Mark

Brian, heading down with another guy or two on Oct 7-9, and wanting to camp at a new site. Realize water is awful low right now and wondering about getting a jet boat (friend has jet, I will take my canoe to float one day) very far upstream or downstream from accesses. We have camped just about everywhere on the Turner to Whitten stretch and most familiar with that section, and want something new. If he launches boat at Turner, how far upstream will he be able to get and any good campsites we can get to. Or if he launches at Greer CG, how far downstream can we get and is there any good camp sites? OR if he launches at Whitten, how far down can we go downstream with the current low water level? Looking for some new scenery to camp. Advice appreciated. We need Rain!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mark

fishinwrench - what is F3T shindig?? Notice you replied to my post on NFOW also. Our fishing trips are almost limited to Eleven Point. We're wanting to try something different and see different scenery. Would like to catch some fish, of course, but mostly interested in a nice campsite on water, off the beaten path, pretty scenery, and some wading water. Any advice would be appreciated on any of the rivers you fish, and probably a one time trip for us so you wouldn't be given away info to somebody who is going to fish out your spots.

Buddy and myself have 3 day weekend Oct 7-9 and looking for some new fishing. Bringing own canoe w/2.5 HP motor. Prefer base camping at or near access with wade fishing, and float 1 day - several hr drive for both so arrive noonish on sat. and leave noonish on monday. I'll do some quick research but prefer 1st hand advice, understand not wanting to give up honey holes. Basically looking for a good somewhat secluded place to camp and wade fish, build a fire/BBQ/play some guitars/listen to ballgames and not get hassled or overrun by partyers. and hoping Oct is slow time for crowds. All advice appreciated and totally unfamiliar with the area. Mark

Is the Patrick Bridge campground open? With the current low river level, is it good wade fishing? Wanting to try something new, and interested in what it's like.

test

Should be limited to nongame fish. Shoot all the Asian carp you can!!

Jeff, good info to be forewarned on lack of gravel bars and I'm sure you wouldn't be happy in the float camps off the river as short distance. However as long as you don't wait too late to claim a spot on a gravel bar, you'll be ok finding a spot on the river. Like I said previously, about 5:00 or 6:00 you will need to start looking seriously for your spot. I've seen many people floating by when it is getting late and hear them say "Oh no they have our spot!!". Don't forget a fishing pole. Drift fishing is a good technique. Below Turner is no bait/size restrictions - worms, shrimp, minnows, crawdad, or any plastic likeness will work. Just a hook and enough weight to bounce off the bottom, cast behind the canoe, and keep floating and wait for a tug, (tug may be light so be ready to set the hook), and a good chance you'll caught something to throw on the grill!! Heading down Monday myself!! Usually very little traffic during the week.

WOW JD, I wasn't aware of that!!

Yeah, I think I remember reading something in American Govt class about "unreasonable search and seizure". Same for alcohol checkpoints. Not condoning poaching or drunk driving, but both reek of gestapo tactics and violation of our right to not be hassled by govt with unreasonable searches.

You won't find electric on the river. Otherwise Greer CG is nice on the river at Hwy 19 bridge. Private CGs w/electric near Alton but a few miles from river.

See Trip planning thread pinned at top.... Rivers levels should be good. All depends on how many miles you want to cover daily and if you are floating 2 full days or 3 full days. The Greer to Riverton float is 21 miles and the most scenic section but also the most traffic, although traffic is never what I consider congested on the 11 pt except for holidays. The river flattens out below Riverton for a good stretch, but the Narrows area is pretty. Open gravel bars can get scarce so you want to start looking by 5 or 6pm. If you haven't explored the springs on your first trip, I would recommend taking the time - Greer is a hike but worth it, Turner, Boze, Morgan, and the Narrows are all scenic. Lots of firewood!! Trout fishing was good 2 weeks ago. From Turner access down is White Ribbon - any bait, limit of 4 any size. Throw a line out 30' behind you as you float w/hook and enough sinker to bounce off the bottom and use corn, worms, catch a craydad or seine a few minnows, and you'll likely catch supper. Trout tap it lightly, be ready to set the hook!! Mike and Wendy Jones at Huffstedlers Canoe Rental at Riverton are good too and down river where you will likely take out. They will shuttle you or your vehicle. The MDC mile by mile map is useful.

