Coosa

I do 2 three day trips every year. Lantern..sheet, blanket, pillow in a dry sack....airmatress in a dry sack....2 person tent stuffed in dry sack, finding a spot for the tent poles won't be hard...1 dry sack with a few clothes and shave kit. You really don't need many clothes.Don't forget a towel....another dry sack with miscellaneous items like lighters, pump for matress with extra batteries ,Lantern mantles, 2 small propane bottles for lantern, flashlight...small pot to boil water, it only needs to hold like 2 cups.....Dry sack with food, poptarts, trail mix, candy, granola bars, tortillas, plate and a spork. The hatch cover on some kayaks works great as a plate. Take it off wash it, eat off it, wash it and put it back....kinda funny, but it works. No need for a any type of stove. Just put water in pot and place in fire. Day 1. Eat breakfast before hitting the water. Lunchables and a butterfinger for lunch. Dinner is a baked potato with a thick can of soup dumped on it. Make sure to get soup with a pop top so you don't need a can opener. Heat your soup in the pot not the soup can. That stuffs bad for ya. Or sometimes I eat 2 freeze dried beef stroganoff meals. 1 just don't do it. If doing the stroganoff I like to bring a small pack of Hawaiin rools. Day 2. Breakfast...Freeze dried breakfast skillet (camping section at wally world) with some tortillas. Hit taco bell in the week b4 and grab a few extra taco sauces. Crackers cheese a sausage fir lunch. Spam works good too. I like the little tuna Salad kits also. Dinner 2 jalapeño cheese already cooked brats on buns with a whole can of stag or roadhouse chilli dumped on, followed by a bag of shredded cheddar cheese. Day 3. Breakfast....granola bars and poptarts if theres any left. ( I tend to get the munchies around the fire the night b4, sometimes the poptarts dissappear) For lunch it's basically whatever is left or just suck it up and eat a good meal when ya get off the river. Nothin like a good meal after 3 days on the water. Cooler....3 one liter bottles of water, 6 pack of 6oz pop, 5 one liter bottles flavored sparkling water. I bring a lifestraw (Google it) also in case I run out of drinks. Your brats, and lunchabkes. No with all that being said, it will depend on the kind of yak you have. I have a coosa hd so I have a fair amount of room, although I think my regular coosa had more storage space. I have also packed this all into a jackson big tuna

Thanks, I will definitely be using the leader on my rat. Them things are pricey!!

Each year some buddies of mine and I head for Gunnison National Forest in Colorado to do a weeks worth of dirtbike riding. (I have actually only been once due to kids and other life events). I've been telling my youngest brother (who does not do the dirtbike thing) for the last couple of years that even though he doesn't ride, he should still go out with us and pack along his fishing gear. We'll this year I finally got him on board! Now I'm thinking there is no way I'm not bringing my fishing stuff since I will have a fellow fisherman with me. Im sure as much as I do love to fish I will still spend most of my time riding but I would like to take a day or so to do some fishin. We both would really like to catch a pike out of our kayaks!!! Wishfull thinking? I don't know but I'm sure going to give it my best. Now the question is how do I go about it? My big swim baits and my bbz-1 rat 50 be decent lures? Ive never chased northern pike before but always wanted to. We will will be camping near and fishing at Taylor Park Reservoir. I've been doing my research on the lake (2000acres) and some research on pike fishing but i just wanted to hear some of your input. If Anyone knows anything about this lake or can give me any pike pointers it would be awesome. From what I can remember there is not much structure there so I'm not sure how to go about finding them. Oh ya....August 1-6 is when we will be going.

Each year some buddies of mine and I head for Gunnison National Forest in Colorado to do a weeks worth of dirtbike riding. (I have actually only been once due to kids and other life events). I've been telling my youngest brother (who does not do the dirtbike thing) for the last couple of years that even though he doesn't ride, he should still go out with us and pack along his fishing gear. We'll this year I finally got him on board! Now I'm thinking there is no way I'm not bringing my fishing stuff since I will have a fellow fisherman with me. Im sure as much as I do love to fish I will still spend most of my time riding but I would like to take a day or so to do some fishin. We both would really like to catch a pike out of our kayaks!!! Wishfull thinking? I don't know but I'm sure going to give it my best. Now the question is how do I go about it? My big swim baits and my bbz-1 rat 50 be decent lures? Ive never chased northern pike before but always wanted to. We will will be camping near and fishing at Taylor Park Reservoir. I've been doing my research on the lake (2000acres) and some research on pike fishing but i just wanted to hear some of your input. If Anyone knows anything about this lake or can give me any pike pointers it would be awesome. From what I can remember there is not much structure there so I'm not sure how to go about finding them. Oh ya....August 1-6 is when we will be going. A little edit here.....I apologize for posting this in the general angling discussion. I did not realize there was a Colorado forum. I guess since i live in MO I've just always look at MO stuff.

