creek wader

I'm a RR engineer in Missouri. We travel through remote places at all hours. Quite a few of my coworkers claimed to have seen a mountain lion or two. I saw "something " one time. It was in the low light hours. I couldn't be sure so, I just say I saw "something." Many of the encounters that my coworkers have had, was just south of Booneville along the river. That's roughly where I saw "something." Also, in the last two years I've seen 9 bobcat. All in the daylight hours, no confusing them. Something else we were seeing in the summer of 06' but, not since. Were armadillos, between Booneville and Jefferson City. I think last winter and this winter forced them back further south. Also, one train crew still swears that they saw a black bear near Lamine. Possible, but that's a little far north. I'm skepticle, after all, this is the "show me state".

I USED TO USE HOT DOGS FOR THE CATS IN MY PONDS. GREAT THING IS YOU CAN EAT THE BAIT.

FOUND IT ONLINE ALSO, http://www.jakeslures.com/shop.htm DON'T KNOW OF ANY LOCAL SHOPS CARRING IT. SORRY

Don't believe everything you read. I've gotten that same e-mail from several people, all claiming it was killed in thier state. It's been floating around cyber space for quite sometime, now. Check out this site; http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/mountainlion.asp It'll debunk the e-mail and several more. Including the man eating catfish, which is really a whale shark with its guts hanging out resembling a decomposing human. Although, the MDC confirmed a mountain lion siting, earlier this year, near Ft. Leonardwood.

I've read many fishing reports about people using hot dogs for channel cat. I always figured blues and flatheads prefered live or fresh killed bait. guess I was wrong. A catfish is a catfish.

Fellows Lake above Springfield, has a good muskie population. It probably found it's way down from there, one way or another.

I travel a lot and can't haul a solid kayak or canoe. So, I went with a 2-man inflatable kayak from Sea Eagle. I only use it by myself as I'm very tall and like to be comfortable. It's stable and very portable, (fits in a duffle bag). It also, has plenty of room for fishing gear and a cooler, etc. I've used it on a few large streams and several small ones. Worked great. It's pretty tough also, as I've rammed some pointed snags with no problem. It's more like a canoe so, it is easy getting in and out of. I think that a solid kayak would have less resistance and be faster, but I needed space saver. If your interested in a canoe style inflatable, check out this http://www.kodiakoutback.com/detail.aspx?ID=25 , I almost bought one.

Been there done that. Wish you the best of luck. Let us know how it turns out.

Classic pic all the way around. I love it.

Most people think of carp as a trash fish. What most of them don't know is that the Carp was originally brought over from Asia as a source of food. I've eaten many lbs of carp over the years. Some that I caught and others at all you can eat buffets of carp and chicken, in Neb, Iowa, and No. Missouri. Also, they put up a heck of a fight. Especially if caught in a river, like the Missouri. I've used cotton seed cake, doughball, corn and worms. All real effective. Plus with doughball, if you get hungry, you can eat your bait. Also, in the area where I'm from it was always common to score the meat after you clean it. I haven't met anyone who does, down here.

I dive and I wish that I could help you. I assume you lost it at Table Rock lake. Given the distance from St. Joseph to Table Rock (gas prices). Also, tank and dry suit rental (best for this time of year). I'm a afraid it wouldn't be cost effective. There are divers and dive shops in the TR area. They are usually looking for any excuse to "get wet". Plus, it'll give thier dive a "mission". Like a search and rescue. Table Rock is usually at it's best visability this time a year. So, a diver would probably have a good chance at finding it. I'd look in the phone book for a dive shop. Give em a call, they may know of an interested party. It's worth a shot. Good Luck. Just looked up the price on the reel. I didn't realize it was so pricey. I'm sure it would be worth getting a diver and offer to pay for whatever gear he'd have to rent. It would probably be worth it. I'd definately would mark that spot. GPS would be the best.

