Goggle-Eyed

Wayne, I miss it more than you can imagine. When I came home in July I landed in Springfield around 8:30pm by the time I got home and in bed it was after Midnight, this was after traveling for more than 26 hours... I had prearranged with my BIL to have the gear packed and ready. I ended up on the water less than 18 hours after my feet hit US soil!!! We spent 3 wonderful days floating from Prosperine to Lead Mine and only saw a couple of people in those three days. Much different from China where you can't go three minutes without "bumping" into someone or getting bumped into.... Yep, I miss it.... Joe

The great firewall of China is funny. Most of the time the Forum section of OzarkAnglers is blocked and I get a "403 Forbidden Error" when I try to log on. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, etc are all blocked and give the "403 Forbidden Error" every time... Well that is unless you have a VPN to bypass the firewall (Which I do!) Even with the VPN there are times that I can only view this forum and it won't let me post anything... It is all just part of living in China!!! Joe

Not much for fishing where I am. I do live on a lake and have carp fished a little but it is very polluted and really not much opportunity for fishing. I am headed to Thailand this week and plan to get in some freshwater fishing while I am there. I am also hoping to do a little saltwater fishing if time allows. Joe

From the little bit of research I just did he seems like a legitimate fishing guide and a professional. I would be surprised if he is lying. He has fished with many professionals and his name does appear in a few publications. anyway, I hope he is not misrepresenting himself and it was just a miscommunication. Edited: I am currently in China and had some time to kill since I don't get much TV! I could not find anything about Lance Glaser and BassMasters but unless there two Lance Glasers I would say this guy is very legit. It appears that he has worked with Larry Dahlberg on "Hunt for Big Fish" and has a few articles mentioning him in Marlin Magazine and his name is mentioned in a few fishing related books that I found on "google books". Editied again: Yep I was bored!!!! I did find several IGFA mentions of Lance Glaser but I am not a paid member of the IGFA site and couldn't search it. I did find this article that mentions Lance Glaser being a Classic Winner.... http://blindfishingboat.com/fishing-bullhead-shark-in-jupiter/http://blindfishingboat.com/fishing-bullhead-shark-in-jupiter/ However his name doesn't appear here! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassmaster_Classic Not sure about the Classic Win but it appears that Lance Glaser is a very accredited fisherman. Joe

At least you guys are providing me entertainment while I am stuck in China working. For some reason this forum is blocked about 85% of the time so I can't comment to posts or respond to PM's. Anyway, as far as this Niangua goes there NO fish below Mountain Creek Campground, so you guys are wasting your time. NO Trout, NO Smallies, There aren't even any Goggle-Eyes below mountain creek... Kinda Crazy but just not worth spending any time there..... Hopefully, I won't see you on my limited trips home next year... I am just floating the Niangua for the "scenic value", there aren't any fish in that river!!!!! Joe

It is a fun hobby that will get you out of the house/hotel room and help you find places that you never would have seen. The really fun part it is that it is a World Wide game. I have logged several caches in China and seen some very cool places I never would have visited. Joe

Just saw that a 20 YO drown on the Niangua River. The MO water patrol site say Whistle Dam was the location. Not sure if it was the Whistle Bridge in Macks Creek or some place else. Hopefully no one we know and thoughts and prayers to the family. Joe

Ya, you know it's bad when Boat Builders from around the midwest bring their off shore boats to the lake to test new designs for the ocean.

I am going to admit one of my stupidest mistakes... Well, actually a couple. The drain plug thing has happened twice. It was no big deal either time. Saw the water turned on Bilge pump and jumped the boat up on plane and let it all run out. Stopped, jumped in and blindly put the plug in! The worst/funniest was at a shallow boat ramp loading my 17 Express Jet Jon. I got the boat loaded on the trailer crooked and couldn't get it to budge(I was alone). The problem was that no matter how much further I backed in the water just wasn't quite deep enough. So I got the bright idea to put the jet in Reverse and the get on the bow and push the boat backwards... Well, I got on the bow and pushed and pushed still didn't move (Note Fat Butt on Bow)... So I figured if I just took a little weight off the bow it would "come right off". Well I threw one leg over and secured my footing on the trailer tongue, as soon as I took a little weight off the bow, the boat shot out from under me. So here I was sliding down the trailer with one leg in the boat and one leg in the water most of my upper body was now in the water bouncing down the bunks. That only lasted about halfway down the trailer then my leg in the boat came out and I was laying in a tangled heap on the bunks of the trailer... Watching my boat back the rest of the way off the trailer and head out into the cove. The motor ended up turning to full left and the boat started doing circles. I watched this for a minute trying to figure out my best options. At this point the only option was to wait as the boat circled getting a little closer to shore each time. I ended up wading out and "catching" the boat and jerking the kill switch. One bad thing, it was March and I was freezing. One good thing, I was the only person at the ramp that day and to my knowledge no one witnessed the extreme case of "head up butt". This is usually a campfire story but after reading some of the others I decided to share!!! For those that know LOZ this was at the old unimproved ramp near the back of Linn Creek cove. The ramp has now been blocked off and marked as Private.... Oh and I have fallen out of the boat setting the hook on a dink with way to much slack line. There were plenty of witnesses for that one!!!!

