Goggle-Eyed

Just FYI to anyone fishing or boating on Grand Lake. The lake has a severe Blue Green Algae bloom going on. The GRDA has issued a statement that you should not swim or make contact with the water. Other experts have stated that they don't recommend eating the fish out of the affected parts of the lake. It doesn't appear to be overtaking the Main Lake but Duck Creek, Party Cove, Bernice State Park, and a few other areas are very toxic right now... Very bad for business at the marinas. Only saw about 10 boats on the lake in a couple of hours. Joe

I am leaning heavily towards the Tarpon 120 based on what I am going to use the boat for. I have the paddle jon for down river float trips and overnight float trips. I have the jet to run up for a longer all day trip. I am mainly wanting this boat for short paddle up river trips and to open up more water like the Upper Reaches of the Little and Big Niangua as well as some creeks that dump into the Gasconade. Joe

Thanks for the great discussion. It appears my short list is Tarpon 120 or the Coosa! I am hoping to get out and test drive them in the next few months. Al, if you were going to recommend a solo Canoe to try out what would it be? Thanks again, Joe

I have searched the forums and didn't find anything specifically addressing my concerns. If you have knowledge or a link please share... I am thinking of purchasing a kayak to fish out of on the Big and Little Niangua. I have a 16' jet that I run on the lower section of the Niangua From Tunnel Lake up to about Blue Springs. I have a 17' Lowe paddle jon that I do overnighters in from Bennett down to Lead Mine and on the LN. I have decided to join the Kayak craze, for those days I want to go for a few hours by myself. I am looking for any advice on best size, brand, type. I am not an "experienced" paddler as I usually have a trolling motor on the paddle jon. I am about 6'1" tall about 250lbs and have a bad knee. From your personal experiences does the size/weight/knee issues keep me in a canoe or jon boat or is there a kayak out there with my name on it? I have sat on a few kayaks and don't feel the knee issue is a show stopper as I was able to get comforatable, my real concern is getting in and out as I do alot of wading during the day. Thanks in advance for any knowledge you can share! Joe

Don't bother putting in below Prosperine...There aren't any fish from there to Tunnel Dam. Complete Waste of Time!!!!!

Yes probably a private road, I have known the family for along time and never thought about that. You are correct and I have caught a ton of fish in the first quarter mile below the slab!!! Wait actually, there are no fish in that enitre section of river. The Little Niangua sucks!

Do you need a shuttle or will you do your own shuttling? I like Bannister to Witherall Slab or even go on down to Green Mill Campground but then you have to portage over Witherall slab. I fish and float very slowly and this is almost a full two days for me. You could also do Bannister to Fiery Forks but you would probably make it in on Saturday night to Fiery Fork unless you float pretty slowly... Bannister to Fiery Fork about 6 miles Bannister to Green Mill (HWY J) about 9 nine miles Joe

Well I have been away from Lake Of The Ozarks and living on Grand Lake for two weeks... Finally got to do some crappie fishing this weekend. I was fishing in about 20' of water and the fish were around 12 to 15'... I was impressed witht he size of the fish here versus LOZ. Even with the 10' minimum length limit I only had to throw back a couple of fish. Most all fish were over 11" with a couple of 14's.... Very happy to be on Grand and catching quality fish!!! Joe

I doubt it will be substantial this year. The last two big collapses (on LOZ) have occurred because of some very unique conditions. The one a couple of years ago was mainly mainly caused by the almost inch of solid ice then massive snow fall on top. Another reason was that over 85% of the docks that collapsed all had old "white foam" that was waterlogged and didn't provide enough floation. There were a few docks with black foam but mostly they were inferior construction that didn't have enough bracing for the roof. The other thing is that large commercial dock owners don't take appropriate precautions. they should be out there removing all of the concrete decking from the ends of the fingers and placing it in the center of the dock on the mainwalk way... If you have an "inline" dock that has a Mainwalk with slips only down "one" side you have the most risk. If you have a dock that has a mainwalk with slips down both sides there is more even support. The biggest problem is that with an "inline" dock the dock with start to lean since the ends of the fingers don't have enough floation that is when the roof columns will bend and then collapse. The true "back to back" docks that have slips down both sides will typically sink "level" and then just pop back up once the snow is removed or melted... Still a chance for damamge but usually not as severe. If you are on a lake that still has a lot of "white" foam their is a good chance you will see docks collapse over the next 48 hours. Joe

