January 2019 Preview

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VOL. 46, NO. 8

JANUARY 2019

Wanna learn to fly fish?

Not about the fishing www.riverhillstraveler.com

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By Ronnie Moore he morning sun began to spread over the Ozarks. The trees dressed themselves in green, gold and red, while the valleys still slumbered under their blankets of fog.

It was promising to be a beautiful fall day on the river.

We dropped our boats and gear at the put-in and I was nominated as guard while the shuttle was ran.

Typically this is when the thunderstorms come, but not today.

After spending some time making careful lure selections and getting the arsenal ready, I walked down the hill to the water’s edge.

I wasn’t really prepared for the scene that laid out in front of me — I had to scramble back up the hill and grab my camera.

A few clicks of the shutter and I knew this was going to be a special day.

With the crew back, we dropped in and headed downstream. Priority one was to catch a fish, and the first few miles we hit it hard with everything we had.

hen I first started fly fishing in the mid-1980’s, it was regarded as an expensive, elitist type of hobby that most outdoorsmen avoided.

Then “the movie” came out in 1992. I am referring to “A River Runs Through It.” Bill Hoagland The ———— movie, based on a semi-autobiographical story written by Norman McLean about his early life in Montana, motivated lots of middle-aged guys (and gals) to find out first-hand what fly fishing was all about.

And they discovered, to their surprise, that fly fishing added a new dimension to their lives. Some would say it could become addictive.

Please see RIVER, 18

Please see FISH, 18

Elk hunting — it takes grit

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By Steve Halter grew up one of five boys and although my parents weren’t lacking at all in the areas of love and guidance, they didn’t make a lot of money.

My dad loved to take us boys fishing and we had one shotgun to share between all of us to shoot rabbits and squirrels.

Deer hunting just wasn’t afford-

able and, although we were raised in southeast Missouri where several of the schools close the week of deer season, I didn’t grow up deer hunting.

I left my hometown for 10 years to get an education, establish a career and marry my wife (of 30 years now).

When I returned to the area, a guy I worked with introduced me

to archery. I will never forget how excited I was when I actually hit a target from 20 yards away on my first shot.

Shortly after that I harvested a mature whitetail doe with my $50 used bow; my first time in a tree stand. I was hooked for life!

Later that season I shot one with my rifle, but it just wasn’t the Please see ELK, 19

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Dealing with cabin fever in the winter months

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ere we are in January and if it’s not snowing or sleeting or raining outside, we have the cold temperatures to deal with along with the dreaded windchill factor.

So in other words, all those activities that we normally enjoy that require getting out of the house become extremely limited and sometimes even impossible.

As if we don’t already have enough problems with the cold, our income taxes coming due and all those annoying Christmas bills that keep arriving in the mail, we have a new problem to deal with and it’s called “cabin fever” (which is very often a big-time problem.)

When we start getting excited about making a trip to Walmart or Burger King, that Bill Oder should give us a ———— clue that something just isn’t right.

And it’s still a long way until spring so something must be done to deal with this malady — and watching reruns of Seinfeld, Two and a Half Man and Everybody Loves Raymond is not going to do it.

Luckily we live in a state that has a very fine Department of Conservation that has set up all kinds of nature programs scattered across the state of which we can take advantage.

There are seven Conservation Nature Centers that offer programs throughout the year, not just during the winter months.

There’s the Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center in Blue Springs, the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center in Cape Girardeau, the Gorman Conservation Discovery Center in Kansas City, the Powder Valley Con-

GUIDED

OZARK IN STYLE MOVIES

servation Nature Center in Kirkwood (west St. Louis County), the Runge Nature Center in Jefferson City, the Springfield Conservation Nature Center in Springfield, and the Twin Pines Conservation Education Center near Winona in Shannon County.

All of these places are sponsoring events throughout the year and a lot of them are even indoors. Plus, Missouri has miles of hiking trails to be explored and don’t forget the catch-and-release fishing season at all the trout parks during the winter.

If you google the Missouri Department of Conservation and then at the top of the page click on “Events,” you will a long list of interesting things to attend, things that everyone in the family can enjoy.

