KCRIVERRAT

Catching a 100 fish in one day or breaking 100 in golf. Which is tougher?

I don't have a garden up in KC, but I'm in Cassville taking care of the in-laws place while they're on vacation in NYC. Baby sitting Labs and the garden for the week. Dry as a bone here too. Father-in- law is a gamer, he's 82 and still in great health but he ain't been watering enough. Busy dousing the garden and the mother-in-laws flowers twice daily. Garden and flowers are looking better. Tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, and jalapenos are doing great. Dug the last of the potatoes this morning. Green beans are about done, got a small row to check the next few days. Getting a few decent green peppers, but not many. And as far as green beans go... I like the concept of "pole beans". I'm sure some of you do that. Not near as back-breaking.

"IF" I were a Cardinals fan, I'd vote for him. He won the series for ya' last year! But I'll vote for Broxton...

I've floated it three or four times from the dam to Hwy. 62 but in winter only. So I have no idea what boat traffic's like during warm weather months.

Wanted to bump this up. Brian hasn't posted. That's a heck of a report. We were just spin fishing two weeks ago from Greer to Riverton. Didn't do Cane to Greer.

I've always thought I was right. Just don't express it. And many of ya here have seen my antics on the rivers. Miss my river brothers... but not all. Oh... I do catch a fish or two.

Holy smokes! Glad you were able to show your buddies the beauty (and bounty) of an Ozark stream. Were you guys fly fishing?

Brian Sloss at Eleven Point Canoe can hook you up. He'll probably post but give him a call.

Call Russ at Hog Heaven. Maybe he can put you on the Big Sugar. You'll catch a bunch of fish with much less company on the water.

I'd never heard of it. Spent most of my time in eastern Jackson county before the fee's started. The area it's located at holler's Catfishing for the south KC crowd. Be sure to stop by Wayside Waifs and adopt a dog.

Understand bud. Did Jacomo and Prairie Lee years before Blue Springs Lake come alomg and they decided to call the whole thing Fleming Park. But hey... don't you mean you CAN walk down to the waters edge to fish? Just can't slide the yak in there? That's BS. Sounds like they wanna put a bunch of stickers on your yak.

Moved up to Clay county from Jackson county 22 years ago Woodman. Not as bad as Jackson as far as fees go, but Clay was supposed to lose the park fees at Smithville years ago. County government around the metro areas suck.

Used to ski at Prairie Lee myself Woodman back in the early 70's. My dad was an Independence cop for 27 years and he'd pick me up at home about 7 AM and take me to the lake with his buddies. Not sure I'd wanna swallow a bit of water out of that lake now.

Dinosaur, how old are you? Are you really a Dinosaur? I'm guessing you're serious with this question though so... the Missouri River would be my first choice. Wear your life vest. I'd imagine the Little Blue would be a good run after rains on the upper end. The lower Little Blue is great for froggin' at night around Sibley before it enters the Missouri. Skeeter heaven though. In reality, there ain't a river worth floating/fishing around KC but that's just my opinion bud. Drive a little south and you'll find plenty of stuff within a few hours that's a heck of a lot better. On a side note, PM Glory Daze. He might have some info for ya. Good luck!

First and foremost it was a pleasure to meet Brian. Those of you who know him or have visited 11 Point Canoe can attest. Easy going dude and helpfull as all get out. Watched the radar on monday the 11th. Decided to wade fish a little before the storm hit instead of floating. Brian pointed us up to Thomasville. Wife caught lots of fish on a small Bomber A crank. Smallmouth, goggleye, and longears. She killed me. Soft craws are what I carried and they did not want them. Weird. Had a few hook ups but never got to release them on my terms. The next three days after the storm produced great low humidity weather. Floated tuesday Greer to Turner and the fishing was really tough. My wife caught a rainbow and that was it. Fishing was nothing special on day one, but we'd never floated this river and we loved the flow and the scenery. Used everything in the box which was our goal. I've got so much crap I've never used and it started working on day two. Did a bunch of swimming. River's low and Mary Decker was a breeze. Had fun there. Day two floated Turner to Whitten. Caught a half dozen or so rainbows with Barb catching the biggest at 17". We told Brian we kinda liked this stretch. Probably because we caught some fish! Small deep diving cranks, Kastmasters, and swimming some soft plastics produced. Finally. Again... did a bunch of swimming. Day three we floated Whitten to Riverton. Didn't see Brian after this but this was my favorite stretch Brian. I had fun swimming in the river where Boze enters. Caught about a dozen bows and a bunch of nice goggleye once we targeted them. All fish caught are back in the river waiting for the rest of ya'

I've been checked many times on the JF and they've used every method possible that been mentioned here. I've had an agent come out of hiding and check me more than once. My buddy and I got a kick out of it one time when after this particular young newbie checked us he apparently thought he could go back into hiding and we holler'd to him that he was too visable. He had gone back to the same place he'd come out of. We led him to believe we'd seen him before he checked us so he hung his head and said he was gonna find a new spot. Had agents just floating along fishing (I guess) pull up to me on a gravel bar wearing the same crap I'm wearing. Never noticed the emblem on their T-shirt. Got checked in that fashion too. Checked my coolers for fish and everything else. Been waved over a few times by an agent just being visable along the river. Never had a bad experience.

Guess you don't know what I'm saying poindexter...

I wouldn't go any further up than Hale. The way things are this year I'd put in at Hebron and float to Twin Bridges then continue on to Hammond if you're fishing for smallies. There's a spot below Hebron where cattle come down to water. A big flat rock on river right. There's always a decent fish to be caught there. Pull you're canoe or whatever you're floating in up to the rock quietly and cast upstream and bottom bounce a stand-up jig with something like a Gulp tequila sunrise turtleback 7" worm or a Chomper Hula Grub (looks like a craw when fishin' it) 4" is perfect. A 4" Chomper Spider Craw works well also.

Thanks guys. I'll watch my p's and q's down there. Seems I get checked more often than not on the other rivers I float. Especially the JF. Never have had a problem with that though. I've hiked the trail to the spring before TwoSheds. It was pretty cool. Caught a glimpse of a bear after we heard it come crashing out of a tree ahead. The noise startled the c#@p out of us. I'll let ya know how the trip went the week of the 18th.

Eleven Point. Should be fine (you know me Wayne... don't wanna hike!).

Orch, you're from that neck of the woods I see. Any pointers for a spin fisherman?

Screw that Eric... I'm floating next week. I know you understand brother.

The aliens inhabiting the salad dressing area known as Hidden Valley are laughing at this thread. That place is utopia... and they're gonna drown us in poppyseed. At least that's my dream of a way to go.

Catch a Sox game Phil and boo them profusely. What kind of whales are up the N.E. coast this time of year? I've seen plenty of Humpbacks with their babies in tow in Hawaii. Pretty cool when they breach.

Spring fed rivers are the ticket right now. They're floatable and the fish are probably spooky but congragated and hungry for anything presented right. Lack of rain is washing nothing into the rivers for them to feed on.