mzrealfish

I had to like this because you are definitely correct. Too far away from the water. I would have liked it twice if I could because I was pissing while I read it.

Also, just got access to this photo. The Royal Debacle strikes again. 1st time I've ever been called a tree hugger. There goes my political career.

Sorry for not smiling in my selfie. my buddies are all making fun of me. They are all un-invited from my next river trip so I'm looking for new friends. sign-up list to follow soon.

I just got backto KC from a weekend on the Big Piney. I posted my results in that forum. Good stuff

So 2 of my friends joined me this weekend for a float trip. Neither had ever canoed a river in Missouri. Fishing was pretty slow overall but I caught the largest bass I have ever caught on a river. my cooler has a 20 inch tape measureon top of it. There is an additional 1 inch of cooler lid on each side. This bass hung an inch over each side. He was on the backside of a fallen tree and had a 2nd bass, almost as big trying to eat the jig out of the corner of his mouth . We fished mostly with jig n craw. Combined we caught 12 largemouth, 14 smallmouth and about 12 goggle eyes. I apologize for sucking at taking good pictures.

So I have a friend from Toronto flying in to KC. He wants to go on a canoe trip. No problem. I'm wondering where I should take him. I'm working till noon on Friday so proximity is a major factor. I've done plenty of fall trips on the Gasconade and Big Piney. Considering the Niangua, Elk or the James as well. 20 mileish range. Fishing 1st, paddling only when required. Looking for some feedback. Thanks in advance, Mark

Andy Sheldon at rt. 66 canoe has always done me justice for any trip on the Big Piney or the Gasconade. Call him. Tell him what you are looking for and he will accommodate. He's on the Big Piney but has shuttled me and my crew dozens of times wherever we want to go. Price is always competitive but waymore flexible than most outfitters for meeting your wants or needs. Enjoy, Mark

So I spent about an hr. cutting and cementing 1 1/4 conduit pipe and 1 inch conduit connectors. I spent $63 total including the 4 promar pvc foam floats from Austin Canoeand Kayak. My Spring Creek outrigger is much prettier and probably far sturdier but I'm looking forward to testing these out.

So I spent about an hr. cutting and cementing 1 1/4 conduit pipe and 1 inch conduit connectors. I spent $63 total including the 4 promar pvc foam floats from Austin Canoeand Kayak. My Spring Creek outrigger is much prettier and probably far sturdier but I'm looking forward to testing these out.

I've seen the dog rolling in it scenario before. When I was in Culinary school down in Charleston, SC we would go fishing and shrimping every weekend. Once, we forgot about a few mullet in a bait cooler. The following weekend I opened it and nearly blacked out. There were foamy, gray bubbles on the top of the water. We decided to put the lid back on and try to clean it at the boat landing. So we get there and I ran a ways up the hill behind a huge patch of bamboo and dumped everything out. Puked. Went down to the water and filled it with sand and water and left it in the sun. About an hour later a guy pulled up to the landing in his boat. His black lab jumped off the boat and ran straight to the dump site, rolled over on his back and covered his scent. Then he ran proudly back to his owner who screamed and then puked everywhere. I felt terrible then but laugh about it regularly now. Every time my dogs start rolling on whatever they are rolling on in my back yard I think to myself "that probably smells like death or dung but definitely smells better than my old bait cooler". Thanks for the memory

Love lost bikini tops and stolen bikini tops. Property sold right after I visited. The whole thing needed some work but what doesn't these days. The 16 acre lake on the property was very inviting to me as well. River + lake = happy Mark. I will keep looking. Waterfront property is disappearing at an alarming rate. I'd like to be on the positive side of that equation someday.

That place is incredible. Not sure my kung fu is strong enough to make it work quickly.