Wrench, they wrote him for the guy riding on the swim platform while above idle speed, No railings. While it might be common, it is not only stupid it is a violation as well!

I agree around 18". Did you catch it about a mile down below Mountain Creek Campground? I can't tell from the angle of the picture but I think I know where that is... Joe

Glory daze, I guess it is all perspective. Having grown up on the Niangua I can tell you that from Prosperine down the river is ten times cleaner now than 10 years ago. I too noticed the trash in the abandoned fire rings. It truly is a shame that people think they are dumpsters. I remember the first year my nephew did an overnighter with me. He couldn't understand why I made him "clean up" the fire ring. Granted, he was a young teenager, he is now a fine adult and a good steward of the river! Thanks for taking the time to help clean up our river! Joe

Mitch I agree with almost everything you say. The only thing I notice here in the Jiangsu Province is that Germany is kicking everyones but as far as manufacturing and companies here. I literally meet 3-4 Germans to every 1 American. Over 50% of the Multi National Companies I deal with are German, the rest are American/French/Australia/Canadian/etc all mixed in that 50%. I agree with most economist if it weren't for Germany the Euro would be worth much less. I too Love AMERICA, however, out of the people I meet here, the Americans typically have the biggest chip on their shoulder and a feeling of self importance. I have actually heard people complain that a Chinese Branded Hotel didn't serve "American Breakfast" or that they couldn't find Skippy Peanut Butter anywhere but the Expat store. It sounds like you understand that when a Foreigner comes here They are not any more entitled or special than the next guy. If all Americans would recognize that when they travel abroad our reputation would be much better in foreign countries. Also it amazes me that in the US we get mad when people don't "speak our language" if "they are in our country" however most of the Americans I meet don't take the time to even try and learn Chinese. Most of the Europeans I have met are at least trying. I am taking a few classes and really struggling with learning it. Common Joke: What is someone who speaks three languages = Trilingual - Two Languages = Bilingual - One Language = American!!!

FW, I am not sure where I read the article but it talked about silting in, widening out, slowing down and the migration of rough fish into the upper reaches. It was in something like Mo. Conservationist or MO. Game and Fish or maybe even In Fisherman. It was a couple of years ago. Since I can't find the article on the internet it might not have been true. There are numerous articles on the internet that talk about the stages a river goes through I just can't find the one that specifically talked about "Ozark" streams.

Niangua!!!! 100% no brainer to me.

Blazer is making a Paddle Jon but it is built in typical blazer fashion. Very thick bottom and sides, I have only seen one about 15 or 16' long. Drafts a ton of water compared to the Lowe. VERY HEAVY can't imagine dragging it down the river in low water. Good looking boat just way to heavy for what I need. We have three of the Lowe paddle jons left but two of the three leak like crazy. the one I use the most is an 1987 model that has two live wells built into it. I would prefer NO live wells but the old man I bought it from custom ordered with one and then had Voyager add another one. For me they just add weight and take up space. I bought the boat, trailer and 57' Evinrude 5.5hp for $500 about 8-10 years ago. I used the rest of the good out of the motor and then just switched to a trolling motor. I am just glad I didn't "throw out an offer" when I was talking to the original owner (I would have offered way to much). The bottom is now getting very thin in places and I still wouldn't take $1000 for just the boat. Well at least not until I can find a very similar new construction boat! Joe

The river is definitely getting older. I can remember occasionally seeing a Carp when I was a kid but now you see 20+lb carp all day long. The river still has many good years, she's just getting a little older! wow, that choked me up a little... I guess my GF is right, I do have an unhealthy relationship with the river!!!!! Or was that "the river is unhealthy for OUR relationship"... Dang now I am confused!

