Start The Bubble Machine

Wunnerful, Wunnerful!  And Ah-One, Ah-Two -- seems like just yesterday when we Burches would watch the Lawrence Welk Show and his country and western entertainers.  Now, as I sit here in the Ozark County Campgrounds (rain falling) in Branson, MO the Lawrence Welk Theater is just around the corner from here where I sit a couple miles south of "The Strip" in Branson.  Far from the Aragon Ballroom in Venice Beach or the Hollywood Palladium where his show broadcast from.  I wonder if any of the Lennon Sisters are here in Branson -- maybe I should go to that theater around the corner to find out (I suspect though that I might stop instead at the "Kicking Aces" bar on the way).

Table Rock Dam

I had hoped to find some outstanding trout fishing in the waters nearby but, they really seem to be extremely picky although quite visible as I have walked the banks and seen many fly-fishermen trying vainly to land some of the beauties.  It's a blue medal section on Lake Taneycomo and all trout between 12 and 20 inches must be released and it seems they know it.  Not worth the $14 for a day to fish the lake or the $42 for a license that's only good for 6 months.

Taneycomo Lake below dam

I did catch a couple small ones (illegally) the other day with my Panther Martin and released them promptly -- only fished for 10 or 15 minutes and saw one of the discouraged fly-fishermen leave after he saw me catch one after just a few minutes of fishing (maybe he had been there all day getting nothing).

I stopped at the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery just below the dam at Table Rock Lake to see some really, really nice trophy trout in their aquarium -- ones I would have hoped to catch.  Maybe next time or another place in the Ozarks.

Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery

Some of these beautiful Rainbows and Browns were over two feet long and really thick bodied -- Trophy fish for sure.