ColdWaterFshr

Wow. Every inexperienced overnight floater should read that story. The Jacks can really come up quick. So how did you finally get off the river? I'm assuming you didn't try to float out.

Turners is down on the 11 pt.

You need to get hooked up with Paul Dallas, pronto. He is Mr. Ozarks, and I'm sure he could show you around and give you the proper flavor of the area that your readers might enjoy. He used to have his own fishing show, though it never did well, in part due to some entanglements with the FCC over content, and oh yeah, a few sponsors abandonment. Throughout his checkered career he has been overshadowed by the fame of his first cousin, Jimmy Houston, who stole most of his fishing techniques and ideas. Despite his many setbacks, his fishing resume would make most on this website blush: -- he holds multiple IGFC records even though the commission refuses to officially recognize him due to various scandals not related to fishing -- his TV show is currently in late night syndication in Japan -- BASS Master Angler of Year Awards (later retracted) -- created his own line of fishing scents and colognes -- he invented monofilament -- childhood friend of Risto Rapala and Herve Villachaize I might have his phone # around here somewhere, or you could just contact the Dent County Sherriff's office.

Now, Al . . . its a bit of moot point you're making when we all know that you've made the evil leap to roostertail-throwin-gonzo-driving-JETBOATS!!!

What Turtle said!

I've only floated the Spring. The others that you mention are tailwaters I believe, and I don't have any experience with canoeing that type of water, and only limited experience with fishing it, so I can't recommend any of the boats you mention over the other. Several friends of mine have Wenonahs and have been very happy with them.

I've got an Old Town 158 that I've put quite a few miles on. Its a heavy old tank, but it suits me fine. What rivers would you say you are going to frequent? Very stable AND very maneuverable are 2 descriptive terms that at are at odds with each other. You can find happy mediums though. Fly-fishing FROM a canoe is not the easiest, though I occasionally do it. Mainly I use the canoe to transport me to places on the river to get out and fly-fish. Spincasting or baitcasting from the canoe is different - I do sit in the boat usually for that, but I'm chasing smallmouth in those situations. For Ozark streams and rivers, I would look at Royalex boats by Wenonah, Old Town, Mad River and a few others. Don't get a boat with a keel unless you think you'll be doing more lake paddling than river. Check out Craigslist in your area. I helped a buddy get a like-new royalex Wenonah 16 foot Spirit I think it was, pair of nice wooden paddles and a yakima rack for only $600. Skip the motor idea.

I floated the Buffalo this weekend with my wife and 3 young kids (Ponca to Kyles), some of us anyway, but all of us floated Ponca to Steel Creek on Sunday. It was a great time. The outfitters were putting in HUNDREDS of canoes on Saturday and I'd say at least 3/4 of the people were very inexperienced floaters, very drunk or soon to be drunk, or some combination. I've never seen so many boats on a river as I did that day, and I'll never go there on a weekend again if I can help it. We didn't encounter anything that I would consider challenging, nor did I see any bad strainers. Maybe all the timber was flushed further downstream? In any event, I would say that the river was "sporty". People were dumping at every set of rapids, wearing jeans, no change of clothes, paddling hard instead of navigating through tricky spots -- you know the type. As Al and Forsythian said, the Disney mentality is definitely prevalent. And as someone else has said, there is inherent danger in just about everything we do. Swimming pools, lakes, even bathtubs. You gotta be honest with yourself about your abilities, and always take the necessary precautions and never let down your guard. I personally had more concerns about our kids getting run over by all the cars zipping around the put-in and take-out than I did about anything on the river. Its a horrible tragedy. I couldn't imagine the helplessness they must have felt in not being able to get their little one out of that canoe.

What a horrible, horrible tragedy. Its VERY spooky for me because I was just down there this past weekend and floated from Steel Creek to Kyles with my 7 yr old son. My wife and 2 daughters (ages 4 and 6) were going to join us, but stayed at camp after a couple of the outfitters came and talked to them (more like, scared the crap out of them) while we were shuttling cars down to Kyles. There were several families in our party, and most of us opted to keep the smaller kids at camp. Here's my take on it, because myself and especially another dad were a little upset that the outfitters went and talked to our wives and not to us. I won't second guess our decision to keep the smaller kids at camp, but I do feel like they missed out on the fun we had that day, including the hike up to Hemmed in Hollow and also watching my son reel in fish after fish. Rivers don't kill people. Lack of common sense does. Most of the Buffalo is class I-II, except for the upper section above Ponca. The Dads in our group are all experienced canoers and whitewater runners. I have floated the section of river twice before and knew what to expect. We wouldn't subject our families to any unnecessary risks. We were not drinking, we had drybags packed with dry clothing and blankets, and of course we were all wearing life jackets. Any hazards we encountered, we were fully prepared to take the safe approach or portage around. I long ago checked my macho-ego at the door, especially when it comes to the safety of my family. If it sounds like I'm trying to rationalize the guilt I am feeling in light of the tragic drowning that took place the very next day, just 6 miles downstream, than so be it. We saw the air-evac copter lift off on our way out of Harrison on Sunday, and I remember wondering if it was headed to the river. My thoughts and prayers are with that family.

