Safety First

June 10, 2017 / doubledacres / 2 Comments

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Bourbeuse River near Union, MO

My story starts on Friday, June 2, 2017. David Tripp, Mark Nelson and myself are planning a week long float on the Big River the last week in June. This float was a preview of our planned float.

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My Kayak on the Bourbeuse River

I put in on the Bourbeuse around 5 pm on June 2, planning to have a great weekend. Friday night went pretty well. I set out 10 limb lines and baited them for catfish. I set up camp on a gravel bar and then went on up river and tight line fished. I caught some nice cat and drum that night. The river was falling and very muddy so I was a little surprised that I caught anything at all. I did catch 2 channel cat on the limb lines. I ran the limb lines at 11 pm and 3 am then daybreak. I heated up some beans and weenies for breakfast about 4 am Saturday morning.

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Heating up beans and weenies on the river bank.

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Fish I caught early Saturday morning,

Saturday was like any other day on the river. I spent it bass fishing and fishing for pan fish. About dark I began baiting the limb lines that I had out, When all the lines were baited I headed to my spot that I tight line fished at night.

Dawn came and my fish basket had 6 nice channels in it that I had caught. I started working my way back down river, bass fishing as I went. I managed to get hung up and losing my hook so I tied a new one on. I had been pulled into the shallow water and instead of paddling back up and securing everything before I started through the swift water i made a bad decision to just go ahead and shoot the shallow fast water.

I had been through this spot 4 times since Friday. Water was really swift so away I went. Then all of a sudden the yak hits something, comes to a stop then the rushing water hit it in the rear, forced it side ways and over I went. I was flung head first into the water then the swift water carried me to the end of the shallow into a deep hole. The current surrounding the hole began to push me to the bottom. The water was so muddy I couldn’t see anything. I don’t know how long I had been in the river but my lungs began to hurt so i knew I had to make a decision so I relaxed and let my life jacket do its job and sure enough it started pulling me to the top so I immediately began helping it. When I broke the top I was gasping for breath,

I looked around and I saw the yak and it was heading down river pretty fast so I headed for it. Once I snagged it I had to swim it about 40 yards to the bank. Now if you have ever lifted a ten foot kayak full of water you realize at this point that Preparation H is really man’s best friend. I finally got everything rounded up and I just crashed on a gravel bar as what just happened started sinking into my mind.

I want to thank you for reading my blog. Just a reminder about safety and how important it is. Please wear your life jacket when you are on the river. Be kind to one another, Share the love and don’t squat with your spurs on. God Bless you one and all.

Nighttime on the River

May 16, 2017 / doubledacres / Leave a comment

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Leadwood Access on Big River

” I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.” – Vincent Van Gogh

Rain was out of the forecast for a few days so I thought I better take advantage of it so I headed for the river. I got on the river around 5 am looking for a relaxing night. I planned to set out 10 limb lines and do a little tight line fishing and naturally some bass fishing.

As I paddled up river to my turn around point, looking as I went for a place to set up camp. I don’t require much, just a place to build a fire and a place to beach the yak. I had two places in mind. As I worked my way up river I set my limb lines and would come back at dusk and bait them.

Bad news was that the river was dropping and that was going to hurt the fishing. I had a whole arsenal to throw at them and was hoping I could figure out the right combination. Didn’t take too long for them to let me know they apparently didn’t like my menu. All night fishing and all I caught that night was a channel catfish around 4:30 am.

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Camp was a sand/gravel bar. I was tight line fishing off the bar. This is where I caught the channel cat. I only had one other bite. The temps had dropped into the upper 40s and it was a little brisk so I got a fire going. Now I am here to tell ya, it is hard to get a fire going with wet wood and a magnesium fire starter. McGyver would have been proud of me. I sat there in front of the fire listening to the crickets and the bull frogs. Then the yotes joined in. They gave quite the concert. I even had six of the yotes appear on the ground above where I had built the fire. I named them the showmen. They put on quite a show, yipping, barking and growling. They finally disappeared into the woods and I was alone once again on the river bank.

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Up river from Leadwood Access

It had been some time since the yotes had visited me when I looked down the river toward a bend below where I was and I noticed the moon beams creeping into the darkness. As the moon rose higher and lit more of the river up the “ghost dance” began. As the moon light reaches out into the darkness and lights the river, one can see the fog lifting off to the sky. I call it the “ghost dance” because when I see it happening I think it looks like ghosts dancing as they are lifted into the heavens.