The list will include not only the events that you will find at the abovementioned centers but at other conservation areas in the state, also.

So no matter where you live, there is probably a very good chance you will find something close to where you live.

Some of these events require advance registration so read the details carefully.

Here are some examples of what you will find: • At the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center on the 18th of January, there is a Wild Game Night. There will be demonstrations on how to clean and filet fish and cooking venison.

AERIAL PARK L HIKING SHUTTLES

You will be able to sample some of the wild game dishes at the end of the program.

• At the Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center on the 19th of January, there is a program pertaining to Missouri’s snakes and if that is your thing, they say that you will be able to get up-close with a few.

I’m not sure exactly what “up close” entails, though.

• At the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center on the 2nd of February, Eagle Days. Spotting scopes are provided in order to view eagles.

There is also an indoor program featuring live eagles.

• At the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center on the 9th of February, there is a maple sugaring program discussing the history of the process, the tools needed and how it’s done.

• At the August A. Busch Wildlife Area on the 16th of February, photography in nature is the topic. Basic and intermediate photographic techniques are discussed.

These are just a few of the events that

are offered. As you can see there is a wide variety to choose from and like I said before, they are scattered throughout the state to make it simple to find something near you.

I have always been proud of the accomplishments of our Department of Conservation. They have provided excellent trout fishing in a state where the trout isn’t even a native fish.

They have managed the deer and turkey population so well that not only Missouri hunters but out-of-state hunters make it a point to come to our state during those seasons.

They reintroduced the elk into Missouri in 2011 and their herd has grown to a point where a hunting season for them is being discussed.

And if all that isn’t enough, they have provided all the programs and events that I have mentioned for us all to enjoy during the “cabin fever” months of January and February.

So get out there and take advantage of them because you can rest assured that (perhaps 100% so) you have already seen that Seinfeld episode that’s about to come on.

(Bill Oder can be reached at oderbill@yahoo.com.)

January 2019 • Page 3

RiverHillsTraveler.com

Piscifun: Fish with family

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his article is written to inform you about what I consider to be an amazing fishing gear company. So let me begin by telling you that I am not on the payroll of this company.

They are not paying me for an endorsements or promotions. There are three reasons I am sharing this information and all three are because I strive to do the very best for you, my loyal readers.

This company’s products have superior design and are durable and reliable.

But most importantly to both you and me, is that they are affordable to all of us.

Piscifun is the name of the comMike Roux pany. Pisci means ———— fish in Latin. Piscifun means that fishing makes people happy. They want customers to indulge themselves in fishing and enjoy the sport.

I first tried a Piscifun level-wind casting reel in 2016. It has performed flawlessly for me since day one. I then tried a spinning reel and experienced similar results.

You might well have read me mention those products in articles since then. Again, I recommend them based on the value of their design, construction and their price point within the industry.

Piscifun was founded in 2013 by two close friends who have always had a passion for fishing and family. This passion leads to the company slogan: “Fish with Family.”

As a fishing brand dedicated to offering high-quality, affordably-priced fishing gear, Piscifun strives to cut down circulation costs.

With this strategy customers across the globe can equip themselves and their families with high-quality gear

Piscifun’s U.S. director Jason Brenic with a pretty nice Michigan smallmouth.

that will not break the bank. Fish with family and enjoy your time on the water.

Recently I had several opportunities to speak with Piscifun United States Sales & Marketing Director Jason Brenic. Jason is a wealth of information not only about this company, but he is a consummate outdoorsman, as well. Brenic is also involved in product development and design and heads up the North America Piscifun Professional Fishing Staff.

According to Brenic, Piscifun began selling in the U.S. market in 2013.

Their growth here since then has been nothing short of amazing. All manufacturing is done in China and Brenic told me his first visit there to see the production process was very impressive.

All product development is based on angler’s needs. The success of Piscifun is based on continuous devotion to their customers’ needs. They are extremely focused on design and development to bring you the best and most cost effective reels on the market today.

In order to create great products, Piscifun decided to work with professional fishermen all over the world to gain knowledge and insight on what the angler wants.

