Greasy B

R.I.P. Jerry, we are grateful for your work to save the Meramec River.

I also use EWG hooks and I guess whats call TX Skin. I’m always ripping baits apart to make them a bit smaller, easier to rig and extend their life. On a good day the bottom of the boat is littered with pieces and parts.

I had fun looking back and trying to recall all the rivers I’ve floated, I did ask myself where does a river begin? Headwater floats are a blast, I remember reading Bob Todd’s stories about him and Al pushing the limits, yeah I guess you could go too far. On the down stream side is Crooked Creek, I could say I’ve done the whole thing if the creek ended where the water disappears. I counted 20 Ozark rivers that I had floated, of that total the only ones I have done Completely are the Jacks Fork and Mineral Fork. I have a few that I have come close: The only part of the Big Piney I have not been on is the few miles between the water plant at FLW and Spring Creek. I recall some fun spring time trips starting at Baptist Camp, now you could put in at Simmons. I once searched for the Brazil low-water bridge on upper Courtois Creek but, took a wrong turn and got spooked when I heard banjos playing. I went back down to Berryman that day. I also have done all but the last few miles of the Missouri portion of the Eleven Point. I’ve done the Gasconade from Adams Ford to Rollins Ferry. I have no desire to go below Rollins but I’d love to float down from Hartville. The only part of the Meramec I have not been on is from George Winter park to the mouth.. I’m missing the upper most part of the North Fork of the White River, I think Hale ford is the highest I’ve been.

I love the sounds of summer, at least what I can hear over my tinnitus. Linda and I spent last weekend in a cabin in the Ozark Woods, the evening symphony was a roar. Back at our suburban home last night I heard a few crickets (in my head?) and tree frogs, mostly I heard the din of traffic and the call of rumble strips. I hate living in the burbs.

I have to admit ColdWaterfshr’s plan is a good one. Something to keep in mind is that those who catch fish regularly are usually good at fishing a couple of ways in a few places. It often takes decades to figure out the where and when’s of fishing, even if you stick to a few techniques in a few places When you’re learning it helps to have low expectations, I think you’re good there. I’d just keep trying different things in different places and enjoy the ride.  One thing I’m almost certain of is that still fishing isn’t fishing unless you’re catching one every few minutes.

Be careful, there are places where the channel is narrow and full of logs. I’ve gotten myself in a pickle more than once.

I've been enjoying the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNO71hgto7c

Yep, what Gavin says. On river with a lot of frog water and in really hot weather we’d fish only the heads and tails of pools. Sometimes in the middle of long slow stretches you’ll find a shallow bar that will get the current moving and create eddies.

Some very nice fish, keep the upside down pictures coming 😀

Yep, when it works right, you animate and mend in the same movement, always keeping close contact.

I’m that guy, with about 6-8 baits. Thank you, Norm,

I drove through your block a few years ago and seen it. Quite a show.

You guys have it going on, love the report.

Looks good, I bookmarked it for later. This weekend I’ll be cooking over a fire on a gravel bar, rib eyes on Thursday and marinated pork steaks on Friday. Life is good.

That’s a fine fleet of boats, just about perfect for the Ozarks. Marshfield is a great location too, fish in every direction, all you need to do is go exploring. The only advice I can give you is to be aware of the scoundrels, lowlifes and thieves that frequent our River accesses, never leave anything you don’t want to lose in your vehicle.

You could find a Short Bend or a Prong or a Fork to float, but that doesn’t work well with groups, I’d rather drag and float those anyway.

Yep, the last 24 hours have not been encouraging.

This has been my experience, It fits well into how I like to float and camp. Leisurely mornings drinking coffee, fish hard in the afternoon, evenings cooking over an open fire plinking beer cans with a BB gun.

The Hazelgreen gage shows the river setting down. The W.U. rain gages at Hartville and Mansfield (Ganade. headwaters), Niangua, (O.F. Headwaters) Cabool (B.P. Headwaters) had 0 precip. Last night. I figured all we had to do was dodge one more wave of storms and we’d be good.

I’ll be there Friday morning. I’ll have my own tent which has a padlocked door and an alarm system in case someone gets weird and wants to spoon. Thanks for putting this together Gavin.

Incredible!

Excellent, I need somebody in my boat.

I’m in for Sat/Sun, Friday is a maybe.

Boiling Springs? Ruby's Landing?