I've Been Doing it All Wrong

I wonder if I can get a refund on all my tackle?

A Great Topographical Map

Back when I fished "Serious"....... LOL or at least thought I did........ Wow, I'm already up to my eyebrows here. Okay, when I fished and really "Cared" about catching fish (As opposed to just fishing for the fun of floating around and relaxing on the water) I had lake maps for every place I fished. And I USED THEM TOO!

I had structure maps and topographical maps. They showed me more about what to look for on the surface than just about anything else. Serious fishermen and women will know what I mean. Recently I found a pretty good link to maps and here it is. Taneycomo Topographical Map. It's interactive so you can zoom in and around on it to check out any spots you may want to try when you are at "The Haven". Remember we have a public boat ramp right at our parking lot, a covered dock for your boat. Boat rentals if you don't have a boat or don't want to bring yours and boat gas right on the end of the dock.

We are pretty much located mid-way between Table Rock Dam and Powersite Dam so it's less than 15 minutes to any place on the lake. (depending on boat speed, wind direction, barometric pressure, moon phase, day of the week, what you had for lunch, whether your coffee thermos has black coffee or if it has cream, water clarity............) See, I told you I was once a serious fisherman!

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In the Meantime..........

See You at the DOCK!

Hanging Your Hat at "The Haven"

The summer of 2016 was busy, busy at Rainbow Haven. In fact, Craig commented to me that he'd never seen such a summer. With the last big Summer Holiday almost upon us, I've been reflecting back on the Spring and Summer. We've made amazing progress since the end of March when we joined with Craig and began the rebuilding process from last December and the devastating flood. Many of the goals are left undone but the important stuff got back on track.........mostly!

We decided to not bring the two lower level units back. They had a reputation for flooding when the lake came up. Not the kind of epic flooding like December, but enough to make clean up and repair an issue more often that we would like. (Here are some amazing pictures of the flood)

In their place, we've begun the transformation of the old unit 8 over to a guest laundry, as of yet, incomplete. We planned a bait and tackle shop for the old office. Again, too many other priorities for us to even think about that. We bought several Kayaks to extend the guest experience. That's been okay but not really what we had expected. On a bright note, we did commit to buying two new pontoon boats and that has definitely been a big hit.

I suppose the big challenge lies ahead of us after Labor Day comes and goes. When the bank worked out the terms for transferring the property, they also seized the insurance settlement funds from the flood (which was significant). This left the rebuilding process to us to just work out however we could. We pitched in, Craig pitched in and everyone did double time all summer. We never could have made it without our faithful guests and for that we are all VERY grateful!

Thanks for making this a great summer and as we work our way through the Fall and Winter, we hope that you will consider hanging your hat at the Haven any time you plan to visit Rockaway or the Branson area during the fall, Christmas or winter season.

Nearby FUN!

Rainbow Haven Resort and Cross Timbers Cabins is located in Rockaway Beach, MO which is perfect for those quiet get away's. Time spent at the pool, fishing or boating on Lake Taneycomo. While we are known for the slow, laid back life, we are literally just minutes away from ALL KINDS of other FUN STUFF! Much of it has been around for decades, Some of it....has JUST ARRIVED! One new attraction is the Runaway Mountain Coaster located on Hwy 165 between Hwy 76 and Table Rock Dam.

 

Another new attraction this year is the Farris Wheel located right on Hwy 76. Dis-assembled and moved from the Navy Pier amusement park in Chicago, the Farris wheel becomes a spectacular night time light show, not to mention the great views of Branson from atop the wheel.  

 

 

Our office carries discount tickets to many shows and attractions and it's all within minutes of your quiet Get-Away at Rainbow Haven

 

www.rainbowhavenresort.com

www.crosstimberscabins.com

 

417-561-4179

 

See You at the Dock!

Cajun Rainbow Trout

 

Serves 4

Here's a quick recipe for those who don't like any fishiness in their seafood. The sweet, delicate taste of trout is complemented well by Cajun spice for a healthy, flavorful entrée. Enjoy it with a sliced tomato salad and a fresh baguette with sweet cream butter

 

Ingredients: 

• 4 (6-ounce) farm-raised (Fresh Caught Taneycomo) rainbow trout fillets (1/2-inch thick)
• 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning*
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 green onion, chopped
• Lemon wedges

 

Method: 

Preheat broiler (or Gas Grill). Pat fillets dry and lightly brush both sides with oil. Sprinkle both sides evenly with Cajun seasoning. Place skin side down on broiler rack. Broil 4-6 inches from heat for 4-5 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Arrange on a warmed serving platter and sprinkle with parsley and chopped green onion. Serve with lemon wedges.

