brownieman

Wrench...take a break...them high dollsr guys can wait... surely they can bum a ride out to see the fireworks. HEY...suggestion...The MPD can probably help you out with that guage at 64 bridge...there always glad to help us tax payers out...if it makes good sense sure they will go for it if they can come up with the money...ya think, lol

Terry, you left me hangin on skaggs...aint it the 5th time...lmfao

At least the hatchery bows are keeping the big browns well fed, lol

Hey Al, Did your homework on that one, huh It will always be a "Gray Area" concerning who's in the right...

Al, What deems a stream as you say "floatable"...proper term "navigatable". I could be mistaken but I beleive navigatable is how the law reads. The guidlines for this law originated many years ago. Do you know when, where and why the term navigatable was conceived? I have numerous friends whom own land that have sections of different rivers running through them. These streches are bare none the least fished waters in the state...due to this you can imagine the quality of the fishing in these streams... for lack of a better term "forbidden waters" is what they are to the general public. These waters hold an amazing amount of huge smallies, gogs, etc...any warm water species of fish. In winter months depending on what rivers the stream dumps into an occasional trout can be caught due to the cooling of the water temp. Local landowners have had numerous problems that have had to be settled in court...kind of a gray area by mosts standards. I assure you one thing...the quality of fishing in these waters we are speaking of is unparalleled...the size and numbers of huge smallies is amazing. They are hard to float due to numerous huge log jams that are not cut out to cater to the canoe traffic and flow thru private property. Nature is allowed to take it's course without man destroying their habitat...to me these are the only true natural areas that exist when it comes to our states waterways.

My first trout venture in Ark. was years ago...I had a 24 ft. river jon with a 10 horse and a motor jack. We put in at the confluence of the White and North Fork...stayed in a cabin at Sailsville. Never had been on either river...good flow was coming down the North fork...must have been generating...we headed up the N. Fork got about a mile upstream, killed the motor and were drift fishing. First fish we caught was a 31 inch brown, male...weighed 9 lbs...we thought we had found the best fishing hole in the world and in years to come caught many big browns on both these rivers. We used as you called them "Bass Baits"...people thought we were nuts till they saw what we were catching...we tried to hide our lures also so I know exactly what you are saying. There are some huge browns in both the White and North Fork rivers...had a couple of really close calls in that old river jon on the North Fork...when they are cranking water that is one wicked river to run...

In my opinion there just is too many fisherman and a lack of fishable water...you can't please everybody especially wade fishing. The only way I have found to be "alone" on the river is to fish in the dead of winter, get there a little before daylite and hoof it upstream / downstream fast as I can to get away from the access...won't be long till someone pulls into the same access behind you. During the summer months the same applies you just have a couple of hours at daylite depending on where you are fishing before the canoes come beating through. Having spots that are extremely hard to get into helps...the less known honey holes to the general public and inaccessable unless you have a 4 wheel drive and are willing to take a long hard walk to the water...generally downhill...the walk back out when you're tired, well, that's the price you pay to have the water to yourself for any length of time. Even with designated areas these problems can't be avoided...if you fish mainly in the summer months, good luck...during the winter months I have fished all day on certain stretches of a few rivers and have seen no-one all day. Only problem is...if you slip and fall in the water, break a leg, etc...it can get you in trouble fast, even cost you your life because you're miles from your rig in most cases.

I have fished most of the best trout waters Mo. and Ark. has to offer for the last 30 yrs...both day and night fishing. I mainly target large browns although do catch a nice bow once in a while, brookie, cutty...just whatever happens to be in the river I am fishing. I mounted the first 2 big browns I caught years ago...a 28" female and a 31" male and put them on a peice of cedar driftwood I worked down and finished myself...don't care much for a name tag and a plaque. Fisherman tend to exagerate...I try not to but my old memory aint what it used to be, lol. I ran a 24 ft. 36 in. wide river john for 25 yrs or so...have walked many miles wade fishing. I can honestly say I have probably landed...stricktly a estimate...2 to 300 brownies in the 5 to 10 lb.range with a few bows in there, landed several?? in the 10 to 15 lb. range, have seen and hooked larger several times. I lost one about 10-12 yrs ago right at my feet wade fishing...big brownie, think he was closer to 20 than 15...huge beautiful fish...he's probably died of old age by now. I read thru this whole post and unless I missed it...one thing has not been mentioned about taney which makes night fishing even tougher there. Taney's water is so cold on hot days even before darkness sets in the thickest fog I've ever seen comes over that water...you can't see 10 feet if that (when in a boat) in front of you and lights make it worse. Just thought i would throw that info in this thread if i missed it...between the fog, the darkness, this lake has to be approached very carefully...more like a wide river than a lake to me.

Well fishinwrench...guess you could call it a "state perk". Over the years I have seen several so called "guests" in MDC boats, trucks, etc. Have always wondered if these so called guests are covered by the states insurance. I have seen MDC trucks dropping and picking kids up from schools, frequently being used for personal use on state time...have seen MDC equipment being used on private property numerous times over the years. Several MDC construction employees (Design and Development I think it's called) homes sure resemble whatever projects they have worked on...you don't think, nah...surely not. I see certain MDC divisions vehicles parked at personal residences...have always heard it's because they are "on call". Have heard of MDC employees telling others they have personal expense accounts by which they are entitled to turn in meals and other job related expenses incured while on the job and have to show no reciepts...with the exception of motel bills. They receive these monthly or however often they are paid on top of their normal paychecks...don't know if there is any truth to this or if they are just bragging, whichever the case, sure bumps their pay but does not settle well with me if there is any truth to it. Anyway...far as seeing jet boats on the Niangua might as well get used to it. Sure can turn a nice peaceful morning on the river sour real quick, but, we as the taxpayer have no say in the matter although we are what enables them to function...we have no say in laws and regulations. Shouldn't the people have some say so in matters that involve us...guess not. State agencies regulate themselves and are held accountable by no-one.

I can't imagine...jet boats have no place on a stream this small and have to be planed out to run the shallows. You're exactly right on the enforcement of laws...but face it, if it weren't for the jet boats (bought with our tax dollars) they would have to paddle a canoe...thats work and would make sense...the MDC's job is to waste...if they tear up their toys we buy them new ones. He was probably just taking his wife/girlfriend for a ride, you got in his way so he showed off by checking you...let me ask, was there a female in uniform in the boat? The only thing that surprises me is their jet boats aren't air conditioned...yet, lol...like you said, you can hear them coming 3 miles away...might as well blow a foghorn to let the violators know they are coming...very effective tool huh. Least in the jet boats on a hot day they can catch a breeze...hard work to paddle a canoe that fast...that state sweat, well, we pay a hefty price for it.