Ozark Sweetwater

We will be having our event on Saturday October 1 at Hidden Valley Outfitters in Lebanon Mo. There will be a "1 Fly Tournament" starting at 9:00AM. There will also be vendors and factory reps on site to answer any questions and give you the opportunity to check out new products. At sunset we will be showing the International Fly Fishing Film Festival ( IF4) on the riverbank. The entire event is free and everyone is welcome. We hope to see you there!

We will be having our event on Saturday October 1 at Hidden Valley Outfitters in Lebanon Mo. There will be a "1 Fly Tournament" starting at 9:00AM. There will also be vendors and factory reps on site to answer any questions and give you the opportunity to check out new products. At sunset we will be showing the International Fly Fishing Film Festival ( IF4) on the riverbank. The entire event is free and everyone is welcome. We hope to see you there!

Hey Boys and Girls ! It's that time of year again. Come join us at the 4th Annual Redington Waters Event in Lebanon Mo at Hidden Valley Outfitters on Oct 4-5. We would like to invite you to the Redington Home Waters event being held at Hidden Valley Outfitters in Lebanon Missouri on October 4th and 5th. This is your opportunity to try out all the new offerings from Sage, Redington, and RIO. We will be set up on the banks of the Niangua River which will give you the chance to demo the products on the water. Professionals will be available to answer any and all of your questions pertaining to equipment and techniques. We will also be joined by other vendors including, Blackstrap, Jackson, Hobie, Wilderness Systems, and NuCanoe Kayaks brought to you by Ozark Mountain Trading Company, Grundens, Terry and Roxanne Wilson, Artist Laura Wemhoener, Red Wheel Bike Shop among others. There will also be representatives from other clubs and organizations on hand to let you know what’s going on in the fly fishing, conservation and species specific world, around your home waters. Groups like Trout Unlimited, MDC, Capital City Fly Fishers, and Missouri Smallmouth Alliance will be available to answer any questions or let you know what you can do to get involved to better our local streams and waterways. Saturday evening at 7:00PM, the event will culminate with an outdoor showing of the popular Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T). This event is FREE to the public and everyone is invited. COME FISH WITH US! https://flyfilmtour.com 2019 One Fly Poster.pdf

Only a few days away... This is your chance to check out all the new gear from Sage, Redington and RIO along with some other brands. Plenty of fun and good deals to be had. Hope to see some of you there.

It will be here before we know it. Our Redington Home Waters Event is happening again this year on Oct 5-6. It is being held at Hidden Valley Outfitters in Lebanon Mo. The event will start on Friday and will culminate on Saturday with a free showing of the F3T Fly Fishing Film Tour. We will also be having a "One Fly" tournament on Saturday. There will be vendors, giveaways, manufacturer's reps, local clubs and organizations, and experts to answer any questions you have, from saltwater species to any of the fish that call the Ozarks home. The event is completely free including the F3T. Bring your family and enjoy a day or two on the banks of the Niangua River. I've attached 3 flyers with info on the event. We hope to see you there! NEW ONE FLY POSTER.pdf

Actually Warren Bridge might still be there but the approach is messed up. Patrick Bridge the approach has washed out but they were cutting all the trees off if it today. i don't think anyone has really been on the river to know exactly what islands and gravel bars are still there. There are definitely zero trees left on the islands or along the bank. Where the current was strong there's not much silt but there is some sand. Where the current was slower or where it formed back eddies, there is a lot of silt left.

James, Hammond, and Warren Bridges are gone. McKee and Patrick are still there but not sure of the damage to them.

It looks like Patrick bridge might still be there. It's still tough to tell for sure. I was told that McKee bridge is still there.

I'll have to disagree with you on the NFOW being in full swing by Memorial Day. I would love for that to happen but if you see all the damage, I don't think there is anyway it's going to be ready to go. Logistically you have at least 3 bridges gone and possibly 4. There's no telling how many low water slabs on the roads to the river are gone. I doubt that many of the outfitters will be up and going. Many lost some ,if not all of their cabins and some of their gear. Last but not least, I'm not sure where you're going to put in. Many of the accesses are gone. Now to the river. With at least 2 dozen homes gone and washed into the river along with countless number of barns, debris and trees, navigation is going to be very difficult. It's going to take some time to clear the river of all the obstacles. I hope Im wrong and I am not trying to start an argument with anyone. The river hit unprecedented heights and caused damage that no one could imagine.

