Mark

A group of Boy Scouts are floating this weekend - Aug. 14-15. I am trying to find out if fire ban is still in effect.

We'll consider all - thanks - the primary reason of the trip is to see the scenery of the canyon section. We'll wait until the last minute to make a decision. The idea of a lot of work doesn't sound appealing.

So that would be doable at this water level?? That would be better because we could see Jam Up Cave. It looks like Blue Springs to Rhymers would only be about 6.5 miles, but mileage doesn't matter to us as long as there is great scenery and some fishable water. I guess what would concern me with that trip is leaving the vehicles at Rhymers for several days. I have never had any trouble with thieves breaking into vehicles or such, but there is plenty of warnings on here about that area. We could take 2 vehicles and shuttle ourselves. OR would the businesses in Eminence shuttle us up and pick us up on Friday and take us back to our vehicles if we left them in Eminence.

Mountain view gauge is at 37 cfs and Alley Springs is at 98 cfs. Thanks to everyone on giving detailed info on upper JF on my previous posts. Given the dreadful low water conditions right now, I am afraid we may have to cancel our trip June 4-8. Originally we wanted to do the upper section, and from everyone's advice, that is not doable under present water levels. We really had our hearts set on the Jack's Fork for that week. With loaded canoe, would Rhymers to Bay Creek just be too much work right now? Granted Rhymers to Bay Creek is only 10 miles and we will have Monday afternoon- Friday morning to do it, so we're only talking about going short distances and a couple hours of work each day won't kill us. I know we would be getting out and pulling the canoe along in lots of places from everyone's descriptions on low water levels. Unless conditions change (and 10 day forecast looks like more of the same clear sunny weather), is Rhymer's to Bay Creek doable or would it totally suck!! I'm afraid I already know the answer and we should look elsewhere. We would really love to see some of the canyon section. Sorry for repetitive posts, guess I am just looking for confirmation to DON"T DO IT!

I am just trying to see both sides of the issue. IF I owned land along the Current or Jacks Fork and was told I could not make a primitive road/trail down to the river or build a little campground/pavilion ON MY LAND so I could conveniently enjoy the river, I would be up in arms and screaming about BIG GOVERNMENT. But on the other hand, I would have a responsibility to not cause harm to the river and should be fined if I cause any damage to the river. I do agree, we all own the rivers and not just the locals. I agree there should be a total ban on ATVs, 4 wheel drive vehicles, and horses in the river or creek beds. But I also think the ban should extend to livestock, regardless of if the landowner owns the property adjacent to the river OR owns land on both sides that the river runs through. I have been on the upper Eleven Point River where cattle are allowed to cross the CREEK at that point, and watched the cattle crap in the stream. I've seen pigs in the St .Francois below Fredericktown. It makes me sick. I understand that the farmers need a water source for livestock but we are beyond that as a civilization. There are alternatives and they SHOULD NOT own the river, but in their case, they DO own the river.

Joe has been known to stretch the truth.

My buddy and I have talked about not so much a fishing guide as float trip coordinators for people from perhaps St. Louis who would like an outdoor adventure like a float trip but don't know where to start. Something more along the line of all the customer has to do is show up with clothes and beverages, and perhaps fishing gear if they want to fish. Most people who aren't experienced don't know where to float, what rivers are relatively safe with children, where to rent canoes, and where are lodging accomodations if they don't want to camp. We would handle all of that for them. They just show up and everything is taken care of, including meals on the river and in the evening. Just an idea we have tossed around and we have no idea of what regulations we would be under. But we are thinking more along the lines of people who run hunting trips that take care of just about everything for you.

My brother Joe raises beagles at his home on Cedar Valley Lake in Ste. Genevieve County. He is an early riser and always takes the beagles out for a walk as soon as he gets up in the morning. Last week, he was in his normal routine and set out for his morning walk before sun up. No sooner than he began his morning walk, Mother Nature called and he needed to return to the house for his morning constitutional. Figuring the beagles wouldn't get far and he wouldn't be long, he left the beagles run free while he took care of business in the bathroom. After relieving himself, he return outside and began walking down the road to catch up with his beagles. So sooner than he hit the road, here come his youngest pup with something in his mouth. Sure enough, it was a rabbit. The only problem was, it was pure white and obviously a tamed hare. It could only belong to Sam, who lives up the road and raises tamed rabbits for sale. So Joe took the rabbit and carried it up to Sam's house. Joe intended to apologize and pay Sam for his pup's adolescent indiscretion. Upon arriving at Sam's, Joe noticed that the car was gone from the driveway. Still intent on doing the right neighborly thing, Joe knocked on the front door but no one answered. He tried the backdoor with the same result. Joe figured it was useless and wasn't going to keep the deceased rabbit carcas around the house all day waiting for Sam to get home. So he walked into the backyard and put the rabbit back in it's pen. A few days past and Joe never thought much more about the rabbit incident. Finally on the third day, as Joe was driving down the road, he saw Sam on his riding lawnmower. As is their custom, Joe pulled over and Sam drove over to Joe's truck, shut down the mower and they began talking. After 5 minutes of this and that talk, Sam finally says "Joe I had some bad luck with my rabbits this week." Playing coy, Joe replied " Ah, heck you say." Totally unaware of what really happened to his late rabbit, Sam went on to say "Yeah, Joe. One of my rabbits died and the dangest thing happened." "What's that?" Joe pretending seriously to be in the dark. Sam said, "Well, I found him one morning in his cage dead as can be. So I carried him off to the edge of the pasture and buried him. And I'll be doggone if I didn't come back the next day and he was back in the cage. Dangest thing I ever heard of." "Well you don't say," Joe sheepishly remarked. Barely able to contain himself, Joe and Sam exchanged a few more pleasantries before Joe finally escaped the neighborly chat and drove off down the road bursting out in laughter. It was such a mystery to Sam that Joe couldn't ruin a good folk story with the truth about the now legendary deceased white rabbit who rose from the dead.