Just got this in an email. . ... JEFFERSON CITY--Officials with the Missouri Department of Conservation have confirmed a sighting of a free-ranging mountain lion in the central Ozarks. They say they will continue to investigate in hopes of learning more about its habits and origins. Jim Hurst of Success reported the sighting to Conservation Agent Jim Pokorny Jan. 10 after returning from an afternoon rabbit hunt. Hurst was hunting with his son Matt and a friend, Mike Turner, on private property when their two beagles stopped out of sight of the trio. "They were baying like they had something treed," said Hurst, "so I sent Matt down the hill to see what they were up to. I thought maybe a rabbit had gone inside a hollow tree or something." Hurst's 20-year-old son found the dogs beneath a large black oak tree. He heard something overhead and when he looked up he saw the mountain lion on a horizontal limb about 15 feet above him. "The first thing he noticed was its tail," said the elder Hurst. "He said it kind of growled at the dogs. He hollered 'Dad, you won't believe what this is!'" At the sound of the shout, the lion jumped to a higher limb, then jumped out of the tree and fled downhill with the beagles in hot pursuit, leaving the hunters stunned. Hurst said his son's close-range encounter with the cat "scared him to death." "He didn't know what to think," said the elder Hurst. "I was about 30 yards away. I didn't see it, but I sure heard it. Limbs were popping and snapping when it came out of that tree and there was a loud thud when it hit the ground. It sounded like the top of the tree had fallen." Looking around the area, the hunters found a deer that the mountain lion apparently had killed and dragged under a cedar tree. It was within sight of the tree where the cat was seen. By then it was late afternoon. The men had been finishing their hunt when they encountered the mountain lion, so they went home and reported the incident. The next morning, Pokorny visited the area, accompanied by Conservation Agent Roy Hoggatt and Wildlife Damage Biologist Scott McWilliams. McWilliams has followed up dozens of reports of mountain lion sightings, none of which panned out. But what he found that morning was unmistakeable. "When we got up there, we met the guys who had seen it, and they had found another deer carcass," said McWilliams. "When I saw the deer kills, I knew we had the real thing." One deer was a yearling doe. The other was an adult buck weighing about 140 pounds. Both carcasses bore typical signs of mountain lion kills-the abdomens had been opened and the paunches dragged out and away from the carcasses. The hearts, lungs and livers had been consumed, and the hide had been pulled away from the hindquarters to expose the meat. McWilliams said the cat's tracks indicate it was a good-sized animal. "When I go on calls like this one, I take along a plaster cast of a paw print made by a 96-pound mountain lion. The tracks from this cat were bigger than the cast." Adult mountain lions weigh 80 to 160 pounds. Dave Hamilton, Conservation Department furbearer biologist and a member of the agency's Mountain Lion Response Team, was excited about the find. "We've been looking for this for 15 years," he said. "For a couple of years we have had evidence that there were mountain lions out there, but we have always had questions about whether they were tame animals. This one is clearly capable of taking game and living wild." Conservation Department workers will visit the area periodically over the next few weeks in hopes of learning more about the mountain lion or lions that are living in the area. The trick is to do so without disrupting its behavior. Asked if the Conservation Department is considering trapping the mountain lion to run tests on it or fit it with a radio collar, Hamilton said, "We discussed that, but there doesn't seem to be a good enough reason to do it. This animal is doing what mountain lions are supposed to-preying on deer. It's not bothering people or livestock, so there doesn't seem to be a reason for disturbing it, other than satisfying our desire for information." Hamilton said the Conservation Department may get information about the mountain lion's origin from the carcasses of the deer it killed. Swabs of bite wounds could yield DNA samples from the cat's saliva, making it possible to determine if it is genetically similar to mountain lions from other states. "This is the very reason we put the Mountain Lion Response Team together," said Hamilton. "We need to be able to respond quickly when we get reports of sightings so we can get there before the evidence disappears. We were able to do that in this case and document this lion's existence. Hopefully it is just the first of many cases that will help us determine how many mountain lions are in Missouri, where they come from and how to approach their management." Conservation officials did not disclose the location of the sighting due to concern for the animal's safety. They say the chance of encountering a mountain lion in Missouri is very small. Mountain lions are protected under The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Hamilton said the Conservation Department appreciates the hunters' timely report of the mountain lion sighting and encourages others who see mountain lions to report the incidents.

