duckalot

Thanks to Mother Nature the elusive Ozark Smallmouth win again! After keeping an eye on the river since March it finally looked to be back to somewhat normal so we headed out last Friday morning to Boiling Springs Campground. Arrived got the Camper all set up and the rains started! We had a Jon boat float reserved for Sunday Morning thinking the river might be less crowed so we spent Saturday touring the MTF/Patty Creek area and as stated in other posts about every access area on the Big Piney was crowed with people swimming and playing the water. Around 3:00 pm the skies darkened again and here comes another torrential rain! Spent most of Saturday evening under the awning of the camper but the rains stopped in time to grill some dinner and have a campfire. Sunday morning woke to Thunder at 3:00 am and yep more heavy rain till daylight. I knew at that point our flood trip scheduled for 8:00 am was in perils! With rain continuing and the river on the rise and turning brown we made the decision to pack it up and head home. The Great folks at BSC did credit us back on the Jon boat rental and gave us a rain check for a nights camping on our next visit! I feel bad for the outfitters on those rivers, They have taken quite a beating from Mother Nature again this year.

Thanks for all the reply's! Due to weather and the river levels I never made it this spring. I have zeroed in on a location at Boiling Springs Campground. Looks like they rent Jon boats so I can pull my Camper and take my own trolling motor. I'm strictly a catch and release fisherman so I'm not out to decimate the river! Tight Lines.

Transducer and power cables or just the head units?

I'm looking to camp and fish the Gasconade this spring and summer. Hoping to get into a jet this summer but for now I'm running a 16' jon with a 25 hp prop. An RV campground with river access would be nice but mainly looking for the best stretch of river to fish with my small jon boat and wife. Thanks

While that is most common I don't believe its a Missouri law.

We stayed at Circle B last year for the eclipse. We didn't float or fish just drove the Current River conservation area the Peck Ranch looking for the Elk. We did drop down to Greer for a couple days of primitive camping with hopes of fishing the 11 point but at that time rain had moved in and was forecast to continue for 24-48 hrs so we called it and made the journey back home. It is still on my hit list though!

Still no definite plans or camping reservations made, Leaning towards the white river below Bull shoals and renting a boat, or the Eminence area and renting Kayaks or a canoe on the Jacks Fork or the Current. The Meramec is also in the mix, if the river should happen to be to high to float I would have the Trout parks to fall back on.

Thanks those are all great options! We are pulling a 30' bumper hitch and my primary fishing boat is a 20' Seaark and is very heavy (not an option), however I did buy a 16' jon with a little 25hp for duck hunting and I am seriously considering double pulling it. I will have to get the trailer set up with a hitch I'm comfortable with and take it on a couple short trips close to home to see how everything pulls! We are located in North Central Mo. so about every place I'm interested in going are in the Ozarks and 3 plus hours away! We have been to Table Rock SP and below the dam on Tanney as well, full hook ups are nice but not a must for us. Occasionally I get the urge to go Boondocking and get as far from people as possible, not sure the wife enjoys it quite as much as I do though! LOL

The wife and I got a new travel trailer late last year with Fall being very busy for us it went into storge early. I'm now facing the harsh reality with spring approaching if the camper goes the boat stays at home. We are looking at Kayaks and have used outfitters in the past. I also know the rivers and streams in early spring have the potential of being flooded or high water. We have done all the trout parks in Missouri and although I enjoy trout fishing we are looking for other RV camping Ideas in late March and early April with fishing possibilities without a boat. Ideally, RV hook ups with river bank or shore fishing for any species as we are for the most part catch and release. Spring white bass runs would be fun for the wife I'm just unaware of where we could go without my boat? Thanks in advance for any and all info!

Can anyone recommend a reputable guide in Missouri for a Walleye trip next spring? Location is not a problem but would like to stay in Mo. Thanks

I was wanting too spend some more time around the Alton area and do some fishing on the 11 Point. I would have been fine camping at Greer but with the rain forecasted and zero phone service I don't think the wife was too thrilled about me running off fishing and leaving her and the dog behind. LOL Maybe next time, as it turned out I had an Aunt pass away in Kansas so We got home un packed and headed for KS to a funeral. Beautiful country in the Ozarks and those cold clear streams hold a special place in my heart!

