Friday Morning 7-10-09

[Bman]

Got out below the Dam after a few hours sleep and breakfast at Billy Gails.

WINDY! Still had the rod rigged up for streamers from a few hours earlier. So I tried skipping some sculpins. It was pretty slow for me, quite a few people out fishing some of my favorite spots already.

Then I tied on a different colored PMS that I got from Leonard...first cast, WHAM! a thick bodied 20 inch female. She shot over from a few feet to jump on it. Thanks Leonard! Caught a few more, missed more. A few cracks of thunder, I decided to pack it up, and head for the hills of High Ridge, stopping for frequent coffe breaks along the way.

[laker67]

Got out below the Dam after a few hours sleep and breakfast at Billy Gails.

WINDY! Still had the rod rigged up for streamers from a few hours earlier. So I tried skipping some sculpins. It was pretty slow for me, quite a few people out fishing some of my favorite spots already.

Then I tied on a different colored PMS that I got from Leonard...first cast, WHAM! a thick bodied 20 inch female. She shot over from a few feet to jump on it. Thanks Leonard! Caught a few more, missed more. A few cracks of thunder, I decided to pack it up, and head for the hills of High Ridge, stopping for frequent coffe breaks along the way.

That was quite the marathon trip, Bman. If you are like me, it would take me at least one day to recover. Then I would be ready to do it again. Sounds like you got into some good fish and had the opportunity to experience the peace and the tranquility of a taneycomo night trip. Thanks for the report.

[Bman]

That was quite the marathon trip, Bman. If you are like me, it would take me at least one day to recover. Then I would be ready to do it again. Sounds like you got into some good fish and had the opportunity to experience the peace and the tranquility of a taneycomo night trip. Thanks for the report.

Yes. I got home, a shower, ate, and crashed. The next day, I took my daughter who is expecting a son on Labor Day, her husband Joe, and granddaughter Cadence out in the boat, to a nearby location on the Meramec River that doesn’t see floaters in large numbers. Saw 4 kayaks. The fish were biting. We caught one Largemouth, several small Smallies. Then I spotted a couple large Drum tailing in the rocks probably chomping on crawfish. I told my son in law, watch this I’m going to catch a big drum! (What the heck, they pull hard) I made a cast upstream of it, but landed a little further upstream than I wanted. I instantly felt my line go solid tight! Thought I was hung on a big rock. Then “the rock” started moving! Then I saw the biggest Smallmouth on the end of my line I’ve ever had on! It was huge! This massive Smallie was stripping line off my reel and making my line “sing” through the water. Got it turned and coming head first to the boat looking straight down the throat with its mouth wide open. Joe got a good look at it, and said WOW! Then the hook came out. GRRRR! I wanted my hands on that fish! I even had a digital camera with me. I would have released it after a pic. I had to behave myself and watch my mouth with my granddaughter on board. At least I had a witness to this fish story.

A couple years ago, I caught and released a 4 lb Smallie on the same stretch of river. This one was way bigger! I will be back!

About Taney, (I digress) Yes, the solitude and overall experience was awesome. At 2am, I had the area to myself. I stopped fishing several times; to just look around, smell the air, taking in the sights and sounds of the night. The only other time I had the upper end to myself was on a Christmas Eve. Several years back.

[ohmz138]

Thats a cute picture Dad. We have to check that water out a little more sometime soon. Ill jump in after em if ya hook em again.

Did you show em what the ol' RiverPro can do?

[laker67]

Yes. I got home, a shower, ate, and crashed. The next day, I took my daughter who is expecting a son on Labor Day, her husband Joe, and granddaughter Cadence out in the boat, to a nearby location on the Meramec River that doesn’t see floaters in large numbers. Saw 4 kayaks. The fish were biting. We caught one Largemouth, several small Smallies. Then I spotted a couple large Drum tailing in the rocks probably chomping on crawfish. I told my son in law, watch this I’m going to catch a big drum! (What the heck, they pull hard) I made a cast upstream of it, but landed a little further upstream than I wanted. I instantly felt my line go solid tight! Thought I was hung on a big rock. Then “the rock” started moving! Then I saw the biggest Smallmouth on the end of my line I’ve ever had on! It was huge! This massive Smallie was stripping line off my reel and making my line “sing” through the water. Got it turned and coming head first to the boat looking straight down the throat with its mouth wide open. Joe got a good look at it, and said WOW! Then the hook came out. GRRRR! I wanted my hands on that fish! I even had a digital camera with me. I would have released it after a pic. I had to behave myself and watch my mouth with my granddaughter on board. At least I had a witness to this fish story.

