Goggle-Eyed

Wrench - it was the choked up area above the boat ramp. I think it is the shoal/island below "turner bluff". Been living in the Netherlands for work, haven't been on the dang river in almost two years. Finally back in the US for the summer thanks to the Corona.

Yep that's the one, on the left as you were headed up stream. The right hand path has been clogged for several years. I don't have a saw big enough to do any good on that big one!

Has anyone been up above Lead Mine this year? Trying to figure out if I can get my Jet Jon through there, the past two years it has been choked up about a mile above the ramp. Thanks, Joe

Yep, created an account logged in made one post and hasn't been active since... I am sure they were here to learn more about "their" property!!!!

I paddled a jon boat and canoe in there many times before the bridge collapsed! Going in there in January was some great fishing! I haven't even tried it since Jon sold the "Resort". I think the whole High Water mark argument would get very sketchy in a legal sense. I am afraid I have to agree with Al on the trespassing part. It sucks and I would never Trespass in the spring on a 103 degree August day... Joe

I have always believed in the black or at least dark bait at dark... you throw a white bait when it gets dark?

X100

Love those northern smallies... I used to get to go up to Fergus Falls Minnesota fishing a few times each year. I would always find a few evening to go out and wade a local stream and it always amazed me that NO one else was ever fishing it for Smallies.

I know for a fact that they ford it at the old Ed's Campground (don't know the actual name but it has been a crossing for about 100 years!) and one other place a little further down with their tractors. I would assume that this year they have forded it in a few more places. it has been low for a long time. I also noticed that base don MLS # the property hasn't been "sold" nor has it been "recently listed"... LOL, guess they or someone just wanted to stir the pot. I have personally been challenged at the gravel bar at the "first" sign (the old Ed's Campground - Dampier property) and at the actual Spring. Felt a little "wrong" at the spring but held my ground on the gravel bar by the "first" sign. As for "The Spring" I have been challenged three times, Once by the TWA guy (and I left because he was right) second time was by a maverick group of wild turkeys (both scared the crap out of me at the time!) The Wild Turkey's actually snuck up on me while I had my paddle jon floating in the middle of the spring catching Goggle Eye, which at the right time of the year is like "shooting fish in a barrel". Third time was when I was dating one of the Campgrounds Owners Daughter and we were "hanging out" at the little bluff overlooking the spring and well it was a touchy moment!!!! TWA Pilots, Wild Turkey's and Pissed off Moms, all scared me!!! LOL, I am sure I will meet up with Niangua L&C or Niangua Blue Springs Ranch folks again. I stay where I am legal and don't push the buttons to hard. Got way to many memories to let a couple of people piss me off! I also have some history on the homes/homesteads that are on their land. I wonder if they know that Sam Walton used to love to float this section of river and spent a night or two at their place?

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your purchase. I have 30 years of memories from the property you own. Did you buy the Jet jons as well? The river has been pretty low this year so I have only done one day trip in my paddle jon. I usually do at least 1 overnight trip every year, I hope to meet you on one of my future trips. If you ever want to hear information about the campgrounds that were on your property or the little cabin that the owners of Blue Springs lived in form many years you can pm me. I highly suggest you research and read a little Missouri Case Law, just so you have a clear understanding of your rights and the floaters' rights... I would start with Elder v Delcour Joe

Phil, Thoughts and Prayers to you. I had a very unfortunate incident also. We had a a set of 11-12 YO twin boys that lived next door to our family farm. There was a couple acre lake on the adjacent property. One year a couple of days after Christmas they had gotten a remote control truck and decided to take it down to the frozen pond and drive it around. It ended up getting hung up on a few limbs sticking up in the middle of the pond. One of the boys went out to retrieve the truck and fell through the ice. My BIL found the other brother standing along the road screaming... We grabbed our canoe and broke ice all the way to the middle of the pond to get him but he had quit moving by the time we got there, by the time we got him back to shore Fire Department and EMT's were on site... unfortunately he didn't make it. It sucks but you can find peace knowing you did all you could. Don't second guess yourself and just know that you did all you could at the time. Joe

from where to where? Just curious and also how the river floated.... it is LOW LOW LOW right now. I am thinking of hitting the Prosperine to Lead Mine area next weekend... Joe

Nice! you should be hooked now!!!!

