Fishermen Beware

[trout_bum]

I recently took a weekend camping/fishing trip to Montauk State Park. I was so impressed with the quality and quantity of trout that this stream offers that I have made it my fishing venue for the last two weekends in a row. I focused most all my fishing in the blue ribbon waters below the park, and I must say that I now regard this part of the stream as one of my favorite stretches of trout stream in Missouri. However, this last weekend's fishing ended on a very sour note. I had spent most all of the day fishing from Tan Vat up to the park. It was getting late in the day and it was time to start my way back downstream to where my truck was parked at the Tan Vat access.

That morning I had parked my truck just downstream from the main parking area next to the picnic table. I was coming around the bend about 150 yards upstream from the access and noticed another vehicle blocking the view of my truck. It was a dark colored dilapidated mini van. I reached the gravel bar at the access and made my way up to the main parking lot. I noticed there was only one other car in the parking lot. I walked around the front of the mini van to get to my truck. As my truck came into view, I noticed a man leaning over the bed of my truck at the back window. He hadn't noticed me yet and I could tell he was obviously trying to break into my truck through the back sliding glass window. I decided to approach my truck from the opposite side from where the guy was standing. I asked him with a forceful voice if he needed help finding anything. He jumped back startled and replied that he was looking for his screwdriver. I asked him why he thought it would be in my truck. He didn't answer. He just walked back to his van, got in and pealed out almost getting his van stuck in the soft gravel. I stood there for about ten minutes thinking about what had just happened and how it could have been a lot worse had I walked up to my truck after the thief had already made entry.

The man looked to be in his late 40's to early 50's. He was about 5'9" medium build wearing a dark short sleaved T-shirt and faded camo canvas shorts. I can't tell you what make and model of mini van he was driving. It was in pretty bad shape and the paint was badly oxidized. Other than this encounter, it was an otherwise perfect weekend.

[Gene K]

Did he do any damage? FWIW in the future, my cell phone works at Baptist now (since the new tower).

[trout_bum]

Did he do any damage? FWIW in the future, my cell phone works at Baptist now (since the new tower).

He scratched up the metal frame on the sliding window panels.

[MaxDrown]

Amazing photos, sir. Thanks for sharing.

[fishinwrench]

Nice pics, Trico's still going off I see. You shoulda got a pic of that van

[eric1978]

Beautiful pics man, especially the bug shot. The perpetrator you described sounds a lot like Wrench...you sure he wasn't driving a red stepside?

[jjtroutbum]

You took some wonderful pictures

darn shame you did not get his picture. I might have had to that screwdriver is a deadly weapon.

pic not mine just borrowed from else where

[joeD]

Nice pictures. I see that that log is still there by the leaning tree. Think how many people fish and have fished the Current from the park to just below Baptist. Year in and year out. Yet the fishing remains remarkable, both in numbers and size of fish. It's an absolute powerhouse and a gem of a river. We are very lucky to have it.

[10pointer]

You made it there just in time luckily. I'm already paranoid about lowlifes breaking in my car down there and now I have good reason it seems. Its a shame that it has come to that, Ive heard a lot of problems at other parks but montauk has rarely been hit that I've heard of.

Just a few years ago a friend and his gf were down in the park and several cars were broken into and her purse was stolen from the trunk and it was out of view along with all other valuables. I heard that they caught the meth heads but im sure like usual they only received a slap on the wrist.

Ill have to keep a look out for that van

[jdmidwest]

Did you file a report or get the plate number?