Here I Am Asking A Noob Question About My Own Territory Lol

[polock]

ok so me and my buddy are wanting to do a 2 day float on the upper upper current. I thought baptist camp was the upper most point you could put in, but I am seeing tan vat? where is that, and is it worth the extra 1.2 miles to float it. I am wanting to go from either there or baptist and do a good 2 day float. So where should I plan our takeout point? mainly floating and fishing with the occasional stopping to get a snack and get wet, and take pics of the caves and what not. looking to take out the 2nd day around dusk or a little before and starting early in the a.m. the first day.

also what are the must stops to see up here... I am really only know the river well from round springs to doniphan

[Gene K]

Baptist is the upper most location to put in at IF using a commercial float trip outfitter for canoes. If you have your own canoes/yaks, then yes, putting in at Tan Vat would be worth while for sure. Taking out point is highly dependent on how much time you spend fishing given locations. And, IMO, would also depend on the time of the week you would be there. IOW, if you were to be there during the weekend (in the summer), you might want to spend more time within the Tan Vat - Baptist stretch, as general float trippers don't use that stretch. While some general float trippers put in at Baptist, more opt for Cedar. So, the aluminum hatch is far less from Tan Vat to Cedar. If going mid week, then it just depends on how much time you want to spend within the blue ribbon section.

[Bman]

I usually wade Tan Vat,with the extra water now floating might be ok.

Otherwise I wade the Tan Vat to park or downstream,Floating from Baptist camp.

[catman70]

By road it's probably about the same, if not quicker to get to Tan Vat than to Baptist. I don't know how fast you float. It's about 7 miles from Baptist to Cedar, and another 7 from Cedar to Akers. There is somewhat of a "hidden" access named Turner's Point (I think) about 2/3 of the way between Baptist and Cedar - same with Welsch Spring on the lower half. More than likely, the fishing will be better on the upper half because of the regulation differences, but you might be with wading anglers until you hit Ashley Creek a mile or two below Baptist. I'd probably put in at Tan Vat and take out at Welsch, take my time on the first day.

Go by Wal-Mart and get a Missouri Gasiteer (SP?) Atlas. It'll help you find all the access points and will give you a good idea of the mileage between them.

[Kayser]

Catman- are you after a "gazeteer" ?

[3wt]

probably worth while if you want to start slow and get some fishing in.

the hidden one would be parkers ford, not turners point. I don't know how to get there from road, but i've waded there from baptist

[Gene K]

  catman70 said:

Go by Wal-Mart and get a Missouri Gasiteer (SP?) Atlas. It'll help you find all the access points and will give you a good idea of the mileage between them.

I used to love Gazetteer's, but that was long before things like Google Earth. A Gazetteer shows very little in the way of access points on the upper Current. It's almost worthless for planning purposes, especially when compared to Google Earth.

  Quote

the hidden one would be parkers ford, not turners point. I don't know how to get there from road, but i've waded there from baptist

The Parker access road is only 6/10 mile east on YY from the Baptist Access road.

[bikehikefish]

At the current river level, Tan Vat to Baptist is floatable; later this summer it may require dragging the canoe (if it ever stops raining).

[bikehikefish]

I almost forgot -- pick up a copy of Oz Hawksley's "Missouri Ozark Waterways". Has mile by mile descriptions of all the rivers, with access points, points of interest, even good gravel bars on which to camp!

Support your local fly shop or get one online

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=s...+missouri+ozark

[catman70]

Spelling's not my strong suit. Should have said "big red map book".

You are correct on the "Parker's Ford" bit, but I could have sworn I've heard it referred to as Turner's – or maybe whoever told me that was trying to throw me off...

FYI: Parker's is an unmarked access and has no latrene, unless they've added one in the last year or so. There's also a walk-in hunting area there, for what it's worth.

After leaving Baptist and heading back to Cedar/Jadwin, it's the first non-private road on the right. In fact, you can stay on that road, drive through Parker's and you'll come out between Cedar and Jadwin. You'll want 4-wheel, though.

There's also a "back way" to get to Cedar by going through Montauk and along the South side of the river. If you go that way there's a Model-T garage that sells some awsome beef jerky.