By working with these anglers, the company is able to design and test the products before releasing them to their customers. This process ensures that you are receiving a top-notch product.

Piscifun is dedicated to producing the

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highest quality products. They will not settle for poor craftsmanship of any variation. They strive to be perfect with every measurement, every color, and every aspect of their products.

Being able to respond quickly to the needs of their customers and changes in the market allows Piscifun to advance at every turn. Speed and responsiveness are critical aspects of that business.

Piscifun’s manufacturers have always been frontrunners. They take pride in being able to update their designs and bring their customers the high quality they desire in a quick and efficient manner.

I asked Brenic about retail outlets for Piscifun rods, reels and other fishing gear. He told me, “At this time we are developing our retail opportunities in the U.S. However, we are a bit different than other companies. We are currently limiting our retail relationships to smaller tackle and bait shops.”

When I asked him about the affordability of the Piscifun line of products, he said, “By doing this we are able to offer local retail solutions, but we keep our prices affordable for the everyday hard-working consumer.”

My understanding is that online sales helps them keep overhead to a minimum and they pass that savings directly to their customers.

I also found out about the growth of this company’s U.S. sale since they began here in 2013.

• In 2014, by the company’s first anniversary, Piscifun fishing product sales quantity amounted to 80,000 units.

• In 2015, Piscifun fishing product sales quantity amounted to 150,000 units by expanding product line and improving customer service.

• In 2016, Piscifun fishing product sales quantity amounted to 380,000 units.

My final question for Jason Brenic was his opinion about what sets Piscifun apart from its competition?

“We are different because of our primary focus on e-commerce and the development of high-quality products at an affordable price for everyone who loves to fish. We believe everyone should be able to afford a top-notch, quality product,” he said.

(Mike Roux can be reached at 217257-7895.)

For some of the best in both casting and spinning reels, look to Piscifun and you will not be disappointed.

Page 4 • January 2019

RiverHillsTraveler.com

Get hooked at the Let’s Go Fishing Show; outdoor app

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ore than 10,000 people are expected to flock to Gateway Center in Collinsville, Ill., on Jan. 4-6 for the annual “Let’s Go Fishing Show” for the 26th year in a row.

This fishing show attracts fishing enthusiasts who travel from near and far, and this issue of the River Hills Traveler is dedicated to fishermen everywhere.

Visitors to the show will not only find a "fishing Jimmy Sexton tackle super-store" ———— but attend seminars Journey On and see exhibits of interest.

Show attendees will find a wide variety of fishing tackle, rods and reels, and aluminum and fiberglass fishing boats.

They will also find accessories such as trolling motors, depth finders and other fishing related products and services.

Representatives from resorts and destinations — many of whom are advertising on these pages — will be there to help you plan a fishing trip to a nearby lake, Ozark retreat, charter a fishing trip, or a Canadian adventure.

Everyone will enjoy hours of fun at this show. Discover new and unique products, shop for great deals, meet and learn from the pros.

The Traveler will once again have a booth at the show, and we look forward to visiting with friends new and old.

——— Finding places to discover nature and enjoy outdoor activities in Missouri has just gotten easier. (Even though we like to think the Traveler makes it pretty easy, too!)

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) now offers a new, free mobile app – MO Outdoors.

MO Outdoors users can quickly and easily find MDC outdoor offerings based on the types of outdoor activities they want close to home, work, or even while traveling.

MO Outdoors can help users find

MDC conservation areas, fishing accesses, hiking trails, shooting ranges, and nature centers around the state based on their desired types of outdoor activities including birdwatching, camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, or shooting.

Users can also mark “favorite” locations to quickly find them in future searches.

MO Outdoors also connects users to area regulations and season information, hours of operation, images, area closings, and interactive maps of area boundaries and features.

The map function also displays features such as parking lots, boat ramps, and wildlife viewing areas, and allows users to easily navigate to the features using their device’s GPS. Users can also download maps for offline use. You can download the app through Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for Apple devices.

——— Here are some "fast facts" from MoDOT you might find interesting:

State facts • Missouri population - 6,114,000 • Land area in square miles - 69,704 • Licensed drivers - 4.2 million • Registered vehicles - 5.4 million

basically means “old times” or “days gone by.”

