On the River - A history of the Ozarks float trip

[bfishn]

Jim Owen himself testified in a senate hearing in 1954 on his take on Table Rock vs White River float trips. It's not at all what many would expect;

 

[Flysmallie]

4 hours ago, bfishn said:

Jim Owen himself testified in a senate hearing in 1954 on his take on Table Rock vs White River float trips. It's not at all what many would expect;

 

Very cool. But man how the times have changed. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

8 hours ago, Flysmallie said:

Very cool. But man how the times have changed. 

And somewhat stayed the same.   For example he talks about increasing fishing pressure and less fish.  

[Flysmallie]

24 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

And somewhat stayed the same.   For example he talks about increasing fishing pressure and less fish.  

I was talking more about the costs of the two options. Can you fish on Table Rock for 2.50 a day? I can sure as hell still float for $25 or less a day. 

[bfishn]

Jim Owen floats were a pretty deluxe affair for the time, they loaded and hauled everything, paddled the boats, assisted the fishermen, cooked the meals, and setup and broke camp. All the client had to do was fish, eat & have fun.  I'm thinking 5-600/head/day would be a bargain for that nowadays.

 

[ness]

There was a guy on here years back, Kyle Kosovich (sp?), that built some long boats and tried to make a go of it doing similar trips. I did find a website, but it looks to be inactive. http://www.longboatoutfitters.com.  I always thought those boats looked pretty cool. 

[BilletHead]

8 hours ago, ness said:

There was a guy on here years back, Kyle Kosovich (sp?), that built some long boats and tried to make a go of it doing similar trips. I did find a website, but it looks to be inactive. http://www.longboatoutfitters.com.  I always thought those boats looked pretty cool. 

I've met Kyle at the sowbug roundup in Arkansas. He had one of his boats out there. His brother in law is a really good friend of mine. Randy Haner. Randy is the friend who took us way up a creek in RMNP to catch our greenback. Randy has moved back to Missouri and is working in Springfield. 

[Terrierman]

9 hours ago, bfishn said:

Jim Owen floats were a pretty deluxe affair for the time, they loaded and hauled everything, paddled the boats, assisted the fishermen, cooked the meals, and setup and broke camp. All the client had to do was fish, eat & have fun.  I'm thinking 5-600/head/day would be a bargain for that nowadays.

 

That would be deluxe today.

[ness]

2 hours ago, BilletHead said:

I've met Kyle at the sowbug roundup in Arkansas. He had one of his boats out there. His brother in law is a really good friend of mine. Randy Haner. Randy is the friend who took us way up a creek in RMNP to catch our greenback. Randy has moved back to Missouri and is working in Springfield. 

I remember you telling the story of that trek to catch Greenbacks. Beautiful area!!

[Al Agnew]

Jim Owen was somewhat of a huckster.  When the dam was first beginning to be constructed, he cried crocodile tears about the loss of the river to the dam in advertisements to get more people to float with his company, and created the myth of the guy who loved the river and was so saddened by its loss.  But as that letter showed, he was really seeing the dam as another way to make some money, and was perfectly willing to sacrifice the White and James to do so.  Can't blame him for that; it was inevitable that the dam would go in.  But from the letter he helped make sure it went in.