That's a very short float for 3 days. I don't think it will drop out by this weekend. It is currently over 21,000 CFS. It's dropping about 1300 cfs per hour right now. I would not attempt it at anything over 1500-2000cfs. There are several islands in that stretch that are prone to log jams. I would doubt that any of the outfitters will be out cutting trees by this weekend. I would probably reschedule if I were you. Just my 2 cents.

There's no way to describe it other than its a mess. Hammond Bridge and James bridge are gone. Don't know about McKee or Patrick yet, the river is still too high to tell. The last reading on the gauge that I saw was 209,000 cfs at 35.6 ft. I would say 50ft was possibly hit. Sunburst Ranch campground lost everything. The fishermans cabins, river house etc. Their house at the Landing had water up to the second level.ROLF had water in the upper level suites in the lodge. I believe they also lost 8 of the tree houses. Dawt Mill lost several cabins. They had water in the Gravel Bar and restaurant. Not sure about the bridge just below them. Tecumseh bridge was covered but the water has receded. The bridge is still closed because the road buckled on the Gainsville side. It will be closed until inspectors check it out. We will have to wait until the water drops out to see all the damage. its anyone's guess to when the river will be floatable. ROLF James Bridge Tecumseh Bridge

come see us at the Redington Home Waters event at Hidden Valley Outfitters on the Niangua River. Saturday from 9AM to 6PM. Check out all the new Redington fly rods and gear. There will be drawings and giveaways along with some free food. hope to see some of you there.

Next time you see me on the river, holler at me and say hi.

What marks? Haha!

A couple more shots.

Are you sure it wasn't a Towee? A Gheenoe doesn't handle a jet. You described my Towee to a tee.

Yes you can. For a Clackacraft LP, anything 1200 CFS or lower.

NFOW is fishing good right now and if flows stay up, it will be good in April. Day 1 float Kelly to Sunburst. Camp at Sunburst. Day 2 float Sunburst to The Landing.

River is at 1670 CFS right now and still coming up slightly. The fishing has been decent but not great. I don't know what type of drift boat you have but in mine (Clackacraft LP) , I won't fit under McKee if it's over 1200 CFS. Patrick is definitely out of the question at the current flows. You can put in at Patrick and run to the Landing (call Justin at Sunburst for your shuttle) two or 3 times depending on what type of fishing your doing. NFOW always fishes better at higher flows. Try some streamers and if you're nymph fishing, go HEAVY and deep. 6-8 ft to your first fly and then a dropper 12-18 inches, tied from the bend of the first fly.

Yea I'm the rep for Arkansas and Missouri for Towee. This is my second one. I also row a Clackacraft LP.

I don't know which guide you hired for the NFOW but there are only a handful of us so, I'm sure that I know him. What he is saying on flows is, that if it reaches above 1100 he won't be able to fish certain sections. Different boats will fit under the low water bridges at different flows. The normal drifter will fit under McKee bridge at or around 1200 CFS. Patrick bridge is a little dicey for most if flows are above 700 CFS. You are still able to fish the lower (below Patrick) at any flows, as long as it's not muddy. NFOW typically fishes better when the flows are up. I love it at 1200 CFS. its sitting at 750 right now, which is good for this time of year but it could jump up pretty quick if we get a good rain between now and the days you're on the water.

There has already been some good advice from some qualified people given but I would tell you that rowing a drift boat and rowing a boat with someone fishing are two different things. What I mean by that is that knowing the basic rowing strokes is good but it takes a lot more time on the sticks to learn how to stay on a line so someone can fish. An experienced oarsmen makes this look effortless. It's not hard it just takes practice. Like others have said, hire a drift boat guide and explain to him what you are wanting to do. Learn the basics from him and then just get on the water and practice. Good luck and enjoy the ride and congrats on your purchase.

Hey Ham! That fly on the right is mine. I've lost an unbelievable amount of streamers over the last 3 weeks but that's part of the game on big water.

It's fine except for casting 8-10 inch flies. Its also hazardous for the guide having said flies whizzing around your head. Haha!