Primitive camping area at the Peck Ranch. Very nice area and had the whole area to our selves!

We made the trip and had a great time. Camped at Circle B in Eminence. Didn't get too fish any but we drove and checked out a lot of the springs, streams, and trails. Drove parts of the Current Conservation Area and the Peck Ranch, didn't see any Elk but saw some Turkeys and Deer. Broke Camp on Tue and drove to Greer with plans of Camping a couple more days on the 11 Point but the rain forecasted for that area coupled with the less than desirable looking people already their sent us on our journey back too North Central Mo.

Great information keep it coming I appreciate it very much!

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The 11 point. I would like to spend a couple days, launch and motor up stream and float and fish back down stopping at some of the float camps over night. Renting canoe's or kayaks is an option but I just bought a 16' jon boat with a little 25hp prop drive and would like to use it. Would really like to find a jet for it.

Thanks, we are camping around Eminence for the April eclipse. I plan on looking as much over then as possible by land. I have never been on the 11 point river.

I have a 16' jon boat with a 25 hp prop. on a jackplate so I can run fairly shallow water. I know it all depends on the river and water elevation but on average in June how much of the river would I be able to run without a jet? I would like to be able too put in and run as far up river as possible and camp float/fish a day or two floating back down. Thanks

We will be camping around Eminence for the big 2024 Eclipse. What will the fishing prospects be like down there in Early April? I have fished all the Trout parks of Missouri multiple times over the years and have floated the Niangua, Current, Meramec, but the Lower Current, Jacks Fork, 11 Point, or the North Fork are un charted waters for me. We plan on driving the Peck CA as well as the Current River CA to look for Elk and find some new places in and around the Mark Twain National Forests to camp later in the summer or early Fall. . Not looking too float while there but would entertain the opportunity to wade or walk into some fishing areas. I'm a big river guy living near the Missouri river in North Central Mo. and primarily chase trophy Blue Catfish on the upper Grand, Missouri river and Osage river, Truman and Lake Ozark but always have had a passion for the cold clear water streams of South Missouri. Thanks for any and all information and best of luck to everyone as Spring is approaching!

Well back from our four day trip and had a great time. Change of plans we never did float above Bennett but floated from Bennett down to Hidden Valley Outfitters take out point on Saturday and Sunday and we caught a lot of nice Rainbows! The water was great, and yes it was busy and full of floaters but it didn't seem to bother the fish. I still wanted to float from Moon Valley down but the trout fishing was so good we couldn't stop. I'm not sure if it was from the previous high water or what but the river is full of quality fish right now! We camped at HVO and I will give them a shout out, Great Park and very friendly staff!!

I am a Missouri river rat and fish for trophy blue cats on the river, LOZ and Truman but love the small clear water streams of south Missouri. Every year around the end of June we always make a run down south and trout fish one of the parks as the Blues up here are normally in spawn mode. In 2018 while trout fishing the Meramec we rented Kayaks and floated some of the lower section for Smallies but did't do real well, it was after a big rain and the river was still pretty high and dirty. I have bass fished around home a lot with a weedless type worm rig but I didn't like the tube rig with the leadhead inside the tube the outfitter recommended and set us up with, and I will admit I had no clue what a Ned rig was till I looked it up..... If i pick up some 4" grubs to take along can I throw them on a regular jig head or should I look for something weedless? Thanks

My Son and I try to Trout fish Bennett at least once a year and still enjoy catching park trout but this year we would like to float fish and catch some smallies.... I have read through some older post as what to expect Goggle Eye and Small Mouth but i'm clue less on what to stock up on for lures. I have some small crank baits and some inline spinners (Roostertails) along with some small spoons but was going to pick up some small soft plastics and what ever kind of hooks or jigs needed? Any and all advise would be appreciated, Thanks

We camped at Meramec Springs and caught a lot of Trout in the park Rented Kayaks on Tue. from Outdoor Adventures and floated to Indian Springs, the water was still up and pretty murky from a rain they had gotten on Sunday and the fishing was tough for us, think we caught 7-9 small mouth and Goggle eye no size to any. Packed up Thursday and moved to Bennett Springs and beat up on some more park Trout. All in all it was a good trip just blazing hot but made the spring water feel good! Thanks for all the info and advise, Rg

Thanks again for all the help guys and yes we will be fishing from Monday-Thursday