Gavin

I never want to shoot a bear. I like to shoot birds, squirrels, and rabbits. I don't want to deal with a 100 lb + carcass unless I can drive to it, or stick in a tractor bucket. aK

Ozark Trail around Greer Spring on the Eleven Pt. Brian Sloss could help you find one. Ahuber could as well on the Upper Current, he is down there several days a week. You will need local help to find one, or ask to tag along with an MDC biologist. They usually accomodate requests if they can get some free labor out of you. Shock boat trips are a ton of work, but volunteer, and they will probably take your offer. aK

Congrats on the new gig! You fishing with Harris boys? Jack & Dillon are WFT guys, wicked & weird. Blake showed up a few times, but guess he is a thin skin.

The Big, and Black are completely different rivers. The Black is faster and air clear, and the fish relate to depth. The Big is usually pretty murky. Different tactics are required.

You need to head further upstream on Big River to catch smallmouth on a regular basis. Get ahold of Joe D, he does some guiding on the Meramec & Big. He's a little rough around the edges, but a super nice guy at heart. Zoom Fat Albert Grub and a 1/8 or 1/4 oz head with a weed guard is a great numbers bait. Zoom Super Flukes in White, Pink, or White with Chartruese tail work really well...4-5/0 EWG Hook. Good Luck. f

Made the mistake of floating the Norfork Tailwater at full generation in a solo canoe once. I'm a good paddler, but I'm never doing that again. Consequences are to high if you dump. Forget your boat and stuff, just get to the bank and survive. Proceed with a walk of shame.

Tailwaters can be great, but......can screw a wade fisher in a hurry. Hire one of Phil's guys to take you out for a trip and show you the ropes.

The book is more about Grover misadventures. Loosing it, finding it, then the shower of shame.

There are a couple classic burger joints in St. Louis...Carl's Drive in is always fun. 16 seats, 8 or each side of an open kitchen, and they make their own rootbeer. O'Connells has a unique style of burger. Spencer's Grill, Blueberry Hill, Trainwreck, Village Bar, etc...I'm not much on the overloaded DDD style burgers. If you want a Loose Meat Burger, Hit the Maid-Rite in Rolla, their chicken is good too.

Shotgun is a better bet if quick shots are required. Can shoot em all day long with a 22 air rifle and never leave my yard. Stick with low shots in the neighborhood. Lots of windows. 3 neighbors shoot them too, so no complaints as long as you shoot smart.

Wagu franks? LOL! If I can track down some hatch Chile’s will be trying Rick’s Posole Verde, have a good Posole Rojo recipe someplace,

Will probably hunt teal if I can find some. Yes do have 2 dozen speck silos. I see lots of em in Alton/STC at times, Figured I’d try to kill some this year. Just cheap Dive Bomb silos, local pickup available. Near the STL Airport.

It is all public access down there...Its either owned by the National Park Service, or there is a public easement in place. Primitive camp anywhere you want.

Sound like Mennonites. See lots of on the Niangua.

I've had geoduck several times. It's pretty good.

Wakey wakey! Rub your meat!

Good for the angler, so much jealousy and hate these days. Fish died. OK with with that. Have killed a few thousand of them, released many more.

We go there often, sometimes in the summer. Jadwin Canoe might dump 20 boats in at Baptist but It’s not their money maker. Fishing will be dead by the time they get there, and good again after the rent a boat folks are long gone.

You will be good between Baptist & Cedar, no rafts. The mob starts at Cedar, Jets after Round Spring. I spend 7-10 days a year fishing between Montauk SP and Welch Spring. There is a reason why.

Dove stuff already done, pulled the ducks & geese out this AM. Looking for some more places to hunt.

Waiting for Columbus, and live at the Fillmore.

Used to run an anchor...haven't in years. The fewer gizmo's the better IMO. Couple rods, cooler, 1 plano full of tackle. life jacket, 20' of rope. pliers, landing net, first aid kit. That's about it for a day trip.

Guage at Akers is running at 1.1' which is almost dead low but you can still float out of Baptist at that level. Might have to drag a bit, and find the channel in shallow flat runs. Baptist to Akers is a good float. Just a pain to hump your boat & gear over the low water bridge at Cedargrove. Most of the outfitter traffic will be below Cedargrove. Would not put in if the Akers guage gets to 4.0. NPS will close it down at that level. Best around 2.5'. Have a great trip.

Looks like a good start. Get it on the water and go scratch it up!

Closest floats would be the Little Piney, between Lane Spring and the Gasconade. Put in under 63 off the North Rd, take out at W, W to Newburg City Park, Newburg City Park to the Gasconade. Andy at Route 66 canoe rental could give you some more options. Float down to his place goes through the Devil's Elbow, good scenery, good fishing. He would probably put you in anywhere within a 30-45 minute drive mid week or off season.