Float Report 15Th To 18Th

[steve l]

Ok, perhaps just a bit late...

We had planned on putting on the 14th, but the forecast of rain and cool did that in. Good thing as it rained all day long while hovering around 48 to 50. That just would not have been pleasant.

Took in some sites instead. Ran down to Greer Spring. I had not been there in a very long time and the Mrs never. A nice hike and the spring boil is very cool.

Then stopped to look at the old Greer mill. We were lucky that someone was there waiting fir a roofer. We ended up going into the mill and learned some of its history. We will be sending some moola to the Friends of.

Next stop was a little time at the Greer access doing a bit of fishing. Maybe 1/2 hour with Jill catching one small trout. Goose egg for me.

The on to Falling spring. We just happened to see the sign and went to check it out. An unexpected pleasure. The old mill and cabin along with the spring in a pretty setting made the stop very worthwhile. Ate a little lunch on the cabin porch. Yes, it was still raining!

Next stop was Big spring. Yes, it is a very big spring, but the state park setting does detract, at least in our view.

And more! Next on the agenda was Rocky falls. Just another excellent bonus as the recent rains had the falls really rolling.

And finally Blue spring on the Current. A pretty spring, and yes, it is very blue.

Would much rather had been on the river, but good day checking out sites we would never have had time for otherwise.

Spent the night in Eminence and then on Thursday we got the float going.

The traditional Buck to Alley.

Temps mid 60s thur and fri very comfortable with long sleeves and shorts thur and fri. Friday night chilly down to 35 or so. The water was cold at 58 as we started. A bit of rain after we hit the first gravel bar.

Saturday was right and 60 with more clouds and wind. It was almost uncomfortable with the same shorts and long sleeves when the sun was behind the clouds and the wind picked-up.

Good loads of firewood were helpful each night. River dropped 6 inches plus over the course of the float.

Food as always excellent. Kobe beef burgers, calico chicken (chicken, tomatoes, olives, chilis, corn, beans and more in the Dutch oven, an outstanding meal) and kabobs. The wife also made cinnamon rolls one morning in the Dutch. Good!

Fishing was much better than I expected. We both caught many mostly smaller smallies. I had one that went two lbs, and it was the largest by far. Plastics, plastics and more plastics.

We did see one drift boat with a group of kayaks. I didn't see them catch any fish, so the following isn't directed at them. But geez, three or four of those hitting the river a few times could really do a number on the fish. Drop the anchor, sit in a spot, repeat all the way down the river.

Good thing the JF is probably typically too low on the water flows to support. Or so I hope.

It is also disheartening to see the number of gravel bars with tire tracks.

But still a great river. Just 50 weeks until next Spring!

[KCRIVERRAT]

Always a good time on the upper. Especially with the Mrs. Got a group float in just two weeks!

[Guest]

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[steve l]

SIU, can't say I'm sorry I missed the rain and cold on Wednesday!

I'd take an 18 or 19 anytime. Nice fish!

We caught up to the drift boat group just above Jam-up and then camped a bit down from Jam-up.

We missed the hail other than a couple of pings. My guess is you were a bit downstream, as that is where it seemed most of the rain and thunder was.

And 2x on the trash as well. Just exactly how hard is it to take out what you carry in anyway?

[Guest]

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[Gavin]

Nice reports both of you!...The view is pretty cool if you climb up through the top of Jam Up...when I was younger. Thanks.

[SmallyWally]

Nice smally !!!!!

[Al Agnew]

But...but...no, we don't need to close down any unauthorized accesses, and the locals always take better care of the river than us outsiders...

I guarantee you it isn't "outsiders" driving down those unauthorized roads into what should be the premier wild stream in Missouri, and I also guarantee you that a lot of that trash on the gravel bars comes from the same yahoos that are driving out on the gravel bars. And what we don't see is all the out of season smallmouth they poach.

[ColdWaterFshr]

  On 5/22/2014 at 3:50 AM, Al Agnew said:

But...but...no, we don't need to close down any unauthorized accesses, and the locals always take better care of the river than us outsiders...

I guarantee you it isn't "outsiders" driving down those unauthorized roads into what should be the premier wild stream in Missouri, and I also guarantee you that a lot of that trash on the gravel bars comes from the same yahoos that are driving out on the gravel bars. And what we don't see is all the out of season smallmouth they poach.

AMEN. The Jacks Fork has really taken it on the chin with all the unauthorized accesses. 20 years ago they weren't there. Now it seems like every time I go there it gets worse.

Nice reports. Rocky Falls is cool. Will have to check out Klepzig - never been there.

[Mark]

  On 5/22/2014 at 2:24 PM, ColdWaterFshr said:

AMEN. The Jacks Fork has really taken it on the chin with all the unauthorized accesses. 20 years ago they weren't there. Now it seems like every time I go there it gets worse.

Nice reports. Rocky Falls is cool. Will have to check out Klepzig - never been there.

  On 5/22/2014 at 3:50 AM, Al Agnew said:

But...but...no, we don't need to close down any unauthorized accesses, and the locals always take better care of the river than us outsiders...

I guarantee you it isn't "outsiders" driving down those unauthorized roads into what should be the premier wild stream in Missouri, and I also guarantee you that a lot of that trash on the gravel bars comes from the same yahoos that are driving out on the gravel bars. And what we don't see is all the out of season smallmouth they poach.

But according to Rep. Jason Smith, you just don't understand!! From his webpage;

"Our private property rights are under attack from Washington bureaucrats and environmentalists who do not understand or appreciate our rural way of life. Moving forward I will continue to fight any effort that would limit how we use our lands and rivers in the Eighth Congressional District".