Uh-oh...

[powerdivehome]

Chance of freezing rain Friday nite into Saturday morn. If the roads are even the slightest bit slick, I'll be conspicuously absent from breakfast and the launch ramp, at least until it warms up enough to not be a problem. My truck absolutely does not take well to ice (although my boat doesn't mind).

Keep an eye out, and everybody be careful!

By the way, Pat Fisher is counting on us to slurp up that fresh pot of venison chili she'll be making on Saturday. Talked to her today. It's s'posed to be fine by afternoon, so even if I don't make the ramp, I'll be there.

[coyotewhacker]

Cheesehead wimp....don't you recall that I carry a big heavy tow strap in the Explorer for such contingencies?
If you get stuck at the bottom of the ramp, I will hook you up to my hitch, and upon receipt of a token sum, will pull you to safety. Since I did not go to Pat's last time after an unnamed person with the initials Lee B. told us she was not feeling well, I feel obligated to catch up this time. That means that BB will probably pull the boat down and get back to his place right after we fish. Bad back wears him out, and I don't want to drag him down to socialize when he's tuckered out.
FYI there PD, venison chili is not "slurped"...it is carefully prepared, simmered to mouthwatering perfection, and slowly savored one delicious spoonful at a time. You might slurp the wings sauce at Hooter's, but this is the big time...savor...enjoy....maybe I should bring the hostess one of those unmarked bottles??????

[powerdivehome]

CW, I'm only concerned about the roads. They're kinda curvy, if you'll recall.

My apologies. Pat's one of the finer cooks in these here parts, and I didn't mean to belittle the experience. In fact, I've had her venison chili a couple times. If you can savor it one delicate spoonful at a time, you're very strange. It's to be gobbled, snarfed, scarfed and fought over at close range with blunt instruments. Should you catch a ten pounder, Pat's chili will still be the high point of your day...

Hey, I bet she'd love a bottle.

[Tablerock]

If the roads are slippery due to ice, I'll be late for sure.
(but probably not totally absent). Will have to play it by ear.

[coyotewhacker]

No problem on the curvy, icy roads. Everybody has to go sometime. The semi-cobblestone path between US 65 and Forsyth is good for a 100 bpm increase in my heart rate when it's dry...when it's wet and/or icy, we're talking about 11 miles of pure terror.

Pat probably makes the best domestic venison chili ever to touch your lips, but with the missing gaps in your outdoor experiences, it is obvious that you have never eaten deer camp chili...complete with leaves, pieces of tree bark, dust or mud (depending on the weather at the time), and sometimes a stray cartridge that fell out of the cook's pocket. Even the finest domestic chili falls short of the real deal where several starving, cold, deer hunters come back to camp and dip their vittles from the pot, or in extreme cases simply eat it straight from the kettle. A carefully selected grain based beverage can enhance the flavor of almost any deer camp meal, so figure on two or three tall boys per person per meal. Including breakfast.

Getting back to reality......if the roads get icy, there is no reason for anybody to risk life and limb just to be fishing at sunup...let's say start about 9 or 9:30 if we do get some icing. BB just put new tires on his Nissan, so nothing will stop him unless the doors are iced shut when he gets up. The all terrain tires of the Ford will probably get me around unless there is a thick coating of ice (ice storm), in which case nobody in their right mind would try to get to Bull Shoals. Let's play it by ear and see what actually happens tonight. As long as the temperature stays above freezing (as is predicted), the roads won't freeze up.

Let me re-phrase that: if the temps today stay above freezing, the ground should retain enough heat to melt any freezing rain as it falls, and HOPEFULLY it won't get down low enough to re-freeze anything left on the roads.

[Ozark]

Here's the latest from the National Weather Service, which is usually more accurate than Intellicast or KY3 Weather:
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Tonight: Occasional snow and sleet. Low around 35. East southeast wind at 8 mph becoming south southwest. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday: Occasional snow possibly mixed with sleet before 9am, then a chance of drizzle and flurries. High around 39. Calm wind becoming north northwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
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Fellas, I think I'm going to weasel out on you. That's considerably below my comfort level. I used to fish in some godawful conditions, but now that I'm older I try not to hurt myself so much.

I'll keep in touch here, and I'll be seeing you all a little later in the year. You'll spot me easily - I'll be fishing in a short-sleeve shirt with a big grin on my face when Spring gets a little closer to "springing".

30 years in Southern California just ruins a guy.

[Ron.Leu]

Folks,Rick and I are still planning to be at the wagon wheel for b & g's at 7 am,unless the roads are ice covered.Hoping the temp will stay warm so it is not freezing .Will probably come back to river run to launch and fish the barker hole and the pothole.As CW stated,if its ice covered out,let's think about staying safe and live to fish another day
See-you all at the Wagon Wheel or on the water.

[ackermannsacre]

Too early to tell from way over here, will make a call at about 5am. Hey CW do you know if BB will have any minnow to spare/share in the morning? Tried Tranthams today, but doesn't look like they are going to open.

[powerdive]

No wind, a nice refreshing drizzle mix, clouds--what more could you ask for? I'm there!

[Tablerock]

I too plan to be at the Wagon Wheel at 7:00 a.m. unless things are REALLY bad. REALLY, REALLY bad....

If I HAVE to hold off, I'll be on the water a little later.

Ozark, I don't blame you. Comfort level may be real low tomorrow but I've been couped up all week working so.......

I'm going, barring a full fledged ice storm or impossible driving conditions due to any other winter weather that hits that is not forecasted.

[coyotewhacker]

Minnow supply may be tight. I'mheaded to the BPS gunshop in a few minutes to have a shotgun firing pin replaced, and will go by BB's to see if he wants to go try to seine a few more this afternoon. If we can get them, will be more than glad to share. May have a few extra anyway. Gary is back online...he has some place where he gets nice ones. Might check with him and see if he has some left, or maybe where his come from. Just as a backup in case we don't have a bunch of extras......
Looks like that electric blue Bass Pro rain suit is coming out of the bag.....
the Weather Channel forecast for Forsyth pretty much goes along with what Ron posted. Looks like it won't get cold enough for long enough to ice up the roads. Somebody's gonna win the cash...I can just feel it.

[fishnxs]

AA I got those last minnows over at Willard. Cotners Corner I think they call it. Store is suppose to be open 24hrs don't know about getting bait 24hrs.
I've fought a head cold all week so don't know for sure if I'm going to make it tomorrow either or I'd make a run.
If you want to use my cooler etc. let me know what time you'll be heading into town this afternoon and I'll meet you at the truck stop in Strafford.

[Hunter91]

I with you guys on the road . My son and I will be playing it by ear also. We'll keep our fingers crossed.

[Plasticman]

Its just starting to rain with mixed in sleet here in the Branson area-----

I wont be there tomorrow--but its due to some surgery that I had yesterday.........

I'll keep ya posted as to the roads--but for now its still setting at 38 degrees here at Branson West!!!!!!

BE CAREFUL Folks-----Its not worth ending up in a bad situation----well maybe it is--just be careful everyone!!!!!

[Tablerock]

It's 3:06 p.m. here in southern Stone County and it's been drizzling here heavily for awhile and the mailboxes have icicles hanging from them. Not good. Thermometer outside says 34.3 degrees. If roads are driveable, I'll be there in a.m....