TylerD

After talking to my dad, we're basically planning something like this. Picking about 3 options, and choosing the best one the week before based on weather and water levels. Thanks for the advice.

It'll be just me and my dad, so two people

Thanks for the input, I'll definitely have to watch the weather and water levels when it gets close. Unfortunately that the week is the only option I have until May, so hopefully it will work out.

I am trying to plan a 3 or 4 day smallmouth trip for the middle of March. I will be going with my father most likely in a canoe, or possibly in kayaks. We are trying to choose a river. I have floated the Current, Big Piney, and upper Black River before, but always in the summer, and I've never been in the spring. I have heard that the Big Piney, Gasconade, and Buffalo River are good, but thought I would ask here about where to go.

Great, thank you! I'll definitely look into it.

That's a good idea, I'll have to look into it. I was also thinking maybe a couple layers of duct tape would do it, but I don't know how well it would work.

Thanks, those are some great tips! I plan to mostly take it out on smaller lakes without a lot of wide open water, so that should be fine. I'm excited to get out on the water this spring and really try it out.

That's good to hear. I've been thinking about maybe putting something on the bottom of it so I feel more comfortable taking it over rocks and stuff.

I would like to get a hard side canoe or kayak but unfortunately as a student I don't have room to store one or a way to transport it. This is probably my best option for the next few years :).

I got a new Intex Explorer K2 inflatable kayak for Christmas and would love to use it for fishing this spring. I've taken it out twice on a couple of the warmer days, but mostly just to try it out, only a few casts here or there. I'm excited to use it more when it warms up (both the weather and the fishing action). I was wondering if anyone has had experience fishing from one of these and could share some tips.

We're not too worried about the heat since this group does a lot of summer camping, but we will definitely consider the Current as well. Thanks!

I'll take a look at other options. Maybe another river or a shorter float on the Eleven Point would be better.

Thanks! I'm hoping to find some time in the evening or early morning when we're stopped for the night to hopefully not have to deal with too many people being out, but we'll see

I'm going on a two day float from Cedar Grove to Current River State Park (the trip is run by Jeff City parks in cooperation with MO state parks, so they granted special permission to take out and camp there), just a little upstream from Round Spring, next week and would like to try my hand at catching some fish along the float, though I'm not sure how much time I'll have to fish. Mostly looking for numbers, not size. From what I understand there is decent trout fishing in the white ribbon area below Cedar Grove with more smallies and rock bass mixing in further downstream. I don't have much experience fishing for trout, but have fished quite a bit for largemouth bass in lakes, usually with soft plastics. I use a spinning setup and am considering bringing two or three poles so I can let one or two sit or drift with bait while I actively work the other. I mostly have access to soft plastic lures and jigs (including some Roadrunner style jigheads), and my father might let me use some spoons or Rapala-style lures, and I don't want to spend very much for just a two day float with limited time to fish. I can also get some nightcrawlers and have some Powerbait. I am most familiar with the soft plastics and jigs, and using bait. Any suggestions as to what will be effective for a spinning setup on this float, both line and lures/bait, will be much appreciated.

We've mostly been considering things in-state, but it might be worth a look. Thanks!