Enough Already!

[smbass43]

Thanks Brian. We'll need a shuttle if you're interested.

Any damage down there? Hope you guys are alright! We'll pray for some dryer weather for you guys.

[Brian Sloss]

Just holler when you are ready to go and we would be happy to shuttle you. As for us we had some vehicle damage and a canoe rack busted. There were those that got it worse than us though. Let's hope it stays dry for a while.

[kslr10]

Hey Brian,

I just found this site. And you seem to be the guy to talk with about Eleven Point. I'm planning a trip with some friends around the second week of June. This will be our first trip out there. We have mostly fished Castor and Current rivers. We are wanting to do about a 2 1/2 day trip. Probably start Fri afternoon thru Sun afternoon. About how far up should we go to space out the trip. Also will the water be any higher or faster with all this rain? Any help would be appreciated.

[snap]

kslr10, are you planning on camping two nights on the river? If you are, I would suggest you put in at Greer and fish/float the blue ribbon area Friday ....approx 5 miles.....and set up camp 1/2 mile below Turner across from the bluff where the river makes the first 90 degree turn to the right. This is a deep hole before the first shoals below Turner. Good fishing in the evening and the morning from the campsite through the shoals. You would then have 7 miles or less to float/fish to Whiten or 14 miles to Riverton. If you fish at my pace, horseshoe bend would be a great 2nd night with a take out at Whiten on Sunday. If you are making too good of time, due to your pace or the rivers, you could camp below Whiten. There are many nice gravel bars....I guess I should say there were...2-3 miles below Whiten. Most are where the river makes those 90 degree turns. There are also numerous float camps but I don't think they have good fishing....whereas most of the gravel bars have good fishing!

[Brian Sloss]

The above suggestion is solid, but it depends on what you are looking for and how seriously you plan to fish and what you want to target. If you strictly want trout, I'd say Greer to Riverton as Snap said. But if you want to have a day that is strictly smallmouth, I'd start above Greer at Cane Bluff, should be plenty of water this year. Then go down to Whitten covering the blue ribbon trout and just under half of the white ribbon trout water (which does have smallmouth as well). If you wanted to move a little faster, you could add 8 miles and go down to Riverton and finish the rest of the trout water. Feel free to call me at 417-778-6497 if you want to discuss details or ask questions.

Brian Sloss

[Orbearider]

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.

[Brian Sloss]

There is no rain in the forcast for the upcoming week, which is a relief. Hopefully, if the water goes down quick enough, experienced floaters may be able to get out on the river by next weekend or during the week following that weekend.

[Orbearider]

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?

[Brian Sloss]

I would camp at Greer, where hwy 19 crosses the river. Wading will be a challenge and might not be doable. That is the blue ribbon trout area though. If it is too high, you could probably go up river to Thomasville and wade fish for smallmouth or go to McCormick lake or falling spring lake to fish smallmouth and pickerel. They are both close to Greer and you can camp at McCormick if you want.

[Orbearider]

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.