Our very first "Kayak Fishing The Midwest Podcast" with lifetime kayaker Ray Schroeder

Our very first podcast turned out to be a great conversation with lifetime kayaker, Ray Schroeder. A ton of great tips from the guy who taught me how to kayak, "Captain" Ray. You will enjoy this podcast- if you get a chance, give it a listen. We are planning our next podcast as we speak

Listen to internet radio with Kayak fishing the midwest on BlogTalkRadio

Missouri River Kayaking- Weldon Spring to St. Charles June 2nd, 2012

The trip was outstanding!  Ray and I have been wanting to do a "big river" trip for the last couple of weeks.  The Missouri River stage is really down right now, so it is a very quick and fun paddle.  Stage when we went out Saturday was about 12' gauge hght. and 66,000 flow (cfs).  I am marking this and saving it....I have paddled this river at different stages and this one had to be my favorite.  I think if they had the Race for the Rivers today, some records would be broke.

If you watch the film, when Ray comes up on the Page Extension Bridge,  I caught an Asian carp flying across his bow.  He had a couple of major carp come flying in front of his kayak, but unfortunately, my camera was off when it happened.

The slough that we went through just past the 40 bridge just beside the Chesterfield bottoms was outstanding.  It had a real nice flow running through it (we clocked about 4 mph) the entire stretch.  There is something about paddling the big rivers that just excites me.  I am already planning another trip, possibly the Alton Lock and Dam to the Gateway Arch.  Maybe this will be the summer we make it happen?

Paddle ON!

Mike

Kayaking the Missouri River- Weldon Spring to St. charles, Missouri

EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in Missouri

Team kayaking on Dardenne Creek/Mississippi River, St. Charles County, Missouri December 31st 2011

What an amazing last day of the year in the St. Louis area!  I am usually a solo paddler, however, on this trip we had a nice team of friends.  We put in at an old boat launch next to the new bridge by Kampville, MO.  Evidentally, the launch point used to be a really rowdy biker bar  that burned down (in other words, I do not know if it is really a public access point proper).  We paddled a mile or so up the creek.  There was a log jam that we just could not get around, or else we would have gone farther. 

We then proceeded to turn around and head back and kayak the Mississippi River.  The day was so incredible weather wise.  We get some pretty incredible days in Missouri sometimes in the winter time.  The Mississippi part was gentle...we had a little chop due to wind, but nothing major.

Ray and myself are thinking of doing this paddle again in spring/summer, and kayaking around Dardenne Island (refer to map below) and camping on the island for a day or two this upcoming year.  I think it would be great to set out from the launch point, kayak around the island, and set camp.  This seems like it would be a great, close, incredible adventure.  I have something for the Mississippi River...must be all the Mark Twain books I read as a kid!

Paddle ON!

Mike

Trip Miles: 5.7 miles

Kayaking Mississippi River/Dardenne Creek on the last day of 2011

EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking near St. Louis, Missouri

48 degrees....time to get the kayaks out! Paddeling Lake St. Louis, St. Charles County, MO. November 23rd, 2011

Sometimes the best kayak trips are the impromptu ones.  My friend Ray Schroeder lives right on Lake St. Louis in St. Charles County.  I just happened to have my kayak strapped to the top of my car.  I had left my sea bag in his van from our trip on the Meremac River a few days prior.  We had just enough time for a quick paddle before the sun went down.  Started with a light drizzle (it rained off and on all day) and a temperature of about 48 degrees.  It made me appreciate my spray skirt (I consider this a must have if you want to get out in the winter).  We paddled about 3 miles total.  Felt really good to get back out on the water.

Paddle ON!

Mike

Kayaking 10.5 mile stretch between Route 66 SP and Castlewood SP, Meremac River Missouri

Great 10.5 mile paddle between the Route 66 State park and Castlewood State Park in St. Louis County, Missouri.  The weather was semi-cool and cloudy, but not too awful.  Weather like this really helps you to appreciate a spray skirt.  I had it strapped to the kayak for about 1/2 of the trip.

 Came up on some trapped raccoons close to shore.  Missouri has a season for this, however, I find it to be incredibly inhuman and just down right mean.  I am not "anti hunting" or anything.  But I think in todays world, there are other methods other than trapping.  I had thought about trying to help release them, but they probably would have tried to tear my arm off.  It had looked like a couple of them (still alive) had been trapped for days (that part is not legal).  In a kayak, I was really inequipped to handle it.  If I had a 9mm or something, I probably would have put them out of their misery...one more reason to pack when you kayak.

Sorry to be a buzz-kill......

Other than that, it was an awesome trip with my friends Ray Schroeder and Dan Main.  I think everyone really enjoyed the fellowship and kayaking.  We had a couple of rapids that were semi-challenging (the colder the water gets, the more challenging, at least in my book).

It really has been awhile since I have been out....I think it was like therapy or something

Paddle ON!

