jdmidwest

I agree with Justin. While you may see some idiots on the river acting goofy, you see many more families and groups enjoying themselves. And instead of raising taxes and fees on everyone, why don't you take stock in the real problem. Those kids were raised by someone, obviously they did not do it right. Why don't we fine the parents for not raising the kids right in the first place?

You do know that Frog Gigging Season opened Sat night. Were they actually gigging fish or did you just see someone holding a gig?

We finally had our first substantial rain today since Feb. My gauges showed around 3", it came hard and fast with a strong wind. Sunday's storm had dropped 1/4", enough to wet the garden so I could till yesterday. Today's rain washed out alot of topsoil. The winds layed over my pole beans and toppled 2 grape tomato vines. It was too late for my sweet corn, I cut the remainder of the shriveled up stuff down yesterday along with a few dying squash vines. Cypress trees turned brown last week and dropped their needles. Poplars turned yellow and lost their leaves. Yard has been brown for a month, last time I mowed was May 13. Now we have HUMIDITY, something I really did not miss. My hygrometer was showing around 28% all last week. I now feel comfortable leaving home tomorrow knowing my idiot neighbor will not burn my house down with his firework display.

What is "hippo patch"? When my Pamlico cracked, Wilderness Systems mailed me a repair kit. It looked like weedeater wire and I had to weld it in with a hot air torch.

I propose we initiate a tax on all citizens of the Ozarks that live in fear of the Dreadful Copperhead Snake. Money collected can be used to hire new LEO to hunt down the culprits and skin them out for boots. This can't be tolerated, they are killing innocent civilians.

I volunteer to go up and put the bikinis back on the naked chicks.

Instead of fees and taxes, how about a volunteer group of concerned citizens cleaning up the river and stream banks.

I have had numerous days where I just had to hide behind a tree and bait my hook. Fishing was so hot that every time the lure got near the water, a fish jumped on. One trip happened just 3 weeks ago on the Spring River, a big white truck came by and a stream of fish came out of the back of it. The rest of the day was a free for all.

A recent article in the local paper brings up several issues. Local shallow wells are going dry this season due to the drought. Seems like some are blaming local farmers and the irrigation systems. Water use is at an all time high with local water districts reporting record flows last month. I dread seeing my water bill this month as I am on county water. My normal bill runs between $35 and $40 on average, probably will push $70 this month. But it is money well spent to keep the garden going. I grew up in the country with a shallow well. We bathed in the creek alot in the summer to keep the hand dug well from dropping below the pipes. We had a separate well for the livestock that had the same issues. I remember lining the truck bed with plastic and filling it up with buckets from the creek, hauling water to the livestock. This is not our first dry spell. It has just been about 40 years since the last one of this type. http://www.semissourian.com/story/1866558.html

I don't know if anyone has taken notice but I have seen many small burns along roadsides sparked by a cigarette butt. It sucks, a camp without a fire. But, who wants to burn down a forest? It is hot and dry everywhere. Humidity is low and all conditions are right. We don't need Obama coming to visit us like he did in Colorado.

The reason I know about the fees on the Scenic Riverway System, I did some research when I was tossing around the idea of buying an established campground on the 11pt. I am sure it applies to the North Fork River also. I really don't know about the others, you could always contact the owners of any of the establishments and find out. Eleven Point has multiple enforcement agents, county, MDC, and NFS agents. I have encountered all of them on the river. They make their presence known on the weekends. The county has a sheriff deputy that runs the river in a jet boat alot. The problems that most complain about really can't be fixed with more taxes. It takes a higher moral standard which unfortunately the entire country has seemed to forget. There are not a bunch of thugs and criminals roaming the streams of the ozarks. You do not need an armed force patrolling to ensure your safety on any stream in MO. It is not that bad. If you go during a weekday, you may come across a mobile meth lab because that group of people seek solitude and seem to get away from the crowds. What you may see is drunks, some nudity, and loud unruly groups. But most will not bother you, and they don't affect the fishing till they start banging the paddles on the boats or waters. And if you feel like you may be threatened, you can always carry protection. Because, no matter where you are, you are really the only one responsible for you and your family's safety.

There are plenty of taxes on the people that use the rivers and it generates alot of income for the area. Tourism in the area generates a portion of each canoe, tube, raft rental back to the NFS. Canoe Rentals in the NFS Riverways pay the NFS an estimated amount in the spring of the year based on the amount of floats they estimate and settle up the overage/shortage at the end of the season. They track it with the little form you fill out each time. The Forestry Service gets paid well with tax dollars and income generated by any person using the river. Tourism generates many jobs, including the law enforcement, float camps, campgrounds, motels, restaurants, shops, grocery, etc. That all contributes to the economy of the area by income taxes that the jobs create and the sales tax from what they spend. Tourism generates sales tax income to the area. All of the beer, food, gas, motels, etc generates a sales tax income for the state and county. That is to be used for law enforcement and road upkeep.

There are places that sell the adj foot pegs and runners.

Did you check online at MDC? Our local MDC office had several copies this spring in the gift shop. It was the new spiral bound edition, not the old guide.

I hardly ever see anyone drop a candy bar in the stream....

You know, it got me to thinking today. I consume on average a 30 pack of Natty Lite on an average float trip weekend on the Spring River (2 floats). That usually generates a few gallons of urine during the 2 day period. Several hundred people dispensing the same amount. That really adds up toward the end where the drunks are all jumping off of the tree at the waterfall. Yum. How much water flow does it take to dilute that to the amount that really should not make a difference in the taste of the water inhaled by the stump jumpers?

Overweight girls in bikinis, there really should be a law against that. Maybe a government clothing ban on any bikini manufactured, nothing over a size 6. That is what usually ruins it for me.

The cattle in the upper portion destroy the riparian corridor along the river, erode the banks, muddy the stream, pollute the water with their feces and urine. There are no fences as he owns both sides, the cattle roam freely in the stream, along the bank, across the stream. It is a mess, at least it was a few years ago when I floated the stretch. I have fished alot of streams in MO, but that cattle rancher was the worst I have seen with his management of the land and water resource that passes thru his property. At worst around here in SE MO, you come across a cattle gap into the river that only allows a few cattle at a time to get to the water and drink, not swim and stand in herds.

I picked him up and flipped him over into the neighbor's yard. Momma don't like snakes of any type in the picking patch. When she sees one, she is done for a while.

I use a size 4 or 6 straight eye streamer hook with gold bead chain eyes, red thread, and a white zonker strip tied on top. The rabbit tends to snag the teeth and hook better. It is neutral bouyant which helps sight fishing on top. You can add some krystal flash, it helps to snag the teeth too.

Keep an eye out, Cabela's usually puts them on sale once a year. I have one of the 4wt 71/2 ft 5 piece that I picked up about 8 years ago that I like. It is a little shorter now since I closed the tip in a power window.

Al, I take it she does not participate in our little forum.

X wife always thought I was cheating on her. New one realizes that I like the outdoors more than sex.

Professional, permitted fireworks shows are being postponed around here because of the no burn restrictions. Several towns announced this week they are not going to have a show. MDC posted a fireworks warning also. Temps of 105 this weekend, no chance of any rain in the forecast for the coming week. Humidity is low, so low that the water outflow from my AC does not even make a wet spot in the yard. Good news, I saw a Mosquito evaporate in mid air yesterday. They have not been a problem around here. No grass for them to hide in.

My hat keeps the sunspots off my neck! And, I got a good deal on my $700 rod, it is worth every penny.