fishinwrench

If the stream is of floatable size most of the time, and has ever been "used for commerce" then it should be classified as a public waterway...or "navigable stream". The key term in your (our) favor is "used for commerce". The definition includes removal of water or minerals resulting in profit. So if anyone has ever sold gravel from the stream then you have a good case, should it go to court. Providing that you access the creek legally, from a public right of way.. County road district crews get gravel from nearby streams to build and repair tax funded roads and low-water bridges all the time. If they have the right to do that then you (taxpayer) have a right to float or wade in it. Right ?

http://www.lakenewsonline.com/breakingnews...afe-for-contact

Obviously priced to keep out the Rif-Raf.......of which catagory I myself fall in.

k, well.... if you see a dude out there flyfishing with something pink on the end of his leader, casting long and stripping line like crazy, introduce yourself and I'll buy you lunch. Deal?

Nice work Man ! Those Kentucky's are pigs. I wanna get into those Whites and Hybrids with the flyrod. I have a fly that those critters can't ignore. Where are they ?

They had to shut the gates at Bagnell this evening....too much flooding below, so the lake will continue to backwater as Truman dumps. The back half of all the creeks and coves I've seen are full of bank litter and debris. But Man-oh-Man are they tearin' up the Channel cats here in the spring branch in Gravois ! Nothing huge, but lots of stringers full of good eaters. The same situation may be playing out in Tonka cove as well.

"FishinCricket" my bald butt !!!....Your name is.... Dorky PicklePants LMAO ! . Use the third letter of your first name to determine your New first name: a = snickle b = doombah c = goober d = cheesey e = crusty f = greasy g = dumbo h = farcus i = dorky j = doofus k = funky l = boobie m = sleezy n = sloopy o = fluffy p = stinky q = slimy r = dorfus s = snooty t = tootsie u = dipsy v = sneezy w = liver x = skippy y = dink y z = zippy 2. Use the second letter of your last name to determine the first half of your new last name: a = dippin b = feather c = batty d = burger e = chicken f = barffy g = lizard h = waffle i = farkle j = monkey k = pickle l = fricken m = bubble n = rhino o = potty p = hamster q = buckle r = gizzard s = lickin t = snickle u = chuckle v = flippin w = hubble x = dingle y = gorilla z = girdle 3. Use the third letter of your last name to determine the second half of your new last name: a = pants b = boob c = face d = nose e = hump f = breath g = butt h = shorts i = lips j = honker k = head l = tush m = chunks n = dunkin o = brains p = biscuits q = toes r = doodle s = fanny t = sniffer u = sprinkles v = frack w = squirt x = humperdinck y = hiney z = juice From your friend, Crusty Farklechunks

Must haves: Life jackets (PFD's) for each occupant. Throwable device (boat cushion). Length of rope and a decent knife to keep in the boat (ya never know). A whistle.

Sold. Thanks

Now that's a sturdy boat ! Those hills look stripped clean of timber. Any idea whereabouts that photo was taken ?

Kayaker, We got 3 1/2"+ last night...... so she's completely blown out now. http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv/?site..._cd=00065,00060

For spinning gear I've settled on P-Line Flouroclear in 6# for lightweight stuff, and P-Line CX Premium in 8# for medium sized baits and/or slightly bigger hooks.

Yes both pics are of the same track, just different angles. No I don't see cause to "alert the media", I know that there are a few bears around here and we used to see tracks alot when I lived in Georgia but they looked more like oversized cat tracks (probably the front foot) and I saw what I'm pretty sure was a small black bear near Mill creek here in MO. several years ago. I was just kinda shook over the size of it at first....but I think the sand exaggerates that somewhat.

There were other tracks in the gravel and mud that looked like they were from the same critter, but they weren't as clearly defined.

More like 13" And yeah, I think I'd rather run into Bigfoot, or a bear, than to see a turtle that big. LOL Actually I think gunner was referring to a turtle digging (like they do when they lay eggs). But there would be tracks where it exited the hole, no? Besides, there were other "footprints" from whatever it was nearby....but that one was the most distinct. If it is a footprint then whatever made it was either 4-legged or wasn't very heavy, because my own footprint in the same sand was alot deeper. I dunno, but it looks like 3 big toes in front with a 4th toe kinda off to the side. Do you think it resembles this? : cuz I'm beginning to think so.

