Lilley

[Phil Lilley]

I've assumed most everyone knows who I am... and many have read my bio on ozarkanglers... but I guess I should go ahead and post my story- abbreviated story.

Grew up in Parsons, KS. My 30 year hs reunion is next summer. Fished farm ponds as a boy and LOVED it. Married by best friend, Marsha, and we share 4 beautiful kids.

We moved to Springfield in 1981 to get closer to Branson because we wanted to buy a resort (housing was too expensive and jobs few in Branson at that time). We looked for 2 years before the Lord directed us to buy Rosadaro Resort, a fix-me-up place... the first time I showed my dad the place, he wouldn't even get out of the car. Now 23 years later, none of us regret the move. My parents and Marsha's parent both live down the road from the resort and both help out in one way or the other.

I abused my wife early on by leaving her with the kids and resort to go fishing "because I needed to get a fishing report". I still do the same thing but I'm not leaving her to do it... she goes with me sometimes.

In 1996, I had a guy build us a website. I really didn't like the way he did it so I started teaching myself how to do html. I met a guy name Jim Turner who was part owners of branson.net. He was trying to build a branson site--I offered to do fishing info and reports as well as church and golf info for his site and he let me have space on the server free of charge for the resort. Soon I got a list of emails from anglers who wanted a fishing report emailed to them- I started the Taneycomo Trout Times in 1997. A year later, Jim bought ozarkanglers.com and I copied all my fishing info to it.

At one point, TTT's subscriptions grew to over 2000 but after 3 server crashes, a name change and one lawsuit, it's down to just over 600.

I like what I do... I enjoy educating fisherpeople and pre-fisherpeople the sport of fishing for just the reasons you are reading about in some of the introductions here... because it's a worthy sport, bringing people together, keeping others active and young, spending time with their husbands and kids--- the list is endless.

This forum is something I've wanted to do for some time. I bought it in September (05) and finally got it up live in late October. And you know, everyday it blesses me more and more to see people getting on, sharing thoughts and experiences that help others enjoy fishing even more. I see old friends visiting and new friendships forming. I see gatherings being planned and fishing reports shared. I wanted this to be a place void of the rough talking and cutting you see on other forums. My #1 rule is - respect each other... and it's been kept very nicely, thank you.

Honestly, I didn't expect this kind of response and participation on the forum. I'm exploring new ways to get the word out to new "waters" all over the Ozarks. Of course, Taneycomo is my first love but I too want to learn more about all the lakes, river and streams in our heartland. Now I'm excited to see how far it will go.

Thanks!

Phil Lilley

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

Your doing a great job with the website, fishing reports and the forum. I enjoy getting on-line almost daily and my first stop is the forum. The fishing reports are great and I use them to plan my next trip to Taney. This is my first year fishing Taney and all the info is a great help.

Thanks for a job well done!

John

[Rusty]

"Build it, and they will come"

[Phil Lilley]

Bragging board -

My daughter is shown in today's Springfield NewsLeader

More and more children find it's fun to play at the YMCA

She's the one with the kids.

[gonefishin]

You are doing a great job and have a great forum. I am not sure about some of the members though because they still haven't posted what the perfect fly rod, reel, line and fly is to use in Taney. You know the outfit that catches nothing but 20+ inch fish all day long.

[Fox Statler]

Thanks you for inviting me to post on your BB. I thank its the greatest. You and your member are the best. I wish you all the success in the world.

A Friend,