Orbearider

I've been going to Estes Park for years and I love it. We always go in Sept. and stay in Estes so I've only fished on the eastern slope. I definatley recommend Kirk's Fly Shop, their first rate I won't even consider another fly shop there. I've never used thier guide service but I'm sure they'd do a great job. My first year there I went in, told them I needed help with fly selection. Kirk asked me where I was planning on fishing then suggested I fish other area's besides where I had selected because the fishing was better or easier. Then he selected a dozen fly's or so and told me where and how to fish each one. He was super friendly and helpful. Now I go in every year ask for a couple dozen flys tell them where I'll be fishing and the trip is always a success. If you happen to fish on the eastern side of the continental divide, for greenback cutthrouts I would try Roaring River it's about a mile and a half hike in but there's a ton of fish. The Big Thompson above Moraine Park is good for mainly brookies, maybe a few browns (not so much) and some cutthroats, I wouldn't fish Moraine Park personaly because it's windy and the fish are easily spooked because the water runs slower and there's not much to hide behind. The Big Thompson below Estes Lake has mainly rainbows and browns I believe and pretty technical, the fish see more pressure hence harder to catch (for me) but you'll catch larger fish, the fish up in RMNP are smaller because of the short growing season. Fall river has mainly browns and brookies, Horseshoe Park is harder to fish for the same reason as Moraine Park. And North St. Verain Creek in the Wild Basin is good for brookies, cutthroats and maybe some rainbows. You'll be able to catch rainbows in all the streams at lower elevations. Definately buy "Fly Fishing Rocky Mountain National Park" by Todd Hossman. It will tell you about every place you can fishing inside the park. You can get it on Amazon.com. And if you're in Estes Park Kirk's Fly Shop is the best. Good luck you'll love it in the Park.

There were no blockages on the upper river. There were two trees down between Bay Creek & Alley Springs, both of them you could walk the canoe around if you wanted. One I was able to float over, just barely scrapped, the other I got out and worked the canoe through it, someone more experienced could probably navigate around it, but I didn't want to take any chances.

Got back from the trip yesterday. It was great! The river level was perfect for floating. The weather was perfect. Floated from Hwy 17 Bridge (Buck Hollow) to Alley Springs. I camped about two miles above Rymers then floated the next day down to Alley Springs, which was a long haul. Had a hard time knowing where I was and how far I had to go, but saw just enough people who I could ask. Not to many people out there though, which was very nice. Originally was going to make it a 2 1/2 day float, which would have been better, but ended up doing doing it in 2 days. I didn't have any luck with the fishing but that's due to my inexperience with smallmouths rather than the fishing conditions. There were three or four places where I walked the canoe through a run or around downed trees. But I have to say it was a great experience, although I completely wore myself out, and forgot to use sunblock which I ended up needing. All in all it was very enjoyable. Here are a few pictures of the trip. Looking forward to this fall or next spring for another trip up there. Thanks again for all the help and info.

I really appreciate all the info. I've decided to go to Jack's Fork. I spoke with Harvey's Alley Spring Canoe and he suggested Buck Hollow to Bay Creek. Weather permitting I'll do a 2 1/2 day float starting on Saturday afternoon thru Monday night. I'm taking plenty of rope and if I feel the need I'll walk through anything to challenging. I'll give a report when I get back, although I not expecting too much since I've never fished for smallmouths, it may be more of a learning trip. Thanks again for all your help. Orbearider

Thanks for the reply. Guess I have more research to do in a hurry. Thanks again.

2sheds I had heard of Jack's Fork being notorious for flash flooding. I also noticed the gage showed it to come up and go down quickly. All of which have concerned me. I probably will not float this trip I'll just have to come up with something else. I had heard of Bennett Springs SP but I've also heard of the crowds. I'd rather camp some place more remote and not have as good of fishing if it comes down to it. But I'm not familiar at all with the Niangua, other than that it's there and above Bennett Springs is supposedly better for smallmouths. Is there any place to camp around there other than the state park? I'm look for more remote if possible. I have heard also that the Eleven Point is hard to wade, that's how I got on to the idea of floating. I am thinking if I camp at Greer I'll try going up river like Brian suggested, thought maybe it is easier to wade, although private property might be a problem. I would love to hire Brian for a guided trip but unfortunately it's not in my budget this trip. So this trip may be more of an exploratory trip and learning the area, which is ok as long as I can get away from the bustle. Thanks for the info.

Thanks so much for the suggestions and info! This is a great forum. I'll give Two Rivers Canoe a call. I was hoping to stay away from large crowds I get plenty of that at the Lower Mountain Fork in OK. Is Jack's Fork more remote than the upper Niangua? I'm looking for remote and I don't mind driving farther to get away from crowds. That's why a two day float sounded so good but if there are a ton of portages this could be a problem since I will be by myself and I have no experience floating on a river. I really don't look forward to spending a lot of time packing my camping gear around a blockage and then trying to drag a canoe by mysefl. I think I'd rather camp near to where I can wade fish. I'll definately buy a Delorme atlas so I can find all these places ya'll are mentioning. Thanks again.

