Mark

If the state is reopening tomorrow, May 4th, is it legal to gravel bar camp on a river?

HAHA Watching a show on the Mississippi River in MN right now!! Don't have a jet and don't want to haul my johnboat that far. I would like to float a day or two. Maybe you can help?? I would really like to find a good stream to camp out of my truck and wade fish, preferably free/cheap dispersed camping. I've been disappointed in my research. There doesn't appear to be many free/cheap camping spots on water in MN, unless they aren't advertised. We are spoiled in MO with so much free public camping.

Big Bass, refer to the second thread "Float Trip Planning Question" in this section - it was saved by the moderator and gives good brief descriptions on different sections of the Eleven Point. IMO anything over 1,200-1,400 cfs is tough fishing for me, but Al is a better fisherman than me. I watch the Bardley gauge near RIverton and it has been dropping about 50 cfs daily. SO best case, it's at 1,700 cfs today, so it may drop to 1,450 cfs by Sat. And spotty showers tomorrow. It's up enough that you will cover some miles fast. Mileage will depend on how much you pull over and wade fish, tho wading will be tough with more current. It's been too high all spring for me to make the trip.A couple of buddies went a couple weeks ago and said it was tough fishing, but didn't say if they got skunked and I didn't ask. And you didn't say if you were targeting trout or smallmouth. The thread above describes that as well. Don't let me discourage you> It will be easy floating by the weekend. Greer to Whitten is the prettiest section IMO - about 12 miles.

Good info Mitch. I am thinkng about a MN trip this summer and am looking for a good smallie stream to float.

LOL you were in a boat. We would be bank fishing. Guess we should wait til May 1

Probably all for naught since the river won't be fishable til June due to high water.

I've noticed the same thing about not seeing any cops the little time I am on the road.

I do know all state park campgrounds are closed until April 30th - day use only and restrooms are closed.

I'm seeing more people out fishing than normal with the "stay at home" order. I don't have a problem with that, I can't think of a better way to stay isolated than out in a boat. Personally, I can't wait for nice weather and go "isolate" myself on a gravel bar on a river for a week or two!! I expect there to be an explosion of outdoor recreation when the covid restrictions are lifted, but people are still going to shy away from large crowds and choose to go to parks, campgrounds, lakes, and streams. I heard on ESPN radio yesterday that in a poll, 71% of Americans said that when things open up this summer they will not attend sporting event and other entertainment events with large crowds. I can see a lot more families going camping this summer for vacation instead of going to the beach and Disney World. And I see this as a good opportunity to introduce kids to the outdoors. But I do expect it to be more crowded at our favorite fishing places. We all are going to have to have some tolerance and patience.

Campgrounds on the river open? Turner and Greer? I realize the water is still a little high, but can't think of a safer place to stay isolated than on a gravel bar. Guessing the canoe rentals are shut down??Wonder if I can get a shuttle with my canoe?? Is Brian renting cottaqes? Anxious to get back to normal.

I generally just use the canoe as a taxi when trout fishing. There's something about having a good stretch of wading water all to yourself that I find so relaxing, and take the time to fish a stretch hard to figure out where the fish are feeding, instead of floating thru and getting 3-4 casts. I could spend all day on a 5 mile stretch of water, and pull over every 1/4 mile at a spot. Plus sitting in a canoe all day is tough on these old bones.

Thanks guys!! SInce this is my first time, I will want to do some sight seeing, so I think I will wing it and pull over when I see an enticing place, I sure hope to find a nice campsite on a wadeable stream. Not making reservations as I am travelling on the fly.

I'm making my first trip to The Smokies next week and seeking advice on camping and fishing preferably some place off the beaten path. I've done some research and will check out the popular areas...Abrams Creek, Little Tenn River, etc. I am probably entering at Gatlinburg just because I am meeting friends near there next weekend, but I plan to take several days to explore and sightsee after friends leave on Sunday. I sure would love to have a couple "secret" camp spots on a stream with good wade fishing. Feel free to PM me. Thanks in advance.

LOL I noticed after I posted that this is an old thread. Sorry, I had to defend my former profession.

Sorry jdmidwest, but one of my pet peeves is to hear people making blanket criticism of our public schools . As a recently retired public school teacher having worked at four different school districts and retiring from a highly performing public high school, I am confident in saying that the majority of our public schools in Missouri do a great job of educating student WHO WANT TO LEARN. Teachers can't educate students who are chronically absent, run the streets at night and sleep most of the time they are in school, or on drugs, and parent(s) at home that don't make them go to school every day or have any personal investment in their child's education or their lives. It all starts at home. It's a "societal problem", not an "educational problem". The kids that want to learn and have parents who take an interest in their children's education are receiving a quality education. Probably my biggest complaint with our current public school system is the emphasis on trying to prepare every student for college instead of teaching more trade skills. Most kids don't see being a welder or electrician as a good job. Having said all that, I have seen some really smart kids who can't spell or do simple math in their heads - blame that on technology, i.e. spellcheck, calculators, etc. I also think there has to be a limit on using technology to learn. Today, every kid has a computer in front of them for most classes, and all answers are a "google" away instead of developing problem solving skills, higher order critical thinking skills, and abstract reasoning skills. AND KIDS (AND MORE AND MORE ADULTS) ARE ADDICTED TO THEIR PHONES!! Rant over and out....

