ColdWaterFshr

Got the same thing a few days ago. Its not entirely accurate. Go to snopes.com

I didn't make it to the WFT this year. Scheduling and hall pass conflict with another trip that I took just a couple weeks ago down to the Jacks. Here's a picture from inside Jam-Up Cave. Squint real small you can my brother standing on the rock in the center of the picture

Liar

Had a nice float on Thursday on the Jacks from the Prongs to Hwy 17, then Friday from Blue Springs down to Rhymers. Several had to back out due to illness and concerns about the weather, so it ended up being only 4 of us the first day and 3 the second day. Bad weather never did materialize, only had light rain at camp on Friday night. Had the river all to ourselves both days. Water was up and fairly sporty from the Prongs down to 17. Fishing was lousy of course. I didn't string up the fly rod at all. Just worked the deeper holes slowly with tube and hair jigs on the spinning rod - with nary a bite, I didn't even see any fish other than a few hogmollies. Saw at least 5 eagles on the upper stretch, and another 3 or 4 on the 2nd portion. The hillsides were completely bare and the woods were eerily quiet. We all commented how strange it was that we hadn't seen any deer or turkey. While we were staring up in the sky at an eagle high above, something caught my eye on the shore about 50 ft away. At first I thought it was a bowhunters target - you know, one of those phony bighorn sheep made out of sytrofoam, it just didn't look real at first glance. Then I saw that it was real, and there were TWO of them. Definitely not bighorns, but what are they? We all looked at each other in disbelief. I managed to snap off a few pictures before they ran off. I will try to get them posted. Let me know your theories. Exotic livestock turned loose, or is it possible these things exist in Missouri? I don't know, but these things were WAY too big to be escapee's from the goat farm. They were the size of small horses. Anyway -- it was a fun trip. Let me see if I can attach a couple photos.

I can't hardly watch football anymore. Seems like the ads are getting longer and more frequent, constantly interrupting the game. I think the coaches challenge/play-under-review was nothing more than a clever trick to sneak in more ad time.

Before you start typing what a tragedy it would be to leave 25 million people high and dry, consider this . . . Where would our country be today if it wasn't allowed to have its civil war, bloody as it was? In Iraq, we are little more than referee's in a game without rules. The "front line to the war on terror", should be scouring the mountains in search of Osama, and pinpoint assasinations of radical clerics and leaders (EVERYwhere) who wish us harm.

I'll be the first to say it. I think we need to get out, and get out now. OR Call up the draft and quadruple our troop #'s there and get the job done right. This would never happen though. If we can't do the job right, we have no business trying to do it in half-measures. Our servicemen have all my gratitude and support. But this has been a mismanaged war for far too long now.

Take it from a fool who knows. I've put a canoe in at Cardiac, and also taken out at Cardiac and can't remember which sucked worse. Probably the uphill. Carrying a canoe UP Suicide -- would be suicide. Down might not be bad, just have good rope and be careful. Hwy 8 bridge to Scotts is long float if you plan to fish hard on just a day float. Terrapin is right. Waders are the most practical in that area. Consider backpacking in at Cardiac and camp and fish - I've done that and it was kinda fun. Depends on how much time you have. Got a weekend? Sure put the canoe in at Hwy 8, paddle through the upper part like Al said and take out at Scotts, but I would forget any notion of using Cardiac or Suicide as a put-in or take out with a canoe. Too painful! Its a fairly easy hike from Suicide up to Dry Fork, unless the river is up. Watch the river levels this time of year, Meramec at Steelville gauge - once it gets around 400-500 cfs its tricky wading. And whatever you do - do NOT camp on the gravel bars when rain is forecast in this area!! She comes up QUICK.

Yep, Terry . . . our fish are what comes out when you floss one of Leonards fish' teeth.

Didn't quite make it to my backing, but close . . .

I agree Gavin. 3,000 horses is bit ridiculous. Catman, its hard to compare the James River with the Jacks Fork, one flows from an urban area and the other is a National Scenic Waterway. We need greater protection on the Jacks Fork. The James needs protection too, but you can't pin its pollution problems as directly to one source as you can with the lower Jacks.

I was talking to my boss on the phone when the 1st tower collapsed. I told her I couldn't talk anymore . . . and I politely hung up on her. The next day we drove the family down to Destin, FL -- a trip we had planned many months prior. We weren't sure it was the right thing to do. The drive down, people had cut-out american flags from their newspapers and plastered them to inside windows of their cars. When we arrived, fighter jets from nearby naval airbase were running near-continuous exercises over the beach that very few people were on. Holding my 1 year old sons hand, walking barefoot on the beach, and watching the air-show. Going out to dinner with my wife, choking down shrimp cocktail while the TV broadcast Bush's speech had everyone's attention and applause.

