The Kayak Kid

You guys fish the Little Piney? When I'm in Rolla for work, I wade-fish a few spots downstream from Newburg. Some of my best smallies the last couple years. Couple spots off Hwy P to park the car. Never had any trouble.

Great stuff. Really enjoy reading your notes regarding the history of the area/river. I try to include a little history lesson when I take trips with my son. Thanks!

Thanks bud. Just looking to explore some new water. Smallie fishing upstream never seems to be too good (at least for me), and I'm interested in the scenery below Two Rivers. He's done the upper Current a few times. We usually take 2-3 day trips, but this would be a nice long trip away from everything. Thinking we could check out Rocky Falls and Peck Ranch at the end of our trip. Ever done the EPR below Hwy 142? That's been my lowest takeout (usually put in at Cane Bluff). Might be our 2nd option for this extended trip. Then I could show him Greer.

Planning a 4-5 day canoe camping trip on the Current, with my son. All these years, and I've never been below Two Rivers. Any observations/comments regarding the smallie action, jet boat traffic (hopefully not too bad), and scenery would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Jerry, Have you been to our stretch of the river, near the common ground? I'm on Mayberry Rd. Saw your note to the group a while back. Look forward to meeting you. I haven't been down to my cabin in a few months. Curious how the river looks. Couple nice spots just downstream from the pavilion, wondering if they have changed. All this talk about possible issues upstream certainly has me concerned. Such a beautiful section...and I've managed to catch-photo-release nice smallies since I bought the property. Nothing ever too big, but enough to keep me interested. A MDC-tagged one, 2 years back. Nolan

Got a buddy tagging along on our kayak trip (Jacks Fork) next weekend. Perfect timing...I left my extra yak at the cabin down south. If you live in the St. Louis area (or on the way to the JF) and have a kayak we can borrow for the weekend, I will provide you with custom decals for your boat and/or vehicle. I have several colors of vinyl, and I can import most graphics/logos. Examples at my Etsy shop: slappyjoes.com (my clever redirect) Nolan in Fenton-MO

I've parked a vehicle at Slabtown several times, and never had a problem. Including a trip about a month ago. Always seem to catch decent smallies. Does it get some abuse from locals...sure. Show me a river that doesn't. Definitely one of my more productive and consistent trips - both above and below Slabtown. I've never left a vehicle at Six Crossings, or other unofficial access areas. Holler if you need more info, Slew...

Thanks fellas. Putting in at Slabtown this Friday...

Glad to hear. Same for me this year - better smallie results than in previous years. I fish the stretch from about 5 miles upstream of K, down to K. More goggle-eye this year, too...at least for me. Overall, I've been pleased. Still really wanting to try the stretch below K.

Planning a trip for later this month. Spending a couple nights on the river. What's your vote for better fishing? Boiling Spring to Slabtown <or> Slabtown to Ross Also, if anyone has floated from Boiling Spring to Slabtown recently, I'm curious if you did any dragging? Thanks!

GloryDaze is one of my float buddies, and unofficial traveling secretary - photos, trip reports, etc. That's his Flickr page. We've taken plenty of trips on the Jacks, Buffalo, Eleven Point, Big Piney, etc... Next major take-out after Riverton is Hwy 142 bridge. I've taken out there before; however, my memory is hazy. It's another 8-9 river miles. Puts you only about 5 miles from the state line. Worth floating? If you have the time, and you're curious, sure. Nothing dramatic, as I recall, but a pretty stretch. The other guys on here could probably comment on the fishing in this stretch...

Amen. We had a property owner get bit by a copperhead down near the Black, now everyone is exchanging emails filled with paranoia. It's a shame more people do not (1) take simple steps to reduce the likelihood of snake bites and (2) appreciate these beautiful creatures and the roles they play. Had the neat opportunity to view several snakes (copperheads, moc's, timber rattler, black rat, a few others) up close at the MDC Nature Center in Cape recently. Great staff there. They let me go in their work/storage area, and gave me a tour so I can better spot the differences between the species. Not sure if the other Nature Centers keep snakes or not. If you're in Cape, you might check it out.

You'll definitely see a few, but I wouldn't let it scare you away from the EPR. With everything running low, you'd see a few on your other options also (Current, for example). Depends on your fishing emphasis, I suppose. When I put in at Cane, I go slow and camp my first night up from Greer...mostly because I'm targeting smallies much more than trout. Yes, if it's a Saturday, expect some jets. No real way to avoid 'em if you're out there on a Saturday....scooting through early would help, but certainly impacts your plans/mileage/pace. The stretch below Cane is great. Of course, I'm always in my kayak. Loaded canoes make it more work, if she's running slow. A few narrow sections in this stretch. Mighty nice for smallies - since most folks stay downstream. I almost always have productive fishing days up there. If you decide to take out at Riverton, enjoy Halls Bay Chute just before it. Cool rapid with rather big waves for an Ozark stream. Easy run, though. Have fun. Holler with questions. I've done that trip several times. http://www.flickr.com/photos/glorydaze/6047430608/in/photostream

Eleven Point. You'll love it.

Selling a wood-burning stove. Craigslist link below tells the details, but feel free to PM with any questions. It's in Arnold-MO; would prefer someone picks it up. Good shape. Will last forever. Very heavy. http://stlouis.craigslist.org/app/3013331532.html $100

Lest we forget the DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer (they make one for each state). I'm still convinced the load of gravel I disbursed at the homestead is going to show up in a future edition. If you want to know the back-roads, springs, landmarks, conservation areas (state & federal) - all in a convenient atlas, it's pretty darn cool. Stays on my front passenger seat.