Did you happen to get passed by a green kayak? I was fishing Friday and passed someone wade fishing close to post office slab.

We ended up making the trip to sw mo to hit a creek that was recommended by another member on here. He hooked us up with a shuttle which was awesome! The fishing was pretty good by numbers if you fished slow but they were all pretty small fish. I think the biggest was 13". We eventually abandoned the slow fishing and threw some big spinners and some wtd lures in hopes of catching a few larger fish but we never did. There really isn't anything exciting to report. Just a good ol relaxing camping trip. This was about the average size. If you look there is 2 snakes in the picture. There were 3 when I took it but I don't see the third.

We did get to go. Got out on a creek that was sent to me in a private message. Report with a few pics coming soon. I've been on the road working this week so havnt had time to post and pics are at home. Hopefully I'll be home this evening.

Thanks Al. Hate to be dealing with lots of other floaters but that may be just something we have to deal with this time. In the past we have always done out trips during the week but the brother got a new job so weekends are our only option now. Talked to River Jim about the niangua this morning and unfortunately it's not sounding good. He says the river is not in good shape. Someone private messaged me a few creeks so hopefully one of those works out. If they don't its looking like jacks fork. It seems to be dropping pretty fast

Thanks ramman. I have actually looked at river Jims website before. I think I can whip up a trip on the niangua pretty quick. And thank you everyone else for the quick responses and private messages. I got lots of ideas to toss around. It's just gonna come down to waiting a day or 2 then making some calls about the water.

Flatbottom boy, thank you for the offer. My dad was actually going to follow us down there and shuttle us if we decided on the gasconade. We live in Linn so it not really that far of a drive. We are still keeping the Buffalo in mind. I have always wanted to try the upper niangua so maybe I can make some phone calls on that tommorow. A buddy told me awhile back if I wanted to do the niangua to call a guy they call "River Jim". Anyone know of him? Would this be a good guy to call? Looking at the Guage at Mountain View it looks like the jacks fork is already dropping. Al I know I've seen you often post about this river. Would this still possibly be an option by Friday morning. I'm in the process of planning something for the Buffalo but would like to use that as a last minute resort.

Thanks Pat Magee. My brother and I have actually been touching base with each other throughout the day today and the idea of the Buffalo has been getting tossed around a bit. Everyone I know says it's awesome....problem is, its like the only river I know NOTHING about. There are lots of rivers in missouri I've never been on but I have a least researched most of them as far as put ins, take outs, mileages, shuttles and fishing. The only thing I know about the Buffalo is that it's in Arkansas. I don't even know where in Arkansas...lol. But I suppose maybe now is good a time as ever to figure it all out. Really didn't want to travel that far if we didn't have to but I will if that what it comes to. If we do decide to head that way should we go upper river, middle, lower? If I can get a starting point I'm sure I can get it from there.

Well its that time of year again when my brother and I take our annual spring float for 3 days 2 nights, and once again the weather is doing what it is. Since we bought our kayaks 4 years ago we always do a trip in the spring and a trip in the fall. So far all but one of our trips has been plagued with bad weather! This year we decided on the upper gasconade going from AB highway to highway 7. I've been watching the scales at hazelgreen and we are sitting at about 600 cfs right now. I've never fished that area but I would imagine that is a little high with dirty water. We also considered the upper jacks fork which I believe is quite a bit higher but from a little research will also probably drop and clear up a lot faster. We are not against traveling a good distance to find some good water somewhere. Any thoughts on what the rivers we have choosen will look like by Friday? Also open to suggestions on any other rivers. We are willing ti drive if thats what it takes. We don't have many other times to fit this in due to work and family obligations. (Brother is having twins soon!) We have lots of successfull day trips fishing together but so far our overnighters have really failed us. Don't get me wrong the camping has always been pretty good for us despite some nasty storms we have endured but the fishing has pretty much sucked. Would really like to be able to put it all together once. Planning on a pic heavy report for you all when I return. Never really done that b4 because I couldn't post pics on here but now I can so....

