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Greg Vieth
Membership Chairman

If you don't feel like traveling then you might want to check out the Winter Trout Program in St. Louis. Beginning in November, the Dept. of Conservation will stock 8 St. Louis area parks (Suson Lakes 2 and 3, Wild Acres Park Lake, Tilles Park Lake, O'Fallon Park Lake, January-Wabash Park Lake, Walker Lake, and Vlasis Park Lake). In addition the DOC will stock Lakes 21, 22, 23, 24, and 28 at August A. Busch Conservation Area. More than 18,000 trout will be stocked throughout the winter. The trout will generally be in the 10-12 inch range.

Fish can be harvested at all lakes, except Tilles Park, Wild Acres Park Lake (Overland), Walker Lake (Kirkwood) and Busch Lakes 21 and 28. These lakes will be catch and release, artificial lures only from Nov.1 through Jan.31, 2001. Beginning on Feb 1 the regulations change to allow trout harvest up to five fish per day and the use of any legal bait. All remaining lakes will have normal state park fishing regulations. You will need a license and a trout stamp for possession.

Well, its time to unpack that gear. Remember -- dress warmly and wear your clothes in layers. [Thanks to Dave Tharp for supplying information about the winter fishing program in St. Louis.]

Back in the fall of 1999 I drove to Jefferson City and interviewed Jerry Conley, the new director of the Missouri Department of Conservation. During the interview he told me that the MDC budget for the year 2000 would be approximately 140 million dollars. I asked him if he could forsee that budget becoming 200 million in 10 years and he said he thought it was possible. I also understood him to say that the MDC would contribute over a period of time, 12 million dollars to the museum at Bass Pro Shop in Springfield. I took notes during the interview and wrote those figures down.

Now Conley says I got both figures wrong, the annual budget and the donation to Bass Pro Shop. If that is so, I believe it is because I was given the wrong information. But I remember him telling me also that Bass Pro would eventually return all of the money contributed to them plus a substantial profit, from the sales of tickets to the museum. Those millions, however many eventually are given to Bass Pro, is the money Missouri outdoorsmen pay in tax and license fees. Those same Missourians will have to pay a pretty good fee as well to get into the museum. And then a percentage of that will go back to the MDC.

I don't know, maybe it's proper for a state agency to give millions to a private business. But who knew, when all this was being planned, that the MDC director at the time, Jerry Presley, would soon retire and be given a position at Bass Pro. Also Jerry Conley was given a position on the Museum's Board of Directors. All during the time I have heard this subject discussed, both pro and con, I've never heard it mentioned that both directors would soon be associated with the business receiving the money.

There was much more discussed in my interview with Conley. He said the department had received no opposition to hunting and fishing license increases and he looked for more increases in 2001.

We also talked about the harvest of the big oaks in Ozark wildlife management areas and the claim by his information people that the oaks had to be cut because they were dying of disease and drought. Conley said it wasn't that at all. He said the oaks were at the right size for harvesting and that there was a great demand for oak hardwood flooring. He also told me, after I questioned him that the news release from his department stating that pines would be planted to replace the oaks was also in error. He said that there were no plans to replace the oaks with pines, and stated again that today the oaks have equal or greater value due to the increasing demand by the hardwood flooring companies.

I left that interview thinking that the word 'conservation' should be removed from the title of that agency and I am more convinced now than ever. A tract of land near Lake of the Ozarks given to the MDC by the late Roy Mansfield, was scheduled to be sold at auction to a real estate development company. The MDC was in need of the money because they purchased a 75-acre tract near Stover on Lake of the Ozarks where they wanted to build a boat dock. Apparently they paid $375,000 for the land and I have been told that the true value of the land was estimated by one real estate company at about $150,000. Just once I'd like to see the MDC pay a reasonable price for land they buy, like the rest of us who give them the money would have to do if we bought the land.

