Mark

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.

I think everyone should divulge the locations of their honey holes - as well as the phone number to your favorite mistress.

Are your hexes anything like the hexes on put on my fellow fishermen when we wager on biggest fish?

Just a few thoughts: What's the difference between people that hunt on private reserves that shoot animals that are released and fishing at the trout parks where fish are dumped by the truckload (which I have never understood "What is the sport in that?"). Maybe a better solution for the guy with the fox and coyote problem. Make an offer to some local hunters to come in and hunt the foxes and coyotes. I would love to eat nothing but free range beef, pork, and chicken, but is that possible now a days? Well, pigs have always been a filthy animal, which is why some religions don't eat pork. But man I love bacon, chops, BBQ pork steaks, and sausage.

I came across the cattle in the Thomasville to Cane Bluff stretcha couple of years ago and started a thread on this forum. SOL, folks!! Private property owners have the right to have their cattle cross the Eleven Point, and deposit all their crap, in that area. Really is disgusting but nothing can be done to the owners. I find it hard to believe that a cattle pond couldn't be built on the property. I WILL NEVER FLOAT FROM THOMASVILLE TO CANE BLUFF AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE CATTLE FECES IN THE WATER!!!!

Sent you an email. Thanks for all the advice. It is helping with narrowing down some research. Feel free to reply any more suggestions.

Planning a Colorado trip in mid July. Seeking specific info with the following stipulations; 1)Finding a campsite on a river that if somewhat secluded. We want to be able to walk from camp to the river in a few minutes if not camping right on the river. 2)We are bait fishermen. RIver must be in area without artificial bait restrictions.

Sure hope the river goes down this week. Coming in next Monday for a week of camping. And bringing in some family who have never been on the Eleven Point before for the first weekend of June.

Sounds like a place we should camp!!

Thanks for the info. I'm sure we will try this section this summer and I'll give a report.

I have asked Mike Jones from Hufstedler's this question but I can't remember exactly what he said. Is there still public ground on which to camp from Riverton to the Narrows? I believe there is some private land in that stretch but there is public gravel bars on which to camp. Then I believe once you get below the Narrows, it is almost exclusively private land to the Arkansas state line. I have never floated the stretch from Riverton to the Narrows and would like to do so and also camp along the way. Is that possible without getting shot!!?? I would think that this stretch doesn't get as much use and would be good smallmouth fishing. Where does the 25 HP limit end? Also I have heard the area at the Narrows with 3 springs is worth the trip. Is there any other features on the lower stretch that would make it worth spending a couple of days? Can anyone clear up the camping possibilities from Riverton south? Thanks, Mark

I can't waot until I can go out and kill me one!!

Thanks all, I will print off suggestions and keep handy for the trip. YOu all know how it is to go somewhere new and waste a half a day figuring out the ropes. But 2 vehicles won't be an option. Our tentative plans are to take 10-12 days, hit the White River, Little Red River, and Buffalo River in Arkansas and head to SW MO and hit some trout streams in SW and South Central MO that we haven't fished. We are only taking 1 pickup truck with the canoe strapped to the top. Is shuttling going to be a problem on Niangua River? We would gladly pay a local for a shuttle - drop canoe off at put in and leave my truck at the take out. ONESHOT - would you be willing to make an easy $20 to help out a fellow OAF member? Also on the Missouri Conservation Dept. mile by mile description, the Bennett to Barclay float is 6.4 miles - just right for us. But Lead Mine is not listed on mile by mile. And is there still trout from Barclay to Prosperine? Other good fishing in this section? While we are in this area - is there any "must see" sights?

Just leave our guitars and cooler!!

No problem on the samllmouth!! We are wanting to trout fish/wade fish/camp on gravel bar. We really like camp spots where you can wade upstream and downstream a half mile or so, and just hang out for a couple days. Is there a stretch of such water along the way that you could recommend?

Yes, we prefer floating downstream vs. floating upstream!! HA (I couldn't resist that one!) Motor comes in handy where getting to spots that you float by quickly and can turn around and spots that are tough to reach by paddling. Good to know gravel bars are OK to camp on, that's whatwe will be looking for. Do the smallies really have a nasty taste? I can relate - fishing the Mississippi backwaters around here, all fish have that muddy taste!! Thanks, Eric, any more advice is welcome.

I am planning my first trip to the Niangua this summer. We hope to float and camp on the river. Is there places to camp or is it all private land? If we have to camp in a private campground - what would you suggest considering we would definitely want to camp on the riverbank? I have a 2.5 HP motor on my square stern canoe - is that legal? Is the shuttle services available and reasonable? Since we have never been there, is it a safe easy float? Any tricky spots to look out for? Plenty of ripples and shoals? Any springs or "must see" sights along the way? It could be a mid July float - what can we expect with the fishing? Thanks, in advance. Mark Ste. Genevieve, MO

Ozark Trout Fisherman, It just goes to show you - different strokes for different folks. Your idea is exactly how we like to do it - especially for a nice change of pace. We float 5-6 times a year (and limit our floats to 7 miles for the exact reason you stated - too much time paddling instead of fishing), but once a year we like to set up camp and stay there the whole time. Me and a buddy will be on the river also the first week of June and will be camping at one spot all week instead of floating (with a couple more people joing us later in the week). We find it much more relaxing - we even take our guitars!! One suggestion you might want to consider - we hire Mike Jones from Hufstedlers to haul us and all our gear in to our camping spot and we arrange for him to come and pick us up on whatever day we want. That way we can haul in everything but the kitchen sink and not worry about dumping our canoe. A good cooler with block ice will last 3-4 days. Mike does this for us for about $30 per person. The secret is finding a spot where you can wade upstream and downstream about a 1/4 mile or so. That time of year you are going to catch fish about everywhere up and down the river. We actually got a laugh last year as we would time ourselves - we would sit in our lawn chairs and get up and catch a fish once an hour right at our camp!! We did this all day without fail!! What is nice about this method is you can fish the ideal times of day, early morning and late evening, and not have to worry about setting up or tearing down camp each day. We would also cook our main meal of the day in midafternoon and have all evening to fish, enjoy happy hour, play guitar, and listen to Cardinal baseball on the radio. As we are totally bait fishermen, we stay in the White Ribbon area. There are numerous spots we have stayed for several days. Stinking Pond (1/4 mile down from Turner Access), Tumbling Shoals (the largest, swiftest shoals about halfway between Turner and Whitten), and Whites Creek (about 1/4 mile down from Whitten)are a few of our favorites (AND MY BUDDIES WILL BE MAD AT ME FOR GIVING UP OUR HONEY HOLES!!). And all of these place provide afternoon and evening shade. But we are trying a new spot this year for some variety. I highly recommend trying your idea out. After a couple days of getting camp set up just right, you won't want to leave. IF you see a couple guys sitting on a gravel bar with guitars, stop by for a cold one and hear some Ozark Mountain Daredevils!!!!

YEAH by all means, be as courteous to jet prop hunters as they are to others on the river!!