Jacks Fork Trip Report May 17-19Th

[Mark]

OK Smalliebigs - I understand your frustrations after what happen with your property on the Meramac but that seems to be as much about poor business practices (gravel mining and farming practices) than related to recreational use. And I'm not familiar with that river.

I guess my biggest concern for mandatory classes required to allow someone to float is the detriment it would cause to families who want to take the kids on a rare outdoor experience. I myself have had the pleasure of taking family members on float trips with kids who have never been on a float trip and adults who haven't floated in 20+ years. If they all would have been required to pay for a class, take up a Saturday, just to have that one time experience, well, very few would have went on the trip.

I have no doubt that mandatory classes with a fee would cause fewer people to use the rivers, and the people who only do the rare float trip would no longer float, so I guess the objective of making the rivers less crowded would happen. Seriously, so many people go on float trips with the family because it is a cheap vacation. Would dad pay perhaps $50 for him, mom , and the 3 kids to take a class before going? I think we would be denying many families that one in a blue moon experience. Yes, they all could have taken the classes, but not likely to go to that trouble for a one time trip.

I have taken so many people on float trips who had a blast, but have never been back on a river since then. They did no damage to the river. The kids had an experience they will never forget, and may become users of the rivers when they get older and have their own children.

I think there would be a great number of people who would never take that rare one time float trip if they had to attend a class first. While we would not be denying them that opportunity, it sure would be a detriment. Responsible people who feel an obligation to take care of our resources will continue to do so and irresponsible people will continue to be irresponsible. Requiring certification to flaot will not change that.

Personally, since law enforcement made it a priority to crack down on unruly behavior on some rivers, I have seen a drop in the number of drunken floatillas on the rivers.

[Terrierman]

You need a driver's license to use public roads. Just sayin'.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Ideas are fine, but they aren't going anywhere with a DNR that is more interested in renting canoes then curtailing overuse of streams.

The outfitters should have had limits put on them 30 years ago. If the DNR had done that the outfitters doing business then would still be in business, but there wouldn't be any new ones or any more canoes the what was deemed appropriate then.

[Mark]

Serious question - Are there that many more canoes on the Ozark rivers now than there were 30 years ago? I actually know very few people who float at least once a year. It was a big deal in my teens and early twenties - 10-15 couples would get together and float and camp together - and for the most part we were behaved.

I just don't see it right now that there are way too many people floating our rivers, but then again I stay away from the notorious party rivers.

I see jet boats as being more of a problem with causing damage to rivers.

But I am far from a expert on the subject. I just don't see the issue of too many canoes the rivers in the summer IF they are picking up the trash after themselves.

[Smalliebigs]

see ya

[ColdWaterFshr]

Mark,

Not sure where you routinely go, but go float the middle Meramec, the Niangua, the Elk, the Big Piney, the Current, the Jacks Fork around Alley Spring, the Black, the Huzzah/Courtouis, the North Fork. . . . . any of these rivers on a weekend from now through the 4th of July weekend . . . . and you will be amazed. The traffic is considerably more than it was in the late 70's and early 80's when I first started going. Even the Buffalo in Ark, I've seen hundreds of canoes floating at the same time.

[Gavin]

I think that some of the outfitters have gotten alot bigger than they were 20 years ago. I dont remember any 1,000 boat canoe rentals around Onandaga years ago...but there are a several in the area now.

[cnr]

I think anyone operating any boat should have to be educated on it's use and acquire a license to operate it. And that license should pertain to the type of boat it is, jet, multi-engine, sail, whatever. You need to pass a special permit test for motorcycles, why not boating? Any person with enough cash can buy a multi-engine boat that goes in excess of 100 mph with no training involved. That's just plain dumb.

I would like to know how many people on this forum bitch and moan about jet boats and their alleged destruction to the riparian corridor but, own a jet or fish from a jet.....................please step your hypocrite asses forward.........crickets chirping

[Guest]

deleted

[Mark]

I guess this discussion is all for nothing since no one really expects regulations to change in spite of each of our opinions. I didn't realize there were canoe rentals with 1,000 canoes. Yes putting all of them on the same stretch of river is a bit much and don't see how anyone would enjoy that except the party crowd. I wonder how much stepped up boat patrols would do to alleviate problems, but really I don't want to see a trooper on the river every hour to make sure I'm behaving. What kind of wilderness experience would that be? So I guess I don't have any answers.