Hello fellas, Meairs if you get there or even need a ride to get there, we'll have tents with enough room for you to stay in. As far as food, I don't think any of your fellow members there will let you go without. We all know how thngs can be right now and understand. We would like to see you there and we'll all do what we can to help our fellow members be there. We'll all pull together some how and some way.

SS let us if you want I could get my hands on a little camper. It's not pertty but it's a bed you could lay down on and be up off the ground.

Hope to see you all out there.

Thanks folks for the offer of the tents and a bed and maybe a small trailer.  We'll see as the meet gets near which is better. 

I'll have to watch the steps getting in and out of any trailer though.  The trailers looks don't bother me as long as it is water tight.

As far as bringing fishing tackle, reels and rods, I can load a bunch of it up and bring it.

I just need an idea of what anyone would be interested in.  Anyone can buy from me or maybe you've got stuff we can trade around.

I do plan on bringing my personal travel reel repair kit and  kit to replace rod guides and tips with too.

I guess I need to know what we are doing for food and drinks?  Providing our own, or put $$ in a pot and contribute towards meals/drinks.  =  I'll do either. 

I suppose [if need be] someone could go to town for pizza's or hamburgers. I'll contribute to that, and the gas as well.

I am sure everyone will provide their own and extra snacks.

I bought both my KS and MO fishing licenses today, so I am ready to catch something. Esp. in the company of other NAFC members.

SS has brought up a good point about food, we have not talked about it but I have a SAM's club membership and I was thinking of buying some stuff in bulk but had planned to ask if anyone had any preferences as to what we need to get, I have never been to anything like this and do not know much about it but I do know we are going to have to have some good old DOGS to roast and got to have marshmellers, fI know an ole boy that fixxes the best burgers in the world on a cook fire !!!!!!!!!!!! My DAD!!

I have not ask him yet if he would come but I am sure I could get him in on this!

If there is anything that anyone wants from SAM's just say so.

SS if you have any of the older Zebco 33's with the bait alert I would pick one or two up, and I have an Ocean City that is in need of some work on the drag and a True Temper that could use some TLC maybe??!!

Have a good day Folks!

Rusty

As far as buying from Sams Club, Bottled water and either bottled or canned Ice Tea is fine for drinking for me. I'll go along with what is decided for food.

I drink Diet Coke or caffeine free Diet Coke too, but not everyone likes that. I'll bring my own if I want soda.

Anyone allergic to chocolate or nuts of any type?

I was thinking of bringing some boxed pastries and 2-3 cans of nuts or cashews with me to the meet for all.

Have many of the older Zebco 33's w/bait alert. [at least 50]   Be happy to bring some with me for others.

Will have to check several out and clean/lube them before the meet. You'll have to put your own line on them however.

I use the older Zebco 33, 44, 55, 909 and Zebco One personally.

I have lots of the pre 1980 Chrome Zebco models of all types, [probably 200 or more  to check and repair.] as they are my favorite to buy, fix, and sell.

Not sure I can do much for the Ocean City / True Temper reels, but I will look anyhow.

Thanks for the offers on a ride there but unexpectedly a deal just come through Ive been working on ........  As of right now looks like I able to go.................    I will bring my truck tool box with me......... I have a saining net and about 15 rods and reeels in there with a tarp and and a camp stove with a few other items....................  Couple extra coolers....... I gotta dutch oven and a couple of cast iron skillets.... Whatever else I have that I come across....... Going to look for my three room tent........... Will bring my 2 room tent............ Will also bring my other rods just let me know I have total of about 125 sitting in storsage and 75 rods in my uncles shop I am working on also........ Can get hold of more if needed.........  I also have a few cane poles and a few toddler poles if anyone is bringing any little ones out...............

Glad to hear things are working out for ya. Bring what you you want I've got poles for my kids, but not sure on the others, and who knows we may have some people show up unexpected which is just fine with me. I've got cast iron skillets and a cast iron dutch oven myself. I think I've got a couple of coffee pots to go on the campfire or stove. Between all of us we should be equiped with most everything we should need. See ya out there.

Howdy Folks, I hope that you are all doing well, crivere and I went out to check out BlueStem Lake for the camping areas and found a lovely spot called BOX TURTLE POINT, this seems to be a very easy spot to find, Just North of 54 highway on 177 highway a few miles is the entrance at BlueStem Point Rd. and the very first campground you come to, make a right and you can not miss it and there is a playground for younsters within a stones throw so they can be kept in sight!

