Mark

Thanks for the tip. Snap called and talked to the guy. He had some people coming to look at it last week. He said the motor was over 30 years old and we really didn't want to drive 4-5 hrs. to see it or pay $2200 for a 30 year old motor. You know, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If anyone one hears of something, we most definitely are interested in buying this winter. Thanks, MArk

Al, Good report. Skip Weiler and I are searching for a jet prop also. Did you buy your's new at Clearwater? We hope to have one by spring. Maybe we can race them down the Saline!! Tell Mary to quit being such a baby!! HA Mark Vogt

Thanks a bunch, will call tonight. I really appreciate it.

Here's a novel idea - how about not riding horses in the rivers? There are THOUSANDS of acres of land to ride horses on in Missouri without polluting our pristine waterways with horse crap.

Our annual Oct. trip was well worthwhile this year. Snap, myself, (from Ste. Genevieve, MO) and friends Del and Mike from Memphis set sail in canoes from Turner's Mill at 9 am on a chily Sat. morning with the fog still rising off the water. The water level was slightly up, maybe 6-12 inches about normal, and was clearer than expected due to recent rains. Fall colors were spectactular with various shades of yellow, red, and green leaves on the trees. Now, friends, we're your ultralight/power egg wade fishing crowd that likes to catch supper, although Mike was a self-proclaimed fly fishing expert with intentions on showing up the rest of us. So away we went to the first shoals below Turner's and after a few casts, Snap and I decided to leave that spot to Del and Mike, and we ventured down to the first island. Quickly Snap had a 13 incher on the stringer. I hear a commotion and notice Snap scampering for his camera, so I investigated and saw Snap taking snapshots of a medium size doe swimming across the river just above the island. Within another 10 minutes Snap had hauled in another fish, while I missed a couple bites because of lack of patience. We eventually pulled out our lawnchairs and waited for our partners to catch up. They eventually floated down to us with a couple fish on Del's stringers. We were all pleased (especially Del who has made a couple trips with us without great success). We moved on to the next spot with moving water that stretch out for several hundred yards around a turn with a deep hole underneath a bluff and the group spread out to all fish the hole. I prefer the deeper tailwaters of the moving water and positioned myself downstream from my compadres. I quickly got on the board with two catches in the 12-13 inch range. We fish the river by stopping at the various rapids, park the canoe, and get out and wade. On our 7 mile float from Turner to Whitten, this method allows us to stop at most spots for 20 minutes or so, and make a few casts. So we continued this method into early afternoon when we decided to eat lunch (bologna sandwiches) at Horseshoe Bend. When we stopped we discovered Snap, Del, and myself each had 3 fish, and Mike (our fly expert fishing didn't have a fish). He had given up on the fly fishing and joined us in the ultra light division for fear of getting shown up. Snap and I quickly caught our 4th fish, and turned the fishing hole over to Mike as we sat back and listened to the Mizzou game on the radio as Del began Happy Hour. Mike quickly caught his first of the day, much to his delight, and within a short time he landed a 16 1/2 incher, the catch of the day. After congratulations and pictures for him to brag to his Memphis buddies, it began clouding up and we decided to start making our way to Whitten. Del continued to fish as we floated and caught his limit much to his delight. We pulled into Whitten about 4:30 with 15 fish. We stayed at the Rose Cottage in Alton, and had a delicious dinner of fried fillets, grilled trout, and shrimp, alomg with the customary cocktails, served just as the World Series game was beginning. The trip couldn't have been better, except for the Cardinals losing, but still was one of our better trips to the Eleven Point River.

I would just like to add that the current owners, Mike and Wendy Jones, are about the most hospitable people you could ever hope to meet. We have used Hufstedlers for the past 10 years and Mike would do about anything to accommodate your every wish.

OK I know what you mean. Anyway, we'll keep that in mind, but really want a jet motor.

A bad day fishing is better than a good day working anytime, right Snap? Hey, don't forget to bring your "tourist" hat, vest, and clothing, we don't want anybody to confuse you for a local!! Heh heh heh, as Mike Shannon would say!!!

Thanks, Brian. Now I'm psyched!!! I was afraid the water would be murky.

10/19 Hoping the water has dropped some and is clearing a little. Sure looking forward to fishing Friday and Saturday. Anyone with a newer report since Wednesday's crest??

