steve l

Pushing six hours away here in springfield illinois, so can never make it. But really enjoy following Olliefest from afar every year. I think my contribution was suggesting the Roman numerals, so at least there is a little of me in the Fest. Be sure to post how it went!

Seriously Seth? The river revolves around the jet boat? Everyone in canoes or tubes should work around them? Jerry, I totally agree with you. The jets should be banned on 1) crowded rivers and 2) smaller rivers that leave little room to maneuver. I've posted it before, those things are just a blight on the rivers. Wakes, the obnoxious sound, the exhaust, the churning of the waters. Just no place on what are supposedly wilderness streams. Keep them on the lower parts where the rivers get enough size to handle them.

Yeah, not seeing what any spend has to do with this issue. Seems vonreed makes some good points.

I have no idea of the laws, and if you're gonna bring it bring it, but you do not need a handgun for any predators. Yes, there are a few bears around the area and perhaps a lion (?), but the chances of running across one are nil.

Yup, sad and predictable. And sooner or later a jet will run over a canoe and kill a couple of kids. Just no reason...

SIU, can't say I'm sorry I missed the rain and cold on Wednesday! I'd take an 18 or 19 anytime. Nice fish! We caught up to the drift boat group just above Jam-up and then camped a bit down from Jam-up. We missed the hail other than a couple of pings. My guess is you were a bit downstream, as that is where it seemed most of the rain and thunder was. And 2x on the trash as well. Just exactly how hard is it to take out what you carry in anyway?

Ok, perhaps just a bit late... We had planned on putting on the 14th, but the forecast of rain and cool did that in. Good thing as it rained all day long while hovering around 48 to 50. That just would not have been pleasant. Took in some sites instead. Ran down to Greer Spring. I had not been there in a very long time and the Mrs never. A nice hike and the spring boil is very cool. Then stopped to look at the old Greer mill. We were lucky that someone was there waiting fir a roofer. We ended up going into the mill and learned some of its history. We will be sending some moola to the Friends of. Next stop was a little time at the Greer access doing a bit of fishing. Maybe 1/2 hour with Jill catching one small trout. Goose egg for me. The on to Falling spring. We just happened to see the sign and went to check it out. An unexpected pleasure. The old mill and cabin along with the spring in a pretty setting made the stop very worthwhile. Ate a little lunch on the cabin porch. Yes, it was still raining! Next stop was Big spring. Yes, it is a very big spring, but the state park setting does detract, at least in our view. And more! Next on the agenda was Rocky falls. Just another excellent bonus as the recent rains had the falls really rolling. And finally Blue spring on the Current. A pretty spring, and yes, it is very blue. Would much rather had been on the river, but good day checking out sites we would never have had time for otherwise. Spent the night in Eminence and then on Thursday we got the float going. The traditional Buck to Alley. Temps mid 60s thur and fri very comfortable with long sleeves and shorts thur and fri. Friday night chilly down to 35 or so. The water was cold at 58 as we started. A bit of rain after we hit the first gravel bar. Saturday was right and 60 with more clouds and wind. It was almost uncomfortable with the same shorts and long sleeves when the sun was behind the clouds and the wind picked-up. Good loads of firewood were helpful each night. River dropped 6 inches plus over the course of the float. Food as always excellent. Kobe beef burgers, calico chicken (chicken, tomatoes, olives, chilis, corn, beans and more in the Dutch oven, an outstanding meal) and kabobs. The wife also made cinnamon rolls one morning in the Dutch. Good! Fishing was much better than I expected. We both caught many mostly smaller smallies. I had one that went two lbs, and it was the largest by far. Plastics, plastics and more plastics. We did see one drift boat with a group of kayaks. I didn't see them catch any fish, so the following isn't directed at them. But geez, three or four of those hitting the river a few times could really do a number on the fish. Drop the anchor, sit in a spot, repeat all the way down the river. Good thing the JF is probably typically too low on the water flows to support. Or so I hope. It is also disheartening to see the number of gravel bars with tire tracks. But still a great river. Just 50 weeks until next Spring!

Yeah. The wife and I had planned to put in today for four nights from the Prongs. Decided to cut a day and do the traditional three nights from Buck starting tomorrow. Would be nice to see that gauge start coming down from 3.5, especially with more rain coming. If there is a good side we'll roam around today and check out some sites. The Mrs has never seen Greer Spring even though we've done the 11p a number of times. Check out Big spring and Rocky Falls and maybe Blue Spring on the Current. Would for sure rather be on the river today, but the above bests work!

How did the race go?

Can't make down there, but I think the race is a pretty cool idea. If we lived quite a bit closer...

hey, thanks for the heads-up. I see it is in cooperation with the Mo Dept of Natural resources. That seems new, although I don't remember for sure. Just wondering if that is where the funding came from. Regardless, a useful gauge.

Good explanation. But I would sure close the gauge measuring the flow at Greer (the spring flow, not the river flow) on the 11p before Buck Hollow. That gauge is practically useless. With Alley Spring campground in prime flash flood territory the Buck Hollow gauge serves a real purpose.

Due to lack of funding per a message on the gauge website. That is too bad, and given how the JF floods might be nice for the campers at Alley to know. But there it is...

Any report from the trip?

Took my kids just myself & one of them a few times when they were 10 or so. A great experience they both remember as they go through college. My main advice is to remember the risk & reward. I tended to walk even more runs with just the two of us. A long way from help if you need help... So my daughter liked to just bob behind the boat in her life jacket as we drifted, just holding on to the rope. I'm fishing & not paying much attention (this was on the Jacks Fork) when I hear a blood curdling scream & she is thrashing & trying to get to & into the boat. I'm like what, uh?? Then I see a huge gar casually swimming away from where she had been ("It''s trying to eat me!!!!!!!"). Trying not to laugh while getting her into the canoe, although that had to be scary. It took her quite awhile to get much back in the water after that! But she was also very proud of the 2 lb smallie she caught! Good times.

Uhhhhhhh...... Ok, I think.

Which one of us living near? Not me, I'm in Springfield, IL.

Just a quick note of thanks for the replies.

Wife & I looking at the fall float the first weekend in October. Put on Thursday go two nights to Saturday. We really just drift & fish. Try to stay away from that paddling stuff as much as we can. I have not been on the Niangua since like '89, the wife never. So thinking about it. What would I get out of Moon Valley to Prosperine? Would camp somewhere above Bennett, and then somewhere below Bennett. Distance seems about right. Is there enough gravel (looks like it on Google Earth)? My guess is crowds would be largely avoided given when? Good float? Am I better off going back to the Current Round to Two Rivers or BP Slabtown to Ross? Any info appreciated.

Been there. Great story. I like the down tree in pic 1 that is gone in pic 2. I don't think people believe it when they are told camp high - maybe this will help that out a bit.

yeah, what Gavin said.

ok smalliebigs, how about a little editing on that last post? the language is unnecessary.

Thanks for the update Brian. Doesn't appear to have been a major major flood, but let us know if it caused any changes.

If there were any I suspect the number is right around zero right now. Wonder how this will get at the Alley campground as it gets down there. Probably a wash out there as well.

The gauge at Buck Hollow stands just short of 20 feet. Now that's a flood!