Mark

jdmidwest - where are you from?

Thanks, Brian, we are planning on heading down this Friday if the weather is OK. Looking forward to seeing the changes.

Best news we've had in awhile.

ksir10 Snap and I and our group will be arriving the second Sunday of June for our annual weeklong adventure. To get the full wonder of the experience, I suggest camping on a gravel bar rather than the float camps which tend to sit back off the water a ways. While they are not that numerous, if you are floating and start looking for campsites by midafternoon, you will be all right. Hope you enjoy the trip and we look forward to your report. Feel free to ask any more questions. Mark

To the NEW GUYS: At least 3 posters on this thread have never floated/fished the Eleven Point River. I have learned not to advertise too much because I (and most others) would like to see the river never change. But for those of you not familiar with the Eleven Point River, you are missing out on the "Hidden Jewel of the Ozarks". First and foremost, the appeal of the river is it's seclusion and undevelopment. It is truly just you and nature - very little trash, no houses, public land on both sides of the river from Greer to Riverton (21 miles of Ozark National Scenic Riverways), and numerous springs, old mills, and caves to explore. In spring and fall, during the week you will practically have the river to yourself. Even in the summer time, most weekdays have very little traffic. Even weekends are not nearly as crowded as other more famous Missouri rivers. You do get the sense when floating the Eleven Point River that you have stepped back in time to when the first settlers came across the area. You are totally isolated from civilization. The float itself is relatively easy, with a couple of spots that will get your heart racing, but if you want to be safe and not get supplies wet or lost, I still occasionally walk the canoe around a couple tricky spots from the bank with a rope, especially with all my camping gear. And the access points are scattered out in such a manner that you can do a half day float (5 or 7 miles), a full day float (12 or 14 miles) or several days (21 miles and over). There is no reason to ever have to rush to the takeout if you plan a slow pace. It is spring fed (even on the hottest day in the summer, it will take your breathe away when you first jump in) and with enough water to float year round (even in dry summers like last year). Secondly, the fishing can be great at times. The Missouri Department of Conservation regularly stocks the entire river from Greer to Riverton with trout. Even a novice has a chance to catch fish most of the time. Most trout will be in the 12"-15" range but it's not the trout parks (which I call amusement parks), where it's like shooting fish in a barrel, you do have to work sometimes to catch fish. But usually it is no problem catching enough for supper. We only fish for trout, but many people swear by the smallmouth fishing, supposedly there is walleye to be found below Riverton, and I even have a friend who is satisfied to catch panfish for supper. Lastly, service is great at all the canoe rental places and in Alton. People will do anything you ask of them, whether is meeting you at a certain time, helping shuttle vehicles, offering advice on fishing/floating/camping areas. We have discovered numerous houses to rent overnight very affordable and clean, good food in the restaurants, and everyone in town is very hospitable, not like some places where tourists are treated like a nuisance. So those of you thinking about a trip on the Eleven Point River, I highly recommend it, but please - SSSSHHHHH - keep it to yourselves, we like it just the way it is!! HA Mark

How are the gravel roads into Turner's North and South, Whitten, and McDowell? I see the Bardley gauge is down to about 7 ft today (Monday). That's a good sign. Our trip is in 2 weeks and we were having our doubts. I feel a little more optimistic today. Hopefully no more gulley washers for a while.

Thanks, Brian, we'll keep those river levels in mind.

Water down to 6 ft. at Bardley. Hope it continues to drop.

The Devil Dick Boze story from "History of the Irish Wilderness" - During the Civil War and for a 3 year period after, bands of outlaws roamed the Ozarks. One such group, led by a man who rode with Quantrill, was Devil Dick Boze. His group had hideouts in the hills of the Eleven Point River and is thought to have used the Irish Wilderness as a hideout. Devil Dick Boze's relatives owned and operated Boze Mill on the Eleven Point River. By 1868, this group increased in number and daring to he point where the Oregon County court ordered a militia to be formed to track down his gang. Most fled to the Texas and Oklahoma territories, but Devil Dick chose to make his last stand and was gunned down by the Kansas 7th Militia in a fiery battle. The court awarded Captain Greer $1.50 to build his coffin. Devil Dick is buried in the Spring Creek Cemetery. Some say that Boze Mill is haunted by the ghost of Devil Dick Boze.

