Goggle-Eyed Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 Well, My nephew and I camped at Lead Mine on Friday night and got up early Saturday morning when another friend of mine arriver and we all started up the river. We motored/drug up the river about 4 miles and started fishing right below the cabins. The morning started off pretty good and we had several nice smallies in the boat (and back in the river) by 10:30am, the fishing stayed good until about 4:00 pm and after that it pretty much died... We only caught 3 smallies and 2 LM after 4pm. The bite was erratic and came on everything from soft plastics to spinner baits. The overall best bait was a 4" senko or 2.5" crawdad but those are our confidence baits. The only issue we had was the amount of Jet Traffic on the river. We met or was passed by 4 larger jet boats (which is the most I have ever seen on this stretch of river). Luckily they were not fishing and were just joy riding. Two of them slowed to an idle and passed very nice, one cut back the engine and got to about 1/2 plane, which created a very large wake. No problems just a rough ride for a few seconds while the waves crashed into our 17' paddle jon. Anyway, all in all we caught 60-70 smallies 4 LM and a handfull of Goggleyes. I was a little dissapointed that we did not boat any fish over 15" and only had two that were over 14", I do think my nephew had one on that would have went over 15 but we never got to see it!!! Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownieman Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 Sounds like a decent trip in all. Any day on the river is always a plus in my book...glad to hear you caught a good # of smallies. It don't get much better !! IMO if efforts are not made to control the jet boats on the " smaller streams" it can and will have a negative impact of the rivers eco-system. Shoals are like nurseries to everything from aquatic incects to minnows, trout, rough fish, etc. Thankfully some native species prefer slower / deeper water and therefore are not quite as subject to the damage incurred from boat motors ( both prop and jet ), canoes, tubes, foot traffic...just anything that disturbs the shoal itself. If the integrity of the shoals are affected it weakins the most basic link of the chain and the entire strength of the chain will suffer...being the eco-system of the entire stream will reflect such actions. IMO each has their place and there is plenty of water for all to enjoy, although becoming less and less. Understanding the problem is easy...fixing it...well...this old boy can only speculate. IMO it's all stewardship whether it be amoung fisherman, boaters...all who use these waters for their own personal preference of enjoyment and most importantly a stewardship with " Mother Nature". IMO...far as a fix...I don't have the answers, have a few thoughts and suggestions but being neither influential or wealthy...well guys like me just don't get much attention, lol As far as the detramental effects that are occuring by us all ( understanding it can't be helped if you fish ) will prove to be a curse to our fisheries, unless promt action is taken without doing years of 'studies'...well...we will not leave a very comfortable bed for our...guess my grandson for lack of a better term and I can only imagine what will be seen through his eyes. My friends say I'm a douche bag ?? Avatar...mister brownie bm <>< Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishinwrench Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 PWC's (personal watercraft) designed for river-running will obviously be next I'm afraid....only a matter of time. There were 4 JB trailers in the parking lot below the 64 bridge last Thursday, and 3 of them appeared to be just running up and down the river between Bennett and NRO, for hours, last Thursday. The canoe outfitters (with the exception of NRO, I assume) can't like this any more than I do. Just curious,....why did they ever put a concrete boat ramp on the Niangua ? That just seems to invite them. There is one on the Osage fork of the Gasconade too......wait until they start running that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drew03cmc Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 People these days do not have the common courtesy to slow down to a crawl when someone is fishing. Maybe you had just spotted a 6# smallie and here comes this jackbutt in a jet boat...(oh my god...two jb's in 4 words...ok nevermind) and flies through and puts the fish off for the rest of the day. Is that not enough to warrant a hunting trip? Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownieman Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 People these days do not have the common courtesy to slow down to a crawl when someone is fishing. Maybe you had just spotted a 6# smallie and here comes this jackbutt in a jet boat...(oh my god...two jb's in 4 words...ok nevermind) and flies through and puts the fish off for the rest of the day. Is that not enough to warrant a hunting trip? Common courtesy was a friend of common sense...both deceased for several years now, lol. Upon their death not many attended the funeral because so few realized they were gone. Sorry guys, this old hillbilly glitched for a moment, lol...even the ones that are suppose? to protect and preserve our natural resources are guilty of this imo. If anyone can explain this to me I got all day...I'll be more than glad to listen ! My friends say I'm a douche bag ?? Avatar...mister brownie bm <>< Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownieman Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 FW, IMO, there's our tax dollars hard at work to benefit us all, nice aint it? I have friends that have jet boats, yeah there fun to take a ride in and useful for fishing if used properly, key word properly, don't matter who you are. The rules just don't seem to apply to some, ya know. My friends say I'm a douche bag ?? Avatar...mister brownie bm <>< Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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