Mark

Send us a report, budman!! BTW your name has a couple inferences!! HA

You won't have a problem finding a gravel bar in early May, esp on weekdays. Just don't wait too late in evening assuming you'll find a good one for several tents. I don't care for the float camps back in the woods. I much prefer a gravel bar on the riverbank. Another tip - fish deep!!

Read the pinned thread above your thread "Float trip planning questions" to get a good brief description Also keep an eye on the "river levels" also pinned above. It's at 1500cfs today. IMO that is at the upper level of being fishable. I prefer under 1000cfs but I like to wade.. I camped and fished with 3 others for a couple nights 2 weeks ago at 1200cfs. Fishing was slow, very peckish bites, be ready to set the hook. We fished hard for 2 days out of jetboat, only a handful of fish daily. It's due for the spring stocking. Locals use minnows! Scenery wise.. it's absolutely a beautiful river....a hidden jewel in MO..... so ssshhhh HA

I floated that stretch one time in the summer with water at normal level. Very small creek at Thomasville and had to portage over a couple log jams on the first 1/4 mile or so until a spring adds water. After that, we only had to get out of the canoe couple times for shallow shoals, but not too bad. Yes, a bummer to see cattle taking a dump in the river right in front of us, and yep it's long day floating to Cane Bluff. But several nice springs enter along the way. Fish were hanging around springs. If you don't mind a little work, esp the first few miles where it's more of a creek, it is doable and a decent float.

I'm looking for some place to take a winter trout fishing trip with lodging on the water. 3-4+ guys and would like to be able to walk outside the cabin and wade fish. Boat rentals would be awesome, but not a deal breaker if there is plenty of wade fishing close to base. I have been to the Norfolk tailwaters and White River area in Arkansas that fits our preferences, but I would prefer a smaller less crowded stream and somewhere new. Definitely not a trout park. And would prefer MO waters, I'm not familiar with MO trout waters west of the Eleven Point. Thanks in advance, Mark

Anyone ever play "bottle caps"? As a child, I remember the men playing this baseball variation game behind the tavern. The bartender would keep the bottle caps in buckets, and on Saturday afternoons the men would play. Similar to their wiffleball rules.No base running. Pitcher, catcher, and batters. One strike IF the barehanded catcher caught it. Used a broom handle for a bat. Only singles and home runs. Amazing how some of the oldtimers could wizz the caps.

Me either. History like the cave should be shared by all of us.

You didn't say when you were planning to float but the river is at 2,230 cfs today at Bardley - way too high to float anytime soon. Water level could be most important factor on when to float and catch fish. I find anything over 1,000 cfs tough fishing from a canoe, others may say different, but you fly thru the good rapids, and hard to wade. Over 1,200-1,400 cfs it gets fast to fish, better have a jetboat. I find 700-800 cfs ideal for float and wade fishing - summer levels. Seems like for the past 4-5 yrs, it's been too high to fish and float in the spring. If you're wanting to harvest trout to throw on the grill at camp, be advised that Greer to Turner is Trophy area and limit of 1 over 18" and artificial only. Below Turner is limit of 4, no size or bait restrictions. See the thread above that is pinned at the top of Eleven Point section titled "Float Trip Planning Question" for more advice and also "River Levels" is pinned to keep an eye on the gauge at Bardley. And fish deep for trout.

It's so dry around here, we got tadpoles 3 months old that don't know how to swim. I caught a catfish the other day that had a wood tick on it.

Yep, cattle were IN the river the only time I floated from Thomasville. No fences on either side. I'm sure it's a daily occurrence.

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't the 1/4 mile easement only extend from Greer to just above Riverton? The Eleven Point SP is below Riverton. I'm not understanding that - is there an easement preventing development along the entire river? There are houses and cabins on the river on the lower Eleven Point. Also I don't believe the DNR have stated their long term plans. At this point, I thought it was only to add campsites well off the river for hunters. I'm on the fence on the development. I love that their is no development on most of the upper river, and none on the middle section. I do think it is a underused asset for a low income county. There's no where for full service RV use. I realize Greer CG had electric but meth heads keeps destroying for wiring. One nice RV/tent campground with electric/water/restroom/showers below Riverton I would think would bring revenue to the county. I do get the feeling that the majority of locals want to keep it just like it is now, and I'm fine with that too. It is one of MO's most beautiful, primitive areas, and one of MO's best kept secrets.

Eleven Point Canoe Rental in Alton or Huffstedler's in Riverton. Mike Jones owns both and a great guy - he'll take care of any wish.

