KevinC.

I will never forget those cicadas back in the late 90s! Wow! They just appeared.....then disappeared. Streets were clutted with them in the gutter, it was amazing.

Noted on the legislature. Unfortunately, I dont think we can use legislation to argue with enforcement. That would be a valid argument in the court of law but may fall on deaf ears with water patrol/MDC (and rightly so since all they see is black and white). Unfortunately there are a lot of Joe schmoes like me who cant afford to pay a lawyer to make this argument and since our highest missouri court has agreed with us, I'm definitely in agreement with enacting a statute based on this ruling. Until then....you know what I mean! Hopefully the questioning for that gentleman is all that is due. I surely hope our sherriffs can use their noggin and use sensible judgment on whether to prosecute. If the landowner wants to press charges to the fullest he needs to pay his attorney for that instead of using our taxpayer money on our elected/hired public servants. Setting camp on a gravel bar in his vicinity is going to be seen as spite over matter. Hopefully no one tries to dig into his skin further before statutes are in place. That kind of move could backfire if there is political play involved. Sorry you had to go through that! In the meantime let's see some goggle eye pics.

Thanks for the link, troutcommander, read it all. The story confirms my suspicion some land owner wants to rule the fort just for the sake of it. Hopefully that warrant for the gentlemen is like you said, just for questioning. Hope that matter gets resolved. I'm a bit more informed now since missouri streams and rivers are designated navigable or not which is apparently the trump card in this case. I had always thought there was an easement but from MDC, it appears that is surely not the case at all. This story makes me re-consider going down below 54 bridge and throwing off the bank on the osage. I had considered going down there but there is no way to access below the bridge by foot without walking through private property or taking a swim from the access 1/2 mile up stream (which of course is not sensible). And now I read even being on the bank is tresspass so going down there off the bank is out of the question for me, yet I have seen 10-15 people down there snagging. We snagged that bank and pissed people off for driving through their casting range but now I dont feel so bad since they are the ones who are tresspassing and we were fully within our right to be trolling along that bank. Another situation: just below bagnall is a bait shop that apparently owns all the land now. They charge $2 to park and fish the bank. I had thought this was illegal but after getting more informed about the banks of our streams (and rivers) that land owner is entitled to charge us to be there! Insane! Bad rule, but on the other hand equally as petty given this situation. I am only speculating but perhaps this rule is designed to keep land owners safe from strangers lurking, hanging around or loitering ones property. I have to admit if I was a land owner and folks were down there screaming and shouting, getting drunk, etc on the bank of my property, I'd be pissed. Not saying you guys were involved in that sort of behavior but unfortunately the law has to be black and white and we as people have to use common sense on what to prosecute/report and what not to. Sounds like this land owner was just flexing his arms at you guys. Stupid. Since most of the folks discussing this has some affiliation with trout, I imagine you all were trout fishing, no? How in the world can you trout fish our streams without wading or even anchoring!? Ridiculous! I would sign a petition for the use of banks and wading (especially anchoring) if the activity is clearly fishing. Doesnt sound fair. Trout fishing seems like deer hunting food plots. Gotta own land just to do it. Good luck with the legislation. Kevin

All I see on here are opinions but no story. Anyone got an article I could read? I'm not from the Shoal area so forgive me for being so uninformed! Sounds like a nit-picky land owner deal where they want to be King of the castle just for the sake of being King. But isnt there a government-owned easement along our streams and rivers?

Ut oh!! I may be on to something then! Better get out there ASAP. The guy caught that monster in the same conditions we're headed into tonight. hmmmmmmm. no work tomorrow....do have to get up early for turkey though. Yep, I'll be on the river I imagine!

We had some luck! Got a 34" spoonie on the osage close to the Lock & Dam #1. We started out Sunday afternoon at the mariosa delta and all we were getting was gar and big ole silver carp. We had originally thought they were shad or red horse. Caught 3, threw one away. After discovering what it was, I'm kicking myself for not throwing that 3rd carp on the bank. Cut them up for catfish bait. We will see if it'll work. Caught 2 gar as well. As for the spoonie, we moved from the delta up to the lock and dam. In a pontoon with fish finder, I had my rig out of the water coming in to the L&D. I looked at the radar and saw a big school of fish about 3-5' off the top of the water (16' deep area). I hurried to my rig and dropped it straight down off the pontoon. Felt it hit the bottom. I started reeling in a bit and yanked on the pole several times. let the boat drift down stream a little then as I was yanking I felt like I hit a snag. Started reeling in and drove up over the "snag". I kept reeling and reeling and looked over and the spoonbill was belly up, all wore out and ravelled up in my 100# test. Hadnt broke the line all day. Original rig from the start for 3 hours strong and this was the first time I had to cut my line. Not a very "meaty" spoonbill but 34" from eye to tail fork and would have been legal for lake side. Ended up weighing 12 pounds. I read stories on here about 40-50-60 and that 95# spoon bill thread. Wow! 12# was exciting for me but I bet it takes 30-45 minutes to reel those true big ones in. Anyway, nothing special compared to what I see on here but boy it sure was fun. I should go snagging more often to get these carp out of the water. I hear silver carp can get 4 feet long and they jump out of the water. Would not want to run into one of those on skis or tube. yikes. Pics attached. Snagging can be completely fun or completely disappointing. After Sunday I've experienced both now! LOL Kevin

Thanks! We went down there yesterday with a pontoon and only heard of one boat bringing in 3 spoonbill. Pretty slow. Water was down and they didnt run water at any point yesterday. Might need to get below lock and dam #1.

Hello all. I'm thinking of giving bank snagging a try tomorrow afternoon. Not sure when the best time is but it'll be warmest in the afternoon and maybe some good spoonies will give a good spawn run around that time. I understand from MDC that you cannot snag below the dam before the 54 bridge. looking to get as close as I can to the 54 bridge down there but I have absolutely no idea what the terrain is like, if it's even public or if there are some good access locations that have had snagging luck in the past. Anyone have some experience in that area? is this one of the better places to go? Also, is there a schedule out there bagnall dam has on running water? Am I shooting for the right place to snag? Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks. Kevin

has the 70s evinrude sold? what was the hp rating on it, again? thanks.

Curious about that briggs 5hp motor. Can it push that 18 footer up stream in a river just below the dam? I'm looking to put a 14' jon boat rig together and was told by several a 9hp is minimum for getting around in it. I'm sure the 5hp would have no problems on the lake side. What are you thoughts?

Hello all. New to forum but not so new to fishing. Looking to connect with other fishermen out and see what's being caught in 2011 (and on). Will be trying to do some snagging here in the coming week or two. I dont have a boat but I understand people are bank snagging and it's working, so I'm here to learn about that or maybe hook up with someone who has a boat that wouldnt mind another man on board to help pitch in with the rising fuel costs. Crappie, catfishing, trout, been doing it for years and have snagged from a boat before. So look for me lurking around the spoonbill threads. I've got a real bad itch to snag a spoonbill this year. Just trying to scratch it! Kevin