BrianK

I'll buy it. that sounds like a good survival rate. think of it as a smallmouth rescue mission on opening wknd. Maybe add an extra category of who can catch the most locals keeping twice their limit. Do the smallies navigate back to their home stretch of the river? thanks for info any pictures?????? bk

Too many good rivers to choose from!!! After much deliberation (and reading the last few reports), I think i'll check out the Upper Jacks Fk this wknd. Will be my first time on it and was thinking of keeping it short and sweet from Blue Spring to Rymers. Anyone out this past wknd? Is the fishing still good? Still so good it makes a man cry like Fishmaniac on Memorial wknd?? Looks like 47 cfs at Mtn View. That isn't suicide is it? I don't mind dragging some/alot if it means avoiding the insanity and catching smallies. Someone mentioned earlier about 'closing the river' b/c of low flows. What does that mean? Any new tips greatly appreciated. Looking forward to checking it out. Sounds like an awesome stream. By the way - anyone do any wading up Sinking Creek? I've done well from hwy 19 up to Camp Zoe in April but wonder how good the fishing stays once the camp cranks up for the summer and flows go down. Anyone been from the camp up to Barren Fork confluence? thanks in advance, Brian catch and release

I've tried 2 different kinds of yarn indicators but even with floatant they don't hold up very long. Do you have a brand name for the GodzillaYarn??

sounds good. where did you put in? I haven't fished the lower stretches from Davis to Hull or Hull to Hazelgreen. pretty nice water down there?

Went down to the Hwy B access this wknd to try to avoid some of the crowds and paddled upstream about 2-3 miles. Water in good shape, some color and after all the good reports I thought i'd do well....not to be. much slower than i expected. A couple decent smallies in the 13-14" range but otherwise just a few small guys. Back out by about 12:30. Started fishing the OsageFk 2 yrs ago and have generally done fairly well in the DryKnob to Davis stretch and up from Hwy B. It is a beautiful management stream that can grow some big fish. Anyone have any recent reports? Was it just me? On a previous thread, it was mentioned that the Empire Ranch owner runs folks out. I know he owns the town, police, etc in that area but does he throw a fit if you float through his property or just wade? I was thinking about putting in at Orla (can you access there with canoe? ) and paddling upstream from there? is it safe? What about putting in upstream of him and floating through? i know it is a long stretch. Brian

Brian, Hey, new to the forum. Some great stuff! I know summertime means deep on both the NFork and Eleven Point. What is the best way you find to get to the bottom? Sinking line or just lots of lead? Do you use an indicator or just try to watch the line and keep in good contact with that 13' setup during the drift? i usually just find myself just pinching on enough splitshot (which is alot) to get deep which works pretty well but wonder how much that interferes with the presentations . I've only been using the flyrod for a few yrs now and it's time i get some professional counsel. I'll have to book a trip with you soon so I can learn a thing or two. Do you book your schedule thru Myron or can i just call you or email? Thanks for all the great info. Brian Knopf

just curious, how big were the biggest fish in the tourney? There's gotta be some good pics out there. Anyone?? I wonder how well all those smallies hold up under that stress of catch, keep in a live well all day, and release. Just catching em sometimes stresses to the point of needing some reviving. I presume they are all released but do they all / most survive and are they all returned to the water at the same access? Do they migrate back up or down? I have only fished one tourney in the past and watched alot of the fish not survive after weigh in. Just wondering. Would hate to see some old monster die for the tourney. Brian

Thanks- it's only 20 hp with no jetprop (which make me cringe when you hear one coming up the river from 5 miles away). i may just use the boat/oars/trolling motor as a poor man's drift boat. will let you know if make it down there. b

I'm just up the road here at Lake of the Ozarks and need to get out on the Niangua more. have only been at the Bennett and Barclay accesses. I'd like to check out the lower stretches from Mtn Creek downstream but the guy at Mtn Creek Campgnd. said that the next take out is 17 miles down! Anyone know of a takeout (private? pay?) on the East side of the river around Eldridge somewhere in that stretch of water. I would imagine it gets less floating / fishing pressure if it's really a 2 day float between accesses. Anyone familiar with the access at the end of Hwy E(or EE?) (don't have my map in front of me?) Could I put in a boat or canoe in and motor (no jet) or paddle upstream? Any help is great. looking for catch and release trophy smallies. Brian

Kickn- Thanks for the report. Great to hear that the fish are still cooperative. Haven't been down since first wknd of turkey season (I saw that you had good luck that wknd) We did well from TwoRivers to Owls Bend also on soft plastics. That was my first trip that wasn't trout water. Sounds like you have more experience on the Current...is there a stretch of river in that section that gets any lighter boating pressure? is there such a thing? I've been looking for the elusive 20"fish for a few yrs now...what do you think the best trophy water is? Sounds like i need the fishmaniac on the JacksFk. thanks, maybe see you out there soon, Brian catch and release!

Hey Brian, My first post on the forum. Great reports and pics, keep em coming. Thinking about coming down this wknd and was wondering if anyone has any info on the smallies further downstream say up or down from Riverton.... I saw that they had been good this spring from Thomasville to Greer but just wondering if anyone has any info on the lower river. I've not been below Riverton. Just got a little river jonboat and was thinking about testing her out. thanks, Brian Knopf Sunrise Beach