Tyler, I'll say if you don't mind a some work the first day and wanting some adventure, I've done the upper 11 pt once in July when the water level was normal summer flow. Yes, the first 3 miles was some work, it's a small creek at the headwaters. A spring enter at 3 miles and 3 more springs in the next 3 miles - all 4 are worth seeing. Not too bad after the first 3 miles from what I remember. Although we weren't hauling camping gear either making a big difference. You'll definitely have the river to yourselves all the way to Greer.

Brian, what's the number of the person who handles your cottage rentals?

I'm not following you, Gavin. I'm not wanting to float. I'm wanting to wade smallmouth fish, camp out of vehicle for a night or two, and was looking at the accesses on the upper Bryant and upper NFOW. My thinking that the upper reaches would be shallow creeklike waters. What does sketchy mean?

I was hoping to "wade fish" and you say "bank fish". I was hoping to be far enough upstream the that the water would be shallow enough to wade. Are both those accesses deeper water? Of course I realize all streams are high right now. Thanks for your help.

With my usual streams blown out, I'm looking for somewhere to camp out of my truck with some wade fishing. Figuring I'm going to be limited to the upper reaches of smaller streams that may drain faster and water goes down fast. Is there any place on the upper Bryant (or upper NFOW) where I can pitch a tent and wade fish?

Agree, at first I was hoping by June 1st, then July, now I'm starting to doubt all summer for a vacation. Not just for my own personal safety, just the idea of everyone being on covid alert everywhere I go.

Good point about the covid. I'm kinda on hold too. No point in going on vacation if I can't have a few beers in a bar or brewery.

I'm thinking July. I'll probably do as you say for camping and ,yes, plan to take US 61 along Lake Superior. You seem to know your way around there...besides streams, if you had to pick one area for scenery and fishing, where would you go? I've never caught a walleye, pike, pr nuskie. And more interested in smallies than trout. If you said "go here and you'll catch walleye" where would that be? Also, travelling solo after a couple days I'll be ready to find a brewery or bar and socialize a little, so I'm going to camp within a half hour of a town.

I've researched quite a bit and am on BWCA forum. I get it that the real way to experience the boundary waters is by canoe or boat where permitted. For various reasons (mainly I'm 62 and some physical issues), I'm wanting to base camp out of my truck on the water preferably for free and on a small stream to wade. The BWCA forum posters gave me a few good leads for lakes for free camping. But I've been amazed that there are so few free camping places on water with the thousands of lakes in the Northwoods, and haven't found one on a stream. (Yes, I know I can primitive camp in National Forest but must be 300 feet from water for dispersed camping.) Guess I'm spoiled in MO with so many free places to camp on our streams. I did find last night an Ash River State Park for $14 per night w/well water and vault toilets. I can handle that, but amazed most campgrounds at resorts were $25-30+, and cabins are out of my price range travelling solo. I'm hoping to explore the area in 10-14 days but travelling on a frugal budget. I'll want a shower and bed (and civilization) every 3rd or 4th day, and long travel days, so there's $400-500+ in lodging alone. Thanks for tip on resort people hauling you in and out. I can handle that. Or I can afford to rent a canoe for a day or two from base camp. Solo camping out of a canoe can be a lot of work I guess I'm hoping for someone to give me their secret free honey hole not on the map! LOL I am amazed that with all the wilderness that there aren't primitive Forest Service camp from vehicle sites on the water for $10 per night everywhere. Quite the opposite.

wily, ash river is on my radar. Can I drive to the "remote camping sites" or are they water accessible only sights? For expense purposes, I am wanting to camp like 3-4 nights out of my vehicle and grab a room for a couple nights. I would appreciate more info, esp on camping sites. It seems like someone mentioned on another forum something about a bridge on the Ash River with free camping under it. I may be confused on that.

Thanks Al, since posting that, I found where ONSR are closed until at least May 10th when further determinations will be made. Guessing that includes Eleven Point too.

If the state is reopening tomorrow, May 4th, is it legal to gravel bar camp on a river?

HAHA Watching a show on the Mississippi River in MN right now!! Don't have a jet and don't want to haul my johnboat that far. I would like to float a day or two. Maybe you can help?? I would really like to find a good stream to camp out of my truck and wade fish, preferably free/cheap dispersed camping. I've been disappointed in my research. There doesn't appear to be many free/cheap camping spots on water in MN, unless they aren't advertised. We are spoiled in MO with so much free public camping.