* To make your own Cajun seasoning combine 1 tablespoon paprika, 2 teaspoons sea salt, 1½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper and a pinch of cayenne pepper with 1 teaspoon each dried oregano, chili powder and dry mustard.

 

If this don't make you hungry......

 

See You at the Dock!

When Do You Drive A Boat Backwards?

Well, When It WON'T GO FORWARD OF COURSE!

I really do regret not having a picture of this, and Craig was slightly afraid to take one, even though he wishes he had now.

So how this went, was about mid spring of 2016 we were scrambling to get EVERYTHING fixed and working around Rainbow Haven. Some things were going right and others........not so much. Guests were already making reservations and there were rooms to get cleaned, gas tanks to get set back where they belonged. 230 some odd inspections and certifications due, and BOATS! Boats that all needed fixed! Not some....ALL!

While everyone else busied themselves with the rooms, the pool, the grass, the cleaning........... I chose to deal with the boats.

They say that a boat is nothing more than a big hole in the water you throw money into......Yep!

Anyway, my job was to fish the dead ones out of the water and haul them to the repairman and back again when fixed. (sometimes this was a multiple trip kind of thing!) Our first one went pretty well with only two visits to the Boat Doc! HAH....Get it? Boat Doc!  Anyway, the second one was absolutely defiant! On the first, post repair run up the lake it decided to try to shake itself to pieces about a mile and a half from home.

After the smoke cleared and we tried starting it again, we discovered that it worked just fine.....In reverse only! So driving in reverse all the way back we became the dinner and show on the lake, minus the dinner part. The same people that watched us speed up the lake moments earlier were now entertained by us backing up along the same route.

Back at shore, Craig saw us coming and said later that it looked like some kind of cartoon playing in reverse. I told him it was some kind of cartoon playing in reverse.

After the first $800 and then the follow up $1,500, we finally tamed and conquered the boat with the backward attitude.

In all seriousness though, the boats are actually in remarkably good shape now. We have 2 Brand New Pontoon Boats, 2 repaired and running good utility bass boats, another bass boat at the shop and several new kayaks now for the enjoyment of our guests.

Sometimes it gets done with skill and finesse, sometimes with brute strength and awkwardness. But it gets done. When you're visiting "The Haven" make sure to take one of our boats for a ride. We guarantee they are all saddle broke and tame now!

Learn more at our Boat Page!

See You at the Dock! (not the Doc! HAH, I crack myself up!)

Huck and Tom on a Search and Rescue!

So yesterday, we had some local friends stop by "The Haven" to take a quick ride on the paddle boat. Since most of the time it just sits there tied to the dock, we are happy to let the occasional adventure seeker take a run out into the lake with it. Today, however we went to the dock and...........................NO PADDLE BOAT!

Did it come loose and simply drift off? That could have been bad! Did it just decide to head off on it's own to parts unknown? That didn't seem likely! Did it get stolen? Maybe........but come to think of it, stolen was the best scenario!

If you've ever peddled a paddle boat you will understand!

With a light rain beginning to fall, Craig suggested "You should take the boat and go look for it!" Smart guy! But, since I had planned to run around in the boat anyway, no problem. Whether it drifted or was hijacked, downstream seemed the most logical. Just past the island, I spotted it in another dock. Yep...Hijacked! While probably only 200 yards downstream, it probably took the perpetrators 3 hours to get there.

The lake level was low this day and fighting through the weeds near this dock was proving to be difficult. I returned to home base to get Craig to help. It was only then did I realize the depth of his shiftiness! While I was out searching in the rain for our stray, he went up to the house to take a nap!

Ever eager to lend a hand though, he jumped in and we headed out to complete the "rescue" part of our search and rescue. As he later put it in a facebook post....

 "So there we are, two grown men in their 50´s, playing in the rain, on a boat, wrangling a runaway.

50´s or not the smiles we wore most of the day said "12 years old".

This place brings out the Tom and Huck in all of us.

Come play with us!"
417.561.4179

(P.S. I'm pleased to report the operation to save the Haven's only remaining paddle boat was successful. Yeah!)

 

I guess life could be a lot worse.  

Come and see us. Visit our website at www.rainbowhavenresort.com

Call for reservations at 417-561-4179