Mark

OZARK MOUNTAIN DAREDEVILS - end of subject! I got the moon out my window in the night. I got the sun out my doorway when it gets light. I got stones on the mountain and the clear, blue, windswept sky. Thank you Lord, you made it right, you made it right.

I have found this entire thread both entertaining and hilarious, especially the "holier than thou" attitudes of some, as if they are the righteous outdoorsmen and all who don't heed to their code of ethics are an abomination to Mother Nature. As long as people are following the law, they have as much right to enjoy the outdoors in the manner they see fit, as any of you self righteous bags of hot air. Most of you remind me of the country club snobs who look down on me when I walk in with dirty tennis shoes, shorts, T shirt, and old persimmon golf clubs, when I could kick the dog snot out of most of them on the golf course.

As I always say, with the awesome scenery, catching fish is just a bonus on the Eleven Point.

Our annual fall float/fishing trip was this past weekend. The water was low and clear. The weather was ideal - mid 70s and sunny. A few leaves were starting to fall on the water. A couple of guys came down a day early and floated the Blue Ribbon Area. One of them caught a 22" hog on a white rooster tail. His partner caught a few in the 15" range. They had to bust tail to get to Turner by 2:30 for the takeout. Five of us floated with one canoe and one jet boat on Saturday from Turner to Whitten. Fishing was a little more difficult but the usual holes around bends produced the usual results with a fish or two out of each hole. I was surprised by the amount of canoe traffic for this time of year. We ran across a bachelor party from Cape, and a group of Amish boys who were fascinated with the jet boat. There were several other groups of 4-8 people throughout the day. We all must have started at about the same time as we all seemed to hopscotch each other all day. Fortunately, there was no other jet boats on the river. Peaceful day, beautiful scenery as the trees were just starting to change, enough good fishing to keep us interested, and a great way to spend a fall day. Our fall trip is always one of the best times of the year.

Thanks to all for advice and tips. We'll see how the group does first couple of days as 2 friends are coming in Thurs for a half day and we'll all be in Friday for fishing the trout waters. Just thinking if fishing is too slow for our liking, I might be willing to float Riverton to Hwy 142 or the Narrows. I've heard there are some pretty stretches and heard the Narrows is awesome with the 3 springs close by. Regardless, I expect the woods to be spectacular. I always consider the catching fish to be a bonus to an already great adventure. And I'm always up for a new adventure, Snap!!

I'm wondering if the trout are a little skittish, if it might be a good idea to smallmoutn fish and float Cane Bluff to Greer or Riverton to HWY 142 - both stretches that I have never floated before. Anyone covered those areas lately?

The boys from Ste. Gen. County will be down as well for our annual fall float. Even if fishing is tough, what a beautiful time of year to be on the river!! BTW - anyone care to explain the logic of different tippet for low water?

I will stick to the Catch and Release Area that is being discussed. I am opposed to it on the river of my choice, the Eleven Point River, simply because I think the Blue Ribbon Area essentially provides the same protection for the trout population as adding a Catch and Release Area would provide. From Greer to Turner Mill is a 5 mile stretch of Blue Ribbon area, and from Turner to Whitten is about a 15 mile stretch of White Ribbon area. I really can't see the advantage of a buffer area of Catch and Release in between the Blue Ribbon and White Ribbon. A much bigger issue is the poaching that goes on on the Eleven Point. And who would patrol the Catch and Release areas?

This topic is my biggest pet peeve. I've actually been wade fishing and have boats pull up directly in front of me and start fishing - and they have the whole river to fish! My best response ever - it was summer time and I put my pole down and went for a swim - RIGHT WHERE THEY WERE TRYING TO FISH!!! My buddies on the bank got a laugh out of that one!!

Now Gavin, don't you know that most of the self righteous on here will admonish you for not throwing an 18" back.

