jdmidwest

Yeah, Strongman at the park this weekend, now I know where I am heading...... Looks like the campground is in the open field behind the store and has full hookups. It is nice that someone has added some more sites as the park is always booked up months in advance.

I smell BACON! Seriously, let any one of these guys walk up to an unknown in a car at a traffic stop on a lonely road at night and see how manly they are. You never really know what is sitting in the driver seat with a poor attitude toward a law enforcement officer and a gun. My utmost respect is for the MDC Agent, for the most part, he is sneaking up on a Game Violator, who is probably carrying a loaded firearm, too many things to go wrong in a hurry. Highway Patrol is another honorable profession that could turn deadly in seconds, professed by the several officers in MO that have lost their lives on the job. Yours is a deadly profession, but better now thanks to Kevlar and Technology. One thing I have noticed, most Park Rangers seem to only enforce park violations. Theft, hit and runs, and other violations require a County Sheriff or Deputy. My only dealings with a PR involved a bashed in fender on a new PU truck in a trout park, I was passed off to the Sheriff Dept. to make a report. Then there was this one time we overstayed our camping pay because we decided to stay and extra day at Bennett and tour Springfield. We came back late that night, after office had closed, built a fire and started relaxing. PR and a Sheriff Deputy pulled up demanding $8 like we were a couple of deadbeats. I really thought that was kind of petty.

The quality of fishing on most of the streams I have fished in the past 40 years has degraded to the point once great streams are now mediocre of poor. Gravel has shallowed most of the waters, trees have disappeared along the banks, and the water levels have fell. Most of the ecological changes have depressed the fishing and the floating. They don't support the numbers of fish or the sizes that we had years ago. Then there are the new predators that affect the populations, otters, herons, etc that cut into the fish numbers also. Post a review on the www and millions of people have access to it. And the ones that have the most time on their hands can see it and say "Hey, I could have kept that nice mess of fish he caught". Then the next time thru, fishing sucks. Its not like the old days sitting around the coffee shop eating breakfast talking with your buddies about the weekend and someone overhears the conversation. I am selfish, I don't have alot of free time to spend on the streams, so I want the time I spend to be productive and enjoyable. I have to deal with the public all week, the last thing I want to do is deal with them on the streams. It is my private time, to be with myself, friends, or family. I used to post reports, now I do it only on really public streams that are large enough to support the extra numbers.

Fishing was excellent this weekend. Kids are back in school and campground was lightly filled. Not many boats on the river and most were calm. Summer is over, except for next weekend. I assumed they applied for a permit to do what they did to the stream and bank. DNR would have to approve that kind of change in MO. Nothing like floating and being watched from a porch swing.

I have been there several times myself on business and pleasure. It makes a nice backdrop for photo shoots and has some nice rock formations. I have not been there since last spring before the big wind, did it damage the park or the spring trail? I have wanted to go up in the winter time after the leaves fall and hike down the canyon to the park and take some pics.

Because there are still some streams that do not get pounded to death by anglers. I know a few and tend to keep them to myself, and when I go there I have them to myself. Fishing in a crowd is not much fun.

I think I know the place. Why would you step off the trail? Did you not pick up a copy of the trail guide at the head of the trail? BTW, Pickle Springs is a great place to do family photo shoots.

I came across an interesting article on F&S online, Quicksand is not cool anymore. I can't say, in all of my streamside travels that I have ever came across anything remotely resembling quicksand. I even stick my foot in the little bubbly springs just to see how deep I will sink. Anyone ever seen Quicksand? I remember most survival books years ago taught you how to get out of it. Quicksand is not cool anymore?

My friends all wear Tiva Sandals and like them. I personally have been wearing a pair of River Guide Crocs for the last few years. They have a nylon upper with a cinch tye and are open like beach crocs. If rocks or gravel comes in, lift your foot and it shakes out in the water. Traction is good on rocks and they drain out to keep water out of a boat. Only downside is your foot slides around inside on land when wet and not much ankle support.

I guess nobody cares about the dredging of the Spring River?

I would assume they serve a purpose to preserve order in a campground. If you want to continue to get rid of things at a park, why not the Park Superintendent, what is their purpose? They run the park and manage it. But really, it is just some woods and a stream, what management do they have to do? Decide which trees to trim this year? How about the park maint. guys? All they do is mow the grass and empty the trash. Next time you go to a park, take your weedeater and carry out your trash when you leave and they will not have a job either. How about the camp host? Well they work for free and answer your questions for a free camp spot while they are there. They shovel your fire pit and make use of the fire wood you leave behind.

I never said it was not ethical to use a canoe to deer hunt, pursuing a deer with a canoe is what I meant. Paddling like hell down a river or a stream for a shot at a deer would not be a pretty, well aimed shot. If it was standing or swimming the water, both ethics and legality is involved. If you are drifting along and get a shot at a deer on a bank, then yes. Most float, get out and hunt. The regulation in question was regarding Motorized Conveyance, that part is cut and dry. They were road hunting and shooting out of a truck on a road. Regs say you have to be off a public roadway and be parked. There is no reg stating you can't sit in a parked truck with the heater running on the edge of a field and shoot a deer when it appears. It was a "pursuit" violation.

Thats an interesting article, I always wondered what the Narrows purpose was. I always assumed it was a campground of some sort long ago. I do remember a business of sorts on the south side of the road. I assume the ferry crossed it somewhere near 142? I have searched for history on the 11pt but never seem to come up with much. Would like to see a map with the old ghost towns of the 1800's on it and try to find them now. I have visited most of the old mills and springs, but not many of the caves yet. It is a wonderful place with a wonderful history.

