Forsythian

665.5 feet... 11.5 feet over pool (6.5 feet over proposed new pool)... The River Run ramp is essentially gone, water is lapping right at the very top of the ramp. The city ramp on the Forsyth side of the river looks pretty good. Anybody been to Beaver Creek in the last day or two? How 'bout Elbow?

Hey Sam, I wondered if the lot at Kdock was being affected yet... the lake's almost 663 now (thursday), I'll bet easily another foot from your Tuesday trip. I guess it's a write-off, especially if we get the rain tomorrow we're supposed to. I read the other day where they're considering opening some gates at Table Rock... might be another one of those summers.

Here's my setup... you can usually find me anywhere on Bull Shoals between River Run and Buck Creek (or out of Empire Park on Tanecomo).

Here's a bigun

Put in about 7am on Saturday morning. I had planned (and packed) to stay overnight in the park... never would have imagined that they hadn't yet opened it up for primitive/dry camping at least! bummer Anyways, the smallmouth bit all day. I'm not a "counter", but after I figured 'em out in the first hour, the action was plumb steady all day... I really really like to throw the grub, and I got my wish yesterday! They are still relating to last week's lake level, so they were a good 5 feet back from the buckbrush. Lots of fun.When I got back to the ramp about 4:00, there was a chopper and MO water patrol and a bunch of first responders at the ramp... bad scene... I cooled my heels at the marina for a while, allowing them to clear out enough for me to take out. I learned that a fellow passed away while diving. No details, but always a bad deal and prayers to his friends and family for their loss.

I've not heard a thing about Long Creek, but I bet it'd be worth a try. I was thinking about camping at Buck Creek this weekend, but I've not been able to drum up a partner. I may still do that, but Ill probably wind up in line for the sunrise launch at Kdock on Saturday morning, mebbe spend the day in Bee Creek or something.

File this one under the "doesn't anyone work anymore?" file! I had to drive between work facilities today, which took me across the 76 bridge at River Run about noon (on a Wednesday mind you)... I would estimate no less than 25 rigs parked at the ramp. They were lined up 2 deep, then in the grass, then spilling into the 1st campsite nearest the ramp. Might be the most rigs I've ever seen there. Sam, were you among the masses?

Hey all, I thought I would post up about some meetings going on this weekend... This Saturday (4/18) at 10:00 am at the Kimberling City Senior Center, and Monday at 6:30pm at the Escollo Room of the Lodge of the Four Seasons. Basically, this is a group of volunteers that takes secci disk readings and takes water samples once every 3 weeks or so during the boating season. These meetings are data review for the last year (plus trends for the 10+ years that this program has been going on)... and the group is always looking for new volunteers. In fact, I'm currently doing two runs (Taneycomo around Empire Park, and Bull Shoals out of Kdock)... and I'd sure like to give up the Taneycomo run to somebody! Anyways, the program is administered by the University of MO, Columbia... it's a good group doing good work, and the data trends are very interesting. Check it out if you get a chance. http://www.lmvp.org/ Thanks for the vine.

Lost Cabins is a nice place... though the fishing up there is not the best. I'd still like to stay at the ROLF one of these days.

Well, Memorial weekend will be pretty much party-central, so I'm not sure how much fishing you'll get done. The weekend before? You can't go wrong with crawdad patterns... plastics, rebel craws, that sort of thing. I've got a couple of small-scale buzz baits and blades I like to bring along as well. That's a nice little float... except for the cows!

Your target species will be panfish (goggleye, etc.) and smallmouth... techniques I guess will depend on when you go... pretty soon?

Fished out of Elbow yesterday for about 4 hours... it was pretty tough. With the wind blowing the way it was, we pretty much stuck to throwing spinnerbaits and wiggle warts. When we did find some calmer pockets we tried for crappie, but no go. All told, I guess we caught about 6 short bass... all on spinnerbait. Since the fishing was a bit slow, we did a little exploring as well. It was nice to get out... and get the kid away from the video games for a day.

Excellent report cajun, thanks! That is some beautiful water, isn't it? I love it down there, even in the lean years. Blue water, aesthetic shoreline, and little traffic. I can't tell you how long it's been since I took 4 days off just to fish... part of it is living down here and having the opportunity to go "for an hour or two"... but the other part of it? I don't know. I gotta re-think my priorities! Sam, I guess I'm gonna take the boy out today and fight the wind and the crowds... it's my only day off, so I gotta do it!

