GloryDaze

Screen Name is an ode to my college days, you know the old Glory Daze. Spelled with a "z" to clarify many of those years were indeed a daze. Named my first boat that as well, but it is not a personal nickname. Avatar is Hawksbill Crag to reflect my love for hiking.

Nice job- I do not envy your adventure in an aluminum canoe but what a cool way to complete it. You are right, just gotta find a pace and keep moving towards STL. I sure have met some really cool people out there while paddling and passing time. Way to go and sounds like you all had a blast!

Just haven't been fishing much the last 2yrs as some other things have taken a priority. I still lurk around here but haven't had much to share. I literally did the same as them my 1st year. Finished every night early enough to enjoy the whole thing. I remember spending about 3 hours in Hermann just hanging out drinking wine and hanging out with my family. This year I paddled right on by Hermann. I wanted to try it different this year- while I still enjoyed it, I spent much more time paddling. It was a catch 22... it was a different kind of fun, but it got me off the river 20 hours earlier! Float trip... too funny: a lot of people still ask me how my float trip went. I just smile and tell them it was a blast.

Congrats to them! I just finished it for the 2nd time. I did it in 79hrs just like him my 1st year. Shaved it down to 59hrs this year. I just paddled more and stopped less, that was a 20hr difference. It's been a combo of elements for me to get through it- but ultimately it comes down to dealing with being uncomfortable. The issues vary, but primarily revolve around your hands, minimal sleep, sitting for 19hrs a day and the elements. If you can stay in your boat and paddle, you can finish. Regardless of age, weight, boat, etc... It is a really great experience and especially paddling overnight. How many people can say they have paddled down the MO river at 3am in the morning. Now that is a hell of an experience.... dodging wing dams and buoys in the dark!

Drew, so sorry to hear this. God bless you and your family during these difficult times. I'm just across the state line, if I can help in any way please do not hesitate to let me know. Take care,

Mitch- just go to Charity Navigator and it will help you out. One statistic I think is way overrated is the % of money spent on programs. Here is my opinion- I don't care if 100% of the money goes to programs if it does not produce any measurable results in a positive direction. Anybody can spend money, but can they do it by having a positive impact on the desired metrics? I would rather have 50% of my money spent on programs, but have the non profit produce measurable positive results to their intended purpose. Anyway, just my .02 cents- there are many great non profits out there. I would suggest picking one you have a passion for and ensure they produce positive measurable results towards their intended mission.

1) Dunkel Lager- KC Bier Co, Augustiner- Salzburg, Augusteiner- Munich... pretty much most Dunkel beers 2)Breckenridge Brewery Vanilla Porter 3) Piney River Black Walnut Wheat 4) Murphy's Irish Stout 5) Old faithful Bud Light

Couldn't tell you after Lead Mine- but in my experiences from Oldhams on down is much quieter than upstream. There's just not great access nor an easy shuttle for the outfitters in that stretch for the party crowd.

Drew, not here in KC yet. I was just at their brewery 2 weeks ago after a trip on the Upper Jacks. It's supposed to be available here soon from what they told me. My favorite beer they make is their Black Walnut Wheat.

Nice fish! I'm thinking about heading down there this weekend as well. Do you mind me asking what general section you floated? We're gonna probably take 2.5 days and head from Barclay down to Lead Mine.

You could try Linda at Outdoor Adventures on the Niangua. I've only used her for the section below Bennett but she is wonderful. Just read some trip reports on here to give you access, mileage and pretty much all the info you need for a quickly planned trip.

Hate to hear that, hate that you saw it. Hopefully he was doing what he enjoyed.

In all seriousness, my experiences on the JF with strange sounds have all been directly related to the amount of alcohol I have consumed. Here's the scale" 1-6 beers- some sort of owl, frog, bird 6-12 beers- a deer, no way it has to be a raccoon, maybe not.... what if it is a mountain lion. 12-15 beers- I think I'm hearing dung, eh who knows but I sure love being out in the wild. "Puts stick in fire and gets the end hot" if that son of a b... gets any closer, I'm gonna protect myself and stab it to death with my newly created weapon. 15+ beers- what sound?

Easy- rent a kayak to get you to the Ponca low water bridge.... then use your own the rest of the way.

Not sure what happened to me, but got to the point where I could not open a bottle of soda without it hurting. Went to the Dr, got a cortozone shot and never looked back. From here on out... any swelling or pain I will be getting shots.

I guess to be in a funk, you have to actually fish, right? So by technical terms I am not in a funk other than the fact I have only been on the river 1 time this year...yep only once. Worst year I have ever had for my free time somehow vanishing. It seems that all my spring trips were washed out, my summer trips were hampered by work and my fall trips by personal obligations. Maybe I need to spend some time getting my priorities straight for next year,lol!

Alley Spring is nice, as well as Pulltite. My wife and I take an annual trip and stay at Pulltite. I think they usually keep the water on through October 15th... a must for my wife. We usually float a day on the Current and either float from Akers Ferry back to our camp. Or we float from our camp down to Round Spring. Alley Spring puts you pretty close to Eminence, 5 miles I think. That would also allow you to float the Jacks Fork if you choose.

May have had a few cold ones prior to this one...

Help me understand how you can tell that is a hybrid? Is it the markings on the body, or something else I am not noticing? If I caught that fish, I would never think twice about it being a smallie.

Thanks for the info on the regulations, honestly I had no idea. I am not here to judge, if they took them legally then so be it. I have to admit, not sure if I could stomach those the way they look. When I first started fishing for smallies, I was as ignorant as they come about them. Hell, I was ignorant about the regulations. Until one day I showed a picture to a friend of mine of me holding up a stringer of smallies. He did not think it was as cool as me, matter of fact it was illegal. I just did not know- I am not saying that made it right but I did not take the time to know the laws. That was 15 years ago and I have not kept a smallie since then. I guess what I am trying to say, is that sometimes getting a little education can change behavior- certainly in my case it did. I just wished it always did, but that is a pipe dream and I understand that. I did send that guy a private message just informing him of the regulations and not accusing him of anything. Guess I will never know, but if he is taking them illegal maybe he will stop.

Posted 1 week ago- hope there were a few guys fishing, but going to bet it was just 1. I cannot find the regs on the Niangua, anybody know? I fish it all the time but have never kept a fish so have not bothered checking the regulations.

Yep, I did a trip report in the "Niangua river" section a few years ago. Would never do it again, skinny water, too many portages, etc.... here is a link to the report http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/topic/29025-little-niangua-trip-report/

Boy, this could have had a terrible ending. What an idiot, to think my taxes paid for this.

Took me 3 different boats before I found one that is exactly what I wanted. Had a 12' sit on top to start, sold it. Picked up a sit in kayak next, sold it. Settled with a 15' canoe and have used it for the past 5 years. I would recommend buying used for your first boat. Simply because it may not fit your needs and you can usually re sell it for little if any loss. Just my .02

Fantastic, sounds like a blast! I must admit, reading your report leaves me jealous. Thanks for posting-