Mark

I've left vehicles parked at Whitten and Turner many times and never had any problems - knock on wood. Has that changed recently?

The White River has a don't eat designation. Do New England lakes have blue gill, crappies, and white perch? I'd be happy with a meal of panfish out of a lake.

Thanks Johns, doubt if we do a charter unless we do one out of Bar Harbor. We have a Vrbo for a week on the island. But definitely taking our time driving there and back. Some bank fishing rivers would be great. Maybe even a 10 mile float somewhere . Not a big trout guy, fun to catch, not so great to eat.IMO

Thanks Quill, I'll check it out. So far not finding many campgrounds on streams. Definitely won't be wandering across private fields. HA I've read the Lake Champlain is good area for fishing and looks like the White flows out of it. Also wondering if blue gill, crappie, and white perch will be biting on lakes. I'd love to find a campsite off the beaten path with some water to wade, like we're blessed with in MO.

I'm heading to New England states in middle of May for some camping and fishing. Hoping some OAFers might know of some small streams to camp on and wade fish for smallies. We're staying near Bar Harbor, ME but taking our time driving thru the other states and camp along the way. Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.

As low as the river is right now under 500 cfs, a canoe is the perfect way to see the river esp for first time.

When is peak season? Guessing maybe Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Good read, Al. I haven't seen you and Mary in a good while, hope all is well. The thing I love most about fishing is just being on the water. If I can catch enough to keep my interest, it's a good day. Our group still camps on the river once or twice a year and still find it to be as enjoyable and relaxing mini vacations as I could possibly take anywhere even though I'm very much a novice fisherman. Hope the Livingston area is recovering from the flood. Tell Mary hello for me!

Our new local buddy Jim told us they have been stocking regularly, so who knows? I wondered beforehand if MDC was stocking due to low water and hot temps this summer. I asked Jim what was going on with Eleven Point State Park. He said it was discovered that MDC can only own so much land (I believe he said per county) and now they are over the limit, and MDC is going to have to sell it. Anyone know if that's true?? I know the locals want to keep their little slice of heaven just like it is but I sure wish there were a few more drive up campgrounds. As poor as Oregon County is you would think people would want some development for jobs and tourism tax dollars. But as Jim said when we were talking about that, it practically takes an act of Congress to do anything along the federally protected area. And Greer Campground had electric for RVs once upon a time and the boxes kept getting stripped for wire and destroyed. Love how the locals still call it Pig Ranch!!

Five of us spent this past Wed and Thurs nights camping at Whitten. The good news is absolutely perfect camping conditions, low 80s during the day and low 50s at night, clear skies both days, and a full moon Wed night. Great spot for a bunch of seniors to camp out of vehicles. We had 2 jetboats and a canoe. Word around the boat ramp was nobody catching many fish. We met a local gentleman Jim who lived nearby most of his life and he said it's been the worst year for fishing he could remember. He said it is still getting stocked regularly and we discussed whether the extremely low water could be the cause. He mentioned the otters and how no one traps anymore. Jim said otters were reintroduced to the 11 pt but he didn't say how long ago that was. It sure seems like I see more of them now than I did 20 years ago. I saw one swimming by camp the first evening there. Terry and I arrived late Tues. Before the others arrived on Wed, I hauled Terry early up to Turner's Mill with his canoe. He did the 7 miles in 4 hrs and said he maybe had a couple taps but didn't land a fish. He said it was tough canoeing in low water and made canoeing trickier and more paddling. By midafternoon the others had arrived, set up camp, and got the boats in the water. Joel and Snap caught 3 at Bliss Springs. That was it for the day. Thurs was worse. I think only 2 fish were caught all day, but admittedly we got discouraged and didn't fish very hard. We were limited on how far we could get upstream and downstream from Whitten due to low water. Everyone we talked to was having the same luck. We did see Mike Jones from Huffstedler's guiding 2 ladies and he said they had caught 21 fish but mostly farther upstream, and I'm not sure if they fished the trophy area. And nobody knows the river and fishing better than Mike. My hunch is the otters are getting overpopulated, the low water and summer heat has the fish holed up in deep water, and the otters are having a summer feast. Sure doesn't seem like we have had any 20-30 fish days in a long time like we use to have years ago.

If we launch jetboat (25 hp) at Two Rivers, is there plenty of water to fish upstream and downstream a good ways??

Thanks jd, for confirming there is plenty of water. We are retirees and would go on weekdays so assuming traffic not as bad, and probably slows more after Labor Day. As far as fishing, I know the smallie bite slows some in late summer. Is it regular fishing size and limit regs for smallies at Doniphan? Is it good goggle eye and other panfish fishing? We would want to eat fish one night anyway.