The "History of the Irish Wilderness" was a short book written in 1970 and can be found in it's entirety on the Internet. It's only about 60 pages and fascinating reading. Archealogical digs at Greer Springs discovered remnants dating back 9,700 years - just a little bit before Columbus!! HA

Since we have another flood occurring, I thought I would change topics and hopefully get some discussion from the locals. Since I have been coming to the Eleven Point area regularly for the past 12 years, I have become interested in Oregon County history. The Internet has many interesting tales - the Irish Wilderness story is fantastic, the Civil War Era with the bushwackers, raiders, guerrillas, the burning of Alton , the Kansas 7th Calvary hunting down Devil Dick Boze and the subsequent "haunted" stories , White's Creek Cave once was home to a substantial Indian community, and Thomasville was renown for its baseball team back in the early twentieth century . Does anyone have any old history stories they would like to tell? I think it would be an interesting topic while we wait for the river to recede again and we can get back to talking fishing.

Thanks, Brian. We are very anxious to get reports down river, too. I am guessing our first trip down will be taken very carefully, as I'm sure there are more downed trees sticking up in spots. Glad to hear the fresh supply of firewood though, it was slim pickings the past couple of years around the gravel bars.

Exactly!! I am excited to hear reports of river changes. Can't wait to get down there myself. Maybe even some fresh deposits of sand moved around for some comfortable camp sites.

I'll bet there is a fresh supply of camp firewood.

WOW!! That's hard to imagine. But as our esteemed angler, Al Agnew, pointed out on the "General Discussion" board, a flood of this magnitude is bound to change the river for the better. Smaller floods may tend to fill in some holes with gravel, but with a flood this size, the massive volume of water that will be going over ledges and around bends is bound to wash out some deep holes. I know the hole below Horseshoe Bend has filled in with sand and gravel in just the past couple of years. I guessing the river will be different in some places when it gets back to normal flow.

Congratulations to you for such a noble endevour. Irregardless of each of our political positons, we owe our servicemen and servicewomen a tremendous gratitude. Thank you for your kindness.

GOSH DARN IT!! Thanks Brian. Hopefully we will make the most of our trip. Pouring buckets here 60 miles south of St. Louis too.

Thanks guys, I don't know what the weathermen are saying in Springfield, but St. Louis and Cape weathermen are saying 3"-6" of rain for most of N. Ark. and S. Mo on Tues into Wed. I would think that would render the river virtually unfishable for several days. A wed. morning update would be greatly appreciated.

We are heading down to the Eleven Point River on Wed. for a couple days of fishing. The weather forecast doesn't look good, as heavy rains and high river levels are called for and would dampen our trip. As an alternative, what is the fishing like at McCormick Lake? Could we catch some crappie, bluegill, or catfish? Thanks for any help. Mark

Thanks Brian, We're starting to get nervous about the water level for our trip on Thurs/Fri/Sat before Easter. We have a group of 8-10 guys going for like our 11th year in a row alternating between the Eleven Point and the White River. This year we're back to the Eleven Point. The weather has always cooperated until last year when we went to the White River in Arkansas. Friday and Saturday were like artic conditions. Spent a lot of time playing cards in the cottage. Hope that doesn't happen this year, although I guess there is worse ways to spend a couple of days. If you take any trips before March 19, we would appreciate a report on fishing and water levels. Thanks, Mark

Hey Al, I would like to talk to you about places to go in Colorado trout fishing this summer. Wyoming/Montana is too far for us. Mainly, we just want somewhere off the beaten path where we can camp, catch a few trout to eat and hang out. We don't care much for trophy areas and definitely don't like crowds. Can you send me an email with some thoughts. Mark Vogt mvogt@stegen.k12.mo.us

Thanks all. Al, I would like to tak to you more about it. I'll give you call if we start getting serious about it. For now, I'll keep researching. Any other info is appreciated. Keep in mind, we like to go on the cheap end of the spectrum.

A friend and I are wanting to go camping and trout fishing in the Rocky Mountains this summer. Could any of you give us some ideas on specific locations of places you have fished and camped? Thanks, Mark

Nice report - we talked about going to the Eleven Point last weekend but the weather scared us a little.

Good report Al. You're always welcome to join the SG boys on our Eleven Point trips.