Has Anyone Ever Been To...

[GonnePhishin]

Bolivar, Missouri?
Just wonderin' what its like down that a way. Or in Missouri in general (outside of the big cities)?

[Griff]

I've traveled all over Missouri... like most places some good, some bad... mostly great folks and beautiful scenery.

[AmBraCol]

Bolivar, just north of Springfield and east of Stocton reservoir. Beautiful country. Stay out of the cities and Missouri's got some beautiful places to visit. Good fishing and squirrel season opens soon too.

[TedH]

You'll be pretty near the flagship Bass Pro Shop in Springfield, and the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum. I would highly recommend a visit if you have 3 or 4 hours to kill.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/store ... Jul2013_RD

If you get around Columbia give me a hollar, and if the timing works out, I'll buy you a cup of coffee.

[Larkbill]

I've hunted and fished all over my home state, Missouri, and Stockton or Potatoe (Pomme de Terre) are my two favorites. Less boat traffic and cheaper accommodations combine with more variety of species of fish to make it worth the drive. Although it's hard to beat the upper end of Lake of the Ozarks for paddlefish snagging.

[Blaine]

It was nice in 1972 ...

[GonnePhishin]

TedH: Thanks for the offer. I'll look you up if I ever get there.
Larkbill: Nice catch. Doesn't the Lake of the Ozarks have a reputation for people disappearing from there?
Blane: Everywhere was nice in 1972

[TedH]

Doesn't the Lake of the Ozarks have a reputation for people disappearing from there?

Don't know about disappearing, but there's at least a couple of drunken boaters that die on those waters every year. Used to be a good place to take the family boating, but not for me anymore. Turned into too much of a party place, and no common sense. Mark Twain Lake is much nicer for a weekend of skiing or tubing.

[Larkbill]

The Little Niangua arm and the lower end of the Niangua near Camdenton used to be pretty laid back, but since they've started building all those big condo complexes it's gotten as bad as the main arm up by the dam. My fishing boat is a traditional aluminum utility boat (16' '59 Lone Star) and it's not that comfortable around the wakes from those big boats. The upper end of Lake O, just below Truman's dam is still fairly calm. We only go there for paddlefish season, maybe need to try it for other.

Agree Mark Twain is great. I often put in at the ramp in Pigeon Roost Creek and never even make it to the main lake since that creek arm is so large.

Missouri also has tons of Conservation Areas with good fishing water, many with good boat ramps.