Thanks Greasy B. I have been watching the usgs. I figured it was all good. Hopefully the weather holds for us between now and then

Any information on water level and clarity, in this area would be helpful to me also. I will be doing a 3 day float from a few miles up from hazel green to hwy 7 starting next friday.

Nothing better than a big topwater blow up out in the middle of the calm shallow open water on a really long cast! And it happens a lot

Last year I was fishing Ben Branch conservation lake near my home. I was using a 7" white fluke throwing it up next to some cat tails in shallow water. As I was floating down the bank in my kayak there was a big blue heron watching me. I didn't think anything of it because they are there all the time but this particular one started walking toward the fluke as I skipped it close to the surface. Now I'm thinking no way this bird is gonna do this but it continues to get closer so I start to reel in kinda fast. Once I start cranking it in this thing takes one or 2 good wing flaps and strikes at the fluke thankfully missing! I paddle on down about 50 yrds or so and this think just keeps following me. Everytime I cast the bird starts walking towards my bait so I crank it in and move. After a few short moves and realizing fishing in this spot just isn't going to happen I decide to make a bigger move way on down a few hundred yards. So after getting down there and fishing for probably 15 or 20 min Ive pretty much forgotten about the bird and went on with my business, when out of nowhere this thing comes from behind me and just dive bombs my fluke pretty much head first straight down into the mossy water! I'm thinking holy **** that just happened! He didn't try to fly away though, he just stood there trying to swallow it and I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to just cut the line then end up having this big Ole bird wandering around with a big hook stuck in his mouth or throat attached to 30 yards of 50 lb braid. But on the other hand I wasn't to willing to try to reel him in and tangle with a bird that has a sword for a beak in my kayak! So I slowly started just tugging at it a bit hoping the Texas rigged fluke didn't hook him. He was not very willing to let the "fish" go but after a min or so I finally got it popped out of his mouth. He wasn't ready to give it up though....he chased that thing all the way back to within probably 20 ft of my yak. I was preparing for battle! Thank God he finally turned around. Wish I had the gopro on that day! So maybe it doesn't qualify as a strange catch since I didn't actually catch it but it was a heck of an experience anyway that I felt should be shared. Now everytime I go back to that lake, which is quite often, and I see one of those birds, I always have to wonder if it's him.

I just fished there last weekend. Wtd baits in calm water around wood was good. I fish that area quite a bit. When going from blunts to bass I never seem to do real well in the first mile or so but after that things usually seem to pick up.

I did a little rat Fishing with the rat 50 this weekend. Caught 8 just like this one

I love using the rat. I've caught a lot if nice fish with the 50. Been using the 30 here lately. Caught a few but nothing to brag about yet.

Sounds like maybe you found the Dr. Bruns conservation area? The Maries is actually a pretty nice stream and CAN have some good smallmouth fishing. It is definitely hit and miss though. You really need to be a little further up stream. I fish that stream a lot just because its the only thing in my area I have found that holds smallies. (Besides one creek that shall remain unnamed:))

So odd this question just came up as I actually got on here to look around for the same thing. I was looking at some maps for work today and found this lake. From what I can find searching the net though largemouth fishing is pretty poor

I have a German Shepard and would love to figure out a way to take her on my kayak. I have been thinking about fishing from the canoe when lake and pond fishing instead of the kayak just so she can go.

From my experience those river smallies love some wtd lures when it gets hot like this. The hotter the better I think.

Really been wanting to try this stream out for about a year now.

My brother and I floated the 12 mile stretch above boiling springs and camped just before we got to boiling spdings. Then the next day we floated the 15 mile stretch you are speaking of with one night of camping. We were off the river right at 1 o'clock. BUT this was early in the year and we stayed moving. We don't tend to leave the kayaks very often. You can do it but it won't leave much time for playing. It all depends on how you fish