Introduction

[T Hood]

Hello, OAF.

Thanks for welcoming me to the forum. I've been in STL 17 years and only now just picking up fishing again. I grew up in southeastern Michigan and learned to fish on a steady supply of panfish, perch, smallmouth, and bullhead in the neighborhood lake. Also, had a great bit of exposure to Michigan's trout streams and rivers during summer paddling trips.

Learning Missouri fishing has been interesting and I still have much to learn. I hope to pick up a great deal from all of you and help if I can. I'm most interested in learning bass fishing strategies for late fall, and, how to fish the Meramec and bigger rivers.

Thanks,

T

[Gilly]

Welcome, T.

If you've been hanging around for any length of time you already know it's a decent place.

Like you I took a time out from fishing and I'm back loving it!!

[FishinCricket]

Time off of fishing? Whaaaaa?

[duckydoty]

Time off of fishing? Whaaaaa?

I do not understand what you are saying????

Oh, welcome to the forum!

[FishinCricket]

Indeed, welcome.. (sorry, I got flustered)

I do not understand what you are saying????

Neither did I, but someone called and splained it to me by usin' it inna sentence:

I don't use the bathroom or eat when at Bennett Springs Trout Park because it takes time off of fishing..

[duckydoty]

Ohh! I get it now!

[FishinCricket]

Ohh! I get it now!

Always helps to use it in a sentence..

Oh, and welcome to the forum again T Hood.. Sorry for instantly wrecking your intro thread, that's (unfortunately) just how I roll.

[Andy & JoAnne]

Welcome...this is a great site. Nice photo...Have fun now that your "time Off" has expired.

[T Hood]

Welcome...this is a great site. Nice photo...Have fun now that your "time Off" has expired.

"Time off" meant completing my undergrad at Michigan State, getting a decent job, getting married, changing careers to one in sales that kept me on the road, getting off of the road and coaching one of the other "loves of my life" (high school and collegiate lacrosse), completing my MBA, and, last but not least, becoming a father. Now that I have all that behind me, I needed to "cool the competitive jets" a bit. I'd always found fishing peaceful. Plus, I don't consider it competitive. You're in competition with Mother Nature. Any assumption that you'll be able to beat her on a regular basis is faulty!

Now that the MDC has stocked trout up here in STL, I'm re-discovering that as well. A couple of questions:

1. What are the best lures to use for trout lakes and ponds? After a good first day with the Rainbow, I've been skunked. Mostly sticking with what I knew in Michigan (spinners and spoons).

2. With the rivers down to low levels, what is everyone catching these days?

Troy

[Justin Spencer]

Now that you have some time you may wish to torture yourself and take up fly fishing. You have a great resource in St. Louis at T Hargroves they can tell you everything you need to know about trout fishing in Missouri if that is what you are interested in.