stlfisher

I will certainly let you know. Just hoping it is not too crowded, but looking forward to it.

Thanks Gavin.

i am taking the day off tomorrow and have about 8 hours or so to get trip in. I was thinking of trying out the Huzzah.Would you try Redbluff or Huzzah conservation area? Any other places to access? Thanks!

It is that time of the year and I can't wait for college football to get started. I am thinking that Missouri is going to surprise the pundits a bit. I really really like what Odom and his staff have done so far. I like OU in the Big 12 and Clemson in the ACC. PAC 12 seems wide open to me. I would like to see an Alabama and Michigan national championship game as that would be highly entertaining with Harbough and Saban. How is your team looking?

Oh I agree. I didn't mean that we should have a trout park like setting for Smallmouth, that would be awful. IMO the default management plan seems to be geared to harvest for both species which says something about the fisherman and the MDC. For those that want the outdoor experience, but don't really understand it, I think most just think I can keep 4 or 6...cool then I will....without going any deeper than that. I think the current regulations just reinforce that mindset.

I think Smallmouth in the Ozarks could most certainly be a trophy spot for angler's. IT is just not managed that way though. In fact it is the exact opposite in some cases. Better fishing would off course bring more people so it is a trade off, but economically speaking it is an resource that is mismanaged and way undervalued by the MDC and fisherman alike. Trout are not managed all that different really, but the stereotypes follow the fisherman. I can't for the life of me figure out why we spend all this money to raise trout so they can get caught and fried in an instant. Lower the limits on trout, lower the limits on smallmouth and use excess resources for habitat improvements and education for both species.

Was literally thinking of the exact same Neosho2 phrase. The timing of this debate had me all confused. Did I fall asleep and wake up in February? I fished a stream for largemouth last weekend that has not been touched since the 90's. Best fishing I have ever had by far. The difference...no pressure and no harvest in years. I don't need data on the obvious. Most fish were 2 pounds with a 4.5 thrown in for good measure. It would never survive if it was known or accesable...which it is not. The current regulations are archaic IMO. Plenty of ways to have tournaments without keeping fish these days. That is embarrassing if that is actually a reason.

What a great story. It is always more fun to catch a monster when your friends are around to witness it. That story will be told and remembered for the rest of their lives...and that is what it is all about!

Looks like a great trip and the water looks perfect! I am heading down in about a month for 4 days. Can't wait as i am over due for an extended trip.

Looks like you guys had a great multi species trip and a beautiful smallmouth to cap it off!

Saw this at a pond the other day. Very cool. Need to figure out a fly pattern for this.

You're not kidding. I couldn't help but laugh as he did follow the instructions exactly like I gave them. He got a slight upgrade from his cars fishing pole so it worked out well for him!

Been having a blast this last year teaching my 3 year old how to fish. He caught this Bluegill all by himself today from casting to hook set and reeling it in. We have lost a pole in the process (I was not clear enough that let go meant the button to release the line and not the entire pole) many flies, and two packages of weighted bobbers he couldn't resit throwing into the water. His favorite fish is a "Golden Shiner one" as there are boatloads of them in our pond. After a recent trip to Cabelas he really wants to catch a Catfish and a "Big Mouth Bass." Most nights he practices casting with my old fly rod and I pick up the line and pretend I am fish so can reel me in. I am sure the neighbors get a good laugh. My favorite moment was when he corrected my wife for using to much wrist in her cast and then demonstrsted how it was done. Proud dad moment as I joked he was a better student...that went over well.lol. Anyway, after his bath tonight he sat on my lap and did some thread wraps. Told me I was best friend and would I take him to the river this weekend. My wife and are ver lucky to have him and his little brother who loves to fish in the bath tub.

IMO any 3,4, or 5 weight will do nicely. Judging from your post it is not so much the rod, but rather setting up your rod for different fishing situations that is becoming a bit aggravating. If it is strictly fishing small midges under an indicator then a 9-10 foot rod with a double tapered line should make for some easy role casting and mending. medium fast action should be fine. Fast action takes a bit getting used to with small tippets.

