Ozark fishing Rodeo to be Held on Gasconade River
June 20,21 & 22, 2003

The Missouri Smallmouth Alliance is hosting the First Annual Ozark Fishing Rodeo. The rodeo will be held at Gasconade Hills Campground, on the Gasconade River west of Waynesville, MO.

Plans are for a BBQ dinner Saturday night, with an after dinner program by noted wildlife artist and angler, Al Agnew, and an Ozark breakfast on Sunday morning. Saturday and Sunday days will be kept open for plenty of floating, fishing and wading. Missouri Smallmouth Alliance members will be available to help with shuttles and serve as guides. Dan Kreher, National Coordinator of the National Smallmouth Alliance, will meet with anyone interested in starting a chapter in their region. Raffles, prizes, fly-fishing instruction, and a variety of fun things are in the works.

If you’re not familiar with "Rodeos" they are a popular get-together of like-minded anglers to meet, exchange ideas, and fish together for an extended weekend. Rodeos are not fishing tournaments, or a sports show, and you don’t have to know how to ride a bull to participate. Some say, knowing how to "shoot the bull" could be an asset. Several successful rodeos have been held in the eastern states and the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance wants to host the first such event West of the Mississippi. Here’s your chance to experience the Missouri Ozarks tradition of float fishing for smallmouth on its clear streams.

The Gasconade River offers well over 100 miles of excellent Smallmouth fishing with water perfect for quiet wade fishing to big enough for jet boats. The Big Piney, Little Piney, Osage Fork, and Niangua Rivers are all within a short distance. Gasconade Hills Csampground is located right on the river. They have rental canoes, camping, RV sites with hook-ups, and nine cabins available. Ozark Rodeo participants will be offered a special discount.

You might consider planning an Ozark family vacation around the rodeo. The Gasconade River is two hour's drive from St. Louis, 1.5 hours from the original Bass Pro Shops store in Springfield, MO and about 2.5 hours from Branson and its many tourist attractions. The National Wild and Scenic Current and Jack’s Fork Rivers are just1.5 hours South. Table Rock Lake and Lake of the Ozarks are close at hand. The Ozarks are famous for their scenic beauty and you couldn’t pick a better time than early June to visit the area.

The main festivities are going to be on Saturday and Sunday, but Missouri Smallmouth Alliance members will be available on Friday and Monday to help shuttle and guide any anglers that want to fish those days.