The song as we know it today is mostly attributed to Scottish poet Robert Burns, who put down the lyrics in a poem in 1788, based partly on old Scots folk songs, and partly on his own composition.

The familiar melody is an old Scottish tune, though it may have originally been played in a much quicker tempo.

At least that’s one history. There are other explanations and arguments out there.!It was the Scots who began singing it on New Year’s Eve, so we can thank them for that annual custom.!

In our Missouri Ozarks we have our own customs for New Year’s Day – probably the most popular of which is eating black-eyed peas on the first day of the!new year!to ensure good luck for the rest of it.

That isn’t exclusively an Ozark custom, but it’s an old one in these parts, and still followed by many people here — out of a sense of tradition, rather than superstition.!

It isn’t surprising that another belief one time prevalent in the Ozarks was that babies born on New Year’s Day would always be lucky in life.

I have a first cousin who was born on New Year’s Day, and I hope he has found this old superstition to be true.!

Some other old Ozark New Year superstitions, compiled long ago by Mr. Vance Randolph, include:!

•!It is very bad luck to hang next

year’s calendar before New Year’s Day. •!Open your windows just before midnight on New Year’s Eve to let the bad luck out and new luck in.!

•!Whatever a person is doing on New Year’s Day is what he will be busy doing all year.!

•!Never wash clothes on New Year’s Day, or it will cause the death of a relative before the year is out.!

•!An unexpected visitor on New Year’s Day means you can expect many guests in the coming year.!

•!If the first visitor to cross your threshold on New Year’s Day is a man, it is good luck. If it’s a woman, it is bad luck.!

•!It is extremely bad luck to take anything out of the house on New Year’s Day. But if you do, bring something

else back in.!

So, look at 2019 as a second chance, reminiscence with friends of old times, put on a pot of black-eyed peas, and have some friends over.!

Thanks for reading this past year. I hope you have found at least some of my!scribblings!halfway!interesting.!

Best of luck in the coming year.

(Wes Franklin!can be reached by email at cato.uticensis46@gmail.com, or by USPS mail at 12161 Norway Road, Neosho, MO 64850.)

Federal fuel tax • 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline • 24.2 cents per gallon on diesel Missouri fuel tax • 17 cents per gallon - gasoline and diesel • 2.55 cents goes to cities • 2 cents goes to counties • 12.45 cents goes to MoDOT • Each cent per gallon of fuel tax results in $28 million for MoDOT and $12 million for cities and counties.

• Missouri ranks 48th nationally in revenue per mile.

• Missouri ranks 3rd nationally in lowest administrative cost per mile.

(Jimmy Sexton is owner and publisher of the River Hills Traveler. He can be reached by phone or text at (417) 451-3798, or jimmy@riverhillstraveler.com.)

Don’t forget to eat your black-eyed peas on New Year’s

W

ell, another year is behind us now, though perhaps it is better to say another year is

ahead.

That struggling optimist in me cries for expression, yet rarely gets a voice.

Of course, to say another year is behind us can also be positive — “Hey, we’ve struggled on and survived.”

But it still has, to me anyhow, an oppressed undertone.

Our subconscious also quietly reminds us that another year past means one year closer to death.

On the flip side, to say another year Wes Franklin ahead can also be ———— taken in a negative Native Ozarker context, I suppose — “Oh, Lord, another year of strife.”

But that is the pessimist side talking, and he’s a loud!ol’ boy. Instead, let the optimist in you have a say. Another year before us means a fresh start.

That’s how most people look it at, and they’re right in doing so.!Forgive my little dive into the philosophical. I ponder things like that, sometimes, and perhaps you do as well.!