Dropped in at Fiery forks at 10:30am and paddled up a mile or so. The water was up about 1 ft. from normal and had some good color to it. After catching a few dinks on poppers and muddlers I grabbed the spinning rod and pitched jigs to the woody cover along the banks for awhile but they either weren't in it, or they were so far in it that I couldn't get a bait to them. I switched to a small tube and put a little pattern together by fishing the weed edges inside the eddys, By concentrating only on the eddy grass I caught a bunch of 10 - 12 inch Smallies and lost one on the jump that would have gone 15-16". Later in the afternoon I parked the canoe, grabbed the flyrod and took a walk up past a section that was too fast to paddle up through, to try some poppers in the slow weedy section above it. I caught 4 little smallies and a couple of largemouth and then I ran across THIS ! .... WTF makes a print like that ?

Sure ! And BTW, it doesn't require "big, fast & fancy"....it just has to float. Gunnels: (slang for gunwales)..... more commonly known as the side of the boat. You swing the big boys over the port (left) side if your right handed, starboard (right) if you're a lefty. To holler "NET" when flippin'/pitchin'...is a sign of weakness

My sentiments exactly. I had a copperhead take up residence right next to my mailbox ... and he had to go. But all others get a free pass with me.

So is a Cadillac salesman that drives a Tracker. Seriously though....For starters I lost 3 boats and all my bassin' gear in the tornado. Besides, I did nothing but chase green bass in the lakes for 23 years, I've owned 11 bass boats, 3 pontoons, 3 jon boats, and a racing rig in the past. I just sold my 364 Ranger (simply wasn't getting used), and I have my jon boat on ebay and here on the buy/sell section for the same reason. When you work on them for a living the last thing you want to see, hear, or smell in your free time...is a motorboat. Not that I don't still enjoy them, and LOVE working on them, but my fishing has switched almost entirely to rivers and creeks. So my bassboats come and go, but the canoes, paddle-toons, and waders are what really get utilized these days. I have plenty of boats available if I truly want to hit the lake. Believe it or not there comes a time when swingin' a 6-7lb. bass over the gunnels doesn't get you excited anymore, but a 12" smallie or trout at your feet still DOES...that's when it's time for a switch.

You met me too late in life I'm afraid.....been there/done that, and moved on

They used to fire a cannon when someone was spotted floating the river. I've heard it go off (5 or 6 times) from way downstream, about 8 seconds between shots....so they must either be fast loaders, or have more than one. The OF is apparently not considered a "navigable waterway", inspite of the fact that you can legally access it both upstream and downstream of that particular section. I wish someone would challenge that (the right to float that section) in court....cuz I think it could be won.

Cricket, You need to first get real familiar with a section of "clearer" water (the best night fishing is usually from the dam to Tan-Tara area, or the Niangua and/or Gravois arm). Locate some 8-15ft. brushpiles that are either on or close to structure or close to backend flats. Texas rigged worms and deep crankbaits will catch the brushpile fish (make a pass with the crankbaits, give it a rest, then make another pass with the worms). If the brushpile fish won't cooperate head to the backends of the bigger creeks and coves, there are always some keeper fish cruising those backends at night and they'll eat buzzbaits, big jigs and worms, ect. Stealth is important in those backends, hunt those shallow fish as if you are trying to sneak up on a flock of turkeys. If you make a bunch of noise (or heck...even a little noise) you will miss out on a lot of bites.

I don't use braid myself, but my buddy that does carry's a Swiss army knife.

Looks good. Thanks for posting the pics.

Man that sounds like a blast.....if I could find a spot with fly eating cats in my neck of the woods I'd be all over it. You're gonna mess around and hang a big ol' flathead eventually. If it's connected to the river there's gotta be one in there. Snap a pic of that strip fly if you get a chance, I'd like to steal....I mean SEE it. It will be interesting to see if you can stay on them all Summer without having to resort to bait.... keep up the reports if you can.