Bigfoot Stalks Armed Fishermen on Missouri River, Knocks Over Tree

A recent episode of the From The Shadows podcast features an interview that any cryptid researcher would want to hear. Host Shane Grove sits down with a guest named Mike, who runs a TikTok channel and has been connecting with serious researchers in the field. What unfolds is one of the most chilling river encounters I've come across in a while, and it takes place right in the heart of Missouri. Mike grew up in a haunted house, so he's no stranger to the unexplained. But this particular experience happened while he was doing something he loves—fishing. Missouri is home to some incredible fishing spots, and Mike knew a secluded location along a river that required walking through a field to reach the woods. There's a backwash or slough where the river overflows, and these spots are goldmines for catfish, bass, and perch. On his first solo visit, something felt off. He kept hearing what sounded like people talking, but the words were unintelligible. It was that eerie kind of vocalization that makes the hair on your arms stand up. He didn't see anything, didn't feel sick, but his gut told him something wasn't right. Being Missouri, he figured it could be bears or panthers, so he moved to another section of the river. The next time he went back, he brought two buddies along—a Marine who stood about 6'4" or 6'5", and another friend who was a combat veteran from the first Afghanistan war, also serving in the Army reserves at the time. Mike is strict about his boat—no drinking, no cannabis, nothing that could impair judgment, especially at night on the river. They were running jug lines, which is hands-down the best way to catch catfish when the water is moving. About three or four trips up and down the river later, a smell hit them. Mike's description is unforgettable: imagine a wet dog rolling around in raw sewage that had also eaten some rotten eggs and meat along the way. That's the closest comparison he can give. Anyone familiar with Sasquatch reports knows that foul, almost indescribable odor is one of the most consistent elements across encounters. Researchers have documented this smell for decades, and it often accompanies close-proximity sightings. Then things escalated. The guy in the front of the boat got hit with a pebble. He insisted a rock had struck him, but the others thought he was messing around. On the way back down the river, the smell returned, and this time both the guy in the back of the boat AND Mike got hit. The rocks weren't thrown hard—they were more like someone trying to get their attention, the way you might skip a rock across the water. On the way back up the river, they heard something pacing through the woods alongside them. The breathing was deep and heavy, like someone with severe bronchitis or pneumonia, but amplified. This kind of vocalization has been reported in numerous Dogman and Sasquatch encounters—deep, guttural breathing or grunting that sounds almost human but distinctly wrong. Then came the moment that made them decide to leave. A perfectly healthy tree—one Mike had fished by for years with no issues—suddenly fell right in front of the boat. It wasn't wind. It was pushed over with force. The sudden silence after that was deafening. Mike and the guy in the front of the boat drew their weapons and warned whatever was out there that they were armed and would fire if necessary. Nothing. Just quiet. They high-tailed it out of there. This kind of multi-sensory encounter—smell, rock throwing, vocalizations, and physical evidence like the pushed-over tree—checks a lot of boxes that researchers look for when evaluating credible reports. The presence of trained, armed individuals who weren't under the influence also adds weight to the account. Rock throwing, in particular, is a behavior that's been documented in Sasquatch encounters across North America, often described as a way these beings test or communicate with humans. Missouri has long been a hotspot for cryptid sightings, particularly in the Ozark region. The dense forests, remote waterways, and low population density in certain areas make it ideal habitat for a creature trying to stay hidden. Whether this was a Sasquatch, a Dogman, or something else entirely, the encounter has all the hallmarks of a genuine close encounter. If you want to hear the full story straight from Mike, including more details about the setup and what happened after they left the river, check out the From The Shadows podcast on YouTube. Shane Grove does a great job letting his guests tell their stories, and this one is absolutely worth the listen.