Quality Fish?

[shockley32]

Do you guys catch quality fish on the Niangua? I read the info about the Niangua in MO Game and Fish, I hear people talk of several 3-4 lbs smallies and 5-10 lbs brown trout. Is this true? I live just a few minutes from the river, usually I fish in the lakes however with gas prices my jon boat and I may get some quality time this year.

Brad

[Paola Cat]

Brad .... I have caught browns up to 8 lbs. in the area just downstream from BSSP and a few rainbows just as large. Those are the exeception rather than the norm. It's good fishing in that area with a mixed bag of trout and smallmouth. I also frequently float the "upper Niangua" from the MDC Charity Access to the Hico Slab. Great skinny smallmouth water with fish up to 20" and overall great numbers. That's a real nice stretch of water and you rarely see anybody .... even in the summer. PC

[shockley32]

Interesting. I live in Buffalo and am just a short drive from Charity. How about down the river at Barclay? Is the fishing any good down in that area?

Brad

[Paola Cat]

Brad ..... Here's my data dump on the Niangua from 30 years of fishing it. There's good fishing down around the MDC Barclay Access. I have caught lots of trout (including many browns) and smallies down there. The numbers have been good but I've caught more quality fish in the "upper river". I guess I like the "smaller" river and "skinnier" water in the upper part and maybe it suits my style of fishing better. I normally fly fish or use ultra light spinning gear. When using spinning gear in the upper river, rebel teeny craws and salt-n-pepper slider worms are hard to beat. We normally float in a canoe and then wade fish the holes and runs. Hico Slab to the MDC Big John Access is a good smallmouth float also. I have walked most of the length of Deusenberry Creek and it's a fantastic small stream fishery and in areas you can jump across it. Also, Greasy Creek down by Big John has yielded some nice smallies for me. I have floated from the MDC Moon Valley Access to BSSP. I have caught some qualty fish on that stretch of river but the numbers have been lower and the canoe traffic can be horrible on the weekends. I don't fish any further downstream than Barclay. PC

[tarpon14]

I agree with other posters - canoe traffic on nice weekends makes the Barclay area tough after 10:30 a.m. or so. I have caught many nice browns, nice for me being anything around 20", lots of rainbows, and the occassional smallie on spinning gear. Biggest on a fly - 3 lb brown on a mouse pattern. Never fished it at night, but I'd bet that is a blast.