Wayne SW/MO

You might stop by Larry's and talk to Ed. They've both been around Bennett a long time, longer than most. Ed was the manager of Springview when it was still standing in the park. I gurantee you he will do you right, more so than many around the area.

It is private, and I understand the present owners are less than friendly. It was open to the public at one time, but like many good things that has passed. Its too bad the state didn't grab it up.

I would disagree because of my experience. The one area of use I would agree with your assessment is when one does a lot of fishing by traveling a good distance upstream. When floating I would put them below shorter yaks and definitely solo canoes. I don't see a whole lot of difference in the overall comfort of any of the solo crafts, but there are distinct differences in maneuverability. The ability to avoid obstructions, quickly duck back into an eddy after passing through a shoal, and throw on a vehicle roof generaly belong to the solo canoe. There is no perfect craft and each individual should decide what kind of water will be most important and require the most perfection from his craft.

I'm not sure what you're looking for? Its not real deep, but it does hold warmer water, at least when Bear and Bull creeks are flowing well. There are some lilly pads in it for cover.

Eventually the misinformation will settle down, and ethanol won't be quite as bad as its pictured. While I doubt its the fuel of the future, it may have a place in the overall scheme. I remember when taking lead out was viewed as the end of gas engines as we knew them. As for corn and livestock feed, thats simply not what some would have you believe. Feed has gone up because of many shortages and price increases, corn is probably one of the lessor reasons. When congress decides to lift the tariffs on Brazilian Ethanol and allow more oil exploration and production here, Missouri's mandate will mean nothing.

I don't think it was ever meant to, but was intended to makes us more secure by not depending on a fuel source we can't control. This doesn't even account for the dollars that are most likely coming back to haunt us. Fuel economy seems to be a more personal thing and I can't tell that my Liberty loses more than about 1 mpg with Ethanol, my wifes Neon about 2.

Well you have to tie it somewhere or you'll lose it. It can have the pulley on either end, and I prefer the rear on my canoe to avoid the rope tangling on something too dicey to reach. I don't have plastic seats in my solo, so I simply tie it next to me on the cross brace of the seat. I do a simple overhand using a loop so I can release it with a tug, and if it doesn't in an emergency its close enough for me to cut. I find that pulling into calm water and anchoring in shallow water helpful. Its not a good idea to anchor in a heavy flow period, no matter where the anchor drops from. Whether I'm in my yak or my solo, I always have a sharp knife on my vest. That way I can cut rope, fishing line, branches or anything else that might want to hold me where I don't want to be.

I read a report from EMA that stated that it had been destroyed or heavily damaged by high winds.

Like Al, I find that my Mohawk tracks poorly and is very touchy when attempting to ferry. The reason goes back to what can be a plus and thats maneuverability, something fishing kayaks lack for the most part. There are trade offs, like in everything boating, but I have developed a preference for comfort and quickness of the solo. The solo is not as stable, but thats relative and may or may not ever make a difference. Greg a good fishing kayak is going to cost you close to the same, about 75%, probably, of a solo.

It was illegal, and I don't blame you for telling him so. You can at least hope he saw you on the phone and will think twice before doing it again.

You can mount it over the side, but it can work the side a lot. I would use jumper cables to put the battery to the front. You can find various mounts on E-bay at better prices than factory models. If you think you'll use the motor alot, thats the best choice, or you can build a mount out a 2x4 and some angle from Lowe's or Home depot. You would probably be better off getting a few trips under your belt before you make many modifications. The exception might be an anchor. Buy a 3# dumbbell from Wal-mart and tie a rope to it, then run the rope through a pulley held with a length of rope to the back handle, tie it off at the thwart or the seat.

Just be proactive with regard to memory. When you're preparing for a trip, soak your line in very warm tap water, give it 5 minutes or so, then draw the line out over the lawn and without any resistance draw it back on the reel with a minimal amount of pressure with you thumb and index finger. This will take out virtually all of the twist thats in the line, but what you might add in fishing later is a problem you'll have to address as you fish.

I can't speak to the unravels, I haven't used that brand, but I've used a couple other braids, I like Power Pro and TUFF XP, and I haven't had that problem. Frankly I think its defective and I would contact Berkley. The fact that you're breaking it is another matter thats not that strange to very thin braids. There are two problems that arise with them, first the diameter is so thin that any damage at all is catastrophic, and second the lack of stretch means that pressure from setting the hook allows no leeway for error. When setting the hook on most lines the stretch takes up the overkill, on braids with a higher test you don't reach their limits, but on the small diameter braids you must use very sharp hooks and learn to set firmly but softly. I personally don't use any thing smaller than 4/15, and I still use some 6/20. I don't use braid on line shy fish such as trout, but I like it for some applications on warmwater fish like top water smallie fishing.

Thats a very big Smallie for a Missouri stream. Congratulations.

I don't know that I would shoot for Riley's station with this water level, but he is very accommodating about shuttles and takeouts. He is just on the other side of the island at the mouth. He put us in for our lower river trip and at a reasonable price.

I don't know if there is any connection, but there is a new one in Rockaway Beach also.

They can be spooky, but more than likly they're being picky. They can be like trout, they start feeding on something abundant and ignore all others. I would use corn, and throw some out for them to get used to. Be kind to them, they're a lot of fun to catch.

I've always had good luck with the Palomar, just make sure you test it. I don't understand what you mean by destroys it?

No, but I've heard it can be good. I've never had the transportation to do it. Williams down is good, if you can find a shuttle. You might ask at Clyde's or the Menagerie about shuttles. There was a fellow that rented canoes who lived on 64 back west of Winchester towards Plad who would shuttle. He lives on the south side of the highway and has a small trailer of canoes and a "firewood for sale" sign, his name is Clifford, but I can't think of his last name. its the same as the bluff below the 64 access.

I suspect that is true. Its under water and even after it goes down there will probably be what the COE considers damage to repair. As for pollutants, I would think the lakes are cleaner right now, they've certainly had a good flush.

If this is the place that was on the square, I bought my Penobscot from them a few years back. They do have some good prices on seconds. The seconds are cosmetic, not structural. I saved about $400 if I remember right.

I'm not trying to lay blame. Its hard to avoid however in trying to make the point that a child who can't help himself has no business on a wild river in the Spring. The rivers in this area are unknowns at this point and they will remain so until the weather quits changing them. Canoe upsets are instantaneous, and there is never time to do more than help yourself at the onset. Its not a freak accident, canoes upset, rivers change, and skills vary, always have, always will. I just hope that its the last one I hear about, sadly its not the first.

I own both and I can't argue with what Al says. I've used my kayaks a lot less since acquiring my Mohawk 13 a few years back. If there is a big difference, to me it would be in comparing 10' kayaks, in price and physical handling, to solo's. They're generally cheaper, weigh the same, and can be carried in more vehicles.

Moon Valley to the access, or Riverfront can be good fishing, and not as crowded, especially when the river drops.

An Old Town Guide 16 is a very stable canoe, and while its slow and on the heavy side, its stable enough to stand in. The Discovery series are generally very stable, but not as stable as the Guide. You'll have a hard time filling an order of fast, light and stable though. Most any kayak or canoe can be flyfished from, if the rod is long enough and you have reasonable balance..