I don't think it is legal to shoot a deer in the water, I think I have read that somewhere, but it may be another state. It is one of the fair chase things, shooting a deer swimming a lake or river is too easy and the danger of a bullet glancing off water. Floating in a canoe and shooting one off a bank would be a different story, its just not done much.

I feel you should not have to "chase" a deer with anything, you need to be in the right place at the right time to take it. I don't like drives either. Floating and hunting ducks on their habitat, taking a squirrel out of a tree along a bank are different. I think you are only legal to float and hunt if you don't anchor or get out on private land without permission. That would mean that you would have the duck or squirrel fall in the water to retrieve it.

We went to the Spring River this weekend for one of the 3 annual get togethers. Floated Sat from Dam 3 to Riverside and had a blast making a 3 hour float into 7. River traffic was light and we had the river to ourselves after 3. Fishing was excellent. First trip in the last 2 years that it was not up and muddy. It was normal and clear and fishing was hot. Fish were on small side as normal since the new 11 inch stock size, but did manage to dredge up a few in the 12-15 inch range. Early morning fly fishing produced 30 fish hours both Sat and Sun. I wade fished all day Sunday, starting out at Riverside till noon, then Lassiters, and ending up at Dam 3 below the island. What shocked me was all of the instream work done 2 holes down from the Island at Dam 3 along the swift run on the west side of that island. Heavy equipment had dredged and shaped the channel, added wing dikes, and tore up one of my favorite flyfishing holes. Stream bank had been cleared off all the way down from Dam 3 island to below this spot. Steel posts were sunk in concrete along the bank awaiting a chain fence I suppose. I took a few panoramic pics with the new Kodak Z915, it automatically stitches 3 pics together. When we started going to the Spring in the late 80's, it was mostly undeveloped in this stretch. In the past, the upper area had been dammed for Hydro Power, then most blown out. Timber was stripped off. When we found it, the area from Dam 3 to the Mammoth Spring Canoe pullout was undeveloped. There was camping at town, Cold Springs (gone now), primitive at the Bayou Access and at MSCR areas, Spring River Oaks, and Many Islands. You had to pay to fish Lassiters and screw with the gates and the cows. Now days, All the land is private and being sold for lots. Riverside Campground and lots appeared which I tend to enjoy as Sonny does a great job. River traffic is horrible on Saturday during the summer. It was a shame they did not adopt it into the Scenic Riverways with the rest of the Ozark Streams.

The law states "Motorized". Human powered is different. You can row away or peddle away after a deer if you so desire as far as my interpretation of the law as I read it. Is it Ethical, no. Does anyone shoot deer off a bike, probably not. Per the AP... Mo. to appeal ruling on deer hunting regulations Friday, August 20, 2010 The Associated Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri plans to appeal a court ruling striking down regulations against the use of dogs and vehicles in hunting deer. The Missouri Conservation Commission voted Friday to proceed with an appeal of the ruling made earlier this month by a Ripley County judge. At issue are state regulations that prohibit "motor-driven air, land or water conveyances" while deer hunting, and which say deer cannot be "hunted, pursued, taken or killed with the aid of dogs." The judge ruled the regulations were unconstitutional because they are vague and overly broad. The laws in question were regarding using dogs to hunt deer and shooting them from a truck. But were clear violations, not much gray area there.

11pt has a nice population of stoneflies if you get bored and want to try a new pattern. Golden stone patterns work well this time of year.

The scenic parts are on the upper river. All the big bluffs, caves, and wilderness are on the stretch from Cane Bluff to Riverton. Around Halls Bay, the river starts running thru fields more and becomes more open. But if you are bass fishing, you are on one of the hottest spots right now. I stopped at the Narrows yesterday on the way back from Spring River and the lot was full of trucks with trailers.

You would be better off floating the St Francois this time of year. I took a short float last Sunday, Sam A Baker to 34 Bridge in about 3 hours. You could float the section above the park for a longer float or go past 34 to Bounds Creek access near Greenville for a full day. The river is in good shape, fish were biting good for a hot summer day, its going to be cooler this weekend. Big Creek is good for a wade unless you want to drag thru the riffles and shutins.

I think it was pretty cut and dried, they were using dogs to pursue deer and shooting them when they run by. I would think a motorized wheel chair would have to be stopped before you shoot for it to be legal. I don't think it is illegal to be sitting in a parked truck or atv, off the highway, and shoot a deer. You are not pursuing the deer if the vehicle is not in motion. You can't keep their attention with headlights and be legal. It is about fair chase and ethics. Pursuing a deer with a motorized vehicle or boat is an ethical violation and not a fair chase. You can paddle a boat after game, run after game, and probably peddle a bike because you are using your own power, not a mechanical device to propel you. When you use a tractor to plow a field or a pickup to load a deer, you are not pursuing the deer itself.

I have a new problem in the garden and have to try to figure out how to trap armadillo's. They have invaded my space this summer. If so, I may need some of those lazy Mexican flies to eat the dillo.

Lane Springs used to be a pretty good place, I have not been there in a few years.

How many do you need, I have some brewing in a possum carcass in the back 40.

Here is a link to taneycomotrout.com by Jeremy Hunt. How to tye Nymphs.