Boats above Point Royal

[Micheal Kyle]

I would like to take this time and thank everyone for there input on the shuffling. I think that key points have been made and that we now have some new topics to talk about. So with that said I will start this off.

I think for everyones safty down on Taneycomo there should not be all the boat traffic up above the boat ramp when the water is off. True story I had a night guide trip down on Taneycomo this past fall, we all know how foggy it can get. I almost go hit by a boat down by the rocking chair hole. I was trying to get myself and client out of the water and flashing light and yelling as loud as I could and they just kept coming with the big motor on. When he drifted back down close enough to hear me I let him have it. Not good for my situation since I own a fly shop, but I was mad. He said that he thought the light flashing was coming form the light on the bank. I do not recall any lights down that far on the bank. I told him that this was a dangerous time to be up here and he needed to know the lake better.He said I quote"who cares I drove all the way down here I'm going to fish and who are you the person that owns this lake. I said no but I do know what is safe and what is not. " He said a few more choice words that I can not post here.

I would like to see what people think and maybe we could get this changed

and let us all remember that this is just a forum lets have fun and keep it clean.

Michael

[Brian K. Shaffer]

I totally agree with you Michael.. boats have little reason to go above the boat ramp during low water, especially if they are new to the lake (it's unfortunate - but the newbies are the ones who do it most often).

Boaters during low water have no business in the motoring into the rebar hole. The SFD guys know what I mean.

What's crazy is to see the guys oblivious to water level.. years ago in 20 degree winter weather I watched some guys flying up the lake by KOA. They didnt know the channel.. one guy was standing up.. they about sheared the transom.. the guy came out of the boat quick and was soaked - it was hilarious. (thats terrible.. it wasnt funny.)

best fishes - Brian

[Arkie Farmer]

Howdy boys,

I boat above the "rebar" hole sight-fishing trout and have great success in doing so. I'm not rude and I don't crowd others, so this often leads me to not be able to travel as far up stream as I'd sometimes like. I understand your concern and realize that you're entitled to your opinion. I'm also confident in saying that you are mainly interested in keeping the upper stretches of the trophy area a wader/fly fisher only zone because that is the area you like to fish and fly fishing is your preferred manner of fishing there. Yeah, it obviously sounds a little silly to point it out like that, but I figured it was worth my time

[Greg]

I don't think Michael was saying he wants the upper lake to be a "wading/fly fishing area only" at all. But when the water is off and low as it has been almost all fall and winter - it is very narrow and there is just not enough room for a boat to come up very far and still be respectful of people wading. I would bet that almost all of the fly fisherman on this board don't have a problem with boats in the upper area when the water is on if a respectable distance is kept. To me it just defies logic why a boater would even attempt to come very far upstream when the water is off and the river/lake is full of waders. To me that shows incredibly poor manners and is just not safe. But some do it anyway.

Just MHO

Greg

[Micheal Kyle]

I understand your concern Arkie Farmer with not being able to go up as far as you would like and sight fish. I could care less if someone is fly fishing or fishing with a spin reel. (if you did not know I do own a fly shop ) I do not sell any spinning gear but I'm not opposed to that method of fishing. My only concern is the safty of others, and the reason we wade is that when the water is off is vertually unatainable to most people with or with out a boat. I have Ranger bass boat and I would never take it above Point Royal with the water off, for two reasons first and foremost is safty and second is respect for others that are fishing up there because we know how skidish Trout are. There are several ways to sight fish for fish above the rebar hole when the water is off and I would be happy to start a new topic on that aswell. Two weeks ago I was down there and two people were in a boat they had been fishing down below and wanted to come above and fish. They parked there boat on the shore right in front of the KOA camp ground. They then proceded to put thier waders on and start wading I talked to them and told them that there were alot of people down here today that really thought that was great that they had that much respect for the other fisherman. Like I said at the start of this topic, lets all have fun and catch a lot of fish becuase there are a lot of states out there that would love to have what we have here in Missouri.

Michael

[Wayne SW/MO]

I have often seen some situations myself that were dicey, either from a safety standpoint or from someone who had little regard for others.

I think this is another problem easy to solve, If they were to put a heavy steel sign at the ramp, on a pole tall enough to be seen at all levels, but with the sign set to be read when to water is low. If the sign simple said "No power boating above this sign when the water is here" and with a line on the sign. It wouldn't always work for someone fishing at night, but the river will eventually take care of them.

[Arkie Farmer]

Can't win this one boys, I'm outnumbered

[Packman]

I disagree, I can take my boat right up to the rebar with low water and I dont run any fly guys over in doing so. If my boat can do I feel I have the right of way in the water. I pay to register my boat, I pay sales tax on my boat, motor, and trailer. How many of you register your waders...hehehe? Of course I have a john boat with a short motor MADE for shallow water, and am courteous to the other fisherman. Maybe a Horsepower limitation, as was stated earlier a Ranger bass boat has no buisness up there as it was not made for this water.

[Guest lbt]

I think that Michael from Backcountry Outfitters has brought a very valid topic to the forum. I have to agree that there needs to be something done, I not sure if Point Royal should be the place since there is a boat ramp. I think that there should not be any boats above the boat ramp across from KOA. I do agree that you pay your taxes on your boat but that does not make you any better than us your quote"that gives the right of way" I don't think so. If you really want to think about it we all have to pay for the water that we fish through 1/8 cent sales tax that everyone pays when ever they buy anything in the great state of Missouri. Last year they started the up from 65 bridge you have to have a Trout permit that is $7.00 . I even took it step further and figued out what I payed in sales tax because I keep a record of eveything. I bet it was more than you payed on your boat for Personal Property Tax. My suggestion is go to you your local fly shop or Walmart and invest in a pair of waders I would bet that you could buy a pair for under $100.00. I dont mean to be rude but just because someone has a boat does not mean that they have the right of way on water.

lbt

[Phil Lilley]

It's an interesting concept but it will never happen. With 2 or more units running, this will make that portion of the lake virtually unfishable. And there are periods, sometimes 3-4-5-6 months when there's 24/7 generation.

Not to allow boats anywhere on a tailwater like Taneycomo is unreasonable in light of management/tourism issues.

Good discussion though.