Brian Sloss

Water levels are fine down there. No access between Myrtle and Dalton. About 10-11 river miles between Myrtle and Dalton.

What hurts is that he represents the county I grew up in. I'll be reaching out to those I still know there at election time.

This just gets more stupid all the time! Let's get rid of their funding by getting rid of their tax and rid them of in state license money (which means losing fed money too) and now get rid of their ability to provide things for conservation at what amounts to sometimes zero dollars, but at least much less money for taxpayers, by forming partnerships with private organizations to get funding. I know this because I am president of a nonprofit that is partnered with the forest service and we are currently restoring Greer Mill by the 11 Point and as a result the nonprofit is absorbing a large percentage of the cost of the project. Without this partnership, the forest service would not be undertaking this project due to lack of funds and the project has wide support from locals and visitors alike. Similar projects with the MDC would be over. Stupid is all I an say.

Add some inline spinners and smaller crank baits, but frankly the marabou jigs will do the job all day long. Bring a variety of colors. Bring the fly rod though. Stoneflies, prince nymphs, red fox squirrel and egg patterns. Fish deep.

Stop by and take a look. The back of the building no longer sags. The stone foundation was rebuilt back there as was some of the framing that was rotten back there. A little siding was replaced. Some interior steps were rebuilt, new roof and copula was redone. If you scroll down on our facebook page you can see pics of some of the work done. https://www.facebook.com/groups/390187674424168/

I am excited to announce that the good people at Wenonah Canoes have given the Friends Of the Eleven Point River a great deal on a green Southfork canoe. This is a canoe used by many outfitters in the Ozarks, including my canoe rental, The Eleven Point Canoe Rental. These are tough, 15ft 8in, tandem canoes that are perfect for float trips on rocky Ozark streams. We are going to raffle it off with the winner being drawn at the Great Eleven Point Canoe Race this fall. Tickets a...re going to be $5 each or 5 tickets for $20. Proceeds will go to the Greer Mill project. You will be able to buy tickets at the Eleven Point Canoe Rental all summer. Each of the board members will have tickets to sell as well. If you can not make to the area to buy tickets before the race, you can mail a check made out to the Friends or the Eleven Point River/Rt72 Box 2522/Alton, Mo 65606 and I will enter you in the drawing. Please include a name, address and phone number. You can call me if you wish at 417-270-2497 as well.

Being a drift boat guy, I can say that a drift boat is overkill on that stretch of the Current. That said, they may have been on a multiday trip and the Current may not have been their only stop or they had not been to the Current before and found out how small it was when thy got there. Who knows.

I am excited to announce that the good people at Wenonah Canoes have given the Friends Of the Eleven Point River a great deal on a green Southfork canoe. This is a canoe used by many outfitters in the Ozarks, including my canoe rental, The Eleven Point Canoe Rental. These are tough, 15ft 8in, tandem canoes that are perfect for float trips on rocky Ozark streams. We are going to raffle it off with the winner being drawn at the Great Eleven Point Canoe Race this fall. Tickets a...re going to be $5 each or 5 tickets for $20. Proceeds will go to the Greer Mill project. You will be able to buy tickets at the Eleven Point Canoe Rental all summer. Each of the board members will have tickets to sell as well. If you can not make to the area to buy tickets before the race, you can mail a check made out to the Friends or the Eleven Point River/Rt72 Box 2522/Alton, Mo 65606 and I will enter you in the drawing. Please include a name, address and phone number. You can call me if you wish at 417-270-2497 as well.

That rain that chased you off the river gave rise to about a 4-5ft rise. You timed it perfect.

A bit of an unexpected high water event today, water is over 3000cfs and still rising. Here are some pics from Greer and Thomasville on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/102606856450001/. The good news is this should help the winter fishing. Might be hard on the trout spawning redds that have been popping up lately. The upside, those that have not spawned yet will have better water for it when they do spawn