I've never been on the lower Current. Is there usually plenty of water at Doniphan in August to jetboat freely up and downstream? Gage is at 1850cfs at Doniphan but not sure how much recent rain they got. Is there shallow shoals that can be tricky at low water levels? I'm guessing it's usually good boating even in the dog days of summer. How about the fishing? Besides smallies, how's the panfishing? Are there walleyes on lower Current? Any special fishing regs? All advice appreciated.

I found my answer.

Does anyone know if Huffstedlers Canoe Rental at Riverton is still open? No one answers at Huffstedlers or Eleven Point Rental. I thought I heard rumors that Mike and Wendy Jones got out of the business. Great folks!! I've been calling Huffstedlers and Eleven Point Rental to and no one answers at either. Is Richard's the only canoe rental place now?

Planning a trip to Fort Collins in July. Can anyone give me an idea of what to expect from the Cameron Fire up the Poudre Canyon? I am hoping we won't be disappointed from the scenery from the fire.

That's why I need a GoPro!!

Ahh, I didn't know that.

We did see a local last trip who said he was hunting hogs. MDC says don't shoot them because it will cause them to scatter more. They want to trap them and relocate. Not sure I buy that theory.

Glad you had a great trip. I've camped many nights at Sticking Pond gravel bar. It use to have many shade trees and a really nice gravel bar until the big flood a couple yrs ago. Downstream from Riverton to the Ark line is very good smallmouth fishing, and some people catch walleyes. Scenery isn't as pretty as the land flattens out some. But The Narrows area is beautiful with 4 springs very close to one another. Now, don't spread the word in Okieland too much.🤫

Good deal, budman, sounds like your experienced kayakers will be fine!! A couple Class II runs for a thrill!! You may find it useful to print off the MDC Mile by Mile description to take along; it's always nice to know how many miles you've covered, to time the last morning how far to take out, where the springs, shoals, creeks, and float camps are coming up, etc. I suggest take a few minutes to check out Turner Mill Spring on left bank and Boze Mill on left bank. Greer Spring is a 1/4 mi hike up the branch from the river. All three are impressive. Fish DEEP!! Mike Jones from Hufstedlers is a great guy and will give good advice. Enjoy your trip!! I'm heading back down the last week of Oct.

At 562 cfs and a loaded canoe, you will likely have to pull your canoe thru a couple shallow spots but not too many. I second taking a look at Mary Decker Shoals 1-2 miles below Greer access - rapids thru scattered boulders - experienced paddlers should be OK. Worth scouting a route though. I second the scarcity of firewood too this late in year. A chainsaw will help. I always tie a rope on front of canoe to pull through shallow water. The shallow rapids can get you sideways and pull you into trouble. With a loaded canoe, I'm not too proud to get out and pull through the shallow side of some rapids. The fishing was great a couple weeks ago, the water about the same level and gin clear. I was using small shrimp. No bait or size restrictions below Turner access. Great time to be on the river!!! You'll practically have it to yourselves. Gigging season so you may see some giggers at night. Give us a trip report. You will enjoy it, especially first timers!!!

Good call. Let the river go down. You will enjoy it much more at a good level to wade fish some. My group always does a multi day trip in June and set up a base camp between Turner and Whitten. Pull over and say hello if you see some 60 yr old guys playing guitars!! 🤠 Keep an eye on the gauge. I consider around 700 cfs at Bardley gauge ideal. Last year we waited until late June before it got down to good wading water.

On the bright side, the 10 day forecast looks good with little rain. I've floated it as high as 2000 cfs, it made for an easy float but not good fishing. I would guess it will be under 1500cfs in 10 days without much rain. Tho a little high for my liking, 1500cfs is fishable. So much depends on if they have stocked it this spring. Float camps are high enough off the water to be safe, and you should be able to find a gravel bar even at 2000cfs. It would take several inches of rain to flood the float camps.

I second the mile by mile map... https://missouricanoe.org/eleven-point-river/ I will add that floating the 11 pt will keep you on your toes, esp first timers not familiar with the tricky spots. One notorious sweeper about 2 miles below Turner is known as "fisherman's hook" but it has improved since the overhangin log washed out. Still there are places where you can get in trouble before you know it. I was never shy about walking a fully loaded canoe thru on the shallow side of some tight spots. There's probably more trickier spots with low water and bottoming out in shallow rapids forcing you off kilter on a turn. FWIW it seems like for the past 5-6 yrs the river was too high for good fishing until at least June. Last yr it was late June. It's running 2,700 cfs this morning. You'll be lucky if it's good fishing by May 2.