dealing the the now constant rising and falling water levels of table rock

[Champ188]

24 minutes ago, TrophyFishR said:

People should be required to pass a boat driving class & carry a license. Just like a driving a car, you have to get a drivers license.

 

In Missouri, people born in 1984 or after must successfully pass a boater education course and carry proof of it in order to lawfully operate any motorized vessel. In Arkansas, the year of birth is 1986.

[176champion]

Im thinking about getting a sticker for my boat that says...Caution Senior Citizen at the Wheel.....

[Eric the awful fisherman]

8 hours ago, merc1997 said:

well, spring is here and from now on there will be a daily rise and fall of water levels of at least two feet.  this makes fishing very difficult to say the least as fish do not know where to go.  at least there is a daily crest when all the boats have got on the water, and then towards dark there is the falling water to deal with.  

welcome to spring fishing!  all the parking lots at the ramps are full.  look for ticket booths on points and banks to get your number to fish behind all those already in line.

for those that are fishing in the narrow confines of a creek or river, just calm down from all the idiots that come right by you on plane.  they are just watching their side scan as they come by to see what you are fishing and mark a gps way point.

who says cheaper gas prices do not help the economy?  i have not seen all the ramps so full and busy for a lot of years.

since the lake is busier, please know the rules of the road when meeting an oncoming boat.  i had to shut down and stop because an oncoming boat yesterday did not bare to the right .  idle by those in the creeks and rivers where you are running way to close to be on plane.  in the kings above jackies, that is anyplace.

well go figure out how to deal with the daily up and down water levels and enjoy.

bo

Same here. Saturday I had 2 such instances where the oncoming boaters didn't head right. Ignorance or just plain rude. Either way those folks make it a dangerous day on the water when it shouldn't be. 

[Nitroman]

Just a couple of words of caution before you start feeling good about Missouri's Boater Education Class which states: Any person born after January 1, 1984 must successfully pass a Missouri Boater Education Class/Test before operating any motorized vessel. The thing is a complete & total joke & has been since it's inception. You can go on-line & take & complete the course & test in a matter of hours. We have had several of our guests that we have witnessed the parents put the kids around a computer & help them all complete the course & test & then go & rent JET-SKIS ( THAT THE KIDS HAVE NOT QUIT TALKING ABOUT SINCE THEY CHECKED IN ) from the local marinas that same day. Think those kids are ready & qualified to safely operate any water-craft let alone a JET-SKI ??????? I have had several parents tell me that when the marina found out that the kids did not have the required documentation to rent them a JET-SKI they ( MARINA EMPLOYEES ) were more than happy to help & assist the kids take & complete the course right there & then on the marina grounds. Let's think about it for a minute. Family of 5, mom - dad - 3 kids, with out proper documentation for the 3 kids the marina will more than likely rent them  2 JET-SKIS. But, lets think outside the box & take advantage of the system, with an attitude of good customer service & give the customer what they want whatever it takes, HELP THE 3 THAT NEED IT TAKE & COMPLETE THE CLASS & TEST, now the marina will rent as many as 4 JET-SKIS, 1 for mom & dad & if the kids do enough crying - bitching - moaning, just creating a scene in public ( WHICH MANY OF THEM SEEM TO HAVE COMPLETED THAT CLASS / TEST ) 1 for each of them. I have had guests tell me their kids took & completed the course & test in the car on the way down, said it keeps them quiet for a while & made the drive to us more enjoyable. Also, I have witnessed family members take & complete the course & test for another family member, the folks on the other end have no idea who is taking the course & test. As I said earlier, " IT'S A JOKE, BUT NOT ONE TO LAUGH AT " !!!!!!!     

[mixermarkb]

Maybe a weak test, but at least they are reading the rules of the water. Better than turning them loose on the rental jet skis with nothing but "here's the throttle, here's how you steer, go have fun" like it used to be!

