Gasconade jet boaters

[Markhat]

We live on the upper Gasconade and see very few jet boats most of the year. The water just gets too low. Yesterday we saw 5, as there is good flow. 4 of them went by our canoe at full throttle. Never let off a bit. We didn't swamp but it was really inconsiderate and annoying. One of the guys (with a wife and a couple kids) actually cut the throttle to an idle as he passed us. They got a welcome smile and a thank you from us. I hate to group people, but so few jet boaters seem to have any consideration for those of us under our own power. If you are the guy driving boat number 5...We appreciated you .It gives me hope for the other guys in their 90hp outboards on a small ozark stream. (None of them were fishing). As a side note..as annoying as this was, I think it turned on the fish! The 2 foot waves hitting the bank really muddied things up and i believe it dislodged some insects, crayfish etc. My wife and I both hooked several really nice smallies in the several min after they passed! It had been tough up to that point. I guess it could be said that i'm getting old and enjoy the peace and quiet on the river but no.....I've always been that way. Happy fishing to all. Please catch and release those brown guys.

[Coosa]

I fish the lower Gasconade a lot and deal with jet boats all the time. Im fishing upper tommorow. Going from hazelgreen to 133, first time. Are you getting a lot of rain there this evening? Just wondering if it might affect the river by tommorow

[Terrierman]

Manners seem to be going the way of the dinosaur. Too bad for my children and grandchildren who I have taught better.

[Ham]

I've been on the BAD end of the stick of jet boaters on three different rivers (so far). I own a jet boat AND I in general think most jet operators are not as considerate as they should be. BUT there are places on the river where the jet boater has little choice but to stay on plane. He (or she) may spot you too late to get off the throttle without damaging their boat. They may annoy the heck out of you, but I don't blame someone for not wanting to tear their stuff up.

[Al Agnew]

I actually prefer them to go by me on plane rather than slowing down, as long as they aren't too close. If they slow to half speed or so they throw a bigger wake, and if they slow to no-wake speed, it takes them too danged long to get by me. However, on a stream the width of the upper Gasconade, chances are they WILL be pretty close when they go by.

As mentioned above, just keep in mind that if they have to slow down enough to get off plane, they will need pretty close to 18 inches of water to set down in or else risk sucking gravel into their motor and damaging it. If you're in a shallow area and they don't see you soon enough, they have little choice but to go by you on plane. Which is one of the reasons why I hate to see jetboats on these smaller streams even when they have enough water to run--too many constricted areas and blind curves.

[tanvat]

I'll just say it...I hate jetboats on anything but the largest Ozark streams - and even then - good grief people, paddle or float or just forefeit the so-called need of flying up and down the river - the ONLY reasons are pure personal convenience and to use the river like an amusement park an its and other people's expense. If you can't slow down when passing other river users - that is you just "have" to stay on plane - then you shouldn't be there, period. There is a manners issue, but also just an incompatible use issue. Incompatible with intact riverbanks, any semblance of peace and quiet and - flame away folks - a large part of the sense of quiet contemplation and immersion in the experience by the boater. The river is in large part - for the vast majority of jet-boaters I see - a navigational joyride. Really not that much different than allowing ATVs on a trail at Hawn, Bell Mtn., or in the Tetons.

[fishinwrench]

I gotta agree with that guy ∆∆∆

As much as I'd love for everyone to have jet outboards torn up all the time so I could be rich, the rivers are the only place I can go to escape the sound and smell of them for a day.

[Smalliebigs]

I'll just say it...I hate jetboats on anything but the largest Ozark streams - and even then - good grief people, paddle or float or just forefeit the so-called need of flying up and down the river - the ONLY reasons are pure personal convenience and to use the river like an amusement park an its and other people's expense. If you can't slow down when passing other river users - that is you just "have" to stay on plane - then you shouldn't be there, period. There is a manners issue, but also just an incompatible use issue. Incompatible with intact riverbanks, any semblance of peace and quiet and - flame away folks - a large part of the sense of quiet contemplation and immersion in the experience by the boater. The river is in large part - for the vast majority of jet-boaters I see - a navigational joyride. Really not that much different than allowing ATVs on a trail at Hawn, Bell Mtn., or in the Tetons.

I'll just say it.....I hate most trout fisherman I have encountered. They are the only people I know that will walk right up next to you on a pristine river with miles of river to fish but, if they see you catch a trout they will literally come right to you and fish the same 10 feet of river you are fishing. Also why in the do they walk back up the river they just walked down??? can't you just walk up the bank or the trails below Baptist??? Do you have to walk back up the river like a complete gaper with your Orvis hat that looks like it was made for Richard Simmons.

[Mitch f]

I'll just say it.....I hate most trout fisherman I have encountered. They are the only people I know that will walk right up next to you on a pristine river with miles of river to fish but, if they see you catch a trout they will literally come right to you and fish the same 10 feet of river you are fishing. Also why in the ###### do they walk back up the river they just walked down??? can't you just walk up the bank or the trails below Baptist??? Do you have to walk back up the river like a complete gaper with your Orvis hat that looks like it was made for Richard Simmons.

Dude, that's a bad attitude. I resent that big time. I've seen "A river runs through it" like 5 times, so, ummm yea, I guess I know what I'm talking about. Seriously

[fishinwrench]

The Current is "pristine"?