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My fire felt good.

The sun began its ascent in the eastern sky and signaled that a new day had begun. I cleaned up camp and secured all trash in the yak and I shoved off. I started running the limb lines down river from camp and would work my way back up river. Nothing on any of the lines and a lot of them still had bait left. Oh well better luck next time.

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Largemouth Bass

On the way back down the river I managed to catch an eleven and a half inch smallmouth and Saturday evening I caught a 13 inch largemouth. My time on the river was coming to a close. I felt sadness in my heart but I also felt excitement caused by wondering what adventure would the river bring me next time.

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Smallmouth Bass

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed my adventure. Be kind to one another, share the love and don’t squat with your spurs on. God Bless you one and all

The Beautiful Big River

May 5, 2017May 6, 2017 / doubledacres / Leave a comment

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Big River near the Leadwood Access

“The river flows at its own sweet will, but the flood is bound in the two banks. If it were not thus bound, its freedom would be wasted. “-Vinoba Bhave

One of Missouri’s scenic river ways is located in east-central Missouri. The French called it Grande Riviere, we call it Big River. The river is around 145 miles in length. It begins in Iron County near the summit of Johnson Mountain. It flows through Washington State Park’ St. Francois State Park and the Lead Belt mining district before flowing into the Meramec River.

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Big River above Washington State Park

Big River has some good fishing and some magnificent scenery. The river holds largemouth, smallmouth, spotted and rock bass. Anglers can also find longear sunfish, bluegill, channel and flathead catfish, redhorse, suckers and drum.

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Largemouth Bass

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Smallmouth Bass

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Channel Catfish

Where the Big River flows through the old Leadbelt mining area there are pipes still visible up and down the river where they were used in the mines. I am not sure what the pipe was used for but I was told they were put in to take oxygen into the mines but I don’t know for sure. The DNR claims that there is some lead contamination and to avoid eating certain fish but I have been eating them for years and I am still alive and I don’t glow in the dark.

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Big ‘River above Leadwood access.

I have fished and photographed the Big River on several occasions. I have had some great success casting, tight line and limb lines. The water levels get low in the summer months and it has flooded way out of its banks twice in the last 15 months. It is relatively shallow in most places with some deep holes scattered throughout the river. I generally fish out of my kayak and pull a lot of all nighters during the summer and the peacefulness on the river at 2 am is to die for. The nights are filled with the sounds of frogs, crickets and the occasional slap of a beaver’s tail on the water. The coyotes yip and howl and once in awhile come out onto the gravel bar close enough for you to get a good look at them. This summer two of my high school buddies and myself plan to put in on the Big River and float for 7 days and see how far we get.

Big River near Mammoth access.

“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” – Heraclitus

I hope you found the blog interesting. Thanks for reading. Remember to be kind to one another, share the love and don’t squat with your spurs on.

A Day on the Lake

February 19, 2017 / doubledacres / Leave a comment

“Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” Henry David Thoreau

What a beautiful day in southeast Missouri! I never did hear what the high was today but it had to be in the seventies. My significant other told me I needed to go fishing this morning and I thought about it. Longest two seconds of my life. Now to decide where to go. I was torn between the river and the lake and finally decided to load the yak and head to Bismark Lake in Bismark, MO.

As I approached the boat ramp and laid an eyeball on the parking lot, I knew it wasn’t going to be a good day for fishing. I counted seventeen boat trailers. Bismark isn’t a huge lake, it only consists of 210 acres. That is when Thoreau’s quote went off in my head. It was a beautiful day, I had my camera with me and it was a great day to relax. After all, that is why I came. If the fish were biting that would just be an added bonus.

Bismark Lake

I unloaded the yak and loaded my gear into it. I headed across the lake where I had caught fish before. As I paddled across the lake I couldn’t believe all the boats on the water. I thought to myself, I wonder how many of these guys knew they really weren’t after fish. I chuckled out loud and continued my trek across the lake.

Soft shell turtle sun bathing

Well I am hear to tell you, those fish had lock jaw I tells ya! I threw everything I had at them (forgot the dynamite). I didn’t get to the lake til eleven. When I saw all of those boat trailers I knew any place I fished would have all ready been fished hard. Talk about PPing on my parade. Oh well it adds new meaning to “The early bird gets the worm.” Like my mom used to tell me,”That’ll learn you dern you.”

