Lead Mine/ Berry Bluff

[Predator1]

We got folks like that in Louisiana. Some fisherman some practice Voodoo. Maybe they are OAF Members and we can get to talk to them. It cant be all that bad. As long as the Banjos don't start playing you might be alright.

Any of you ever run lines out there at night?

[oneshot]

We got folks like that in Louisiana. Some fisherman some practice Voodoo. Maybe they are OAF Members and we can get to talk to them. It cant be all that bad. As long as the Banjos don't start playing you might be alright.

Any of you ever run lines out there at night?

I've tried putting Lines out but not enogh Catfish for me to have much confidence.But Gig in the Winter and that can get interesting.Was Drinking Gigging,it was very cold,one of the Guy smaked another in the face with a fish.The guy throwed him in the river drug him out,throwed him in the Bed of the Pickup everyone went back to Gigging.

The Old gal before she died tried to get me to burn a persons house I wouldn't do it.One evening I was up on my roof doing some work looked over across the holler seen flames and smoke.Drove over the Guys house was burnt to the ground.

I do know if you have trouble with someone just let the word out the problem will be taken care of.The only reason people don't give me trouble even though I moved in here from the outside is I have family in the area that have lived here for years and right after I moved here there was an insident where I convinced them I was crazy and might kill them.

Oh as far as Banjo music most here didn't see the movie but have heard Fiddle Music plenty of times.I also have family in southern Louisiana thats the reason my Inlaws didn't want me and my wife to marry because of my ancestory.

oneshot

[Ozarkroots]

The people in Eldridge? I thought the Niangua River Ranch owned the Blue Spring area. By the way, what is Bird Island? And secondly, this $3 to the trailer guy makes me a little nervous.

[Goggle-Eyed]

A guy (Niangua River Land & Cattle)from out of state bought all the land from Ed Dampier's old place all the way down to Blue Springs (both sides of the river). He is not cordial nor are any of his caretakers. They have attemepted to run me off of the gravel island right below Ed's old place. I suggested they not come over without the law, they made some idle threats, then I informed them I wasnt going anywhere. They finally gave up since they can't own any islands. As for Bird Island it is the old Moore's campground and the area that the former owner of Blue Springs used to take boats out at. The guy allows camping and take outs (he lives in the trailer). I havent been there in couple of years but the last time I was there I met a couple of OAF guys that were camping there. They actually used him to shuttle them all the way around to Lead Mine and then just floated back into camp.

I really miss Blue Springs, I spent many summer nights down there working, either packing canoes or running the BBQ cooker.

If you do the Prosperine to Lead Mine or Prosp to Bird Island it takes me TWO days minimum to float it. I fish pretty slow and make several runs back up the eddy's if I am catching fish. I usually like to make it a two night float and I get out of the water around 4pm on day three. I haven't floated it yet this year so can't offer any obstruction information. I know at the end of last year it was pretty choked up about a two miles above the upper lead mine access.

Joe

[Scooper]

A guy (Niangua River Land & Cattle)from out of state bought all the land from Ed Dampier's old place all the way down to Blue Springs (both sides of the river). He is not cordial nor are any of his caretakers. They have attemepted to run me off of the gravel island right below Ed's old place. I suggested they not come over without the law, they made some idle threats, then I informed them I wasnt going anywhere. They finally gave up since they can't own any islands. As for Bird Island it is the old Moore's campground and the area that the former owner of Blue Springs used to take boats out at. The guy allows camping and take outs (he lives in the trailer). I havent been there in couple of years but the last time I was there I met a couple of OAF guys that were camping there. They actually used him to shuttle them all the way around to Lead Mine and then just floated back into camp.

I really miss Blue Springs, I spent many summer nights down there working, either packing canoes or running the BBQ cooker.

If you do the Prosperine to Lead Mine or Prosp to Bird Island it takes me TWO days minimum to float it. I fish pretty slow and make several runs back up the eddy's if I am catching fish. I usually like to make it a two night float and I get out of the water around 4pm on day three. I haven't floated it yet this year so can't offer any obstruction information. I know at the end of last year it was pretty choked up about a two miles above the upper lead mine access.

Joe

In the 1960s my late Dad and I used join a Columbia MD named Claude Bruner and camp at Mr. Dampier's farm on a beautiful shaded gravel bar about a half-mile below Blue Springs. I believe Mr. Dampier's first name was Henry and I assume he was Ed Dampier's father. It was the best camping spot I have ever experienced; cool during the day and right in front of a riffle and deep pool. We used to float from there down to the little community of Celt (this was way before the MDC Lead Mine access was built.) Back in those days, Celt even had a post office. We also stayed at Blue Springs when it was a small resort with cabins. At that time, it was owned by a TWA pilot and was run by a guy named Regan (I think "Bill" was his first name). Regan was a cantakerous guy. I have not floated that part of the Niangua for 25 years, and back then, it was pretty remote with lots of trees across the river. Pretty neat though, considering most Ozark rivers are over run with people now days. Smallmouth and goggleye fishing was darn good way down there. No trout, except right where Blue Spring empties into the Niangua. Trout used to congregate in the cooler spring water during the hot summer months.