When you guys get to "blue spring" pay attention to how the river is currently running to the "left" bank and not down the same path it did 25 years ago. There is an Island with a couple of VERY LARGE Sycamores on it that I think will be taken out in the next 1 or 2 large floods. When that happens it should choke the shoot up and force the river back to it's old path. I have seen the river change so many times in the past 30 years I am kinda excited to see whether I am correct or not! I can remember what we always called Ziffle Riffle that is now, nothing more than the beginning of an eddy. it was a nightmare 10-15 years ago. We used to sit there and eat lunch and watch all the rental boats flip. Always a nice entertaining afternoon!!!! We would also go there on Sunday's/Mondays and search for the lost items. Have found everything from Watches/sunglasses to fishing rods, knives tackle and as teenager my favorite was the beer!!!! Oh yeah, Post a report of your trip. I am stuck in China until October and would love to hear how the river is fishing!!!

Lowe quit making them back int he 80's or 90's but it is a long narrow jon. I am not very technical so the best description is that "both ends look like the front". They draft very little water but are pretty stable. The advantage of the "double ended" boat is that you can stop it very easily in the current since there is no "flat transom" to catch the current. I actually spend most of my time with the trolling motor in reverse either holding or slowly backing up into a good looking spot. Please post a trip report after you go.

I just returned from the USA back to my home in China. I can tell you that there is not much the USA can do to affect the GLOBAL conditions. I am all for everyone doing their own part but living first hand in a developing country puts a lot of things into perspective. I live on the 20th floor over looking a very polluted lake, on the days that I can actually see through the smog the water is a "neon green" with less than 1" of visibility. Many days I can't even see the lake because the air is so thick. On very bad days you can actually "taste" the metal in the air. I have travelled all over China and been to some VERY rural areas that don't have much industry within 200-300 miles, the air still sucks. I applaud the efforts of the individual person but they will never be enough to overcome the rest of the world. I will point out that China had some major rain storms over the weekend and the air around Shanghai all the way up to Beijing has been excellent for four days. Actually saw BLUE skies and could see the moon and a couple of stars. In a year, I have seen less than 10 days of blue sky. On a Cloudless day the sky is usually grey.

Tom, I like to be comfortable and use a 17' Lowe Paddle Jon. I pretty much take everything but the kitchen sink for comfort. I have even been known to take a full size fish cooker and 10lb propane bottle! This year we kept it simple with two tents, two tarps, coleman air mattress, pillow and light blanket. I have also just taken an air mattress and tarp before. As far as the posted sections of the river. I have a couple of nice gravel bars that I usually stay on. One was "gone" this year and I had to move down the river to a new one. I usually don't pay any attention to the signs posted by Niangua River Land an Cattle. They just irritate me. I have been known to camp on the small Island right below the first sign (but that was a few years ago and I was a rebel without a cause!!!) Now I just use common sense and have never had an issue. Joe

That is a great price. Barlay to Lead-Mine is going to be a long float. I have made Prosperine to Lower Lead Mine a 2.5 day float. Just have to give up to much fishing time to make it in 2 days. But I like to get out and wade fish every deep water riffle and we back up and fish anywhere we get bit! I did prospering to (Upper) Lead mine in one day with the girlfriend and caught a ton of fish but had to run hard (no Fishing) the last two miles. Joe

I hope so. Would not be that difficult and would make life so much easier... Wait, never mind I like it just the way it is. A real pain for most people to make the float!!! Keeps the river quieter!!! Joe

all of my family lives in Camdenton so it is easy for me to get one to run me to Prosperine and then a couple of others to drop my truck at Lead Mine the next day! I did write down the Bird Island phone number from their sign in Eldridge (1-417-426-5960) Not sure if it works or if they are still around but they used to do shuttles and then you can just float into their campground. Bird Island is for sure a two day float and I would want three to do it the way I fish. Joe

River was low, probably closer to normal end of August levels. Boat/Gear - Lowe 17' paddle jon with camping gear and way to much tackle. 55lb thrust minnkota and a group 24 and 27 batteries, two cases of bear two cases of water and some food... Boat was HEAVY!!!! We hit a couple of big rocks in the usual spots. Had to drag at a couple of the very low fords and at the bottom of a couple of riffles but only drug hard twice. Once I went left when I should have went right and once it was just dang shallow. Neither time required unloading or dragging more than about 1/2 to 3/4 a boat length.