A couple years ago, I caught and released a 4 lb Smallie on the same stretch of river. This one was way bigger! I will be back!

About Taney, (I digress) Yes, the solitude and overall experience was awesome. At 2am, I had the area to myself. I stopped fishing several times; to just look around, smell the air, taking in the sights and sounds of the night. The only other time I had the upper end to myself was on a Christmas Eve. Several years back.

Remember what I said in an earlier post? It's all about the fair chase and how we play the game. You play the game correctly Bman. Even though you lost the huge smallmouth, you are still the winner. Taney, on a mid-summer night, is good for the soul. No bells and whistles, and no hustle and bustle of the crowds of the day. If you catch some nice fish, well that's a bonus. I have night fished since the late 70's, and every night is a different experience. Sometimes I catch big fish at night, but most times it's just the average size day fish. My very first "limit of lunkers" came from a night trip at taney in the late 70's. You have certainly had a great week of fishing Bman. I'm envious to say the least.

[Bman]

Thats a cute picture Dad. We have to check that water out a little more sometime soon. Ill jump in after em if ya hook em again.

Did you show em what the ol' RiverPro can do?

Thanks for the offer son, I will take you up on that, wish you could have been there.

The River Pro ride...Joe and granddaughter Cadence took it all in. Your sis was hanging on and saying, "Dad"!

So I was behaving myself. Joe did say he'd like for you & I to take a guys only trip sometime soon. GRIN

River was low, we witnessed a jet john, and a Shoal Runner hit shallow gravel bars grinding gravel, and stuck bad.

[Bman]

Remember what I said in an earlier post? It's all about the fair chase and how we play the game. You play the game correctly Bman. Even though you lost the huge smallmouth, you are still the winner. Taney, on a mid-summer night, is good for the soul. No bells and whistles, and no hustle and bustle of the crowds of the day. If you catch some nice fish, well that's a bonus. I have night fished since the late 70's, and every night is a different experience. Sometimes I catch big fish at night, but most times it's just the average size day fish. My very first "limit of lunkers" came from a night trip at taney in the late 70's. You have certainly had a great week of fishing Bman. I'm envious to say the least.

To have to have a compliment such as,” I'm envious to say the least.”I hold in the highest regard from anyone.

But to have this comment from the holder of our State Record Brown Trout, and line class holder to boot. I say a humble thank you, and I hope to share the water with you some time soon. I would be honored!

I have had many in the fly fishing biz say that they were so happy these records went to yourself. They said, "he's a great guy deserving these records".

[laker67]

To have to have a compliment such as,” I'm envious to say the least.”I hold in the highest regard from anyone.

But to have this comment from the holder of our State Record Brown Trout, and line class holder to boot. I say a humble thank you, and I hope to share the water with you some time soon. I would be honored!

I have had many in the fly fishing biz say that they were so happy these records went to yourself. They said, "he's a great guy deserving these records".

Now I am the one who is humbled. Thank you Bman! Give me a shout next time you go down for a day/night wade trip. I would be honored as well.

[bigredbirdfan]

I think I have a rather ugly jig in my tacklebox with some red tinsle in it. I believe it to be a PMS jig 1/8 oz. Is this the one you were using and how is it fished either fly rod or a spinning rod? Stripping it like a wooly?

Thx BRBF

[Bman]

I think I have a rather ugly jig in my tacklebox with some red tinsle in it. I believe it to be a PMS jig 1/8 oz. Is this the one you were using and how is it fished either fly rod or a spinning rod? Stripping it like a wooly?

Thx BRBF

The jig I fish from a spinning rod, with short little hops bumping the bottom. If you fish the jig right, you will knock all the paint off the jig head.

The PMS I used was one Leonard made up with a smaller bead head on it. I was using a fly rod stripping it along the bottom.

I would direct questions to Leonard. He's the "doctor" when it comes to the PMS or Hibernator.