Walleye do make it is as far up as the spillway of tunnel dam. if you were to put your boat in there, you could float down stream to the "whistle" a low water crossing that now has a bridge tall enough you can float under it. From there you float down to the "power house" this is where the water from tunnel lake returns to the river. From there you float down to Susy rock on the left. From there you float down to "casa de loco" winery on the left (another good walley spot). from there you would continue on down to the Lake and then on to Ha Ha Tonka. There have been stories of Walleye being caught above Tunnel dam but it has been many many years and mostly by accident. I have never personally targeted walleye above the dam and doubt that there are many if any left. I have however caught Trout as far down as the second lead mine access... Wasn't targeting them either but did catch ONE. Hope this helps. Joe

Susan Rock is down below the "power house". It is an out cropping of rocks on the left side of the river (if you are headed down stream). I am not sure who owns the property there. I usually run the jet up there and on up. I have caught walleye as the spill way but the best fishing seems to be the first shoal above the power house. If you are planning on running a jet any further above the power house be careful, it get's real tricky. Joe

I believe what Al meant was it is the longest river that starts and ends within the state and doesn't travel anywhere outside the boundries of MO.

Did you try the "wave wall" at PPB#2? Each end throw past the winch stands let it sink then pull it up over the cable and let it fall again then pull it down the face of the wall the wall is about 6' under water the fish have been about 12' deep. Tight Lines.

Had another good afternoon of crappie fishing yesterday. Same pattern as Christmas, taking a friend this afternoon, hopefully will be as good. If your reading this, close your computer and go fishing!!!!!

Within site of the Dam.... Only fished about an hour but managed to put 9 fish in the fridge for dinner this week... only had to measure 3 fish, rest were over 10" and one fish over 12". All larger fish were holding 8'to 12' in 20'+ of water. shad colors fished slow...

I have a couple of 17' lowe paddle jons and they are very stable. We do a couple of overnighters out of them every summer (Niangua). When we go on an overnighter it takes about an extra 300lbs of gear and the boat has never felt "tippy" to me...

The bite was good Monday. Most of the fish came out of 17' to 30' of water. The fish I caught in 17' were in the bottom 1/3 of the water column. The fish out in 30' of water were in the top 1/3. I only got to fish for about an hour and caught 12 keepers. So it has definately slowed down from two weeks ago but still pretty good. All my fish were caught on Bobby Garland's in Blue Ice... I was fishing off of condo docks within site of the Dam. Joe

The Crappie are ON at the Lake! From one end to the other! Caught them from 18" to 12' under docks in 22'-40' of water. Bigger ones were still down a little deeper but this cool weather ought to bring them up too!!! Took about 50 little ones to get a limit. Pattern was the same from the upper reaches of the niangua (Double A to Bridal Cave) to fishing within site of the dam. Most all fish came off of "blue ice" or "albino shad" down by the dam, Up on the niangua it was a wierd bite and ended up using "pink and white" with Chartruese crappie nibble. Now is just the begining get out and fish!!!! If you can't tell I am excited the crappie are doing so well, I was getting hungry!!!!

Yes but it is pretty hit or miss. Right now the lake is muddy down almost to Bridal cave and from Ha Ha Tonka to the Bridge is where the shad have been getting torn up by the Hybrids and whites. I actually think the Hybrids have been more active than I have seen in awhile. Not alot of activity yesterday but I only fished from Bridal Cave to Double A. Joe

Well the Big Niangua River was blown out so Smallie fishing was out... Ended up fishing the big and little niangua arm of the lake and did pretty good on Crappie. Caught all of them on pearl colored jigs some were 2' under the dock foam others were 6-8' under the foam. Needed about 20' of water and cuaght most at the front of the well. Brush really didn't seem to matter they were just hanging out under the foam.

That is exactly where I used to launch.... Will Mountain Creek not let you pay to launch at the campground anymore? I haven't stayed there in many years but used to launch there when I would camp there.

Ya, it's my favorite stretch too! Thats why I don't want anyone else on it!!!! I figure if I keep saying how bad it sucks no one else will fish it!!! knowing we fish the same areas, might see out there someday! I am running a 16' semi v with a 50/35 honda tiller... Joe

After yesterday's rain the river is now BLOWN OUT... I was planning on fishing tomorrow but looks like I will be firing up my new smoker and doing a pork butt! Joe

I don't know why you guys keep trying to fish this section of the river. There are NO fish in it, it is horrible, don't waste your time! Stay up above Prosperine that is where the good fishing is.

Yes, I have chainsawed numerous times. Did you put in at the "ramp" or at the lower gravel area? I just ran my jet up there less than a month ago (put in at the ramp) and didn't have any major problems. When I floated in the paddle jon two weeks ago someone had just went through and chain Sawed a bunch of stuff, wonder if some of that came loose and clogged up.... I was actually thinking about making that run in the jet labor day weekend, please let me know which area you put in at. Joe