Boating Etiquette When Encountering Kayakers

[Seth]

Ya'll should try dealing with floaters on a skinny river in the summer time. Floaters love to clog up the channels in the narrow areas where jet boaters have to run. If you're heading downstream, you're screwed because you don't have the control to stop the boat before realizing that your path is clogged with floaters and things can get ugly in a hurry if they don't move out of the way. I've ran the rivers for years and slow down when I can, but there are some areas where you have to go and pray that nobody is in the chute. There is going to be a bad accident one of these days between jet boaters and floaters in one of these areas.

I love to float rivers myself, but I also make sure I go places where I know I won't be dealing with jet boats when I do go. Those honey holes that the jet boaters can't reach will more than likely have much better fishing anyways.

[MickinMO]

4 hours ago, Seth said:

I love to float rivers myself, but I also make sure I go places where I know I won't be dealing with jet boats when I do go. Those honey holes that the jet boaters can't reach will more than likely have much better fishing anyways.

Yeah, if you are on the Current below Van Buren you are taking your life into your own hands. Much of the Gasconade same way once you get to Jerome

[Seth]

55 minutes ago, MickinMO said:

Yeah, if you are on the Current below Van Buren you are taking your life into your own hands. Much of the Gasconade same way once you get to Jerome

Yep. I run The Gasconade a bunch from Hwy 63 up to the Big Piney and I think you would be crazy to float anywhere below Highway 28 IMO. There's a lot of water above Highway 28 and doesn't get nearly as molested by the jet boats as it does below Big Piney. Paydown to Fish Holler might be alright as there is some pretty sketchy stuff to navigate in a jet boat and most of us stay away from it. Vienna to Jerome is pretty easy running so it gets hit hard with jet boat traffic.

[Gavin]

I’ll float below Jerome midweek. Never, Friday-Sunday.

[Ricochet15]

On Stockton last year barely missed a kayaker in the middle of the lake around state park. It was after dark with a decent amount of waves. Dark color kayak with dark clothes NO lights or flag. I was running under the speed limit. That was a bad feeling when I saw it. Evasive maneuvers and avoided it, with some wake I'm sure. Hopefully whoever it was will have lights if they are out after dark next time.