steve l

food for a two night trip? Heck, if your cooler is large enough use your imagination. Burgers & dogs are quick, but if you cook beforehand & ziplock it many possibilities. Some menu items from my trips: beef stroganoff, tacos, steaks, bbq pork & mashed potatoes, stew with cornbread muffins, grilled marinated chicken breasts, short ribs w/anaheim peppers in a chipotle sauce, shrimp & pasta with morels. Well, you get the idea. I like the pre-cooking as it leaves more time for fun on the river, plus cooking in foil packs means no mess to clean up. I use a 70 qt cooler & it will hold 5 days of food for two. that while using 4 blocks & 2? bags of ice. A 54 qt cooler should easily get two nights of food. Fit is a canoe? Trust me, lots of room if you pack well. Canoeing may be roughing it, be we do it in comfort. Cooler in the middle towards the back. Dry box a bit behind behind the front seat. Folding chairs below the front seat and between the cooler & dry box. Clothes, sleeping bags, tents, air mattresses etc on top of the chairs. Cans of sode/beer and water under the back seat & wherever else it will fit along the sides. Grill under the front seat. Usually more space than expected in the front of the canoe. Invariably we get asked when we if it will fit, but it always does - just think though it & keep the center of gravity low. Oh, helpful hint - get two 15 to 18 foot pieces of rope - tie one to the front & one to the back of the canoe. Very very useful. Here is my list for a three day trip, and it all fits utensils (12f12k36s) bug spray zip-locks toilet paper camera (charge batteries) paper towels sleeping bags flashlights coffee pot sheets can opener matches pillows paper plates/bowls dry box Dry Clothes chairs ammo box shirts church key glasses bands pants snorkals/masks allergy pills underwear float book/maps aspirin/pills socks work gloves brillos shoes oven mitt snacks sweatshirts/jackets air pump tin foil – foil trays towels air mattresses soda/beer-Dale's Wet Clothes big spoon/fork salt/pepper towels GPS/Batteries lighter fluid shoes/sandals cutting knife/tongs pliers swim suits/shorts grill/fish basket rope hat(s) bailer fanny pack longsleeve shirts toothpaste/brushes medicine long pants soap shampoo underwear deodorant mirror socks drinking glasses (20) scale tent(s)/patch/spare poles contact lenses/stuff score cards rain gear prescrip glasses clothes home cooler fishing glasses watch/cell duffel bags spatula dip net fishing gear fish pins fish net sunblock camp fire pie thing + filling Stove/fuel pens (1 more) charcoal thermometer garbage bags bungee cords binoculars

Fozzie mentioned the river coming up quick on the rise. For real... somewhere back in the 2008 postings you can read my full report on that event. Arrgh, I hate reading of people getting down there - no trip for me until the traditional third week of May.

A couple of years ago or so there was a great post of the effects of gravel mining - that what may look good locally is bad for the steam overall. I searched for it, but could not find. It was maybe by Al or Ted? Seems to be a good post/link to revisit here if anyone remembers where it is. And, the picture posted by Wayne worth somewhere right around 1,000 words

Hey Snap, I can supplement your eagle just a bit. On my annual trip w/my brothers my niece & I came across an eagle just past Horseshoe Bend - you'd think it has to be the same one. It flew past us and landed in a dead tree. What we thought was it began to raise a ruckus, but as we got closer we could see it has perched with a juvenile. It was the juvenile making all the noise. The adult ended up flying away, leaving the juvenile squawking away. Pretty cool, picture attached (hopefully). No rattlesnake. Would like to see one - over there though.

Brian, thanks for the update. How does this flood compare to the major one a couple of years ago? Hard to tell from afar w/the gauge still broken..

yup

any guesstimate on what the gauge would have topped off at?

Hey guys, first off thanks for the replies & info. We'd be ok with 2-3 miles. No problems with crossing the river, the only problem being no waders for the both of us. Assuming decent weather getting the feet and knees wet will probably be ok, but having to go waist deep with packs is probably not a great idea. As far as bushwhacking I guess its how much is the whacking part? And it sounds like the car ought to be ok. Given that, along with the goal being not just fishing but also getting out for probably the last time this year to a quiet pretty spot what is suggested? Thanks again. Steve.

