Brian Sloss

This flood is massive. Greer campground is under water, Water is up to the bathroom at Turner and still rising, Riverton is under water. This is going to take a while before the river is useable.

Well we are flooded again. Getting ready to go look at the river. My place got flooded last night. Only damage is a lost recycling container. A couple canoes got moved around, but none made to Piney creek thankfully. The gauge is stuck again at the same spot it did last time. More when I get back from the river.

I think the local areas have to pay to get the fish stocked. I know they did in Columbia anyway. I'm torn about the urban trout program. On one hand it may get some people interested in trout fishing that otherwise would never get exposed to it. That is great. On the other hand, it devalues the trout as a game fish in Missouri. In Missouri and Arkansas there is too much of an emphasis on putting trout on stringers. That mentality travels from those lakes to our Blue ribbon areas. I see it all the time on the Eleven Point in the blue ribbon area. People who can not conceive of releasing a trout. Too much time at the trout parks and urban lakes. I know poaching blue ribbon areas is not the fault of the lakes directly, but I do think they contribute to the mentality that trout are only valued on stringers.

I don't go out during opening weekend anymore as there are to many intoxicated people with firearms in the national forest then. After that weekend, it is fine as the more serious hunters are left. If you do go out, wear orange and you will be fine I would imagine. I've done it before, but too many gun shots for my liking.

iihbhy

Don't caome down this weekend, we have a bigger flood than 2 weeks ago. Unfishable and not safe for canoeing either. Sucks because we were fishing pretty darn well since the last flood and catching some real nice fish. Oh well, maybe when it camoes back down the fishing will be real good again.

Here is a couple of pics of a nice male I caught while doing some scouting for fly flingers with Tito. On my guide trip on Monday following fly flingers, David from Columbia, Mo caught the 18 incher in the net and his buddy Matt caught the 23 incher that he is proudly holding. Some nice trout are giving themselves up lately.

We had a little smaller crowd this year, about 14, than the last two years, largely due to the weather amd higher water conditions. That being said, I don't think I talked to a single person who didn't catch at least a few trout and a few that got around a dozen. heavily weighted rigs were key and stoneflies, Don's crawdad, eggs and 16th oz jigs were what worked. On Thursday, I caught a 22inch trout on my 6wt with a white 1/16th oz jig, so even though they may be a pain to cast, they are effective in high water especially. No monsters caught on Sat though. The BBQ went well and we raised a fair amount of money for TU with the raffle. Thanks again to all those who came down.

Bring your high water flies, we are on for this weekend. Got out yesterday and the river is clear through the section we are fishing and I caught plenty of fish and one real nice one. Wading can be tough, but doable. See the fly flingers in the morning around 7:30.

The forcast is improving and if we get minimal rain tonight, looks like we might be able to get under that magical 800 cfs mark, that will still be tough on wading some areas, but plenty fishable and might even produce a decent sized fish for someone. Regardless of levels there will be a stain on the water.

For all the clouds and constant rain today, we only totaled an inch so far. If the next two days are only this bad, then the river should be fine, although higher than normal. Wading may be tough, but Superfly makes a good point about a possible big fish. Hopefully we will be able to get in the 800 cfs' by Sat. More tomorrow when I go up to the river. I'll be scouting the conditions on Thursday by boat if I can.

1000 and higher is tougher and wading is difficult. Like I said, I can't know much about this weekends conditions until I see how much rain we get over the next couple of days. Fishing was pretty good for a couple of guys floating Cane Bluff to Greer yesterday, Though there is a tree down on that route now that caused a difficult portage. They did it ok though. As for perspective, the cfs was about 475 over labor day.

It all depends on how much rain we get this week. It is raining now, not hard, but steady. No telling yet what it will do to the river. I'll post when I know.

It would be better for fishing to be at least down to 1000 cfs or less. If it gets down to 7-800 cfs, it should be quite good, though a little limited on wading. We will go ahead if we can and are planning to do so right now. A big rain would be bad and I will be posting updates if things turn for the worse.

In case anyone was thinking about floating or fishing here this weekend, go ahead and stop thinking about it. We are blown out and the river is still rising. Watch football and baseball playoffs instead. It is not worth looking into until possibly the middle of next week or later. The river had been fishing well before all this rain though.

Right now we are expecting 12-16 people, which is about average.

If floating Greer to Turner, I'd camp on the gravel bar at Little Huricane shoals, just accross the way from Little Hurricane creek. If going Greer to Whitten, I'd camp at Stinking Pond float camp or the gravel bar accross the river from it. Less than a mile downstream from Turner (first bluff on left with slough in front of it). Stoneflies and crawdads fished deep

It was a pleasure spending the day with them. They are wonderful people and it was fun getting to know them while on-stream.

Well done Tito!

There is McCloud blood in the river. Our stockers come from Montauk though. When they tried to let the trophy area go completely wild, they crossed Crane creek trout with hatchery trout, stocked them and let them be for 10-15 years. They continued to reproduce, but on a smaller level than hoped, thus annually stocking and clipping fins in the trophy area.

There are no Brookies in the Eleven Point. Also, Brookies are technically part of the Char family and rainbows are part of the salmon family so I don't think they could cross breed anyway.

That was a tangent that did not need to happen. Max, great picture, it was a blast having you guys down. Tito makes a great ghost.

Your namesake (rebel crawdads) are always a good bet here as well as inline spinners as mentioned above. Be sure to use deep divers and heavy spinners (or add shot, as mentioned) because the fish down here stay deep. Good luck. Brian

On the Eleven Point, you might consider taking a route past White's Creek float camp( just below Whitten). You could use that as a deer camp that puts you on the doorstep of the Irish Wilderness (16000+ acres). There is no drive in access at that camp, so it is private as can be. There is a good shoal there for fishing as well.

Hey guys, just a reminder that Fall Fly flingers will be held on Oct 17. If you are interested, details can be found at www.11pointcanoe.com. As in the past, there will be a free BBQ and raffle benefiting TU on Sat night after the fishing is done. Please call 417-778-6497 or email to make a reservation for that weekend.