You might already know this, but “Auld Lang!Syne” — as in the traditional song we sing when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve —

River Hills Traveler 212 E. Main St., Neosho, MO 64850 Phone: (417) 451-3798 Fax: (417) 451-5188

www.riverhillstraveler.com Email: jimmy@riverhillstraveler. com Owner & Publisher Jimmy Sexton Managing Editor Madeleine Link Circulation Manager Jessica Welsh Staff Writers Wes Franklin • Mike Roux Bill Wakefield • Bill Oder Judy Smith • Michelle Turner Dana Sturgeon • Bill Hoagland Richard Whiteside • Ronnie Moore

On the Cover Bill Hoagland says fly fishing is a bounless hobby. You will never get bored and can fish for several different types of fish. (Story on page 1)

Advertising Jimmy Sexton & Madeleine Link

River Hills Traveler, established in 1973, is published monthly by Sexton Media Group and Traveler Publishing Company. Postmaster: Send change of address notices to: River Hills Traveler, 212 E. Main St., Neosho, MO 64850. Subscription prices: $22 per year; 2 years, $40. Back issues available up to one year from publication, $5 plus sales tax & shipping.

COPYRIGHT © 2018 No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written permission of the publisher of the River Hills Traveler or his duly appointed agent. The publisher reserves the right to reject any advertising or editorial submission for any reason.

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January 2019 • Page 5

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VINTAGE OZARKS: Lover’s Leap

I T Real photo postcard, circa 1930. Lovers Leap Meramec Caverns © L.L. Coon, Milwaukee, Wisc.

5 years ago • Every aspect of our society has become so pigeonholed, we all have become victims of the cookie-cutter syndrome.

If we see it on TV, or in a slick magazine, we copy it. It is called mass merchandising. And it worked on the masses to relieve us of our hard-earned money.

Unfortunately, mass merchandising also relieves us of our personal identities and thinking abilities. We follow the leaders and become just another cookie in the jar. (Bill Cooper) • The high sun warmed the spring day as I pulled into the farmer’s drive to seek permission to visit and fish the spring creek running through his bottomland field. Vegetation was just beginning to peek out along the creek, which ran clear, cold and flush with the banks.

It was my first visit to the old Ozark farm which traced its lineage back to the late 1800s, and first chance to fish the spring creek and see firsthand if any trout survived from a stocking four years previous. (Spencer Turner) 10 years ago • Local legend says that the wild horse herds along the Current and Jacks Fork rivers in Shannon County have been roaming free since the days of the Spanish Conquistadors.

“Not likely,” said Jack Peters, a retired National Park Service ranger and now owner of Running River Canoe Rental near Timber.

“The horses are most like remnants of farm stock abandoned by the last of the people who hung on in the area after the timber companies left in the 1930s.”

(Bill Cooper) • They’ve been associated with misfortune and death, wisdom and prosperity. Some Native American tribes have associated them with evil and witchcraft.

Other tribes have considered them to be the carriers of the spirits of tribal elders. Owls have played a part in human

at Meramec Caverns

n researching Lover’s Leaps we sometimes find images that are identified as a Lover’s Leap, but we have been unable to find their stories. his is the case with excellent real photo postcard inscribed, “Lovers Leap Meramec Caverns.“ An article in the St. Louis Post Dispatch of July 18, 1976, “Fanfare of a Caveman — Lester Dill” is the only text we could locate: “In the course of the conversation, Dill took his visitor for a stroll in the cave and around the grounds down by the river and even took a short boat ride at a

concession there.

“As the boat went up the river, Dill pointed out places of interest.

‘That’s Fife ford, where the James gang used to cross,’ or ‘Daniel Boone hunted in this country when he was an old man,’ or ‘that bluff up there is where Flying Eagle jumped to his death because he couldn’t marry his sweetheart.’ A listener said, ‘you’ve even got a lover’s leap here, too’ and Dill said, ‘Sure. Right there.’”

Dill was the owner and developer of Meramec Caverns. It’s unusual. Most solo dives off bluffs are by unhappy maidens. It’s usually the maiden alone or occasion-

REMEMBER WHEN

history and mythology since prehistoric times, when cave men depicted them on cave walls. (Josephine Cozean Styron) 15 years ago • I’ve often wondered what would happen if both of us had good fish on and we were being swept into something by the current.

Now I know. It isn’t heroic. Eleven Point River, like all Ozark rivers, was very low as we moved into October.

Between Riverton and Highway 142, where Roy and I were floating, there was still more than ample water for floating.