My wife & I are thinking of hauling the backpacks down for a couple of nights in Mid-Oct (weather permitting). I thought there was a post one time with a shot of the river & a trail or trails along it, but didn't see it as I looked through previous posts. Questions: If anyone is aware of the post I think I saw could they give a link? Is the idea even doable - could we get away from whatever parking area & be able to camp somewhere along the river? We have no problem with having to hike a couple of miles to get to somewhere decent - we would not want to camp with the car. Is there anywhere safe to park where the car could sit for a couple of days (plan is in Thursday noonish out Saturday noonish). It's been a long time since I have been on the Current - any gravel up there small, or are there good sized bars? We would be using spin set-ups (dare I say that after reading a previous thread?!), so I assume jigs, spinners, & I think I saw rapalas. I assume there would not be a lot of others fishing up there? And then this question may belong elsewhere, but while on the topic... Another option would be to do the same & walk into the Jacks Fork around Jam-up cave from the north side using old logging or service roads. Anyone know of possibilities around that? It looks doable, but I'm not sure of car safety. Any help is appreciated.

well, I would usually say yes, what a waste. But on this one how can you blame the guy?

Turns, not my first post on this subject, but you are right on. The jet boats are awful, especially for a "wild & scenic" river, and there is little consideration shown by the drivers. Not all drivers, of course not, but the large majority show no thought at all to the canoers. I am really sorry to see the 11P slowly degenerate in this manner. It seems ten/fifteen years ago you saw hardly any of those things. My brothers & I head down for our yearly trip Sunday through Friday. I sure hope I can report that I was wrong, and there were no issues, but I'm not holding my breath.

Gavin, your 100% right from a practical side. But lets apply that to the highways. Can you imagine anyone saying geez, we'll let people cruise the roads as fast as they want in any manner they want while slamming beers all day, and when they appear we should pull off the roads until they pass? I really hope what we're not seeing is the migration of the idiots to the 11P as pressure is being put on the other rivers to clean them up.

It's gonna take someone getting killed or seriously hurt by one of the drunken idiots before anyone takes notice & decides to take action? How often has someone been hauled off the river in cuffs for DUI? I suspect everyone of us who canoes with any regularity has had this problem. Wonder how many jet boats have been run down by canoers?

It's been a long time since I was on the NF. Way back when (umm, the early/middle 70s?) before the various campgrounds there was what I remember as limited open gravel on the river. Is there much opportunity left for gravel bar camping?

Try copying the URL and then pasting into the address line. Should work

A little more gravel placed just right for my camping trips (if you guys can get the river moved, add the gravel, ok?). Wood always there by the end of July. And, most important of all - the total elimination of jet boats.

From the NWS site: RAINFALL WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY AS THE REMNANTS OF HURRICANE IKE TRACKS FROM EASTERN TEXAS THROUGH NORTHERN ARKANSAS AND INTO THE OHIO VALLEY. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 7 INCHES WILL LIKELY LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT FLOODING. AT THE PRESENT TIME...HEAVIEST RAINFALL IS EXPECTED LATE SATURDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY AFTERNOON BETWEEN INTERSTATE 44 AND THE ARKANSAS BORDER. Good luck - maybe be able to dodge the rain through Saturday.

Yup, know exactly what you're talking about, the water flows into that root wad. Afraid I can't agree with you on clearing it out though. There are spots all over the river that have danger potential, and this spot is just that, potential. The river should be kept as near as possible to wild, with only clear danger spots cleared, but only to the minimum extent possible.

"Because you really want them to be deep enough that they will hang up on the rocks periodically" How true. Tell my wife if you're not losing them (the lures) from time to time you're not deep enough. Usually have to say that after she loses one. I found last trip they were being taken on the drop. I would reel in at various speeds, and when I paused just bit is when they were taken.

OK, how about a 3.9 lber from the Jacks Fork in 2005. I scaled this fish, and it had also been tagged in 2000 or 2001 (can't remember, it's at work) at 18 inches and 3 lbs. Didn't measure it though. Interesting the tag was still there that many years later. Either it was caught & the tagged not removed, or it was not caught at all in that time. They may grow bigger in the larger rivers, but I suspect they don't get much bigger than this in the JF. And then one from my daughter at 2 lbs same trip. As Yoda would say, very proud she was

Hey JoeD, actually a good thread. Beats the usual what do I use/do & this is what I caught thread! Not that's there anything wrong w/those.