Thanks Wayne and JD, Hey Guys, your terminology is WAY over my head - I know nothing about motors - all I know is there is a 25 HP limit on the Eleven Point - we're hoping to find used boat and used/new motor - hoping to stay under $4,500. Wayne - I'm assuming a prop guarded motor is a regular propellor motor with a guard around the propellor?? Not sure if that would work through shallow rapids like a jet propelled motor. Would it?? JD - we're from Ste. Genevieve so Bonne Terre store is close - we'll check it out. Stopping by Doniphan store Friday morning. I like what you said about them knowing exactly what we're looking for and easy to deal with. This weekend is a good example of why we would like a jon boat with jet prop vs. a canoe. It's going to be a little chilly, and even an experienced canoeist tips over once in awhile. (It's been about 4 years since I tipped) It would be awful cold getting wet this time of year. Any help you guys can give would be apreciated. Mark

Welcome Doug. Good luck with your new hobby!! In my humble opinion, skip the trout parks unless you don't mind crowds, fishing side by side with hundreds, etc. I call them the Six Flags for fishing. Sure you catch fish, you can hear them dumping them at night from inside your tent. You may as well be fishing in a 55 gallon barrel. Get out on one of the many Ozark streams, even just outside the trout parks. The quiet solitude of fishing a stream all by yourself is priceless, even if the fish aren't biting. You will learn some on your own, and then start to ask questions.

Hey, JD, we are stopping in at Doniphan Friday morning on our way to Eleven Point - thanks for the tip. Snap and I have been keeping our eyes open for the past year or so, nothing ever for sale with jet prop in our area, internet or St. Louis papers. Again, JD and OAF readers, we're 50ish and make 4-5 trips a year to the Eleven Point and have seen the river from a canoe many, many times. We're not the type that are gonna be racing up and down the river - I know from personal experience that those types can ruin a trip for others. We are wade fishermen and will use the boat as a taxi. We find that we just spend more time in a canoe than we like, especially at the end of the day we are always "making time" to get to our takeout when it's prime time for fishing. Plus we like camping for a week at a time when school let's out (we're both teachers) and a motorboat would make that much easier. (Trips to town for supplies, and eliminates the shuttling of cars and the hauling of canoes back to the nearest access upstream from camp.) I do understand and can appreciate everyone's comments about motorboat use on the Eleven Point detracting from the enjoyment and sererity of the primitive wilderness experience for others in canoes. That is what we LOVE most about the Eleven Point River and will try our best not to be a nuisance to others. Thanks JD and anyone else who can give us a lead. Mark

I'm looking for a used or new 18-21 foot jon boat with jet prop motor. Anyone know where I can find one? Any help is appreciated. Mark

Thanks, Brian, I'll look for your river conditions report. We got about 3-4 inches much needed rain in Ste. Genevieve area. I'm assuming the fly fishing event will be in the Blue Ribbon area. We fish the White Ribbon area and are ultra light fishermen, so we'll probably skip the fly fishing gathering. (We wouldn't want you guys looking down on us!! HA HA) I enjoy your reports and thanks for your posts on conditions. Mark

Fried Bluegill (Skin on and fillet) - skin on will form a little cup -add spoonfull of salsa and jalapeno - man I don't get any better with a bottle of suds

St. Louis TV said parts of southern MO could get 4-6 inches of rain on Monday. Sure hope not that much, it could put a damper on my plans to fish Eleven Point this Friday and Saturday.

Thanks, JD and Carp. We are heading down next weekend to check things out. We've been told we could get set up with a jet prop and boat for about $4000. Does that sound about right?

Mark Vogt, Ste. Genevieve High school teacher and coach. Love this site Phil and thanks for straightening out my log in problems. Snap and I are Eleven Point trout fishing enthusiasts and regular OA forum readers. Together we have been travelling to the Eleven Point for the past 10 years and introducing many of our friends to the river and trout fishing. Mike and Wendy Jones at Hufstedlers in Riverton are great sources of hospitality and have been valuable to our enjoyment of the river. No place I would rather be that fishing and camping on the Eleven Point River. It is indeed the "Hidden Jewel of the Ozarks". Anyone who hasn't visited the area - make a weekday float trip sometime and you will swear you've stepped back in time 200 years.

Thanks, JD. I'm with you on being responsible and considerate of others on the river with a motor boat. Snap and I have been coming down to the Eleven Point for 10 years and love the rugged wilderness aspect of the river, and sometimes too many motor boats interrupt the isolated feel to the river. But we won't be the ones you see racing up and down the river all day. We prefer to wade fish. The shortest trip you can make is seven miles and in a canoe we find ourselves paddling or "making time" more than we want to in order to get to the takeout spot by dark. That would be the biggest advantage of a motor boat vs. a canoe to us. What's the name of the boat place in Doniphan? Thanks, Mark

I'm with you Snap. Does anybody know where we can find a boat and jet prop? Surely, someone is the Alton area knows where we could buy one.

So, it seems most of the flooding was below Riverton and the 160 bridge. Does anyone have any reports from the Turner to Riverton stretch? We do a lot of fishing and camping in that stretch. I'm kind of hoping the high water cleaned off some of our favorite gravel bars and dug out some favorite holes. Me and fellow OAF member Snap are making our annual Oct. trip on the weekend of the 20-21, and I'm kind of anxious to see if there are any subtle changes since August. I found an incredible arrowhead (sitting in my lawnchair and happened to look down at my feet) near White's Creek mouth in June. Perfect shape for spearfishing, about 3 inches long. Maybe the floodwaters churned up some more. THE ELEVEN POINT IS THE HIDDEN JEWEL OF THE OZARKS.