[Goggle-Eyed]

In the 1960s my late Dad and I used join a Columbia MD named Claude Bruner and camp at Mr. Dampier's farm on a beautiful shaded gravel bar about a half-mile below Blue Springs. I believe Mr. Dampier's first name was Henry and I assume he was Ed Dampier's father. It was the best camping spot I have ever experienced; cool during the day and right in front of a riffle and deep pool. We used to float from there down to the little community of Celt (this was way before the MDC Lead Mine access was built.) Back in those days, Celt even had a post office. We also stayed at Blue Springs when it was a small resort with cabins. At that time, it was owned by a TWA pilot and was run by a guy named Regan (I think "Bill" was his first name). Regan was a cantakerous guy. I have not floated that part of the Niangua for 25 years, and back then, it was pretty remote with lots of trees across the river. Pretty neat though, considering most Ozark rivers are over run with people now days. Smallmouth and goggleye fishing was darn good way down there. No trout, except right where Blue Spring empties into the Niangua. Trout used to congregate in the cooler spring water during the hot summer months.

Ya, the spring was owned by the TWA pilot but the resort was actually owned by Don Reagan. Once Don passed away his brother John came in and continued operating it for many years. Don was really a neat guy if you could get past his eccentric ways. I remember when he took Sam Walton on a guided float trip back in the mid 70's, I was just a small kid but I always thought I wanted to be a river guide someday. I really miss the days of floating camping and listening to the "Reagan's" stories. I worked side x side with John many many weekends packing canoes, BBQ'ng and such, really a neat guy. A shame he ended up having to sell out. I always remember sitting there when a group would come off the river and talk about the "big one" that they hooked but got away in the eddie right at the resort, ol' Don would just look at em and say "yep thats the same one everyone let's get away" then just laugh and walk away!!!

Joe

[Scooper]

Ya, the spring was owned by the TWA pilot but the resort was actually owned by Don Reagan. Once Don passed away his brother John came in and continued operating it for many years. Don was really a neat guy if you could get past his eccentric ways. I remember when he took Sam Walton on a guided float trip back in the mid 70's, I was just a small kid but I always thought I wanted to be a river guide someday. I really miss the days of floating camping and listening to the "Reagan's" stories. I worked side x side with John many many weekends packing canoes, BBQ'ng and such, really a neat guy. A shame he ended up having to sell out. I always remember sitting there when a group would come off the river and talk about the "big one" that they hooked but got away in the eddie right at the resort, ol' Don would just look at em and say "yep thats the same one everyone let's get away" then just laugh and walk away!!!

Joe

Joe-

Thanks for the info. I don't know why I thought Reagan's first name was "Bill," but now that you reminded me I do recall that it was "Don." Although I called Don "cantankerous", he was always good to us. He was very fond of Dr. Bruner, who I referenced earlier. Bruner, who died in 1990, owned a large amount of land along the lake near Camdenton. He sold some of it off and it became what is known now as the "Old Kinderhook" golf course. He bought that land for about $30/acre back in the 1930s, during the Great Depression. Bruner used to camp on old Mr. Dampier's farm for weeks at a time during the summer back in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. He got to know everyone who lived or worked around the Niangua River. That's how he met Don Reagan. Interesting that Don guided Sam Walton. Sam was a high school friend and football teammate of my father at Columbia's Hickman High School (both were class of 1936). They remained friends until Sam passed away. Is there anything at Blue Springs now?

[Ham]

Is there any signage at Berry Bluff to help you find the actual access?

[fishinwrench]

Is there any signage at Berry Bluff to help you find the actual access?

Ham, As far as I know there still isn't a river access at MDC's Berry bluff tract, unless you wanna do 3/4 mile of brush-busting to the river. Someday hopefully they'll get it done. Closest access to Berry is a private "pay the hillbilly for access" deal at Bird island.

[Ham]

Ham, As far as I know there still isn't a river access at MDC's Berry bluff tract, unless you wanna do 3/4 mile of brush-busting to the river. Someday hopefully they'll get it done. Closest access to Berry is a private "pay the hillbilly for access" deal at Bird island.

It is listed as a MDC access. I'll have to figure out how to drive to the Bird Island place. I don't mind paying for a service and I'll mind my manners and behave.