Sure, fishing pressure is huge, probably the biggest factor. I'm far from an expert, but consider a trout stream that had stocked fish and naturally reproduced fish. It would seem like the hatchery raised fish that are fed and grow with no predators until released would not be as be as leery as a fish that has survived in nature with predators. It sure seems like after a stocking, the stocked fish are aggressive feeders, assuming I am correct that stocked trout have a whiter flesh compared to the pink flesh of a naturally reproduced trout. Is that correct?? I would think the natural fish would develop better survival instincts.

Interesting topic. I've always thought "survival of the fittest" played a big part - big fish (or deer or most animals) don't get big by being stupid.

Do people use the regular propeller boats on lower Current???

Bumping to the top. My plan is to take a week in Sept sightseeing the length of the Buffalo, and camp and fish out of my truck, no Mypod camper. Hoping I can find accesses to pitch a tent maybe upstream or downstream, and get away with it since it is past Labor Day. Maumee South sounds like what I am looking for. All advice appreciated. Probably do a couple 1 day floats, or a multiday on lower stretch.

Next weekend I am driving to western MO to buy a MyPod camper (teardrop). I am wanting to use the camper on the way back home (SEMO), and would like to check out the Gasconade or Big Piney to do some wade fishing. A quick search of the Gasconade hasn't yielded much info on what the water levels are at accesses and wadeable water . I'll be travelling I44 but in no hurry and could take an alternative route home. Can anyone give me advice on a good campsite out of my vehicle and MyPod on the river where I would have a good stretch of wadeable water on the Gasconade, Big Piney,, or any other river? I've never fished any of the central MO rivers and just looking for some easy fishing for an evening and following morning before I head home. I have a 4 wheel drive truck but want an easy in/easy out spot and break up the drive instead of driving all day straight thru. Thanks in advance. Mark

WOW still going after 20 pages!! Give it up boys!! The Trumpers are going to believe whatever The Don tells them to believe. I'm sure they still believe Russia had nothing to do with flooding the media with the Hillary email scandal 2 weeks before the election while Trump Organization buried the Stormy Daniels affair, still believe we've wiped out ISIS, still believe everyone of Trump's people indicted or appearing before Congress is lying, or still believe North Korea is not pursuing WMDs. Heck, Trumpers probably still believe Mexico is going to pay for the Trump Wall. They believe whatever the biggest liar in the history of our country says - hook, lines, and sinker.

By all means, let's keep polluting !!! Ain't hurtin nuttin!!

Funny stuff, Jerry! Collecting soda bottles was every kids first job - 2 cents, then 3 cents, then a nickel before aluminum cans too over. fishinwrench, you are correct, too, I remember all the trash in towns, shooting rats at the city dump, sewage running down the gullies to the creek, the chemicals we would dump anywhere, every factory I worked in back in the day had no regard for disposing of waste. liphunter - exactly right too. Too darn many people, and I believe I've read that the world pop will double by 2050. I believe Mother Nature will eventually have enough, and something like a worldwide pandemic is coming that will kill millions or billions, if nukes don't take care of it first. Don't think I will be around though. Hate to sound like a doomsdayer, but I do wonder what this planet will look like in 100 years, and if man don't change, it won't be pretty.

I realize you all are having some fun but it does sadden me that we have polluted our planet more in the past 100-150 years than the entire previous history of mankind. The environmental legacy we are leaving our grandchildren is sickening. What's more - I am afraid we are past the point of no return when you look at the amount of industrial pollution coming out of China and India, let alone what the US is continuing to contribute. We can debate whether climate change is man made or a natural cycle until we are blue in the faces. There should be no debating that we have to stop polluting our planet. It makes me sad because our descendants are going to rightfully blame the generations that followed the industrial revolution (our generation, our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents) for destroying what God gave us to take care of for all of mankind. Laugh and poke fun, we are going to be the not so funny of a joke in the future.

Yeah I've watched the youtube video, it's good to know stay left. Looks doable, just checking. I'm retiring Al, Buffalo and Jacks Fork are at the top of my bucket list. How's the pan fishing on the lower Buffalo? My problem with pan fishing Ozark streams is I can't keep the pumpkin seed off. I've read you will catch about anything on lower Buff. And I know I've read the regs - thinking it is 2 smallies over 16"? - do hope to eat fish, don't really care what kind.