Mark

Good report Mississippi Angler. I too got skunked on a March 4 trip. Couldn't believe it with ideal conditions.

Three of us made a short one day float. Despite the perfect weather and perfect water conditions, we didn't have all that much success. Joel had the best luck catching 9 small ones, all less than 12", on charteuse power eggs, Delvis managed 2 small ones, and I got skunked!! We talked to a few people throughout the day and no one seemed to be having much luck. We figured the river hasn't been stocked in a while. All in all, it was a beautiful day. We saw an eagle early in the day at Stinking Pond. It was nice to check out the views with all the leaves on the trees gone. We were able to identify a few more camping spots that are not apparent from the river when all the trees are full and the brush has grown. We won't be discouraged as we will be heading back down to the Eleven POint in 3 weeks for our annual Thursday/Good Friday float trip.

Looks like good weather and river is good at 860 cfs for the weekend. We'll be on the river Saturday and Sunday. May be our last chance before the spring rains begin. Give us a hollar is you see us in the green square stern Olde Town with the 2.5 HP Mercury (for the extremely lazy floater). Maybe Delvis can whisper you up some trout.

Are camper trailers allowed overnight at Turner Mill North access?

Thanks Al, I think for the purposes of our trip, the scenic and remote aspects are the most appealing. Catching fish is always a bonus but secondary to our enjoyment, especially being our first time on the Buffalo. I look forward to seeing it, I have heard and read so much about the beauty of the area.

Thanks, I will check with you in July.

Hoping my Eleven Point forum friends will help us out. A buddy and I are planning our first trip to the Buffalo River this mid July. I have been researching but, of course, all literature paints a rosy picture. I know that the upper reaches get low in the summer and has dangerous rapids. We are interested in sections similar to Eleven Point from Turner to Riverton, not too dangerous but not flat water either, good smallmouth fishing, good scenery that I have read about on the Buffalo, convenient canoe rental/shuttle service so our vehicle will be at our takeout when we decide we are done, and places to camp on the river. We would be interested in a 8-12 mile float, maybe a little longer, but not more than 20 miles. Any advice or past experiences you could share would be helpful. Thanks, Mark

A friend and I are planning our first trip to the Buffalo this summer in mid July. I have researched and read about the entire length of the river. I realize the upper reaches gets low in the summer and has dangerous rapids for a couple old men. Of course, all the literature online paints a rosy picture for the entire length. My question; What part of the river would you suggest for the following conditions; We are experienced canoeists, but not interested in dangerous rapids, as we will be carrying camping gear. Class II is as thrilling as we care to get, and really don't care for that too much. But we like a little more than flat water. We would like to catch fish, enjoy the fantastic scenery we have heard about, and not be surrounded by lots of other canoes. We would like a 8-12 mile stretch, convenient shuttle service, with our vehicle at the takeout when we are ready. I would really be great if someone could suggest a gravelbar where we could camp for a day or two and wade fish a good section of good fishing water. Thanks in advance Mark

Present

I saw the Daredevils at Wildwood Lodge in Steeville this past weekend. WOW!! What a show and what a place to see a concert.!!! The Ozark Mountain Daredevils completely capture the feeling of the Ozarks and Missouri people in their music. A little bit of country, folk, bluegrass, and rock and roll all rolled into one band. I bought the book, "It Shined: The Saga of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils" by band member Michael Supe Granda, and couldn't put it down. He tells a great story with lots of details of the 70s about the music scene in Missouri. Very interesting reading!!!! I will definitely be back to Wildwood Lodge.

Heard the Ozark Mountain Daredevils at Wildwood Lodge on Thursday. WOW - what a great place to see a concert and what a great show put on by the Daredevils!! I will definitely be back to Wildwood for future shows. Friday morning we headed down to Welch Springs and floated to Akers Ferry. The spring and old hospital were great sights. Unfortunately, the water was still up (about a foot and a half from locals account) and murky. Only a couple of bites and nothing landed. Beautiful area and a great day to float. Catching fish is always a bonus.

Give me a hollar if you see me on Friday - A big handsome 6'4" fellow and my little partner in a green square back canoe.

Thanks Hank. I'm psyched and will give my report on Monday.

Thanks guys. We'll probably stick to Welch to Akers just because we will be arriving late morning and the days are short. 3 miles of fishing will keep us busy. I use the motor to backtrack areas if we float fish.

