Mark

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.

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.