I have seen those little guys at 34 as well. I see them at Forest Park too. I hope they get bigger.

Great area...not to far from the smokey mountains which has some brookies in the higher elevations. Bigger fish on the NC side for sure!

I am late to the party ,but have you checked out the link below? I am buying one of these next year for my son and I....might get one for the wife as well. They look a bit heavy, but are very stable and can handle a small motor and trolling motor if needed. I think there a couple dealers in/near Springfield if yo haven't already bought. http://www.nucanoe.com/

They used to stock hybrid's and white bass regularly back in the day along with Tiger musky. This was when Busch charged a couple bucks to fish. At some point they stopped charging and just managed for Bass, Panfish, and Catfish, but I think they stocked a few hybrid's over the years. Occasionally people would catch them. Glad to see they have added them back to mix in a few of the lakes. For as much pressure as those lakes can receive I do think the area is managed pretty well. Many of those lakes were just holes in the ground used as a water source for the dynamite that was stored in the old bunkers and some never produced good fishing if not stocked. Over the last 10 or so years the following lakes have been renovated to improve fishing. 28, 21, 16, 31, 32, 9, 10, 30, 12 (kids fishing) and lake 11. I think 8 has been renovated and is closed right now until next year. Most of the newer lakes are much clearer and much better suited for fish habitat.There maybe a few more that I am missing. While I have never read anything official I wonder if they might not do all of them eventually. Most of the lakes are really ponds so after 20 or 30 years they probably need to be drained, dredged and dressed up anyway. It is not a great area for big Bass, but there are some. They are well educated so it makes it difficult. My biggest bass was 6lb's about 10 years ago and I fished it a lot during that time. Only a handful of fish in 3-5 lb range, but tons of 12-15 bass.

Used to live the city and you can try fishing these lakes at night. You will be surprised at what you find. It is not the safest thing, but I never had an issue. For the most part I used to target Bluegill with my fly rod during the day and target Bass when everyone else has gone home. Escaped my mother in law's for a bit of fishing at Bee Tree on Father's day, but did not catch a thing. Pretty looking lake, but everything looked the same same so it was hard with limited time to decide which areas to fish. I will probably go back though, limited cover makes it easy for my 3 old to cast. He is rather deadly inside of 3 feet.

It was a great run. This was no choke job and no team had a tougher draw than the Blues. We looked gassed and the Sharks werejust a better team. Probably the most fun I have had watching the Blues in a long time. It will be a very interesting offseason.

Beatdown by the Blues tonight! Lets see if they can keep it rolling in the next round with home ice. Bouwmeister has had some giveaways and they are more noticable cause he offers little on the offensive end. If you don't notice him that is when he is playing well so his mistakes are magnified. Shattenkirk and Parayko especially were terrible at getting pucks out of the zone IMO. Jaybo takes too much heat . He is a solid #3 defensman on every team despite his blunder in game 6. Statsny and Petro have been our best players this postseason with honorable mention to Backes and Brower. I think Taresenko is hurt...I forget which game he went to the locker room for a bit.

I was at a birthday party as well at a rec center, but managed to find a TV for a bit. Big win for the Blues...I think they get it done Monday.

I feel ya man. Mine are 1 and 3. The youngest has a stomach bug and decided to carpet bomb his crib with 5 minuted left in the game. Then proceeded to vomit on me as i was getting him in the bath.To add insult injury In an attempt to avoid it I rammed my foot against a stool that our 3 yr old uses to go pee. Offcourse I had surgery on that foot this morning! Good times. Thank god the Blues won! Work is gonna suck.:) Blued Outa against

FINALLY....we play a full 60 minutes and kept attacking. We looked like world beaters tonight. If we play like this the fun is just getting started!

Yeah, it can get weird. I surprised a couple good ol boys making some meth stream side right at the access around dusk and it got rather tense. Thankfully, some other locals showed up around that time and I had the opening I needed to leave. As I was driving away I saw two police cars racing down F toward the bridge so I am sure they were headed in that direction. The pregnant gall drinking a Budweiser was a nice touch. Been back several times after that with a buddy without incident, but there are some weird folks in that area.