[BearFisher10]

55 minutes ago, Nitroman said:

Just a couple of words of caution before you start feeling good about Missouri's Boater Education Class which states: Any person born after January 1, 1984 must successfully pass a Missouri Boater Education Class/Test before operating any motorized vessel. The thing is a complete & total joke & has been since it's inception. You can go on-line & take & complete the course & test in a matter of hours. We have had several of our guests that we have witnessed the parents put the kids around a computer & help them all complete the course & test & then go & rent JET-SKIS ( THAT THE KIDS HAVE NOT QUIT TALKING ABOUT SINCE THEY CHECKED IN ) from the local marinas that same day. Think those kids are ready & qualified to safely operate any water-craft let alone a JET-SKI ??????? I have had several parents tell me that when the marina found out that the kids did not have the required documentation to rent them a JET-SKI they ( MARINA EMPLOYEES ) were more than happy to help & assist the kids take & complete the course right there & then on the marina grounds. Let's think about it for a minute. Family of 5, mom - dad - 3 kids, with out proper documentation for the 3 kids the marina will more than likely rent them  2 JET-SKIS. But, lets think outside the box & take advantage of the system, with an attitude of good customer service & give the customer what they want whatever it takes, HELP THE 3 THAT NEED IT TAKE & COMPLETE THE CLASS & TEST, now the marina will rent as many as 4 JET-SKIS, 1 for mom & dad & if the kids do enough crying - bitching - moaning, just creating a scene in public ( WHICH MANY OF THEM SEEM TO HAVE COMPLETED THAT CLASS / TEST ) 1 for each of them. I have had guests tell me their kids took & completed the course & test in the car on the way down, said it keeps them quiet for a while & made the drive to us more enjoyable. Also, I have witnessed family members take & complete the course & test for another family member, the folks on the other end have no idea who is taking the course & test. As I said earlier, " IT'S A JOKE, BUT NOT ONE TO LAUGH AT " !!!!!!!     

Where are they taking a test that it only takes them a couple hours to complete it? Myself and a lot of my friends have taken it and it requires if I remember right 6 hours of on the computer video and testing. It's not exactly a lets rush through this so we can get on the water deal, in my opinion. If you didn't pass each individual section of the test in I think two tries you had to start that particular section over, video included. 

I don't know if my group of friends and I got screwed by taking something more than what was needed but I am honestly glad that I took it. We're all early to late 20s so things may have changed in the last handful of years. I learned quite a bit, I may not be perfect, but I feel like I can safely navigate based on actual laws...only problem is many, many others (mainly lake lice) think it's a free for all with no rules. 

[Jim Elam]

4 hours ago, merc1997 said:

champ there is a difference in dealing with all the traffic, and putting up with idiots that do not know rules of navigation.

bo

About got washed out Saturday by one of these individuals.  Had motor problems and using TM to get back to the ramp while fighting the wind. I'm within casting distance of shore and a large cabin cruiser buzzes me on plane about 80 feet away.  His wife and kids are waving hello as the wake plows my bow under, then the TM recoils in and out of the water rhythmically for the next 20 seconds.  There is no shortage of stupidity and ignorance out there.  If you have the dough, you can drive whatever you like on the lake regardless of your  lack of experience or training.

 

Times have sure changed.  I remember my father grumbling when we saw more than 3-4 other boats on the lake on a Saturday in the 70's and 80's.  Geesh...

 

 

 

 

 

[Nitroman]

I said, IN A MATTER OF HOURS, in my opinion 6 hrs. is just that, " A MATTER OF HOURS " & that ( MATTER OF HOURS ) in no way prepares young people ( TEENS & YOUNGER ) to go out there & operate any type of motorized water-craft in a safe & respectful manner. Anyone that believes it does, that is your opinion, that's fine & I respect your decision on the matter, & wish you good luck in your boating as if you run into some of the folks I am talking about your going to need every bit of luck you got coming to you. 

[BearFisher10]

Well I apologize, didn't know what your matter of hours meant. Its a shame that a company is willing to rush that many people through just to make a buck. 

[Guest]

The driving test should include actually driving the boat. You should be required to backup, turn & navigate a set of buoys like an obstacle course. Then tie it off to the dock. The next phase should require backing the trailer down the ramp & launching the boat in a timely manner. Answering test questions should only be part of the test.