Fishing Report For March 15th

[CDC]

Did a float down Shaol Creek today with a few friends. We put in just below where Hickory Dr runs into Old Scenic road and floated on down. This was my first time doing this float. Very nice stretch of water.

We did pretty good on the fishing too. Started off slow but about half way down (where the river bends at the railroad tracks) we started catching fish. Between the 4 of us we pulled at least 10 bass (one of them a very nice smallmouth) out of the first hole and it just kept up from there. Ended up catching about 30 fish all together. They were hitting a little soft but are starting to get more aggressive. All caught on soft plastics. The best producing baits today were root beer centipede, pumpkin fluke, and crawdad colored culprit worm. A few real nice fish and a few smaller ones.

On another note, when we picked up my truck from the put in a few guys bank fishing flagged us down and said some guy came by wanting to know who's truck it was parked there. Said he owned a 100 acres and didn't want anyone fishing there and threatened to call the sheriff. These guys apparently told him this was public property (i wasn't parked on anyone's land) and that he couldn't do anything about it but to go ahead and call the sheriff if he wants to. I know one of you guys on the forum fishes that section of river quite a bit (I think maybe fishinSWMO). Wondering if anybody else has had a run in with this guy. I am sure he didn't realize that we were floating the river and not walking across his land. Either way, I loved the float and want to do it again but don't want to end up with a flat tire or vandalized vehicle. There was a house near where we parked but the guys on the bank said that was a friend of theirs house and he didn't care if we parked there at all (like I said it wasn't on anyone's property anyway).

[fishinSWMO]

pm sent

[Buzz]

Hey CDC,

Great report, glad you guys caught a bunch of fish. I know that float very well. I couldn't tell you how many times I've been on that stretch. The place you spoke of by the rail road is a great place for smallmouth and just past the chunk rocks usually holds a couple of nice largemouth.

If you were parked by the house with the chain link fence and the dog, that is where I always park too. I have never had any run ins with the guy that was ranting about the 100 acres. Sounds like he needs to check out the laws. You were not at fault by any means, but I think you already know that. I do know that someone bought up a lot of the land below that put in area and has painted purple on a bunch of trees along the creek. That is fine and he is within his rights as far as the land goes, but that is it. I hope he doesn't mess with Chief and I this year. I don't think he'll like what he hears.

Thanks for the report and I hope to fish with you guys again this year.

Buzz

[CDC]

Yeah that is where I parked for sure. Like you said, I know that I wasn't at fault. I would rather not have a confrontation with the guy but if it comes down to it then I will call the sheriff myself and claim that he is harassing me.

I was surprised at how good the fishing was really. I am sure that we will run into each other on the river again. Wouldn't mind setting up another OAF float to kick the year off either.

[Buzz]

Yeah that is where I parked for sure. Like you said, I know that I wasn't at fault. I would rather not have a confrontation with the guy but if it comes down to it then I will call the sheriff myself and claim that he is harassing me.

I was surprised at how good the fishing was really. I am sure that we will run into each other on the river again. Wouldn't mind setting up another OAF float to kick the year off either.

Yeah, a spring float sounds good doesn't it.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Sounds like a great day of fishing. Well except for.....

I know of the person you are speaking of. He as property posted that I don't believe to be his. He is just trying to stop floating on that section of Shoal Creek. You were parked on and entered the creek on county property.

I have been doing some research to see where we as fishermen and what have you, stand on our rights to float and fish rivers, streams and creeks.

Here is some of what I have found:

http://bengal.missouri.edu/~matthewss/AgEc...watercourse.htm

If you will type this court case into a search engine, it will pull up a lot info too.

I am up for a spring float! It is time to get busy with that.

[CDC]

Hey Chief,

Thanks for the info. If I am reading it correctly you have the right to float and camp on a gravel bar that is in the river but it is considered private property on the banks. Is that what you are getting out of it?

Spring floating sounds fantastic. Lets pick a float and plan it out.

[Chief Grey Bear]

That is exactly what I got out of it. In looking at other web sites that speak of this case they concur with what we are thinking.