Missouri

Bainbridge Island, Washington - The top names in Fly Fishing have joined forces together to put togther a world-class fly fishing outfit as a fundraiser for Trout Unlimited-Alaska to help with their efforts protecting the Bristol Bay watershed.

Here’s the answer to the Jeopardy category, fishes of the Missouri River: Goldeye.

And the question: What is the most common species caught in the river between Morony Dam downstream of Great Falls and the upper reaches of Fort Peck Reservoir?

Recent changes make this trophy trout fishery more productive than ever.

JEFFERSON CITY-For 50 years, Missourians have been thrilling to the electric sensation of a surging trout at the ends of their lines at Lake Taneycomo. Now moving into its second half-century, Taneycomo's trout fishery is more productive than ever, supplying not only fishing thrills for visitors to the White River lake, but brown trout for the entire Show-Me State.

Saturday is the opening day of Missouri's trout park season.

It's when long-suffering, trout-fishing souls, deprived these many months of their finny fix, once again will be able to catch and keep fish at one of Missouri's four popular trout parks: Bennett Springs, near Lebanon; Montauk, near Licking; Roaring River, near Cassville; and Meramec, near St. James.

Claim to fame: Rainbow trout is one of the more popular sportfish in Missouri, as evidenced by the March 1 trout park opener, which draws thousands of anglers to the state's four trout parks. Fishing for rainbow trout is also popular at Lake Taneycomo and the portions of several streams that are managed specifically for trout.

Once upon a time, a pond's primary function was to water cattle. The kids in the pond-owner's family might occasionally go there to fish for runt bluegill (which everybody called "perch"), bullhead catfish and sometimes, even carp. Occasionally, the local pond was the target of "frogging" trips.

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) - Two Missouri men are among the four people to be inducted this week into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.

They are Charlie Campbell, who invented spinner bait, and Virgil Ward, who had 1 of the most popular syndicated TV shows on bass fishing techniques. Ceremonies will be Thursday in Greenville, the night before the $1.2 million Bassmaster Classic begins on Lake Hartwell.

Call it what you will, but the spring opening of trout season truly signals the end of winter in the best of ways. Just a few short weeks away, it cannot come soon enough for many with cabin fever. Or for another good reason, it is warming up and that means the outrageous prices on propane and natural gas heating bills will decrease as demand slows, and that is a very good thing. I don't know about you, but I cringe when the truck pulls up to top off the tank, and it means a lot less spending in other areas to compensate.

More than 10,000 anglers are expected to attend the March 1 event at Missouri's four trout parks.

JEFFERSON CITY-Missouri's version of March Madness happens on the first day of that month, when thousands of anglers make the annual pilgrimage to four trout parks. This year's crowd promises to be bigger than most.

Different strategies enable them to survive winter's rigors.

JEFFERSON CITY-Looking across the desolate surface of a winter marsh or stream, it is easy to forget that a thousand wild voices will announce the arrival of spring there in a few weeks. The vernal emergence of frogs and toads that mystified ancient people continues to thrill modern-day nature lovers. Science is discovering the secrets of their winter survival, but has yet to unravel them all.