Canoe Traffic

[Scooper]

Right, Wayne. Unfortunately for the church groups, boyscouts and families who enjoy floating the Ozark streams it's the people typified by "Erin" who, through rudeness and aggression "rule" the rivers on the weekends. Greater law enforcement presence (as Al Agnew suggested) is the answer. Whether the "powers to be" have the will (and manpower) to do it, is doubtful.

[gonefishin]

Greater law enforcement is the only answer but, isn't it sad that tax dollars will have to be spent on this, something that shouldn't be a problem in the first place, when those tax dollars could be but to better use elswehere. All that is needed to 'fix' this problem is a little common courtesy but then, common courtesy has became very uncommon. It is strange that in our country the wants/needs of the few have came to outweigh the wants/needs of the many. This is just another example of that.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Greater law enforcement is the only answer but, isn't it sad that tax dollars will have to be spent on this,

It is, but I think if the fines are high enough two things will happen, one they will offset a good part of the cost, and two, the violations will shrink and require less attention.

[jdmidwest]

I am amazed at the negativity regarding the Spring River. Apparantly the only time anyone goes is on Saturday or a Holiday. Almost any place is a drunkfest on Saturday or a Holiday. I have been on the Spring River several times this year and have a great time fishing. Float camps don't start dumping in canoes till after 8, the drunks hit the river at noon, then after that it is over. Most of the traffic is past Riverside Campground by 4:00. Any other time is Great for fishing and the fish are plentiful. Campgrounds empty out by noon on Sunday. Everything is quiet through the week. And, there is law enforcement on the river on Saturday and Sunday. They are Ark Fish and Game agents and they are undercover in Old Town Kayaks. They are there to enforce the law and you will not know who they are till you are checked. Great bunch of guys. If you want a good time, take a day off during the week and go. Besides, the float crowd is only May thru August, the rest of the year is for fishing. October floats on the Spring River can be real productive. The river is stocked throughout the year except for icy roads and snow when they can't run the trucks. The only thing that has run me off the river while fishing was a horizontal snow that created a white out condition. Get out and fish and quit bitchin......java script:emoticon('', 'smid_21')

[Watcher]

That's all well and good if you don't want to take your family on a Saturday when the whole family is off work and out of school, but do you want your daughter or wife to watch a sex show or get a lesson in how to cuss while you fish? You are just letting the hoodlums tell you when you can go to the river. What is wrong with being able to go ant time and not have to worry.

You should meet up with a drunk punk and boat paddle, in front of your wive and kids. I'm sure your man enough to defend them, but should you have to?Just think about what you have said.

Just let them run the river on weekends and I can use it when they aren't there. I will not excepted that. I was born on the banks of Spring River, and I will not let them take it over and make me only enjoy it when they aren't on it.

[gonefishin]

A person should not have with those types of issues on the streams. As with most things the law won't will really do anything about it until there are a number of serious confrontations with serious injuries. Its a shame that people let theirselves get out of hand like this. Everyone should be able to enjoy the outdoors with out having to deal with a bunch of hoodlums.

[MTM]

I would suggest filing a complaint everytime it happens to you or anyone. If you do that they will get the idea that they may have to patrol it more often. That is the only way they will know what is going on. You souldn't have to do things like that but in todays world I am afraid it is part of being an outdoors person. Dang shame to. Ron