But regardless of the size of a steam, low water forces most of the flow into a narrower chute when you come to a riffle area. (Bob Todd) • Take a look at the cover this month.

It has two crappie on it, and if fishermen could tell the difference in them as easily in the field as they can on the cover, life would be easier for Conservation Department biologist Mark Boone.

The two crappie on the cover are two separate species. Black crappie are more spotted. White crappie have spots that tend to line up in bars. But both are managed under a single regulation and this creates a major complication for Mark, who is trying to manage crappie in Lake Wappapello. (Bob Todd) 20 years ago • It had been mid-May when Roy and I got into a pack of hungry largemouth bass on Current River.

It was one of those 45-minute sessions that justified an otherwise slow fishing day. So when we floated from Round Spring to Jerktail, we hoped for a repeat.

It was May again, the right time, but

we found only limited success. Current River is better known for smallmouth bass, of course, but we have a theory on those largemouths.

Because there is so little suitable spawning time the largemouths in this swift, spring-fed river, live in just a few places. (Bob Todd) • I hate it that it was impractical to fight the ticket issued by fish and wildfire service agent Don Burleson.

But perhaps something more longlasting can be done — with your help.

The way the system works, the agent writes a ticket for an alleged violation and the person ticketed has 21 days to make up his mind whether to pay the pre-set fine, or whether to plead not guilty. (Bob Todd) 30 years ago • “We climbed Blank Mountain, Grampa,” said the excited young voice on the other end of the phone. And we found where Gramma spilled the mustard. A flood of memories swept over me — all except the mustard.

Blank Mountain was our private place to roam in cool to cold weather back when our kids were young.

Well, it wasn’t private — it was national forest land. But we never saw anyone else, there was never any litter and we didn’t leave any except, apparently, some mustard. (Bob Todd) • The three species of black bass that inhabit Missouri are slowly but surely being officially recognized as fish that are as different from one another as crappie and bluegill.

ally the couple together.

(This feature is courtesy of Leland and Crystal Payton at Lens & Pen Press, publishers of all-color books on the Ozarks. Their next book, Lover’s Leap Legends, was inspired by their discovery that both the Osage and James had Lover’s Leaps. Mark Twain’s satiric comments on those legends added motivation and they have found Lover’s Leaps across the country. Their most recent book, James Fork of the White, was published in 2017. Their earlier river book, Damming the Osage, can be at seen www.dammingtheosage .com).

In fact, the first regulation specifically aimed at spotted bass is in effect as of January 1. It removes some protection spotted bass have enjoyed, though only on one small stream segment. (Bob Todd) 40 years ago • Winter is at once a good time and a bad time to visit Mingo Swamp at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge near Puxico.

It is a good time in that the heat, which can become annoying, is absent. It is a bad time in that the refuge is closed to fishing after September, and you have to just sort of look longingly at invitinglooking fishing spots.

And in the case of a hike by myself and my dog, JJ, winter’s weather can foil your efforts. (Bob Todd) • There is considerable evidence that Sikeston Ridge is in some ways associated with great earthquakes of the past.

In the quake of 1811-1812, this ridge, and its extension across the Mississippi River into Tennessee, certainly underwent measurable changes.

The Sikeston Ranch, as it is called in Missouri, is roughly the path of I-55 south of the hills and across the flatland to Sikeston.

This north-south ridge continues, crossing the Mississippi at New Madrid and continuing southward toward Memphis.

An uplift of a part of this ridge helped form Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee in the 1811-12 quakes. (Bob Todd) (compiled by MyraGale Sexton)

January 2019 • Page 7

RiverHillsTraveler.com

Missouri musky: the fish of a dozen casts I n the overall world of fishing, the words “Missouri” and “musky” are seldom used in the same sentence.

There is good and bad in that fact.

The good is that Missouri fisheries biologists have worked hard to make places like Pomme de Terre, in westcentral Missouri, quality musky fishing destinations.

The bad is that so few anglers know about this and take advantage of it.

I have personally tried to catch musky in Canada and at Lake Vermillion, Minnesota.

Both were unsuccessful attempts.