There are no electical hook ups but we were figuring for that to begin with, this is a State Park so we have to have permits for the vehicles and 24 hours run 3.70, within a few feet of the parking spots there is a large area of submerged trees, and I would bet that they are going to be filled with Crappie just about the time we set up camp.

I am going to set my camper up there a few days in advance to insure we have it for our get-to-gether.

If you have Google Earth you can look things over ahead of time just by typing in BlueStem Point Rd. then look East to 177, it is the South side of the Middle Main Fork.

Wish you all a very good day and may you cet to spend it fishing!!

Rusty

Right now I am in complete disagreement with The Mo. Dept. of Vocational Rehabilitations and The Rehab Institute of Kansas City over employment.

I want a full time job compatible with my disability, and they are offering low paying, junk Part time [mostly] or some FT jobs I am not qualified for.

The finger pointing has just begun!!!!!

So it looks like I will certainly be free for the meet with ease, unless changes come swift.

I will cut across 54 hwy West from either Ft. Scott or Iola, KS., and drive to 177 North and up to the camp area.

I will need to know [like other attendees] where to purchase my State Park permits for all 3 days.

As far as rods and reels go, it seems between  Meairs, Panhead62, and myself, we could supply everyone several times over.  I have at least [450] for sale rods now //  everything from small ice fishing rods, to a couple  Spoonbill snagging outfits. And many Casting, Spin Casting, Spinning,  and fly rod stuff in-between [reels too]

Reels, I suspects I have nearly [300] Spin cast, Spinning, Bait Casting [modern and antique], fly reels, and heavy duty stuff like Penns. Even a couple nice [but used] Shimano Calcuttas.

Meairs... please email me direct at sscasteel@msn.com  or call [816] 326-7891.  I want to ask about your rods you have available. I am looking for certain rod brands and even rod handles for rods I want/need to fix.

The permits can be picked up at the entrance to the park, they have people that camp at the entrance and if there is noone home when you come in they have an honor box where you put money in an envelope and put your tag number on it and your name and then you tear off the permit that goes in your window.

Have a good day all !!

Rusty

I am sorry to hear that you are not going to make it but I hope that the job works out for you, I will call you tomarrow and let you have my cell number.

Have a good day !

Rusty

3 weeks and counting down for the meet.   Does anyone want me to bring along any extra certain rods, reels, or tackle to look at?

PanHead62 has already requested I bring some older Zebco 33's. I can bring reels out of my inventory with ease. Same with rods. 

Need a brand name, or a length and action on the rods to help find them to load up and bring. 

Reels I can bring all types, and let anyone look at what I have if they want any.

Tackle, hooks, swivels, sinkers, line, plugs and lures, / are kind of tough to sort. Mainly I just bring boxes packed with my inventory. Many of these items are new in the paks as well.

I have decided to rough it and not bring my C-pap machine.

The cool evening air should be enough to help me sleep [combined from a hard days fishing and visiting]  

Post requests here, or email / call my home with them.

Howdy Folks, i have left an update in the Member Meets area of the main forums board, seems I did not check into the park fees as closely as I thought I was and Charles did not catch it either but he buys his permit by the year so I can see where he might miss it!

Please go and read the update and then try to have a good day !

Rusty

Thanks for posting the updated permit info.  

I'll be there dispite the slight increase.

The difference in price won't bother me any. I'll pay it. Besides it does go to, and is used for a good cause.

I am glad that you will still make it to the meet, and I thank you for your reports made on your fishing trips, I have been preoccupied for the last few days because my best friend and Uncle had a stroke a few days ago.

He will be 79 his next birthday and he has been my life long fishing and hunting buddy, I have been at the hospital quite a bit.

Wish you all the very best and hope to see ya all soon, try to have a good day !

Rusty

May need our rain coats or ponchos.  The KC area is under a long range forcast for possible rain this upcoming Thurs- Sun. 

Not sure what the forecast is at El Dorado Lake.  One of you locals out there please watch the daily news and post an update.

I am coming regardless even if we only get to visit.

Well the day draws closer and it seems like the weather is going to be against us, this evenings weather report is calling for rain thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

I am going out Thursday and set up and hopefully the weather man was lying it is one of the few jobs that you get paid for for lying.

My Grand Dad used to say the there are only two kind of folks that try to predict the weather in Kansas and those are Idiots and Tourists.

May you all have a good day and I hope that you get to spend it fishing!

Rusty