Run Off Little Piney

[Greasy B]

You can't reason with an unreasonable person.

[Chris Barclay]

I agree with the guys above. You did the right thing and gunshots are a game changer. I've been run off LP at Vida a few times but not at gun point and I should have called the authorities but didn't.

I've been run off BSC by an angry hunter via gun shots and didn't call the authorities then either but should have. I was just eager to get out of the way at the moment.

[ozark trout fisher]

It sucks to hear this story, but I'm not surprised. Little Piney seems to be a hotspot for landowner/fishermen confrontations, for whatever reason. This is far and away the most extreme behavior I've heard of, but the Vida Slab area further upstream seems to be a trouble spot as well.

I don't know if you were legally in the right, but I KNOW the landowner was not. Wading in a small stream that flows through private land on both sides (I'm referring to Mill, not the LP, which isn't even that questionable IMO) is definitely not advisable, and probably at least stretching the law...but it is not grounds to be threatened with a firearm. That can be described as nothing less than terribly belligerent and unprovoked behavior, and the fact that he had the gall to chastise you with a smartass note on your truck afterwards blows the mind and shows you who you are dealing with.

No one in their right mind can blame you for getting the heck out and then contacting the authorities later. Being right is one thing, but all you're thinking about in a moment like that is getting out in one piece.

[Smalliebigs]

Dan I'm sorry to hear about your incident, a similar deal happened to me on the Indian creek and on Marble creek once. Different circumstances but, you feel very un easy and a bit helpless in my situation. You just want to get away from the fucktard that has a gun pulled as fast as possible. Thanks for reporting it too...you did the right thing..

.it's just a bummer and sucks to hear about.

[ColdWaterFshr]

That would be a frightening experience. I would have done exactly the same thing.

As others have said, Lower LP shouldn't be a problem. Its been a long time since I floated below the Grotto Bridge down to I-44 -- how many years ago was that, Gavin? Seems like it was one of the MSA rodeo's that we floated Newburg to 44. As for lower Mill Creek, I believe that whole lower section is private property on both sides. Was that where the gunshot came from or was it further down on land adjacent to LP?

BTW - is it legal to access the LP under I-44 bridges there? On east-bound 44 there is well-worn dirt road leading from the shoulder of the highway to underneath the bridge.

[Gavin]

Its been at least 10 years since we floated that section. No problems back then. Did have a note left on my vehicle on the Mill Creek bridge a couple times..Guess he thought I went in to fish for trout. Easy access at the Bridge in Newburg our Mill Dam, and good takeout at 44 or Jerome on the Gasconade. Jerome access is only a 3/4 of a mile down from the confluence and definetly public.

[joeD]

Dan, I don't blame the guy. If I saw you and your Schenk whatever, I'd shoot you too.

(Everybody, that was a joke OK. Had nothing to do with a Schenk streamer).

[ozark trout fisher]

Yeah, I was on the lower LP Friday, and I was ridiculously tempted to throw a canoe in there, and at flows that are only slightly above average.. It's just not that close. It isn't significantly (if at all) less "navigable" than the Current in the Baptist Camp area or the Meramec above the spring. I don't think either of those are question marks.

Of course, everything I'm saying is sort of irrelevant. Sad as it is to say, the landowner's temperament and decision making impacts whether a stream is fishable/wadeable in practice and safely far more than any State Supreme Court decision. It shouldn't work that way, but it's the hand were dealt.

[Gavin]

The day before sticks in my memory more CW. O. Fork float with Mike to begin with. Started at B bridge. Met John at Lambeth bridge and dropped his canoe and gear of the bridge with a rope. Fishing sucked. Paddled for the take out and waited a couple hours while we killed a bottle of scotch. Dry Knob I think. Still no Mike or John so we took Mike's truck to pick up your ride, left his vehicle and a note and went someplace else.

[ColdWaterFshr]

The day before sticks in my memory more CW. O. Fork float with Mike to begin with. Started at B bridge. Met John at Lambeth bridge and dropped his canoe and gear of the bridge with a rope. Fishing sucked. Paddled for the take out and waited a couple hours while we killed a bottle of scotch. Dry Knob I think. Still no Mike or John so we took Mike's truck to pick up your ride, left his vehicle and a note and went someplace else.

Good recall!! I had started to forget those details. Lambeth Bridge and taking Mike's car. Good times.