Thanks gramps. I'll keep that in mind.

Thanks for pointing out Phil's maps - had not noticed that page. jdavis - You've probably noticed the mile-by-mile descriptions on http://www.missouricanoe.org/river-maps/current.html These aren't perfect (Oz Hawksley did these many years ago), but they're close enough for general time/mileage tracking. The original book - Ozark Waterways - is out of print; however, MDC sells "A Paddler's Guide to Missouri" online and at the MDC Nature Shops in Kirkwood, Cape, Springfield, JC, etc. Great guide - with updated mile-by-mile's, more streams, etc. Spiral-bound; 40+ streams. http://www.amazon.com/Paddlers-Guide-Missouri-Featuring-Streams/dp/1887247378 I like to print my mile-by-mile's on regular copy paper, add notes, then cover them in clear packing tape. Makes them waterproof. Just fold it up, and keep it in your canoe/yak (in a coozie, under a bungee, etc). I think GloryDaze punches a hole in the corner, and puts his on a carabiner.

Anyone have a deep cycle battery they might be looking to sell/trade? I made a swamp cooler for my cabin, and I'm thinking about running the 12v fan off a deep cycle battery.

Amen to that, otf. Nothing worse than realizing at 5pm that you have to paddle hard (when you're already tired, hungry, etc) and pass up interesting spots, in order to stay on pace and avoid the dreaded long Sunday morning paddle. I agree, 7-8 is just about right. Nice thing about the Current is that it's one of the few streams that you could fish, swim, relax...and still end up doing double-digit mileage...easy. I'm always amazed at the constant current (duh, right?). Always nice to have time budgeted for something unplanned....checking out a spring, throwing rocks, a long lunch, etc. I'm a fan of Round Spring to Two Rivers...17 miles or so. 7-7-3 or so, depending on what time of day you put-in and take-out. Adding the 7 miles to Powder Mill wouldn't be much of a problem, I just don't like seeing the jet boats.

Where did you put in, joeD? I've only done the stretch just below Wash SP, and lower stretch near House Springs. I've eyed several upper access points, wanting to try a new section, just haven't got to it yet.

Eakins Craw (brown color) on Eakins Jig (regular). Gets the big ones. Chompers (green/watermelon), too.

Man, sorry to hear. Nasty virus? Food poisoning, maybe? I hope your recovery is going well. Always a reason why these things happen....sounds like now you know your girlfriend is a keeper. True colors come out on the river. My wife of 11 years took her first float with me, after just a few months of dating in college. Camped at Alley Spring. 15 miles on the JF on a hot July day. After a cut on her knee from dragging the canoe and falling down, bringing me cold washrags from the cooler when I was burning up in the tent, and agreeing to try wild onions on her hamburger....I figured she'd had enough. I guess a couple days on the river can point a man in the right direction, in more ways than one.

For what it's worth, some of my best trips have taken place only when I was forced to switch rivers in the weeks/days leading up to the trip. That being said, if I could only float one stream for the rest of my life (some sort of Ozarkian episode of The Twilight Zone) - the upper Jacks would probably be it. I'm making the assumption that your group will be in loaded canoes? Some of my most successful UJF fishing trips have been in low water conditions (starting at Prongs when the Mountain View gauge is barely at 1.90); however, I've been in my kayak. Less water = more challenge = less fishing pressure = often great fishing! I'll echo TR - a trip on the Current, below Round Spring, is mighty fine. If your trip isn't completely over the weekend, then the jet boats shouldn't be too bad. I recall some great camping spots/gravel bars in this stretch, and the constant current sure is nice when you have to make up time (I'm the guy that falls in love with a hole, after catching one fish, then has to play catch-up). Usually this stretch of the Current serves as the default trip in the dogdays of summer. You'll catch plenty of fish on the Big Piney. Slow water, with plenty of paddling...yes. But it sure is a fishy river. Al and the other folks can probably explain why (food abundance, cover, etc). I'm still a novice, and the BP gives up nice fish every time. Plenty of rock bass in there - which is a nice bonus. Warning: Once you make your first trip to the Buffalo, you'll be hooked. As stated by others, Ozark topography on another level. Simply gorgeous. And the rapids enhance the experience. Nothing crazy, but enough to improve your paddling skills and create some good campfire stories in the future. When you decide to hit the Eleven Point, give the folks at Richards Canoe Rental a buzz. Great people. Putting in at Cane Bluff can yield great smallie results, since most folks take the easy route and put in below Greer Spring. Simply beautiful, too. Nice rapids and flow in a wilderness setting. Less gravel bars, but I've never had a problem. Never see more than a handful of people when I float the EPR. Primitive, without many outfitters. Only Missouri river on the WSR list. Forgive the long post. Therapy for a rough day at work.

Drama in Duke, huh? Who knows - maybe there's been a change in ownership at RLR. At least it's a "end at the outfitter" itinerary. One less logistical item. Gotta convert those non-fishing floaters! I know just what you mean - GloryDaze (before his conversion) would cruise past a nice hole while I tried to throw out a last cast. That's where the kayaks come in handy, of course. Go at your own pace, stay at a hole, then catch up to your friends downstream.