I'm going down tomorrow. Fully capable of 20% down. The rest relies upon creativity. PM me if this is not just ozarkanglers.com wishlist hear me now speak. I am a legitimate buyer but do actually need partners for monthly payments. Reality bites. This is a very unique opportunity though. Mzrealchef1@gmail.com or 913-424-0190 if we should chat. Peace, Mark

Yes, training wheels from Spring Creek outfitters. I've had them for 8ish yrs. Now. Love em. Stand up fishing is safe for me again

I'll take your word for it Al. All jaws closed in front of the eye so I thought they were spots even though they did look more like largemouth that I'm used to catching. So I know, what is the real determining factor? Thanks

Kevin and I put on the river Friday evening about 5:30 pm and got off the river Sunday at 4 pm. 2 nights camping on the river and the trip is approximately 22 miles. Andy at Rt. 66 hooked us up as he always does for us on the Piney or Gasconade. Water was about 75° and clear. We caught smallmouth, spotted bass, goggle eye and 1 largemouth. All together 100+ bass. Kevin caught the biggest. A 2 1/2 lb. Spotted bass. Most of the rest were 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 lb. Fish. Kevin was using a watermelon flappin hog, white shad texas rigged and a hula grub texas rigged. I used flappin hogs in watermelon and in green pumpkin as well as powerbait craws in green pumpkin...nothing else. Always amazes me how much tackle I take only to use 3 items. Great float and quite good fishing, just missing the bigger fish. We'll get them next time. Thanks again to Andy. Here are some of the fish photos

^fishing was really good when we weren't dealing with the obstacle course with wrecking our canoes in mind. The other problem is, if there were a sunk canoe, it is a very remote stretch without cell phone service. The trek out would be 1 to remember in all likelihood. Again, at 2-4 ft. Possibly totally safe. At 5 ft. It was puckery. I will return.

Last year my buddy and I did Bennett to the dam at Lake Niangua twice. River was at 5.8 ft and falling and 6.5 ft and falling. Past Lead Mine there were some really rough spots. The area is less traveled so less manicured after flooding. I would talk to Linda at Adventure canoe to see if anyone has been through this year to clear it out. Her in is attached here. She put us in at Bennett and dropped our car 5 days later at the dam for $35. Best deal I found by a longshot. Her partner fishes that stretch some so should have some answers. You can also try the local conservation office they may be able to give you some answers. I've never seen that stretch at normal flow so I can't speak to it's behavior at 2-4 ft. I will say I have 12 yr old and 14 yr old daughters that canoe the Big Piney and Gasconade with me regularly. I wouldn't take them below Lead Mine without having gone back again myself. Not trying to talk you out of it but I would reaearch in depth first. Mark

So admittedly, I am not a boat restoration guy by trade. I am a chef. I can make a broken fiberglass canoe float again, no matter the damage. It may never look like a canoe again, but it will float. So, I'm done patching the bad spots. I began laying the matting and the resin. Things got away from me as they usually do. It will float. My 12 year old daughter said, "In case of emergency, break fiberglass".

"it rubs the bondo on its skin or else it gets the hose again" Repairs have begun...yet again

I remember. That was I said the fly. Nice to see you again. I bought this 1 for $150 back in 2000ish. A guy at Lake Quivera here in town was pissed about the weeds exploding on their lake. Said he would never fish there again so he wouldn't need the canoe any longer. I'm certain he's pissed about that decision now. The Debacle has been through many river wars. I finished a 5 day on the Gasconade 1 year with duct tape sealing the bottom. Also put on the Piney 1 year when it was at 12 feet. That was a huge mistake. If it weren't for my outriggers I am pretty sure I wouldn't have survived. I've probably fiberglass repaired it at least 15 times at this point. Doing yet another repair tomorrow. Peace

Smallie, I've been on at Hazelgreen and below about 50 times, never had the pleasure of the Osage arm...yet although Andy over at rt. 66 canoe will take us wherever we ask. And yes, I floated in that for 5 days just like that. Everything was flooded out that week so we ended up on the Niangua at 6 ft. I was a bit heavy for the flow but survived. Love my debacle. Going to be floating Thursday to Sunday next week. Undecided as to where yet. Will keep you all updated.

You guys will love this pic then. "The Royal Debacle" on my last 5 day trip on the Niangua River. We put in at Bennett and floated to the dam at Lake Niangua. Next time more coolers less gear.

Morning all. I'm stuck here in KC and waiting to see some fishing reports fir the gasconade or big piney. Haven't made it down there yet this year. Thanks

Looking at the pictures, I guess some of those were caught on a brown jig with the Ika...We floated too far on Saturday so we actually camped about 1/4 of a mile from hwy 7 bridge. We did not fish Sunday because we were being picked up at the "Old 42" instead at the bridge, but that last run looked pretty promising for those heading out. Mark