Great report. I grew up fishing for cat, carp, bullhead, and bluegill, up in Nebr. The carp were a blast on an ultra light.

With temps. in the lower 70's today, fishing fever got the best of me. I knew a front was coming in so, I went down to Pikes Camp CA. Fished from 2pm to 4 pm. Threw suspended crankbaits and wiggle warts with no success. Went to sliders and tried several colors, got one hit. Put on a 1/16 oz. white maribu crappie jig and finally caught a fish. It was a 10 in. Kentucky bass. The sky started looking pretty ominus, so headed back. Found out later a twister had touched down near California, Mo. (about 20 mi. away). I fished the outside of a curve on a rocky bank. I was happy, just to catch one fish. First time out and being early Jan. Temps. were in the low 70's, water was clear, normal flow for this time of year, and seasonably cold. Very grey skies, windy with some very stong gusts, from the SW.

Wow, seems like the Piney has gone the way of most of the other smallie streams. I really hope that I'm not too dissapointed on my trip.

ozarkkid, read this ... http://www.missourigameandfish.com/fishing...g/mo_aa083202a/ ... They talk about some rivers close to St. Louis. cw

I'm not sure of the driving distance of them. If you go to http://www.missouricanoe.org/map.html ... ... That will show you where the rivers are. Then click the directory and that will show you where the outfitters are located, for each river. Then get on rand mcnally or mapquest and do a driving direction search, for the town that the outfitter is located in. Also, you might send a PM to coreycottrell, he's a member on this site. he might be able to give you some info on the Meremec, Huzzah, or Courtois. They are all within driving distance of St. Louis. The Big River is another, that's close to St. Louis. I've never been on it though, Al probably has the most experience of anybody on it. Since he did not recommend the Big river, it was probably for a reason. Since, he suggested the middle Gasconade, I believe I'd listen to him. I doubt that he would steer anybody wrong. The Gasconade is a good beginner stream that holds both largemouth and smallies, and goggleye. It is slower and has few if any portages. ..As far as yourself is concerned, you'll have to do the Current and the Jack's Fork sometime. You'll have a hoot on both.

Thanks guys. After reading your posts and some older ones. It looks like Rich's Last Resort, is the outfitter to use and a overnight float from Slabtown to Ross, would fit the bill. Thanks again. .. Wader

I had recommended the Current River because of it's proximity to St. Louis. Also, it has about everything you would find on many the rivers in the Ozarks, all wrapped up in one. It's water clarity is hard to beat. The strong current lets you cover alot more of the river. But, Al is right, the middle Gasconade would be better from a fishing stand point. Actually, it's hard not to have a good trip on most of the major float streams in Missouri. One of my most favorites, which would be a bit of a drive for you. Is the Little Niangua. It is in mid-Missouri, it is a smaller stream but, compares with the larger streams in most aspects. We usually do a mid-May float on it, with good success. But, as Al suggested the mid-Gasconade might be a better trip. I've only done a section on the Lower Gasconade from Hwy. 42 down to Paydown access, and was not impressed at all. I'm sure further upstream would be much better. The section we did was very slow, almost like being on a lake. The water was stained to muddy and no scenery which to speak of. It was a long hot tiresome trip with no bass caught, only an occansional goggleye or sunfish to save the day. I have heard much better reports of the Gasconade on upstream near Waynesville and Jerome. Take Al's advice, he has been there and would know more than I. I would suggest a little web surfing on that area.