Sammy Lane used to run pirate cruises all the time on Taney. And there used to be the big 2-story tall paddle boat that took people out. I'm dating myself --this was 25 years ago or more. So the ducks on the Landing isn't exactly a new idea.

For the less discriminating Johns . . . there's a little place you can go near Highlandville, MO - I forget the name of it. Might just be the ultimate LEGAL hatchery fishing experience. It ain't real pretty or quaint, and there isn't any Orvis sweaters on sale in their pro-shop, but the fish are mighty big and always hungry.

I can't knock Rockbridge because I've never been there. If its like Springrise, which I suspect it is -- maybe a little nicer scenery, and with a nice restuarant on premises -- sure it would make for a fun trip, tie into a couple pigs, but not my idea of sport. Dogwood Canyon is along the same lines. Hard to consider these places anything more than a groomed hatchery raceway with the illusion that you brought your A game, when all you really brought was your credit card. You should be suspicious of ANY place where the fishing is consistently good and money is involved. Its called PROSTITROUTION. And if you start to enjoy it too much, then I guess that makes you a JOHN.

I'm still lost. What is 2 Sheds - some Grateful Dead bootleg, or a bunch of ozark pickers self-made cassette tape art?

Interesting discussion and report. A mysterious bagpipe player, the fab 4, a man called Pigman, large trout for breakfast, and a nagging question over what the heck is in that 2nd shed.

Whats the name of those paved trails by TR marina? I took the family and all our bikes there a few weeks back. We had fun riding the bikes from the Marina to the dam and back about 4-5 miles. No hills, easy ride, follows the lake and there are several places to picnic along the way, which we took advantage of -- watched the ducks enter and leave the lake - went on the Branson Belle boardwalk. Good times. Free. It would be great if they did something like this on the Landing. Or even better, if they could build more trails and connect them all the way to the landing. Get people out of their #$&@$^! cars.

Other ideas: Smoking capital of the world - pass ordinance that all Rockaway Beach restaurants and public buildings REQUIRE that you light up as you enter. Build it and they will come. Persecuted smokers will flock to the area, build huge homes and even huger hospitals.

"Rockaway needs a niche" Here are some ideas better than a casino: Giant Ferris Wheel. Aquarium - come see Tippy the Trout, largest corn fed rainbow trout in captivity. KC and the Sunshine Band Theatre - 7 shows daily from 11 a.m. World Class Polo fields - only played with mini-bikes and croquet mallets. Catfish Emporium - the largest deepfried catfish buffet in the universe, with over 70 kinds of high-end tarter sauce to choose from.

I've been to Rockaway. Lots of times - last time was probably 18 years ago butI don't imagine much has changed since then. Putting a casino there is nothing more than a clever scheme by the CASINO to divert some of Bransons tourism money to the CASINO, under the pretense of helping out some poor helpless little community that has Branson-envy.

Good point Lilley. I don't understand the logic either. If it was that easy, we could wipe out poverty - just build a casino! I think its a short-term solution at best. With he proliferation of casinos everywhere . . . at some point the interest is going to diminish and then you are left with the same product that everyone else is offering and what is the difference? Nothing creative and intersting about it. Rockaway oughta consider building a 600 foot tall ferris wheel like the one in London . . . now theres an idea. From a cash flow standpoint, once the shine wears off, and the outside repeat customers start to dwindle, you're just going to have locals sitting at the tables . . . spending money at a casino (giving profit to a major corp), and that money that would otherwise be going to any number of other businesses. Net gain is zero.

Whats wrong with the location? If they built it on the upper end of Taney, I think that would detract from the fishing. Who wants to be within sight of a mall when they're wading through the mist throwing size 30 midges? heh, heh. Where would've been a better place?

I've checked out the Landing once, and that was a few days before Bass Pro officially opened. I think it will definitely thrive if they can open some more shops to draw more people. And I disagree with Bills comments. I think it is one positive that urban Branson has going for it. Tell me, does anything about the 8-10 miles of strip mall shopping "blend" in with the Ozarks? No, lets face it, most of Branson on 76 is gawdy and ugly. And that end of Branson, before the development, had pretty much fallen into decay. It was nice 30 years ago, but that was before its gradual decline. The Landing is a step in the right direction for the first time in a LONG time in that city, just this St. Louisan's opinion. I WILL take my family back there. I thought it was great. It ain't Vegas, but what is? And your mention of the brick home that can't sell because of "curb appeal" probably isn't the main reason. Maybe a $650k, 7000 sq ft house would sell fast in Orange county, but you're talking about Taney county. And how many people want 7000 sq. feet of living space? People will stay in nice cabins for $200 per night without fail. They will also buy $650k small lake cabins as a second home if all the elements are right. Let me just say I hate shoppping and all things shopping related. But I would much rather shop in the Landings atmosphere than go to a factory mall, or hop from strip mall to strip mall thru 76 traffic.