Canoe The Ozarks

I just returned from a three day float on the Buffalo River in Arkansas. This beautiful river was the first National River to be designated in the U.S. as established by an Act of Congress in 1972;  thus, the Buffalo National River. It’s one of the few remaining rivers in the lower 48 states without […]

When we pulled into the river access at Barclay Conservation Area on the Niangua River one Saturday afternoon earlier this month, my worst fears were realized. We were looking at the ugly side of Ozark Streams–and I’m not referring to beat-up stream banks with cattle wading in the river or piles of trash and litter. […]

Fishing highlighted much of the fun on this trip, but I will always remember how the water was so cool and refreshing.  This was the hottest week of the summer(thus far) and I was glad to be IN the river. We made frequent stops to take a dip and this summer trip was planned with […]

It’s the first day of the trip and we have been fishing for about an hour. We were hoping to catch some smaller fish that we could use for bait on jug lines later that evening.  Our plan was to set out some jugs near the mouth of a spring creek that is located right […]

I just returned from what might be the best float trip I have ever experienced on the Big Piney(Aug 2-4). As predicted, the temperatures reached the high 90’s and probably hit 100 on the second day.  This oppressive heat was the primary motivator to leave the city and head for the Piney where we could […]

There are a host of reasons why I feel so much affection and romance for this enchanting river (more on this in later posts); but for now, suffice it to say that this river abounds in unusual beauty and discovery. Many stretches of the Piney offer limestone bluffs topped in pine, numerous beautiful springs, extensive […]

It’s midsummer and I’m walking through my version of a concrete jungle in the west county area of St.Louis.  The sun is beating down on me at 95 degrees as I stroll through a plaza parking lot next to Manchester Road. One long road of miles and miles of pavement and parking lots as far […]