We're thinking about doing a canoe/smallie trip on the Big Piney, next spring/summer. It's one river I haven't been on yet. I searched some of the outfitters sites. But, would like any imput on your favorite sections to go for smallies. Your imput is usually better than any of the outfitters reports. Any info would be appreciated. .. Thanks ... Wader

Another hint. If you are fishing, do not to take too long a float, . 5 miles is more than plenty in one day. On the Current and Little Piney Creek, you can do more miles, because of the curent speed. But, unless your fishing from a jet boat or other motorized boat, and your fishing from a canoe. Shorter is better. My 2nd float/fish trip, was on the Little Niangua. We put in at 1 pm. the first day. Five hrs. later, we set up camp. The next morning, I did some figuring and found that we only went a mile. We casted to every log, rock, or likely looking spot, the 1st day. We had to high-ball some great spots the 2nd day to make up time. Shorter is better, when your fishing. It's more relaxed.

I'm afrid it's just the society that we live in. It's always been that way and always will be. They are the same people that throw their trash out the car window, or leave the styrofoam worm containers, on the bank. The same person that will throw an old tire in a ditch rather than find a place to take it. The same people I see at the city lakes, that are stocked with winter trout, keeping the fish or using bait during the C&R season. The same people who never buy a fishing licence. It's sad, but poachers and people that litter, are all the same in my book. They think if nobody sees them, then it's ok. That's why I am glad to see so many people on this site that are true conservationist's. Who understands how fragile our enviroment is. It gives a person hope.

I agree with Al. I too am a stream/bass fisherman. Sometimes, I would get caught up in numbers and size. Then I would see a mink or eagle. Or round a bend in the fall and the sun is hitting the leaves just right or gleaming off the water at a riffle. Then realize that's what it's about. I'm not sitting in front of the TV, but out here wading a beautiful stream. To me the next 6 in. smallie that I catch is a trophy fish on that little stream. He's the big fish in the little pocket by the log. I can recieve more enjoyment fishing a stream that you can step across, and catching a hard fighting green sunfish, out from under a rootwad in 6 in. of water. Then flying 70 mph. across a lake so I can fling a huge crank bait at the same stump, that somebody else just casted to 20 min. ago. ... Then again, that's just me. To each thier own.

Well, you'll get a lot of replies on this one. Canoe/fish trips are my passion. I think the section of the Current River between Aker's Ferry and Round Spring would fit the bill. It's a 2 or 3 day trip if your fishing or you could shorten it up. Pulltite is half way. This section has caves, springs, high bluffs, nice gravel bars for camping, clear water, smallies, trout, googleye, and lots of sunfish. It has a good current so, you don't wear yourself out paddling. Also, there are few if no portages. Pulltite has campsites, if you don't want to do a gravel bar. The Jack's Fork is another favorite, it's a little smaller but, compares to the Current in every way. The Meramec, Courtois, Huzzah, Big Piney, upper or middle Gasconade, and upper Niangua are all good smallie rivers. I haven't done the Spring, Elk, James, Bryant's Creek, or the N. Fork. But many swear by them. Late April through June, is the best time to go. If you want to keep bass. Then you'd have to go Memorial weekend or later, check the regs., for the black bass season. We catch and release so, we prefer mid-May. Temps. are right and the canoe hatch hasn't started. I strongly suggest going mid-week also. Avoid the weekends. It's the tale of two rivers. I'd also try to get a hold of member coreycottrell. I believe he or his family is an outfitter on the Meramec, Courtois, and Huzzah. He'd probably be real helpful in making it a memorable trip. Here's a site for outfitters. . . . http://www.missouricanoe.org/display.html

Thanks hfdhoosier, I use flukes, tubes, senkos, and most other soft plastics. I have good success on all of them. I was just curious how the banjo would work. It's only $20 for the whole system. The weed guard didn't look any better than a normal rubber band. The action that the bait presented and the price is what caught my eye. I might just give it a shot for a hoot. Thanks again.