Bismark Lake

Even though I didn’t catch any fish it was a great day to be outside, on the lake, in the yak and spent a good half hour trying to get a pic of a beaver. He was really camera shy. Maybe he was afraid the camera would steal his soul.

Bismark Lake

Soft shell turtles

Well the time came to head back to the truck. My spirit had been recharged and my soul cleansed. I had been fishing in the back of a cove that was sheltered from the wind. As I made my way out into the main body of the lake I noticed there was some choppy water ahead. The waves would be hitting the side of the yak. Not an idea situation and the first attempt almost sent me swimming. I finally decided on another approach that would change the way the waves would hit the yak and after great effort I made it back to the ramp.

Bismark Lake

Thanks for reading my blog. I hope you enjoyed it and if you ever want to fish Bismark Lake I would be glad to give you a tour of the lake. Be kind to one another, share the love and God Bless you one and all.

The River

February 17, 2017 / doubledacres / 1 Comment

Big River near Leadwood, MO

Too many times we stand aside and let the waters slip away

’til what we put off ’til tomorrow has now become today

so don’t you sit upon the shoreline and say you’re satisfied

choose to chance the rapids and dare to dance the tide…

Garth Brooks/ The River

Hello everyone! How about this weather in the midwest? It feels like May has arrived early. Very mild temps and lots of sunshine. I definitely have “River Fever”. I can hear it calling my name.

Big River near Leadwood, MO

Ever since I was knee high to a grasshopper I have been drawn to the river. It is a place where I can go and relax and recharge at the same time. It is a great place for photographers and artists to attempt to capture the beauty of nature. Time spent at the river will mend a broken heart and help a person to deal with the death of a person close to them. The perfect place to meditate, clear your head, and do nothing at all. A place to take the family and enjoy time spent together.

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Smallmouth Bass caught on the Big River

I am an avid fisherman and kayaker. I love spending time on the river in my yak and fishing. Some days I even put bait on the hook. I usually fish using an ultra light rod and reel with 4 pound test line.

Bourbeuse River near Union, MO

I love the mystique of the river. When I float and fish a new section of river my mind begins to wander, what is around the bend? How deep is the water. Who has been here before me. Did early settlers use this river? etc..

My favorite time on the river is night time for sure. You aren’t living until you have been serenaded by a bunch of chirping crickets and croaking frogs with a beaver keeping time with the rhythm by slapping its tail on the water and the distant howling of the coyotes. Natures own natural choir. The stars twinkle bright and sometimes you get to see a shooting star. The river takes on a whole new life when the sun sets and darkness falls upon the river.

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Big River near Leadwood, MO

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. If you haven’g taken the time to explore the rivers I hope I have piqued your interest to do so. Be kind to one another, share the love and God Bless you one and all.

Hawn State Park

February 12, 2017February 12, 2017 / doubledacres

Pickle Creek in Hawn State Park near St Genevieve, MO

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be.” – Anne Frank

What a beautiful day here in the Show Me State, Missouri. Mind boggling weather I tells ya! I don’t know what the high was today but temps were in the sixties. I have a feeling we are going to pay for this beautiful February weather we have been having. Well me and the little woman decided to take a trip to Hawn State Park.

Cripple Creek

Hawn State Park is located in Ste. Genevieve county near Ste. Genevieve. The park is made up of 4,953 acres and was established in 1955.Inside the park boundaries are three state designated Natural Areas. They are Pickle Creek, LaMotte Sandstone Barrens, and Botkin’s Pine Woods.

Bluff on Cripple Creek

The park offers camping, fishing, picnicking, and has three trails for hiking:Whispering Pine Trail – 10 miles, Pickle Creek Trail – 1 mile and White Oak Trail. There are 9 campsites open all year. They have fifty camp sites. They have full service and primitive sites. There are also some walk-in sites. They also have a day use area for picnicking and an open picnic shelter that can be reserved.

Cripple Creek

“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.” – John Burroughs

How many of you out there have and have not took advantage of states’ park systems? If you have never taken the time to just go somewhere and immerse yourself into the serene, peaceful, relaxing atmosphere of nature it is time you make plans to do it “yesterday”. Have some alone time with mother nature and let her have the time needed to heal you. I use that time to recharge my spirit and to cleanse my soul. You will also learn a lot about yourself.