A buddy and I are heading down to Steelville Thurs. night to see the Ozark Mountain Daredevils. On Friday we are planning on heading down to the Current River with canoe in tow. I realize the river is high now but hope it will be floatable from Welch Springs to Akers Ferry. We have never floated this section and need some help. 1) The map is confusing - all show the Welch access on the south side of the river. We are coming from Salem. Is Welch Spring accessible from the north side of river off HWY K? I can swear that I have been on that road before and saw the sign for Welch Spring off of HWY K from the north side of the river. 2) What should the cfs be on Friday for the river to fish decent? 3) Assuming I am right about driving to Welch Springs from the north side off of HWY K, we plan on unloading canoe and gear, and my buddy will stay with canoe while I drive to Akers Ferry to park my truck. Will there be someone to pay to shuttle/taxi me back up to Welch? 4) I have a stern back canoe and a 2.5 HP motor on the back. I realize that jet props are prohibited above Round Springs, but can I use my 2.5 HP motor? 5) Welch to Akers is White Ribbon area, correct? Can we expect to catch trout? 6) Any sights we should expect to see and make sure to explore? I've read about the old hospital at Welch Springs. I have been wanting to float/fish this section for several years and just now getting around to it. This is just as much of an exploratory trip to see how we like it, availability of gravel bars and campsites, and scenery. All comments and advice appreciated. Thanks, Mark from Bloomsdale

AH The Darlings from Andy Griffith show always crack me up!! The boys didn't have much to say!!! Al - We were going to see the Dirt Band in Powell Wy in July. Drove 2 hours and found out we were a day early!!! Still need help if I have anyone's attention. We've had a change of plans. We are going to head south and try to fish Current from Welsh Springs to Akers. Only a couple miles. My map is confusing though. It shows the Welsh Spring access on south side of river. Can I get to Welsh Spring heading south from Salem on K? I have driven that way once before and seem certain that there is an access on the north side of the river. And will anyone from Akers Ferry give me a shuttle? Thanks in advance, Mark

Heading down to Wildwood Lodge to hear the Ozark Mountain Daredevils on Thurs night. Planning on trying to find somewhere to fish on Friday as weather looks good all week. I have never fished near Steeelville. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

My bad. Just thought that they weren't stocked before early '90s.

Wow. Who was your dad if you don't mind me asking? If you haven't floated the Eleven Point since the early '90s, that was probably before the MDC started stocking with rainbow trout. I'm sure the river hasn't changed much. Still lots of solitude. You should become reacquainted.

Welcome to the Board, He Who Fishes with One Shoe!! Your intellectual enlightenments on all subjects will be enjoyable.

Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone in Wyoming. Unbelieveable scenery and solitude!!!!! Heaven on earth!!

Welcome ChadO, how were things down south Texas way? I'm a former Corpus Christi resident. Really miss it and wonder how much has changed in 25 years.

Four of us made our regular fall trip this past Friday and Saturday. Kudos to Sherri Hollis for the fine accomodations at the Summer Cottage. The river was still running high and fast, making wading a challenge and a workout on the legs. We put in at Whitten and worked out of a single jet prop boat with Capt. Skip at the helm. On Friday we worked upstream as Skip took turns shuttling us up to gravel bars. Surprisingly, it was not as cold on the river as I had expected, although we all had several layers of clothes on. Delvis had the hot hand as he landed a dozen or so, mostly in the 12-14 inch range and one nearing 18 inches. Skip and myself caught enough to keep our interest while Joel, a relative newcomer to our Eleven Point circle of anglers, took the big goose egg as the fish gods were not shining on him. Delvis was full of advice, commentary, and braggadocio on the boat ride back to Whitten and throughout the remainder of the evening cocktails and fish fry. Upon explaining his secrets to his exemplary angling skills, he informed us of his unique ability to use all his senses in fishing, including a sixth sense that normal humans aren't capable of using that allows him to "sense" that trout are actively feeding. Included in his extraordinary sensory awareness is his ability to hear the fish also. Henceforth, Delvis will be known as the "Trout Whisperer". Saturday, the gang was up bright and early at 9:00 am. After coffee, breakfast, and more tales from the Trout Whisperer, we headed back to Whitten and headed downstream. Skip dropped off Delvis and Joel with the hopes that Delvis could conjuer up some of his magical sensory angling applications towards Joel's hook. Skip proceeded to take me farther down river to one of my favorite camping sites below Green Briar Float Camp. The river makes a right turn with a perfect gravel bar on the right where I have spent many nights listening to the whippoorwill's unrelenting song. I spent the next few hours in complete solitude viewing the opposite hillside with multitude of fall colors with every shade of red and orange imaginable. I immediately landed two trout, one of decent size. I explored the area around the campsite, amazed at all the fresh firewood that the recent high water had dumped close by, and wished that we would be spending the night on the river at this very spot. I landed another good size trout a little later but it somehow manage to get off the stringer. And I had another nice one get to the bank before getting off the hook. Capt. Skip arrived by late afternoon and hauled me upstream to meet up with my comrades. Once again, Delvis the Trout Whisperer had made a mockery of the supposedly elusive trout by consisting catching rainbows throughout the day. Skip had his consistent day of catching fish, while Joel continued to struggle with the fast moving water conditions as he was only able to land a couple fish on the day. Another evening of fried fish, BBQ, Mizzou football, and tales from the extraordinary ablilites of the Trout Whisperer completed the 2009 Fall Fishing Expedition.

Thanks again, your reports are extremely helpful. Not wanting to waste a 4 hour trip.

Wondering the same thing Brian. It has been holding steady at 1020 cfs all day today. Is that fishable? For some perspective, about how far up the boat ramp at Whitten or Turner South are we talking about? At Labor Day, the water was not even up to the ramp at Turner South.