Got out and did some fishing with friends Justin and Amy spencer today and had a great time. We started out fishing for trout and got a few to the boat and then went up to where some smallies are holding and caught a few of them. Amy got her first smallie on a fly rod! Then we went down to fish for 'bows again. I discovered a rarity on the Eleven Point on a previous guide trip a few days prior, trout rising regularly to very small Maylies. We went to that spot and sure enough they were rising again. I put on a very small tan mayfly I borrowed from Justin and did get four strikes with no hook ups before figuring out there was no hook on this fly that had been sitting in Justin's box for a few years. I found we got most of the hits once it was stripped just below the surface. The water was fairly low, very clear and flat so these fish were very selective. A little emerger dropped off a dry may be the best bet next time. We did not tear them up on the dries, but it was great fun. Great way to spend a birthday. Got to fish some for once while in the boat!

very nice

The river is a national wild and scenic river and is mostly federally owned from Cane Bluff to Riverton and the very little privately owned land is under easements. There is lots of private land from Thomasville to Cane Bluff, but there are easements I am sure and the flow is not consistent enough to warrant investment there. Riverton to 142 is mostly private, but wild and scenic easements are in place there as well. Granted all easements may not be the same, but most of them have building restrictions along the river bank. You could do something from 142 to Myrtle, but that is well downstream of where the customer base wants to go. By the way, the thing everyone says they love about this river is its lack of development and pristine condition. A campground/Rv park on the banks of the river will change the character. I agree a RV campground is needed, just don't feel it has to be right on the water.

Thinking of doing some salt water fly fishing and looking for suggestions for Jan or Feb. Considering red fishing in La or Tx or Puerto Rico for Tarpon. Any thoughts from those with experience from any of these locations. Guide suggestions, lodging suggestions, etc. Can you rent boats as well?

There are no electric hook ups on the water because it is all publicly owned inside wild and scenic easements. They tried to add a few electric sites at Greer a few years ago and the wiring got swiped for the copper and that blew the budget for electric. There are electric hookups a couple of miles from Greer at www.cornerstonearena.com. Of course you can stay at one of our cottages in Alton. They are about as expensive as hauling your rv and paying for the hook-ups. Central heat and air, full kitchens, Sat TV, 2-3 bedrooms. Off season rate $55/night for the first 2 people and then $10 head thereafter. In season $65 for the first 2 people and then $10 a head. www.11pointcanoe.com I guide fly fishermen, do shuttles, rent canoes and sell flies, leader, tippet etc. If you want you can plug in to the side of my building for $10/day, but the water is off for the winter as the building is not heated. Let me know in advance if you need anything as we are open by reservation during the winter. 417-778-6497

it was private until recently and now impact studies are being done before fishing is allowed or not.

Kelly Ford to Blair bridge or Sunburst. Sunburst will shuttle, but I would call in advance in the off-season to arrange it. Is it a skiff or low profile drifter? A high side will be tight going under McKee bridge.

I have told them more times than I can count that they need a sign there if they plan to prosecute.

The cable went down along with the tree that supported it over a decade ago. It is still off limits to boats of any kind including canoes, kayaks and johns. Fishing is still off limits, though the idea is being studied, but no decisions as of yet and it could be another year before they decide one way or the other. I do know that if they do allow fishing in the future, it will probably be a hike in type of fishing. They should put a sign up at the mouth, but who knows when or if that will happen. All of that said, call the Doniphan office of the USDA Forest Service if you want to get all the info straight from the horses mouth.

Without anymore rain, it will be very low and slow moving up there.

As of yesterday the river was brown due to heavy rains, but it was not too high. Should be fine by next week assuming no rain.

Man, was that cold!

Cane Bluff to Greer is very low, but you could do it if you are dedicated to fishing that much. That said, you will have to pull through a number of shoals most likely and the holes will have practically no current. You will have to pull your boat upstream through any shoals you want to get upstream of at 142. I doubt a 2.5 horse would beat the current and some of those shoals are getting shallow too. You would be better off floating from Riverton to 142. You could fish at Myrtle going up and down the deep run at the boat ramp and could do the same at 142 as well. You will probably have plenty of company over labor day as well.

The guy is an idiot and is in the wrong and has been found to be wrong in court numerous times. I use public land in the operation of my business and have to pay the forest service their share, as I should. I know I could not go 20 years not paying and still be allowed to operate and neither should he.

It will be flowing a little high, but it will be fine. As to whether the river will be clear or muddy...it will likely be somewhere in between. It won't be muddy, but would not be surprised if a murkier green color would the case with about 3-5ft of visablity. Frankly, the clarity is a little less predictable, but it should not be muddy.