bar and the Wizard crew had half of Andy's guitar and then threw it in the ocean on last night's episode. I haven't followed as much the last two season so maybe I am missing something.I heard this is the last season the Time Bandit will be on the show or something like that. I wonder if they got booted off the show or something. Any back story that I am missing?

I fly fish often for both bass and bluegill and offcourse the redear. They are a blast this time of year and you catch boatloads of them. Anything with rubber legs seems to drive the Bluegill nuts.

I will take the BASS WF-7-F. Think would be ok on a 6 weight rod? I live in the LOU and travel to Chestefield for work. I can travle to meet you wherever. I don't mind paying something for it either.

I feel your pain. It has been a busy spring for me and not much fishing. I spent most of February and March recovering from a Rotar Cuff injury that made casting any rod difficult. Once that supsided it was either, snowy, rainy or the streams have been too high. I took the day off and I am going Friday, but they are talkig rain again. Looks like I am gonna get wet...I am going no matter what. It has been the least amount of fishing I have done over any 4 month stretch I can remember.

I agree with this and the above posts. Seems like a good way to see stream conditions and decide for yourself what you want to do.