Baxter And Mill Creek Campgrounds Closed

[patfish]

Hey fellas, I was wondering if anyone that lives in or near Lampe could shed some light on my dilemma. I had booked sites at Baxter back in February for the week of May 11th through the 18th. I got an e-mail and a phone call that my reservations for all days up to the 16th of May had been cancelled due to flooding. I was wondering if anyone that lives near there had been by to see the carnage and how bad it actually is. Thinking maybe it may open back up sooner, don't konw how the Corps is about that kind of thing. I was going to switch to Mill Creek but its the same deal there. Baxter has been home base for a number of years and I really hate to camp anywhere else. If anyone is down that way this weekend, could you take a look for me? That would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Sherwood Flycaster]

I need my Baxter fix dag gummit!

[Bill Babler]

Have no idea why either camp ground would be closed that far from now. There are spots available as we speak. Water is not into the camping spots. Go figure.

[S&M]

Have no idea why either camp ground would be closed that far from now. There are spots available as we speak. Water is not into the camping spots. Go figure.

I launched from Mill Creek on Wed 3/26 of this week. Half of the camp ground is under water. I could just see the tops of the electrical hook up boxes above the water line. The water color was a two creamer coffee color, with visiblity at 6".

I have attached a map of the campground out lining in red what part is under water. If it's not raining tomorrow, I'll be heading out to the lake again. I'll stop in and give a water clarity report for the Kimberly City area out of Mill Creek.

Fishing was great two weeks ago out of Kimberly City, I placed 16th with a limit of 5 bass for the Anglers In Action tournament. All 7 of keepers where caught on a deep red, orange belly crawdad wiggle wart. The winning team brought in 22 pounds to the scales

Mike,

[Bill Babler]

With Mike being able to lanch, and half the spots open, why is it not a go? Are the restrooms flooded? SKMO has been fishing the Baxter area. He has not commented on water in the entire camp ground or commercial faculities. I will drive to each one and see exactly how it looks this evening. How about the camp ground at Whats Up dock? What about Viney Creek. It sits on a bluff for the most part, only some of it is low, which I'm sure is flooded. What about Eagle Rock, it has some very high camps. How about Campbell Point, some low and some high. There has to be a spot. I will go and find one.

[Don House]

Guys I was talking to a Park Ranger just a few days ago about old 86 hwy park, it is really under water, I know I was fishing in it. He was telling me some of the issues are the power outlets will have to be replaced because of the water in them. He was saying it could be a few months before that area was ready to go again.. And now they are talking about 6 - 10 more inches of rain by next week!!! This is going to be a really big drag if that happens, the lake will never recover from this mess. Anyone else hear of this??

Capt. Don

[Bill Babler]

Thanks Don, Drove down into old 86, this AM and the baracade was down and all sites were open. The problem is the electric. For the most parts if you don't want the juice, you should be able to camp. Don't know why you can't as the restrooms never flooded and they are two holers.

On another note, The entire park is open at Port of Kimberling, and Campers are present. It is only a mile or two from Mill Creek.

On the other end Campbell Point, Park should be open, I will find out this weekend. I am lanching at Baxter on Sunday, reguardless.

Lets not be gloom and doom on this, if you want to camp we will help you find a way.

Spoke to Sk this Am and he thought all was fine at Eagle Rock, although they were lanching off the lower parking lot rather than the ramp. NO Problem.

Also heard there might be a spinner bait bite just getting started in the flooded bushes way up the white. Slow roll and kill over the top of the flooded bushes. It is only a matter of time, don't dispair.

[dtrs5kprs]

Thanks to all the locals for the efforts on behalf of those of us who only get to part time at the lake. Good to hear about POK area, hate to pay, but have gotten lazy and used to launching at Schooner's resort ramp when I am down, and that is the closest to it.

Anyone seen water color at Cape Fair...thinking fondly of the bushes up that way, especially if it starts to clear out. Of course, I'd think more fondly of swim grubs and brownies down in the lake, oh well.

[skeeter]

Patfish,

I was riding my ATV through Baxter Campground last Saturday and the Park gatekeepers had just arrived for the season. The lake was almost three feet higher then and the lower sites on the West end of the point, and the sites on the North edge of Hwy. "H" were under water. The metal poles the Corps installed for campers to hang their Coleman lanterns on on the North side of "H" had about one foot visible above the water level and all roads leading to the water's edge were blocked with narrow orange plastic sawhorse barriers with signs on them stating " keep out " signed by the Corps of Engineers. It didn't matter whether the roads were in the campground, Hwy "H" itself, or leading to the dock or steep launch ramp, all were blocked with those barriers.

The road to the launch ramp was about four feet deep and completely impassable, the road to the boat dock was about two feet deep and only the very last row of parking in front of the dock's gasoline storage tanks was out of the water. The public dock was inaccessible with the end of the access ramp about 70 to 80 feet from the shore.

While I was there, two local fishermen with an 18' jon boat set up for fishing drove in and kicked the boat off their trailer at the end of "H" and went out fishing. That's a very gradual slope to the water there and even though they had a flat bottomed aluminum boat had to submerge the rear axle of their pickup to get into deep enough water to float the boat. I rode back down about three hours later and noticed those guys had a citation from the Corps under their windshield wiper !

Why the entire campground would be closed is beyond me as the sites with electric are well up the hill and should never be affected by high water. I'd keep checking with the Corps before giving up hope for the middle of May. I read Capt. Don's post about a long range prediction of 6- 10 inches more by next weekend and can only hope that forecast is incorrect but short term we are supposed to get several inches more Sunday and Monday with light rain coming down as I type this.

[patfish]

Wow, thanks Bill, Don, S&M, and Skeeter. I really appreciate all the feedback, we'll find someplace to camp. After all, I've still got 6 weeks.

Skeeter, I remembered seeing that someone on here was from Manchester/Lampe, just couldn't remember who. Now I know. Guess I could always set up camp in your yard.