The family of Roy Mansfield has been told that the land sale they are objecting to will eventually take place regardless of what anyone does, because the MDC can't legally be stopped from trading, selling or giving away land which they own. Their power is too great, their financial resources too vast. But I believe that we can form a conservation group here in the Ozarks of substantial numbers to oppose them and discuss the repeal of the 1/8th cent sales tax. If we can organize enough to cause the MDC to fear substantial revenue loss, they will listen and things can change. But I will say again our state conservation agency has forgotten its purpose. We need leaders who will help form and lead an opposing organization to get the MDC back on the right track. Larry Dablemont, P.O. Box 22, Bolivar, MO 65613.

Why the MDC is giving our money to a very profitable private business is beyond me. All we hear is how broke they are. We ask for some meaningful enforcement, 'Sorry, no money'. We ask for stream habitat improvement, 'Sorry, no money'. Those millions could also have been used to quickly get real control of their self-created otter problem. As Ozark fishermen this otter fiasco is the worst thing the MDC has ever done to us. It's a real tragedy. So once again it comes down to 'Accountability'. We must start holding this agency accountable for their actions. Write Mr. Dablemont and let him know you support him. Write your local state representatives. Don't wait for the other guy to do it. Help regain control of this over funded, out of touch bureaucracy.

Generally more expensive rods such as Sage, Winston, Scott, Orvis and Loomis are at the forefront of new technology and the development of tapers that improve casting skills. These companies also use more expensive guides, reelseats, better cork in the grip and trimming of the guides and ferrules. They offer lifetime guarantees which increase the cost of the rod. These companies also offer travel rods in 3,4,5 and 10 piece models. The more the sections to the rod the greater the price.

Is all of this worth it? For many people the answer is yes. For others they can't tell much difference with lower priced rods, but still buy the expensive rod because they can afford to. In my experience, there can be a difference and most people I know eventually move up to the more expensive rods.

If you are new to the sport, the one piece of equipment you don't want to short change yourself on is the rod. With that said don't fret because there are several rods that can be had at a reasonable price. The above manufacturers generally have a range of lower priced rods. They use yesterday's technology. Five years ago they were top of the line rods. What worked then still works well today. The manufacturers have recouped there R&D costs and are able sell the older technology at lower prices. Actually they sell them at the old price, its just that the newer stuff has increased in price. So, you may want to take a look at these older models. Also look for sales at the end of September when the new models come out and old lines are discontinued. Your local fly shop will be looking to get rid of their inventory on discontinued rods.

If you want to go still lower I suggest you look at the Sage Discovery and Orvis Green Mountain beginner outfits. These use older technology and couple them with a rod, real and line combo. My first rod was a Sage Discovery which I still use on occasion. These are great buys. I also suggest you look at St. Croix rods. This company uses the older technology and materials developed by other companies. These are good quality rods and offer great value for the money. I have cast them and have no hesitation recommending them to the beginner or for the person who needs a boat rod.

I hope the above recommendations have helped. As I said this is the one piece of equipment you don't want to scrimp on. Ask your local fly shop for advise and tell them you want to try out several rods. Don't be embarrassed to ask for a lower priced rod. Give them a budget to work with. They are there to help and want to get your repeat business in the future.

Good luck, John Walker

Ozark has to take some serious stances regarding conservation and protecting the streams that we hold dear. However, we must also have fun and live life one fish at a time. (This sometimes means that I enjoy a whole lot of nature because I didn't catch many fish during that particular day.) If you will recall the article about the Upper Missouri that I had entered into the newsletter and the brilliant piece by Bill Hale too, we had some fantastic times on that trip. Whether it was on the stream, the bar or merely riding around the western landscape, we had one hell of a time.

Vendors will be on hand to showoff the latest fly fishing equipment and supplies and offer some bargains to attendees.

Food and beverages will be available on the premises all day.

Show admission is $5.00 for adults for both days. Under 16 admitted free when accompanied by a parent.

VENDORS: Table space can be obtained by calling Paul Craig, 2000 Show Chairman, at (870) 491-5520

Drew