I'm not going to pass judgement over whether the fish were 6 lbs or not. Wasn't there & don't know this person. 5-7 years ago I was catching tagged fish in the Jacks Fork. Got to wondering what the results of the study were, and asked the MDOC if I could get something. They sent me a copy of the study completed at that time. The study was looking at smallies & goggle-eye in the JF & Gasconade, before & after special mgt areas were instituted. It is a somewhat interesting study, and I'm willing to send it off if you pm me. It is rather hefty at over 4.5 mb, so be warned if you're still on dial-up. I have snipped a couple pieces out & attached. One is a statement that an 18 inch fish is likely 8 years old on the Gasconade, and 9 years old on the JF. Points out that very few fish over 18 inches were collected in the study, they just are not that common. The second part is a distribution table of the fish collected between 1990 and 2001 in the, basically showing in graphic form what is stated above. It is interesting to note that there were very few fish over 12 inches collected before the 18 inch regs. Not really sure what this adds to the entire discussion, but there is one thing for sure, and that is if the fish caught were the sizes stated about all I can say is I wish it had been me! smallie_study.doc

Well, yes, but since I live in a suburban area near Springfield IL, and the problem is that my neighbor is a dork, that's probably not what you had in mind. It must be very frustrating & disappointing to be going through what you are. Please keep posting updates - curious on how this turns out. Good luck.

We saw the ranger, but did not get checked. He was hidden in a very nice spot to view the river. As soon as I saw it was a ranger pointed out we had on spinners & other lures. May have been why we were not checked. He did ask if were catching though. Must be a training thing, as the first question I ever get asked by the rangers is "How's the fishing - you catching anything?" Hmmm, just thinking about it, maybe that question and then your answer establishes that you are fishing so that they may check you out.

Put on Sunday about 11:00 at Greer & took off Friday morning at 142. Blue ribbon area fished well. Action was not as good as last year, but better than generally seeing over the years. Was using black spinners and jigs, and either Husky Jerks or Rebel Craws. The fish are fat & happy. Draw back was the sheer number of jet boats on that stretch. Had probably 12-15 go zipping by. Even had one group at a gravel bar w/the vodka bottle out, loud & happy. Considering that is over what, 5 miles of river you can do the math. Quite simply it was awful, unless you like the whine of the motors from however far away it is you can first hear them & the lingering smell of exhaust. White ribbon area did not do as well with the fish. Some of that is most likely just not getting deep, as I have never done well in that stretch. Jet boats again an issue coming up from Whitten. You know, between the corn dunkers, doughball tossers & Powerbait chunkers hitting every hole over & over I'm surprised there are any trout in that stretch at all. On the bright side it appeared that the jetboats couldn't get passed a section a little below Whitten (which may have explained the number we saw up river), so once we got down there it was a quiet river. Some trout here & there, and an occasional smallie begins to show. I had problems with jigs breaking off, probably need to find a better knot. But I started jigging the spinners. If I was patient enough to get them deep before starting the jigging action I did catch trout. This was the pattern that worked best of all. Didn't glom onto that until later in the white ribbon area though, so will be curious to see how it works next year over the entire trout area. The stretch from 160 to 142 is always quiet, and I always enjoy it. The wife & I saw no one all day. No hits at all until we got below what I call the S-turn. No idea what it's called, but it's an S-turn left & then right with farm land to the right. Not a lot of fish, but enough to keep us happy. Got one nearly 2 lb (1:15) smallie in the exact same place I have caught one the last three years. Plastics, Husky Jerk, Rebel Craw. Boy, the floods sure did a number on the river in some areas. Stretches where banks were stripped clean of all trees, runs where there were not runs before, the rock at Mary Decker that made it tricky gone. Some new gravel, some old gravel cleared out. Even the dam at Boze had some damage that I don't remember being there. I always enjoy floating the 11P, and will be looking forward to next year's float come about the end of January or so.