Gavin

You got it Dakota...There were several styles. This one is made from aluminum in the Big Piney style 17' long, 32' bottom, and 4' its widest point. The Charlie Barnes's White River style is a bit longer 20'x 4', a guy I know has made a couple in that style. http://duckworksbbs.com/plans/jim/ozarkian/index.htm The Current River Style is longer & narrower with more rocker http://rolf-man.blogspot.com/2008/06/current-river-style-john-boat.html

Jerome access is closed due to flood damage, no access there. I would call Boiling Springs Resort and Route 66 canoe and discuss your options.

MDC is not good for anything other than public access and a monthly glossy magazine IMO. They revised the Smallmouth regs last year (disappointing) so it will be years before they look at them again. Its a public relations agency these days. No focus on enforcement, fisheries, or wildlife management (other than deer, turkey, or trout).

4 good fish in that pile, hate to see that.

4 good fish in that pile, hate to see that.

Thinking Ozark Minnow or Common Shiner as well.

Boat is sold. Just got it home. Will spec it out in a couple weeks, After Florida trip.

Doubt if there are any signs for the float camps. Just look for scattered balls of white TP in the woods and your probably close.

Will spec it out after I pick it up this weekend. Might be a couple weeks, will be traveling.

Met a guy today, super nice, fellow USMC vet,gave me permission to call for access to his property. it's in the middle of a very difficult place to access and owns 1.5 miles of riverfront. Has one rule. Can't wait to float that!

Thinking Apirin head mold with a little dremel tool grind outs to add more lead. Looks like a good jig head.

You can track some of them online. http://mdc7.mdc.mo.gov/applications/blackbears/#hide-drawer

Thanks Griz! I have been looking for a Lowe or Landau paddle jon for quite awhile.

Will request your presence in it FW. Have some Niangua/Gasconade miles to knock of my bucket list.

Think Browns has been gone for awhile. Boiling Sptings Is your best bet know I think. Did get parking from a guy that is across river from the L piney a month our so ago but would not want to back a trailer down that beach. Jerome got hammered hard with the flood.

Fair enough, I will honor that Wrench.

Sent you an email. Please call.

Very interested. Hitch ball size please? Could drive down this weekend.

The park concession runs the Park to 34 stretch a couple times a day. You can call and ask what times they run. We camp down there with the kids every year and I have rarely seen them put in before 9am. Kind of a boring short float IMO, and the fishing is so so, plenty of tubers and swimmers in the afternoon. There is no good access below 34, and its a long 11 mile float from Coldwater Access down to the boat ramp in the park. Have done the 11 mile in a day several times, but its a long day. One small ledge to run on the 11 mile float, but mostly long pools of frog water. Would have someone drop you off at Coldwater Access if contemplating that, I would not want to leave a vehicle there. Big Creek is the better float, but there are 5 sets of shut ins to negotiate and two of them are pretty hairy, plus you have to catch the water level right. The concession only puts kayaks in on Big Creek, but they wont if the level is above 2.1'. Catch it at 1.8' and you will probably have it to yourself. Don't break an ankle, the rocks are slippery and watch out for rattlesnakes.

Thanks for the report! Sounds like a good time in spite of the crowds.

There is a concrete boat ramp in the campground, or you could launch at the access at the 34 bridge. Not sure about the conditions down there. There was water over the 143 bridge at the top of the park when Big Creek flooded this spring. Its pretty skinny water around the park...canoe would be better on that section of the St. Francis. Kayak if you want to run the boulder gardens on Big Creek. Or just head to the lake and run up.

Pardon my spelling. Kids have the iPad.

My favorite hair jig is 1/8oz, aspirin head, in black or brown bear hair. Old school Billy Westmoreland favorite and mine. Ron Krueger does some flair hair jigs our of Deer hair not buck tail. Killer too but mostly a cold water slow fall thing. Mitch likes olive or olive & orange but artic fox or Finn raccoon. Very sparse on the hair with a small trailer. Sometimes Marabou. Was pre HD Craw/Ned though. I Stick with black, brown, olive, white, and yellow 1/8oz on Mitch heads or aspirin mostly. Some color & flash accents in the collar, or accents in the collar or tail if designed for a rabbit strip trailer with brown trout and bronzebacks in mind. Not much success with buck tail. Coyote tail gold, red, & black flash is a killer.

Got a pic of the jig head & specs? Probably a standard mold with a mod our two maybe.

Randy Breth ties similar, have not seen him post here in awhile though. If you can locate the heads, Craig Stephens at Hargrove's Fly Shop in St Louis will tie them custom for you. Great tier and friend.