jbhunter

Thanks for the comments, too many options it makes it difficult to make up my mind. What would be a float length for 3 days, say 5 hours a day? Is 5 hours too much float time to get some fishing done? Also, it sounds like getting away for the crowds sometimes takes getting away from the campgrounds with canoe rentals? Does anyone know where you could get canoes that you can haul around on your own?

I have been wanting to have a floating/fishing trip with me and some buddies for a while. I have been on small float trips in Missouri at Black River and Meramac River with max of 10 miles in a day. I get frustrated with all of the stopping and partying. I would rather paddle in a canoe and stop and every spot that looks good for a smallmouth. I mean come on! I am only 23, or wait am I? I lost count after 21... I just like to get out on my own and have good a time, and am sick of the 6-10 mile float with seeing people all day! I am from Illinois and don't get to experience the smallmouth everyday over here, so the fishing would be a big portion of deciding where to go. I am looking to plan a trip for me and some buddies, maybe 3,4,5 canoes, 6-10 people, that would include camping out at least 2 nights. We would bring all of the equipment on the canoes. This make me think of the movie Deliverance, without all of the problems they run into. Anyone got any good ideas on where we could go for this? Once again, I would like to get out on a place where we could spend 2-3 nights on our own just camping out with equipment we bring on our own and that has some decent fishing. I am up for going anywhere, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, just let me know. I would sacrifice a good drive for a great time! Anyone have any similar trips or any good ideas?

Me and a buddy will be going to missouri sometime this summer to smallmouth fish. We would like to go to a river not too far from illinois. Any rivers around the black, current, huzzah, or meramac rivers would be great. These are the only ones a I really familier with. But we cannot decide where to go. If anyone is familier with fishing this area I would appreciate any advice. And also I was wanting to try floating on belly boats or fishing tubes, would this be a good idea or would canoes be better?