Thats easy. Prongs to Hwy 17. Its 7.2 miles, but it'll go quick. Plenty of spots to camp and you'll probably not see many boaters. Fishing probably won't be all that hot though.

I've seen them doing the instructional lessons at Dogwood. I'm sure they would teach you a lot and you would find it very rewarding, especially in such a beautiful setting as Dogwood Canyon. But I would never pay out that kind've scratch just for lessons. Go to a local fly-shop and put your money on THEIR counter, -- buy a $470 rod/reel, they would probably give you some free casting lessons on their front lawn, or at least get you started in the right direction to go and practice at home. Or join a local fly-fishing group, they have meetings all the time and basic casting lessons.

I would go with the one piece. With the amount of torque you're throwing a baitcaster, like Al says, sooner or later that 2nd piece is going to work its way loose and you will be casting it. Different subject and I know fly-rod casting is completely different, but still, i don't like the way a lot of FLY rod mfg'ers have gone toward 3, 4, 5 pc rods. Air travel is one thing, but whatever happened to 2-pc flyrods?

I remember renting a canoe at Woods probably in the early 90's. Unlit cigar in his mouth and a story to tell, quite a character. Gotta be some stories surrounding the Sis-Co-Gro. Interesting place. Stopped in there once to pick up more beer, ice and lunch meat. We walked in there a long time ago reaking of beer, trout and cigarettes, and after 3 monsoon days and nights on the river. Sis shaved us some fresh deli ham while I drank a warm beer and waited for the rain to stop.

August is prime smallie time. Upper 11 point, Big Piney, upper Meramec, Huzzah, Courtouis, Jacks Fork -- all good choices.

Maybe I just caught it on a bad day. Half-time during a Superbowl, when everyone was flushing (into it).

No, its plain nasty water. I live about 10-15 minutes from it and I won't be back. Its a secondary raw sewage settling lagoon, and I think that could be understating it . . . . you could just as likely catch a 15 inch doogie wrapped in fresh Charmin. The treatment plant is right there. Plenty of ponds/subdivision lakes/parks around just as close to get a quick fix, I would never steer anyone there. Fabick Park lake on the other side of I-44, 2miles as the crow flies from Simpson, is 100x better.

The river @ Cardiac will be way too high for wade-fishing for quite some time. I wouldn't bother with it until it gets down below 600 cfs on the steelville gauge, and that could be a while.

No. I put my canoe on that cesspool once and I will never be back.

What a sight I bet that was. Thanks for sharing. Most interesting fishing report I've read in a long time. Wonder what they stole was worth taking a 53 degree swim for? Probably shoes.

Holy SlimFast, Batman, I'd say them fish were given too many buffet tokens by the Casino.

Interesting. I didn't even know they had those guidelines. Average seems a little subjective. They average in recent years has been very, very low, so thats not the best benchmark. And what exactly does closed mean? Just to boats? Can wadefisherman still go in?

River closed? Maybe certain lower sections, but not the upper section isn't closed right now that I'm aware of. I know some people who floated Baptist to Cedargrove this past Easter weekend. Ranger Rick may just be trying to scare you off, or they're up to playing river Nazi again. Granted, I'm sure there are some "new" hazards created by the flood, but I take issue with them having the river closed at its present level. Unless we get another major rain, 6 days from now, the river should be fine. Yes is its flowing pretty good right now, and is definitely high and a bit off color, but its dropped significantly. Keep tabs on this link and watch the weather: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv/?site_no=07064533

Thanks, Gavin. Guess we'll just take our chances on getting a spot.

Are the campgrounds there reservable? Have a big group coming down in early May and I'd like to make sure we can get in. Anyone know?

I've heard about those horses. Very neat to see those pictures if those in fact are the wild horses. How many horses do you think there were? Great pictures.