I can vouch that the trout I have cleaned from the Eleven Point are feeding on crawdads

I am just a "bait chucker" as I've been called on this thread and not near as high and almighty as you egomaniacal flyfishermen who somehow think us "bait chuckers" are a lower class of outdoorsmen than your self-glorifying nobility. My friends and I fish almost exclusively the white ribbon section of the Eleven Point River 4-5 times a year. We all travel several hours because we love the river and want to catch fish to eat. There are plenty of smallmouth streams alot closer to home if we want to catch smallmouth. We spend a lot of money in the Alton area, as well as recommend the area to friends and family, who in turn spend their money in the area. If the regulations changed, or the river wasn't stocked as heavily as it is now, I am popsitive we wouldn't come to the area as much as we do now. And this is an area that needs the revenue from tourism. But then again, we are just lowlife "bait chuckers" that are raping the river.

I am hearing rumors of a possible new breed of Sasquatch (Delvis aur Memphious) entering the Eleven Point Area today. Creature is known to have usually long, lushious, abundant body hair. IF you see such a creature on the river this weekend in a green johnboat, approach with caution, he may be extremely belligerent at times.

WOW this is the first year when our annual fall trip doesn't coincide with your Fall Fly Flingers. We'll be down a week early. Hopefully Delvis and Snap will leave some fish for you guys!!

Good report, slack line. BTW were you camping on the river? Are there plenty of place to camp on the Blue Ribbon Area? And I'm assuming the river traffic has slowed down since school has started - did you see many people on the river?

Any surprises from the shock? How does the population look?

Great report Tito. The Ste. Gen. boys will be down in a few weeks for our annual fall float, always the same time as Brian's Fall Fly Fishermen BBQ. Can't wait!! The river is always beautiful that time of years with clear water, trees starting to turn colors, not much river traffic with turkey season going on, and cooler temperatures make for great camping Of course I wouldn't mind being on the river today with temps in the low 90s - too hot for late Sept.

No I have enough of those as friends!@!

A buddy and myself had a great vacation in late July. The Crystal River was perfect for us - a wadeable stream, no special regs as we are spin cast, bait fishermen, (use worms the whole time), and the area had plenty of campgrounds without huge crowds. The road runs right along the Crystal River with plenty of spots to pull over and fish. We stayed at Bogan Flats NF Campground right on the river with public access and public water to fish for about 7 miles downstream to almost the town of Redstone and 1 mile upstream to the town of Marble. We were about 17 miles from Carbondale, the closest town of any size for groceries and restaurants. We were about 50 miles from Glenwood Springs on I-70. The more famous Golden Trout Waters of the Roaring River and the Fryingpan River were close by, but both were more restricted on regs and had more people. There were lots of campgrounds in the area. We took a chance on the Crystal River for a couple of good ol' bait fishermen and it was all we could have asked for. I would recommend the Crystal River to anyone.

I too love reading the history of the area. Several new members have joined OAF since I started a thread a few years ago about the history of the Eleven Point area and Oregon County, which turned into a lengthy thread with lots of great stories and personal antedotes (ex. Thomasville had an extraordinary men's baseball team in the early 20th century, including a couple guys who ended up playing for the St. Louis Browns.) Maybe we should start it again.

Thanks all -we decided to forgo the crowds and fish private lakes locally. But info was useful and we'll save for future reference.

Thanks all for advice - we decided to forgo the crowds and fish private lakes close to home. By I will save info provide.

Any of my Eleven Point regulars have knowledge of North Fork of the White? Primarily concerning cheap hotels or cabins??? Urgent help needed - late planning for Labor Day trip. Respond here or on my post on North Fork of the White thread. thanks for any help Mark

Planning first trip to North Fork. Plan on floating Patrick Bridge to Norfolk. Is there any other access points along this stretch? We would prefer cheap lodging - hotel or cheap cabin. Is there anything within 1/2 hour of this section. We would not be willing to pay $100 per night. IF NOT, we will bring camping gear. Is camping on gravel bars in this stretch permitted? First time trip on the North Fork. Any advice, suggestions, etc. would be appreciated. Thanks in advance, Mark

Thanks Al, I enjoy your reports and learn from them. I believe in your "run and gun" spread offense.