I would be curious also on how some of the guides got started. A friend and I have thought of the idea of doing something when we retire. Possibly something like hiring out to groups to organize 2-3-4 day float trips to include cooking meals, hauling supplies, etc.

A colleague floated Huzzah last weekend. He didn't fish but commented on all the fish he saw, including lots of big gar and big small mouth. He also said he saw the most snakes he has ever seen on a float trip including some water moccasins.

Now that's funny, I don't care who you are, except to Troutringer!

" I wanna kill! Kill, kill, kill. I wanna see blood, guts, and gore, and veins in my teeth. Kill, kill, kill, KILL!" - Missouri State Legislature

Better get all those chores done before then!! Next club meeting is Thursday evening!!

Thought it was time for you to chime in! Yeah I'm still in!! How about you??

I'll bet that would work well in a pan on a grill over some hot coals when camping.

Agree - the 12' bass are very good eating. Like most animals, the big older ones never taste as good as the young ones.

Why was the river levels taken down? I would think that would be vital information to everyone visiting the site.

We are sssssooooooooo looking forward to a weeklong campout on the Eleven Point. I just thought to myself - it really is amazing and we are blessed to still have somewhere to go and be able to camp along a beautiful river for an entire week for absolutely nothing. In this day and age, there just don't seem to be many places to go and camp that are free. So me, Snap, and One Sandal will be pulling in to the gravel bar across from Stinking Pond on Monday May 21 with plans on staying through Memorial Day weekend. Consider this an open invite to our fellow OAF posters to stop by and introduce yourself. Guitar pickers bring along the six string and join us. This is one of my favorite vacations. The biggest worry of the day is tying a hook or what to throw on the grill for supper - fish, steak, or chicken. 7 days away from cell phones, TV, Internet, traffic, politics, and ever other day to day hassle is amazing. Although the highlight of the day or evening is listening to the Cardinals game. I can't wait - we are lucky to be able to have someplace like this left to go and spend time for free.

I know it's just me, but I have never understood how standing with a hundred other people fishing the same hole is any fun!! I just don't get it!!

Sorry to hear fishing was lousy. I'm planning my first trip to JF in early June. Though mostly going for the scenery, I would love to catch some smallmouth.

One time on a river a group of us were camping and fishing off the bank. Some jet dork came right up to where I was fishing, shut down his motor, and started fishing right were I was fishing in front of our camp. So I put down my rod, took a full run from the bank and dove in right where he was fishing. I splashed around, hooted and hollared about how good the water felt, made as much noise as I could, and he got the hint and left. It was hilarious.

Al, I tried to send you a PM last week but it was returned with "Not excepting PMs at this time". I was just wondering when you and Mary were returning to the Show Me State. We have a group going down to the Eleven Point for a weeklong campout starting May 21 and staying until at least Memorial Day. You would know most of us and a couple women to keep Mary company as well. We expect the couples to stay in cabins, but the hemen are camping at gravel bar across from Stinking Pond. We would all love to have you join us sometime for some smallmouth lessons.

I think we should all take a second and remember that everyone has as much right to be on the rivers as we do. If it wasn't for the good ole days back in the 70s, many of us would not know what a great experience float trips are and would not even think of floating now as middle aged adults. And occasionally, my group of compadres like to get quite intoxicated on the river because we are not going to be getting on any highways when we are done floating. We are not hooting and hollering and showing our genitals, but it is part of the reason we float, to get away, put a good buzz on, and we're not hurting anybody, or in danger of getting in trouble with the law. I know technically they could bust us in a canoe for being drunk, but we're not attracting a lot of attention by being obnoxious, just having some brewskis and having some laughs. So let's lighten up on the guys that like to get drunk on float trips, IT'S OUR RIGHT TOO!

I disagree, the jet boats do more to ruin the experience for me than the occasional fraternity party passing by. The frat party comes and goes in a few minutes, the jet props are all day long.

Very well put, Wayne!! You can't rationalize that "my jet boat doesn't cause as much damage because I use my jet boat responsibly but I am against jet boat owners who use their jet boat irresponsibly". But the genie is already out of the bottle. I hate floating my favorite river on weekends with all the thoughtless jet boat traffic flying up and down the river. Just like the loud fraternity crowds, they have as much right to be on river as me and if I don't like it then I don't have to be on the river. I have often thought of the erosion damage each and every jet boat causes on each and every trip up and down the river. The accumulative effect over years will be devastating. My biggest complaint is they break the law when they don't slow down for canoes. I haven't read the law, but I am pretty sure it is against the law to speed by canoes and very few jet props slow down. I have seen countless canoes tip over because of the ways. I have also seen a grandmother with 2 young teenage girls get tipped over in very dangerous rapids and it scared the hell out of all of them besides losing all their stuff, all because a jet prop came screaming upstream with no regard for the canoers.