AndyP

I didn't think I'd ever see it again, but honest to God snow fell in Columbia, MO today. Took the dog out tonight...to bad she's scared of guns cuz she kicked out 4 doves walkin through the park. I'm sure ya'll are gettin ready to see some white stuff too. Drive carefully!

I could set one up behind my place...I've seen all the typical songbirds...hummingbirds (a little too cold now) and I smelled a skunk back there as well. I'm waiting to see a deer trotting through the park. We could set up one of those hunt on the internet things.

After the last few experiances I've had fishing winter (Nov-Mar) I'll do it every chance I get! My brother and I are plannin on sneaking out Christmas Weekend when I come home!!!!!

Haven't posted in a while - miss the IL streams. I have a few cold weather tips. Not really for small streams but...the same thing that's been echoed here. Fish areas you expect smb's to winter in. Use bait that will catch fish. Beat the heck out of an area the size of a large SUV. Smallies will eat year round. October is by NO MEANS to cold for IL stream smallies - One of my biggest fox river bass was on Oct 31 on a white buzzer...still vividly remember it. Later in the year it becomes tougher. My brother and I were on a streak of 5 thanksgivin's in a row where we went out the day after (regardless or the weather) and caught at least a 17 incher (2 years with snow on the ground). Unfortunately last year I got stuck in southern IL and had to catch a 45 in muskie...gunna try that this year too. My best piece of humble advice is to get out while the women-folk go shopping the day after turkey day...toss some BIG minnows into your local deep holes and see if you cant catch a horse...by the way don't be afraid to post your deer kills on this site...I know I will-hopefully

I have a basic (150$ ish) digital camera. Fugi FinepixA360. 4.1megapixel and a 3x opitcal zoom. Works just fine for upclose stuff with the macro function. Look for the highest OPTICAL (not digital) zoom you can find with at least 3 megapixels and you'll be happy.

that is one of the coolest pics I've ever seen on a fishing site! i pm'd you gary...

I like the green bass print...I want camo furniture but that would be pushin it. I'm workin on gettin some pics of me, my dad and brother with some fish. We've never caught any decent smallies though!!!

those agnew prints were the ones that someone (Jonn I think) pointed out about 2 years ago on the sportmans guide website. They've been sitting in a closet waiting for frames!

Anyone have a significant other that let them decorate the living room...I finally got frames for my al agnew prints...looks pretty good with the striper.

the lower fox in middle october has the best scenary you're going to find within an hour of the city. not to mention some great fishing. I posted pics last fall. I don't know if you can still get to them with the new board. I'll get around to it later if you can't still see them. If you haven't been down there. PM me or contact Ayer's Landing for Canoe shuttle service. It is worth the 40-50 bucks they charge. That time of year bring your minnow immitating stuff (sassy shads, raps, and white twisters) and of course anything brown or black that makes bottom contact...oh wait that's year round stuff! Good luck... Wish I was there but I will be down on table rock in two weeks...paid vacation and rooms and gas kick but!!! later

can't help you with flies...but something big black or brown bouncing on the bottom has caught fish for me in the fox...also BIG minnow imitators...4-6 inches will catch smallies later in the year. I saw a bait one of the fly guys around here was throwning that was the size of 5in super fluke...looked like what i would try if I was gunna use the long pole.

i doubt my dad will reply...my sister-in-law posted that for my brother with my dad's login. Dad's not really computer savy yet. That was taken within sight of the dayton dam. That stretch is a nice paddle but the fishing got progressively worse as we moved downstream that day. May just be the time of year...Canoed it in July a few years back caught one or two whities, eyes and saugers and a few smallies. The stretch above the dam starting in sheridan is much more scenic...below the dayton dam you only have about a mile until you're in ottawa. not a pretty part of the river i might add.

if you wanna give my boss a call and tell him what a great opportunity it would be for me to come down there on fws dollars...Go ahead...I might be dangerous though. I've always wanted to handle an alligator. I'll be out with the guy tomorrow who's got the sidescan sonar on his WORKboat-I'll try and remember to bring the head unit with! This isn't fun stuff so I emphasize the WORK part. Later

Here's another picture of that fish, I hope it shows up better than that little tiny one.

that's wierd...lookin at just the picture, I would say some genetic condition. But if there was an injury mark than I'm sure that was the cause. Fish will probably be fine...I got a 17incher a few years back that was missing about half the meat on one side behind his dorsal fin. was fat strong and healthy and healed over just fine.

hey tim...disregard the PM...I remember this now, it's been a while. I think it would be useful for that purpose. when are you leaving...I may have time to play with ours and see if I can pick up a log in less than 2m...Later

tim, what model do you have. we have one at our office. It kicks ass from what i've seen. In 10ft of water you can see a log laying on the bottom. I can get you the model number on monday if you email me. I've played with our sidescan sonar and you can see fish hangin by the bottom, you could definately see a 1000lb critter hangin out down there.

I was the guide on that trip (i say that cuz i was drivin the canoe)...there were a bunch of nice smallies stacked at the dayton dam...they were all feeding on shad. That fish was a pig. We caught about 20 nice fish there. It was kind of a bust after that. All of the smallies seemed to be up at the dayton dam area. We fished to the mouth of the fox/IL rivers and we only caught fish up there. That picture doesn't do that fish justice cuz it was hugely fat. We fished the rest of that stretch and caught a few white bass and drum...got round up by something that was probably a big flathead just downstream of the dam. get down there and fish that area if you can...he caught that one on a minner or leach rig if i remember correctly.. Good luck!

They're just about done with in central MO according to my boss, he's findin dried up ones...but we're getting more rain right now!? I personally don't like eating fungus. But I did try them fried and they were pretty good!