Missouri Water Patrol Getting Ready For Drunken Boater Crackdown.

[Justin Spencer]

Why should people who by your scenerio are first on the river to avoid the partier be forced to move to avoid them? If those partiers are breaking laws they need to be arrested, if enough get busted the word gets out and they go elsewhere or on private property or home.

I'm not saying the partiers are breaking the law they are just might have music playing and be horsing around which some people don't want to see. If they are breaking the law by all means arrest them.

Like any vacation activity some times are busy some times aren't. If you make some effort to avoid the crowds it can be done. I learned a long time ago that the world doesn't revolve around me, so I have to make some effort to get things done how I want them done. It would be great if we could go float on Saturday at 10 in the morning and be the only people on the river, but unless you are on Bryant Creek that ain't gonna happen, and probably won't even happen there.

[Nick Williams]

I'm not saying the partiers are breaking the law they are just might have music playing and be horsing around which some people don't want to see. If they are breaking the law by all means arrest them.

Sometimes it's just the people on the river in the party crowd, whether they're horsing around or not, that I don't want to see. I felt scarred after seeing some of those people in their swim suits and "natural" element. BLAH! Makes me want to rinse my eyes with bleach!

[rangerman]

It is fine talking amongst ourselves about when and where we float....But you have to look a the large numbers of families from out of state, and that are just not from the area in general. They book a float after seeing neat pictures about the beauty of the Meremac for example. They get there and it is insanity. Is it their fault that they didn't know what it was going to be like.

[ness]

Justin: you're an enabler

[Feathers and Fins]

If this activity happened at a park, neighborhood street, camp ground, concert event, school function pretty much anypace else the people doing it would at minimum be asked to leave by the POLICE mot likely citation handed out and possibly arrest made. We read about it in the press and see it on tv when it happens. So what makes our lakes, rivers and streams any diffrent than any other public place? Answer that question

[Justin Spencer]

It is fine talking amongst ourselves about when and where we float....But you have to look a the large numbers of families from out of state, and that are just not from the area in general. They book a float after seeing neat pictures about the beauty of the Meremac for example. They get there and it is insanity. Is it their fault that they didn't know what it was going to be like.

Disney World looks peaceful and serene when you see the pictures of it also, and the Smoky Mountains, and Yellowstone are a zoo in the summertime as well. People kind of know what to expect as far as crowds go at popular tourist destinations in the summer, so I guess if they don't ask the right questions it kind of is their fault. We are very up front with people when they ask how the crowds are, and sometimes it steers people away, but I would rather not have the business than have people talking about a bad experience with all their friends. Also people need to understand that you can't go to the rivers closest to the cities and expect for it to be peaceful, the more people the more trouble.

[Justin Spencer]

Justin: you're an enabler

Darn right, but I get paid to enable!

[Justin Spencer]

If this activity happened at a park, neighborhood street, camp ground, concert event, school function pretty much anypace else the people doing it would at minimum be asked to leave by the POLICE mot likely citation handed out and possibly arrest made. We read about it in the press and see it on tv when it happens. So what makes our lakes, rivers and streams any diffrent than any other public place? Answer that question

I guess it's because you can leave and move to a new place. But it's probably because that's how it's always been, and it is impossible for law enforcement to be everywhere at once. For this kind of summertime activity the nature lovers are in the minority and the partiers are in the majority. Canoe rentals are a big economic driver in the summertime in otherwise dirt poor counties. For most people wanting to just get out and enjoy nature summertime is much too hot, fish usually only bite early or late, it's too hot to camp comfortably, these people come in the spring a fall when the crowds are minimal. If enough people think it's a problem and the politicians think it will get them votes, laws will change. I for one can't make a living off of fishermen that come with their own boats, so bring on the funk, bring on the noise, and I will enable until they shut me down, then I guess I'll go back to being a fisheries biologist.

[ozark trout fisher]

All I can say is thank goodness that there are still rivers that are deemed by the party/canoe rental crowd to be far to slow, muddy, shallow, or inaccessible to be attractive. The only clear benefit of the insane crowds on some of our streams is that it concentrates most of the craziness in 10-15 rivers and leaves the rest pretty much to those of us who are actually interested in enjoying the river more than our beer.

[Gavin]

I just avoid the circus when I want to fish or I'll join it when I want to float with non fishing friends. The problem is that folks have unrealistic expectations and dont ask enough questions. Their fault, not the outfitters, or law enforcement. Folks who are having fun and getting a little loud...do not bother me. Folks who cross the line do, but not all of those behaviors are illegal.

Its pretty easy to figure out who the trouble makers are. There are numbers on the side of most rental boats. If you have an issue....write down the canoe number, paddle on, and report it in to the outfitter. I know that Justin and his wife Amy have asked people to leave and not come back. I'm sure that other outfitters do the same.