Mike

Kayaking the Meremac River from Route 66 SP to Castlewood SP, Missouri

EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in Missouri

Missouri River, Race for the Rivers Kayak race, 20 Miles October 8th, 2011

The Race for the Rivers river kayak/canoe challenge is usually held in August, but due to the river being so high for most of the summer, it was moved to October.  This was my second year in the race.  I have to say, I finished higher, but was still disappointed in how I did on this one.  After talking to my friend Ray for a bit, I am thinking that the challenges I had were more to do with my paddle and my stroke technique, than ability or the craft.  I am used to paddling up current on small rivers, and cutting water on lakes....the Missouri is a different animal.  We will be back next year to see if we can do a little better.

Race for the Rivers 2011- Missouri River, St. Charles County, Missouri

EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in Missouri

The river seemed more dangerous this go around.  There was one point I was paddling, and the water appeared to have a "hill" with a divit right before.  I though that it was my eyes fooling me...no, it was a "divit"...the kayaks bow slightly went down, then up.  Very weird, considering it was probably in about 20' of fast moving water.  This is a river you want to respect!

Paddle ON!

Mike

Mississippi River, Dresser Island, Sept 9th, 2011: Rain cannot stop a true river rat!

Sing me the legends of the river.
Tell me a story of the sky.

Because I want to grow.
Because I want to know.
Because I want to understand.

In the river is the model of creation.
Our lives like the river to the sea.
Paint me a picture of the landscape.
Dance me the dance of the waves.
Sing me of the legends of the river.
Tell me the story of the sky.

~Author Unknown

Surf Illinois! Kayaking Horseshoe Lake, Madison County, Illinois, March 17th, 2011

If you get a chance, watch this short clip all the way towards the last few minutes.  All I have to say is that there is a reason we paddle against the wind to start.  The waves started to wip up and white cap with some incredible waves (at least for Illinois) and we rode the kayaks all the way in.
Landing at the dock was a challenge, but we were able to get it done.  This lake is REALLY influenced by the effects of wind shear.  Great time kayaking!

Paddle ON!

MLT

Urban Kayaking! Nameoki Slough, Horseshoe Lake, Illinois: Urban exploring with kayaks!

This is the first of (2) videos shot at Horseshoe Lake, Illinois in Madison County, Illinois.  The first half of the kayak trip was dedicated to exploring the Nameoki Slough that empties into Horseshoe Lake.  I always wanted to know what it would be like going under roads and railroad tracks with a kayak....now I know!
Horseshoe Lake is a very urban paddle.  You can see the skyline for metro St. Louis, as well as see, hear and smell the U.S.Steel- Granite City Foundry.  The main part of the slough is very shallow (I would guess 2 feet or less), so this would not work with a traditional boat. 
The second half of the paddle we explored the main lake.  It was INCREDIBLY windy, and so when you watch that video, you will see us almost surfing the kayaks back to shore.

Paddle ON!

MLT

Horseshoe Lake, Monroe County, Illinois: Great urban kayak trip- wind made paddle very interesting!

Urban Kayaking-Surf Illinois! Horseshoe Lake Illinois

Share your Adventures with SpotAdventures

This was a great trip...I am producing (2) film clips.  One is of us kayaking under road and railroad tracks in the Nameoki Slough, the other film is kayaking the main lake and then the "surf" we road coming back to shore.  Very, very enjoyable trip with my good friend, Ray Schroeder.

Paddle ON!

MLT

Lake Baldwin, Randolph County, Illinois February 13th, 2011: Nice 5.75 mile paddle on the ever-warm Lake Baldwin

Here is a video of our Sunday paddle trip to Lake Baldwin, Illinois.  The power plant does a nice job keeping the lake non-frozen all year, so it was a great trip for this year.  This lake gets INCREDIBLY windy....I felt like I was paddling on the sound in the Outer Banks.  The lake is topographically higher than the surrounding land, so when it gets even a little wind, it really wips up.  I always enjoy spending time with my good friend, Ray Schroeder.  He has some great tips about Kayaking, and I learn something new every time I get a chance to paddle with him
I got a chance to use the GoPro Hero camera with the mount, so if you like to kayak, I think you will enjoy this video....probably a little lengthy for a paddle video, but I think it turned out good- hope you enjoy it!
.
Paddle ON


MLT

Just

Baldwin Lake, Kaskaskia River Wildlife Area, Randolph County, IL: First Kayak trip of year- lake not frozen due to power plant

Baldwin Lake, Kaskaskia River Wildlife area, Illinois

Share your Adventures with SpotAdventures

Great first kayak trip of the new year. Really, really enjoyed getting out and re-acquainting myself with the sea kayak.  Ray Schroeder came by with his kayak trailer and we hit it.  Originally, we were trying to find a ramp to get on the main channel of the Kaskaskia River, but all the access points were in sloughs, and thus the water was frozen.

Life is better in a kayak!

Mike

Meremac River at the confluence of the Big River- border STL and Jefferson County, MO. November 21st, 2010

This was the maiden voyage of the new Feelfree Atlantis 14 sea kayak.  The temperatures were in the 50's and very windy.  We paddled from the Route 66 State Park ramp to the confluence point of the Big River.  This was a "getting to know you" paddle for me and the kayak.  We had a few challenges getting the rudder controls adjusted, but other than that, it was a magnificent paddle

Flow (CFS): 700
Gauge Height (ft): 2.2

MLT