Easy there big fella. You r lumping a few people into this group that don't belong... I have been reading and laughing during this whole thread, even asked for updates a couple of times. Don't be a troll. Trophy, please keep the stories/photos coming!!!

It is a special magical thing that was just recently discovered! However, I agree it is just as deadly now as it was 30+ years ago when my Dad put a piece of artificial worm on a jig head and told me to "throw it out and wait" as it is now!!!! But that was in the river not in a lake so it was a a lot different!!! LOL

so this is a Trifecta bitch fest! Come on Wrench, quit your bitchin, we all know how much rougher Table Rock is than Lake of the Ozarks! Us LOZ guys don't have a clue how bad it is down there. Joe

Floated the lower section of the Niangua Saturday and didn't see a single snake, I have seen as many as 15-20 on this section in years past. No complaints from me...

I am enjoying the reading on this thread. Has the skunk shown up lately? Maybe he got bored and moved on!!! Joe

The access at the dam (trolling motor the last hour of the day). Will definitely use my old 4hp next time, I forgot how far it was!

Finally broke out the old paddle jon yesterday. With the river being so low we put in at Leadmine and went down from there. The river is as low as I can remember. There were about half the rocks at the old mill dam out of the water a good 10-12"s. Had a pretty light load in the boat but still had to get out and drag about 4-5 times. I usually Jet Boat this area of the river but with the low flows I knew that wouldn't be wise! I was correct there were numerous spots that I wouldn't have made it through and fishing would have been miserable. Now for the fishing - It was one of my best trips for this area of the river. Our biggest Smallie was 17-18" and the Goggle Eye cooperated enough for me to keep some for dinner. Our best fish were Twin Largemouths that both went a little over 4lbs. These were caught about 4-5 miles above Lake Niangua. On the water at 6:15am - First two smallies came before we ever got in the boat just casting in the riffle at the launch area. Morning bite was strong on Chartreuse 1/2 oz spinner bait or weightless white fluke. This died about 10am. Mid Morning bite slowed down some so we switched to soft plastics (Senkos and Craws) Afternoon bite was more of the same but the 5" senkos Trigged with a pegged sinker seemed to out produce smaller worms and craws for the Smallies. The spinner bait and fluke bite never came back for us. The topwater bite was Non-existant for us (no follows or blow ups). I through a Spook and a buzz bait with no luck. Got tired of watching BIL catching them on Spinner bait so I gave up after about 30-45 minutes. Tried it off and on all day with no luck. Off the water at 7:15pm All in All a very good day on the water! Joe

I agree they are amazing!!!! I love the Pay It Forward stuff. I am hooking my Son In Law up with some decent equipment and some "training" I hope he develops the passion from all this....

Blazerman glad you were there to help. With Niangua being my main river and all the rain missing its watershed since very early spring I haven't even thought of getting the jet boat out. I have ran it comfortably down to around 225/250 CFS but it hasn't been above 200 for several months... I hate that people either don't understand the dangers of jet's or they don't have any experience on the river. I have been on the Niangua for over 30 years and I am pretty sure I know where most of the big rocks are, this year is not a year to be a beginner or a cocky on any of our rivers.

I have had this happen twice... first was old batteries in the remote, replaced the batteries and all was fine. Second was my "extra" remote was mashed in my tackle bag and kept turning the motor on. Joe

Sounds like kids or younger people that probably don't know how to throw a bait caster and will probably be using the gear not selling it on craigslist to me. I would keep an eye out on the "younger" crowd around the docks. first thing I think of is the kids that I have seen out "jumping" wakes with a little Boston Whaler. I have seen them out and about pretty late... Not sure if you've seen them but they are hard to miss during the day. They treat that whaler just like a jet ski.