Here's a couple of links you might forward to your bud... http://www.gunbroker.com/ http://www.auctionarms.com/ http://www.gunsamerica.com/

I just took the class a week ago in Taneyville... the instructor was adamant that the castle law applies to your campsite (tent). The other important thing to remember is you may defend yourself from someone who refuses to leave your "castle"... doesn't matter that you originally were "neighborly" to your guest, if he/she then later becomes a threat to you or your companions. Back to the general subject of CCW... I took it basically as a precaution when navigating those "grey areas" of the law when I have a sidearm packed in camping gear, on the boat/canoe, etc. I figure having the permit may help to ease the mind of LEO's that I am a trained (as it were) and well-meaning citizen. A waste of $200 (for class & permit)? I dunno. It is what it is I reckon.

The guy in Alabama had (apparently) a fully automatic rifle, which I believe to already be illegal. He no doubt appreciated the fact that his victims were unarmed I'm sure. The kid in Germany had a handgun, which I believe to be something other than an assault rifle. Just guessing there... I'm not a gun expert by any means... but despite the many definitions attributed to the term "assault rifle" (each definition taylored for one side of the debate or the other) this is the first time I've seen a handgun referred to as an assault rifle.

Very well-put! I agree completely with JD and RS on this... don't willingly cede your (and my) constitutional rights.

Ah yeah, thanks Brian... it's by Thornfield, above Theodosia... thanks!

Saw on the internet that Hammond Mill was for sale... it apparently is set up for private residence... hmmm, a guy can dream, but I'm guessing "tough go" with the whole flood-plain mortgage insurance thing... anybody been by there lately?

I wish Alton was about 90 minutes closer to Forsyth.

I'm pullin' for you Sam... as for me, I don't think I could handle the awesome responsibility that comes with it!

First off (and for the most part) good posts all around. I don't have a global-vision about this topic. Kdock is my home. And while I am not yet one of the 10% that catches 90% of the fish (Cotterboy), I still have an opinion. (Is it just me, or is there anyone else around here who would like, just once, to get through a 2+page thread without somebody dropping that tired "your opinion blows, you must not be one of the 10%" cliche's?) Anyways, in the last 10 years I bet I've been skunked no less than 50 trips out of Kdock, and it's still my favorite launch. I know it's selfish, but there's a little voice in the back of my head tells me I've paid some measure of dues. The Kdock launch area isn't built for a big slice of humanity, and that same little voice in my head is going to be ticked off if, for the first time in these last 10 years, the lot is consistently full. My worry is not a boat on my favorite bank, it's not having a place to park my rig. I think that posts which say: "we caught some, (we caught many), this general area, this general pattern" are very useful and welcome and get the job done. Posts that say: "this will be an epic year! hail call! come fill your stringer!" are gonna rankle some, and maybe for good reason. Again, just one opinion, and not losing any sleep over it.

Slick- A bass-fisherman's term for trout. Jim Dandy- A well-adorned flyfisherman sporting all the best in gear, gadgets, and khaki Meat Run- Tightlining with powerbait at Empire Park, preferably right after a good stockin' Thread Hijack- Starting a C&R argment in someone's buy/sell/trade thread. Lockjaw- A common affliction of upper Bull Shoals fishermen!

They still haven't cleared the mud from the River Run ramp... it's the darndest thing.

I've been doing a little "rehab" on the boat's vinyl during the last couple of days... I had some work done at Branson Upholstery which was a good experience for me, but this thread is what I've found while trying to get a couple of year's worth of grime off of the vinyl in the boat: Blue Magic vinyl cleaner- instead of buying this, I would recommend that during your next drive around town you pull $5 out of your wallet and throw it out the window. Oxy vinyl, leather & carpet cleaner (at Wallyworld... has a yellow plastic brush on the cap) not too bad... takes several applications though. Sprayway 990 vinyl & leather cleaner- This stuff is the bomb! I only wish I was turned on to this stuff sooner in the process. Not sure where you can get it... the Branson Upholstery shop was nice enough to give me a can. Here's there websites: http://www.spraywayinc.com/ http://bransonupholstery.com/ Hope somebody finds this helpful.