Thanks Brian for the info. I'll definately consider Greer Crossing, probably will end up there. I had heard of McCormick lake from a previous post you made, but I haven't heard of Falling Spring lake. Where is it located? I'd like to try some smallmouth fishing since I never have before. I'm also considering Jack's Fork. The gage height looked closer to normal but I don't really know. I also posted on that thread looking for info. My first preference is the Eleven Point as it seems a little more remote which I like. If I can't float this trip I eventually will. My parents live outside of Lebanon so I'll be in the area once or twice a year. Maybe this fall I'll able to do a two day float. I may give you a call at Eleven Point Canoe when I get to Lebanon on Friday just to check the river level and make sure I cannot float, before I completely give up all hope. Thanks again for your help.

I will be in the Lebanon area from Fri. 4-18 thru Mon 4-21. Sat. afternoon 4-19 thru Tue. morning 4-22 I was planning on doing some camping & fishing. I would like to fish for smallmouths (or trout) with a flyrod. I was hoping to do a two day float. I have never been on a river in a canoe before so I'm concerned about the water levels. I was originally going to the Eleven Point but I don't think the water levels will come down in time. So I thought I better find an alternate plan. I'm from East Texas and am not familiar with the area so I guess I have several questions. 1. Considering the high water, on what area of the river should I focus for smallmouths? 2. What is a safe water level for me to float? 3. Do you think the water level will even come down enough by then? 4. Is there a particular canoe outfitter you would recommend? 5. Where is a good area to do some primative tent camping if I cannot float? 6. If I can't float where could I consider wade fishing while primitive camping? Also I will be practicing C&R fishing. That's alot of questions but any help you can give me will apreciated. Thanks.

I'm not an experianced floater in fact I've never been on a river in a canoe. I am fairly coodinated but it sounds like I should maybe pass on floating. Is there someplace on the Eleven Point I could do some primitive camping and possibly wade a little bit?

I will be in Lebanon Fri. & Sat. morning 4-18 & 19. I was planning on heading down to the Eleven Point Sat. afternoon, renting a conoe and doing a two day float/flyfish Sun. & Mon. Then heading back to East Texas on Tue. morning. With all this rain and considering what Brian said about safe floating heights, now with more flooding, I'm thinking this probably won't happen. However since I'll be in Lebanon any way and I'm not familiar with the area I need to know for sure if this is not doable. If not do you have any suggestions as to where else I might be able to float/flyfish or just wade and flyfish. I was thinking about Jack's Fork because I would like to catch some smallmouths. But trout, smallmouths or whatever will work. I'll also be camping wherever I go. Any help will be greatly appeciated.

Thanks, I'll log that in the memory bank dark=dark, light=light, vegies=froggy & bike helmet=peace of mind

Thanks for the welcome. It's good to hear things should be back to normal by the time I come. I'll check out the reports between now and then. I'll give Eleven Point Canoe a call before I head out. I'll also do some research on those other streams you mentioned. I've heard of the Sneaky Petes, I'll have to pick some up. Are there any particular colors you would suggest? Thanks for the tips. As for the bike I don't own a mountain bike although I've heard it's awsome. I stick to the roads, there's nothing like the rush of a semi 4ft away passing me at 55mph. Looks like I have plent of research to. Thanks again.

Hello Everybody, I'm currently from East Texas. I'm a structural designer (a glorified draftsman). Originally I'm from Colorado, however I have lived in Texas since 1989. I grew up spin fishing for trout in the Rockies, although not ever very successfully. I discovered flyfishing about four years ago while planning a trip back to Colorado and I love it (I'm not very good at it yet but I love it). I enjoy flyfishing for trout, but want to learn how to flyfish for smallmouth bass, of which I know nothing about other than the fact that I read a book about it. However I must make this disclamer my first love (after my wife) is bicycling, hence Orbearider (it's the brand of my bike, lame but the best I could do). I have family in Lebanon, MO and while researching for an upcoming trip I found this forum and found it to have a wealth of information. With the recent flooding y'all have experienced up there it changed my plans (my heart goes out to you if you have suffered lose, I can't imagine what it's like). I have rescheduled my trip to April 11th - 14th or the following weekend. I would like to fish for smallmouths but as I have never done this it's all guess work on my part. So any advise would be greatly appreciated! I also have never fished in Arkansas or Missouri. I was planning on camping near the Eleven Point, renting a canoe and floating. But with the campgrounds closed, high water, never having floated a river before and being by myself I'm second guessing this plan. I'm fairly coordinated so I don't mind a little adventure as long as I'm not getting into a dangerous situation. So if I can still float the Eleven Point, while camping near by thats what I would prefer but I don't have any real idea about what is happening there or if what I have planned is feasable. I don't mind fishing for trout or smallmouths someplace else if its a better fit considering all the rain and flooding. Again any advise will be appretiated. I look forward to more trips up that way. Thanks, Orbearider

I think I may have posted this to the wrong place, if I did I apologize, I'm new at this (this is my first post ever). I'll repost in the "Introduce Yourself" section. I will be in Lebanon, MO on Friday evening to visit family. Saturday evening & Sunday I was planning on Fishing the Eleven Point or the North Fork but with the recent flooding all my plans have gone up in smoke. I was planning on renting a canoe and floating to wadable water to fly fish. Is the North Fork fishable/floatable? I don't know what to do. I have never fished in Missouri or Arkansas so I'm in the dark. I would prefer not to fish farther north as I will have to head south toward home on Monday. Any help would be appreciated.