Geez, Al, your average day is a record day for me. Wish I had your expertise! And wish I knew more about how to fish Ozark streams. I'm clueless, but enjoy trying!! I've thought about the old wood also from watching that TV show Ax Men about the loggers harvesting the old Cyprus in the bayou for big money.

Thanks guys, gonna hold off for a couple weeks. I was afraid it would still be tough wading, May hit the lake for blue gill. Love the fresh blue gill!!

Rymers, Buck Hollow, and Alley Springs open. Gavin, I've only went sight seeing once at all JF accesses. You seem pretty familiar. River is at 500 cfs now but was at 280 before Sat. rain. Nothing major in near future so I expect it to be back under 300cfs by next week. Do you think we can wade a good ways upstream and downstream at Rymers? Or do you have a better choice? My buddy isn't big on spending all day in a canoe, so we want some place to wade.

Bumping this up. Heading down next week for several days. Setting up base camp at one of accesses on upper JF. Right now it looks like Rymer. Although we will float one day, mostly want to wade fish from camp. Looking for advice on which access offers best wading - Rymers, Buck Hollow,or Salvation Army camps.. River at 500cfs today but was down to 280cfs before last Sat rain, so I expect it to be back down by next week.

I'm a little slow Al

Yeah I know I can look at river levels online but not familiar with Buffalo River so I don't know for sure what constitutes tad high, normal, slightly low, and very low.

Any updates Brian? At the risk of sounding selfish while you all deal with the clean up, just wondering what are the chances of the river being open for Memorial Day? Periodic updates would be appreciated. How is Whitten?

Looking for alternative since flooding has destroyed accesses to some of your usual rivers. Never been on the Black River. What we like to do is set up base camp on a gravel bar for 4-5 days, and wade fish and take short floats throughout the day. Noticed on the maps there are a few accesses located off county roads. I'm thinking we could find a gravel bar a hundred yards upstream or downstream from the access, and set up base camp. Is this plan possible or are we likely to get hassled by landowners? Is all the land private or is there sections public? I realize there is a campground at Hwy K, we want to get away from crowds. I also realize that a on a lot of rivers, private landowners may not mind floaters camping for a night along the way on their private property, and move on the next day. I'm just wondering if we can get away with setting up camp for 4-5 nights somewhere???

Looking for somewhere to go for Memorial Day weekend and after for a few days. How is the different sections of the Buffalo? What can we expect for Memorial Day weekend?

I know I have grown sick of politics and politicians. Politics was never intended to be a career, and definitely not a profitable career.

The Founding Fathers warned us of a two party political system. We do need a major third party if, for nothing else, to end the majority advantage in Congress. If no party had a majority of votes in either chamber of congress, then everyone would have to compromise. That's what I am really sick of - the pure partisan politics - and the voting is strictly along political lines in Congress. No wonder we can't get anything done. And no one dares step outside party politics without fearing losing the next election.

considering Buffalo too Taildragger

THIS IS AN EXCELLENT On youtube, the lectures from a freshman level class at Missouri Sate U entitled "OZK 150: Introduction to Ozark Studies by Dr. Blevins. There are 30 lectures of :50. Lecture 1: The Where and What of the Ozarks. Very interesting and Dr. Blevins is an awesome lecturer. I watched about the first t2 or so that takes history up to the early 1800s, my main interest, and just never got back to the rest. But one lecture covers Native Indians, one French arrival, another on venicular, - starts every lecture with Ozark Vocabulary Words of the Day - pretty funny!! This blew me away - He kids that the area should be called The Ozark Valleys instead of the Ozark Mts., as every hill is formed from erosion. The only true mountains with evidence of volcanic activity (which defines a true mountain) is the St. Francois Mts. specifically Elephant Rocks of granite. Missouri was a flat marsh at one time. I may post this under General Discussion so more people see it. Hope you all will enjoy.

Had a May 20-22 trip planned with nephew on middle Current. Looking for an alternative trip on smaller stream or upper river with the hopes that they may recede in 2 weeks and be floatable and fishable for smallmouth. Coming from Ste. Genevieve and looking for something within 2-3 hrs and 15-25 mile float. So many smaller streams I have heard about, but never floated, may have ideal water in 2 weeks as they will recede sooner. A few that come to mind are upper Castor, Mineral Fork, Forks of the Black. Hate to cancel trip since only 2nd trip together with nephew and I don't get to see him often. Advice appreciated.