steve l

With the JF closed the wife & I needed a back-up. We decided the Courtois as Plan B, and we were pleasantly surprised. Echoing Oz Hawksley, a clear water gem. And only 100 miles from St Louis. Rented from Bass River Resort - I give very high marks to the service. Traveled Berryman to Scotia over three nights. A bit short for that time but we slowed the trip down to account for it. Saw very few people, which was unexpected. I thought we would see many. I suspect had we gone a week or two later the number of people would have been higher. The river was flowing nicely. Fishing in general was good and one stretch we paddled back up we caught or had hits on every cast. I really enjoyed the top water bite. My wife caught her personal best 17 inch 2.7 lber. Had to portage around two trees - I suspect they will be cleared before long. Add the two low water bridges and that meant a lot of loading & unloading the canoe. A lot of trees in the water meant we lined quite a few times. Overall reminiscent of the upper JF in spots. A bit too many dirt/mud banks in my eye to give really high ratings for scenery, but not every stream can be the JF.

Check out Brian Sloss on Facebook. He has some pics posted.

Nice! Trying to figure if the reference to the the green hole at the base of a cliff is Stinking Pond? The third drawing could be if you take into account artistic license?

That might be a post just to a bit of trolling and it might be perfectly legal but it's also selfish and greedy.

Understood & thanks.

Thinking of floating the 11P about the 20th or so of October. How would it be fishing at that time? Would think the trout like the cooler water, but would the smallies have moved out?

Certainly an oddity for us. We have floated the 11P for five nights for the last 15 years and we have never caught one before. As a general note both were caught just a bit above 142.

Clear water on a husky jerk. Reading on the skipjack this seems like an oddity in the 11p.

The annual float w/one of the brothers and his high school buddy. Always excellent service from Mike & Wendy (and Shorty) at Hufstedler's. Fishing was fair, with one nice fish. A 19 inch 3.3 lb pig of a rainbow. Caught on a marabou jig purchased from Lilly's Landing.

Floated the 11P Sun-Fri. My brother caught two of these, this one being about a pound. Anyone able to identify? Not sure what it is.

Mark, what were you guys throwing at them?

Just assume the jet boats will be out Saturday. Expect more than a couple that way if there are just a few you're pleasantly surprised! Not on the river until early August, so give a report so I can live through you for now.

Is it legal to cut live wood on the JF?

From the Prongs to Alley. Nothing much to report on the fishing. Fair at best over the trip although did pull a 17 incher. Many many people on Saturday, gravel bars must have been full. Unfortunate enough to have a group of three guys camp about 150 yards from us who talked in loud voices for six straight hours (geez, they liked John Wayne & MASH and complained about pay and their wives). It was very hard not to yell STFU, but thinking that would have not been overly positive. Pretty inconsiderate. Here are a couple of pics. Used different shutter speeds. The one of Jam-up in the afternoon as light gets back there plus I bought a couple of flashlights to light up the waterfall.

+1

My daughter always loved just bobbing in the water in her life jacket holding on to the rope at the end of the canoe as we drifted along. Also be sure to bring along a dip net so he can catch little minnows & the like. And hot dogs - the time my son dumped a whole chili dog in his lap. Careful I said...

and toss in a bit (or more than a bit) of alcohol...

Let's keep the thread moving. Does this ranch own the land at the s-turn below 160? If that vague description makes sense... http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ranch-where-beatles-stayed-could-become-a-missouri-state-park/article_89bcb778-e834-5131-89bb-733abf9cfefc.html

and that is why wild and scenic rivers are needed.

Yeah, maybe. But that is just not what one of the few wild & scenic rivers need. There are so few opportunities for what the 11P offers. And as time goes on and either more development occurs on the various rivers or landowners fight for "their" rights the wilderness will just be so much tougher to find. I'm 55 with my first canoe trip in 1966 with my parents. I've floated the rivers a long time and have been able to share with my children and wife and now my time horizon is narrowing. But it would/will be disappointing to see that wilderness opportunity gone for new generations.

Thanks Brian. I suspect others who disagree, but in my mind if the state can buy up land around the 11P I'm all for it. Too bad its not the area around Halls Bay, would love to see the current owners there gone.

I see in the PD the state is wanting a new state park alongside the 11P? But the location is not listed other than near the Arkansas border. Anyone (Brian?) know where this would located?

Yeah, we (plan to...) put on the 19th as well. River just hanging at 4.5. Gotta think a little time & temps in the 90 will help bring it down to a decent enough level. Just no more rain!

Luckily I have two weeks for it to come back down. Looks like we'll probably have the most water we have had for our July float. But geez, stop raining already!

What color is the river running with this rise? Geez, Stop raining already.