So, during a minor epiphany, I decided to try catching some southern musky, for a change.

Mike Roux I learned long ago ———— that the price of a guide, when fishing a lake for the first time, is worth every penny.

So my search was for a Pomme de Terre musky expert. After some surfing and a couple of calls, I found myself talking to Jim Wilson, from Hermitage, Mo. Jim is the “Coach” of “COACHES GUIDE SERVICE.” I was going to be near Pomme de Terre in the middle of December and Jim said he had an open day.

My first Missouri musky fishing trip was set.

I only had a few hours in the afternoon in which to fish. It was overcast and windy and when I met Jim, he was smiling.

“It has been sunny and warm for a week and fishing has been tough,” he told me. “But this front movin’ in might make the difference. Let’s find out.”

We hit the lake and went directly to one of Coach’s favorite spots. We were casting large wooden lures that Coach called “EDDY BAITS.”

Mike Roux proudly holds his first Missouri musky — the fish of a dozen casts.

They are made by a guy in Minnesota and are evidently very hard to get. The bait I was throwing felt like it weighed 2 pounds. But Coach said the musky eat it up.

This being my first trip to Pomme de Terre, I was immediately taken with the beauty of this place. The autumn colors were brilliant.

This lake project was authorized in 1938 as part of a large flood control plan. Actual construction did not begin until 1957 and was completed in 1961.

Covering an average of about 7,800 acres, heavy rains can swell the lake to over 16,000 acres as the dam holds back floodwaters.

The musky stocking program began in 1966. Continued stocking has made this a prime musky fishery. Wilson told me the estimate is a ratio of one musky per half-acre of lake.

As I began to cast my massive lure, I

asked Coach about the nickname of the musky, “the fish of 10,000 casts.”

He smiled as he said, “Yeah, that’s a lot of casts. All I can say is, we should catch a musky today and we don’t have time for 10,000 casts.”

We were working along a very shallow bank. By very shallow I mean we were in about 5 feet of water casting into water about a foot deep. This was not what I expected.

The presentation for these largerthan-average jerk baits was arduous, to say the least. We would make long casts and then wind the bait down quickly.

Once the bait was under, jerking the rod-tip gave the plug a very erratic motion. According to Wilson, the more erratic, the better.

You will undoubtedly find the following as hard to believe as did I. But on my 10th or 11th cast at Pomme de Terre, I hooked a musky.

That fish hit that big bait like a late freight. He took it and ran right for the shallow bottom.

I was doing my best with the fish as Coach Wilson was going for the net.

“Stay with him!” Coach yelled.

“Don’t worry!” I responded. “He’s got me real good!”

Coach handled the net like a pro and my first musky was in the boat. He was a nice 35-inch specimen.

Even though the length limit at Pomme de Terre for musky is 42 inches, I had no intention of keeping a musky anyway. I would rather be lucky than good any day.

We laughed and relived the catch for several minutes after we released the

fish.

“Multiple fish days are not uncommon here, when it’s right,” Coach told me. “Actually if it’s right, like in the middle of September, you can catch five or six musky a day. September is the best.”

Wilson showed me a technique he uses to trigger strikes right at the boat.

The “Figure-8” is a well-known and often-used technique for fish that follow the bait all the way to the boat.

This is common with musky.

Jim’s method is more of a “J-hook” movement. This makes aggressive musky ignore the boat and focus on and attack the bait.

I was using this move when I saw my second musky of the afternoon. A big fish took a swipe at my bait right as I lifted it out of the water. I almost choked.

Less than an hour later a fish came all the way out of the water, right at the boat, chasing Wilson’s bait.

Shortly thereafter, Coach beat me as I netted a 36-inch musky for him. I was not nearly as slick with the net as was Coach. I almost lost it for him.

But we saw 4 musky in 4 hours and put two of them in the boat. Not a bad first musky trip for this ole boy.

There is a good spring musky bite on Pomme de Terre as well as the outstanding fall action. Contact Coach Jim Wilson at www.coachesguideservice.com or call him at (417) 399-3111.

I know that Coach and I will fish together again… and often.

(Mike Roux can be reached at 217257-7895.)