Jump to content

Two Killed And A Couple Injured


Goggle-Eyed

Recommended Posts

I fun floated the current two days ago with my girlfriend's family.

We were in tubes, and a couple times we had jets cutting between us and the bank (small, small spaces) multiple times, Weaving in and out of tubes, stupid.

My thing was, it was the same guys ALL DAY LONG. They were literally just running the river to piss us floaters off. Some guys we saw go by 6 or 7 times, looking like they were running an obstacle course between tubes and canoes.

For those that jet boat, cool, but it was those we were seeing that give jet boaters a bad name, and the reason so many people don't like them. They weren't fishing, they weren't pulled up on a gravel bar hanging out. They just wanted to run a 5 mile stretch of river to make people mad. I was amazed we didn't see anyone get hit that day, and it wasn't even that busy on the river.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 66
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

If I have said this once I have seen it 100 times. People lose ALL their sensibilities when they are operating a water vehicle, with or without alcohol. Now that any type of water patrol is a distant memory, we can EXPECT more injuries and probably the loss of life will tick up. It will get worse before it gets better I fear.

Kindness is the language the blind can see and the deaf can hear.-- Mark Twain

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It does not take many jet boats on an Ozark river to make it a dangerous place to be. I try to avoid rivers on Saturdays in general but I do not, will not float on any river that holds jet boats on a Saturday.

Many here are saying that this tragedy is a predictable outcome of the current state of our rivers. If it is predictable then it is preventable - at least to some degree. So what are reasonable measures that can reduce the likelihood of these tragedies?

Isn't the best solution the one that looks out for the best case for the most people?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I fun floated the current two days ago with my girlfriend's family.

We were in tubes, and a couple times we had jets cutting between us and the bank (small, small spaces) multiple times, Weaving in and out of tubes, stupid.

Yeah man. I've been there and saw that. We did a three day float a couple of years ago. We were forced by my work schedule to finish up on a weekend day. We chose to take out at Van Buren. The reckless operators of jet boats weaving inbetween tubes and canoes mage me want to be off that river BADLY. At times I know they cane with 10 feet of the canoe we were in while on plane.

I will not be caught on that section of river on a weekend day agaian. I likely won't be on the Current UNLESS the air is too cold for crowds.

to be out.

Every Saint has a past, every Sinner has a future. On Instagram @hamneedstofish

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So what are reasonable measures that can reduce the likelihood of these tragedies?

Too late IMO, the time for sensible regulations was 25 + years ago before the explosion of high power river boat recreation. Now that so many have invested so much in boats it will never happen.

I tried to make this point with some of my White River friends. Up untill minimum flow was introduced the river was regulated by the super low water. Now with months 800 cfs min. assured you can bet a lot of folks are buying higher powered boats as well as boats with UHMW hulls. There might yet be time to establish some sensable regulations but the window is closing fast.

His father touches the Claw in spite of Kevin's warnings and breaks two legs just as a thunderstorm tears the house apart. Kevin runs away with the Claw. He becomes captain of the Greasy Bastard, a small ship carrying rubber goods between England and Burma. Michael Palin, Terry Jones, 1974

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I fun floated the current two days ago with my girlfriend's family.

We were in tubes, and a couple times we had jets cutting between us and the bank (small, small spaces) multiple times, Weaving in and out of tubes, stupid.

My thing was, it was the same guys ALL DAY LONG. They were literally just running the river to piss us floaters off. Some guys we saw go by 6 or 7 times, looking like they were running an obstacle course between tubes and canoes.

For those that jet boat, cool, but it was those we were seeing that give jet boaters a bad name, and the reason so many people don't like them. They weren't fishing, they weren't pulled up on a gravel bar hanging out. They just wanted to run a 5 mile stretch of river to make people mad. I was amazed we didn't see anyone get hit that day, and it wasn't even that busy on the river.

It's been that way for years. That's why I hate it and won't return. That river is a little overrated anyways, then you add the jets, no thank you.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Still amazed that the PWC hatch hasn't taken hold in the rivers yet. That will add considerably to the excitement.

Shouldn't be much longer, right?

I have thought the same things many times... As soon as a mass market Aluminum Hull is available it would be over, or a UHMW covered hull maybe?

Based on this years extremely low flows on the Niangua I haven't even gotten the jet out to fish it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Still amazed that the PWC hatch hasn't taken hold in the rivers yet. That will add considerably to the excitement.

Shouldn't be much longer, right?

Saw 2 Saturday.

Kill the PWC eggs before they hatch!!

Sounds like a scene from Borat

"Honor is a man's gift to himself" Rob Roy McGregor

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.