Mineral Fork - Where Can I Canoe It?

[trpastor]

Hey Guys -

I'm a long time Smallmouth angler and have released them all (including a 22" on the bourbouse!)

I just recently got a canoe and would like to go down with a friend so we can drop in and take out with 2 cars. Can anyone tell me where I might be able to do this (email me if you prefer trpastor@yahoo.com). I've heard alot in the forum about buying and selling land and fences and signs going up. I know I could do Kingston to the Big, but thats only a couple miles and probably not the prettiest either?

Thank you for any help

Tim

[Gavin]

I've done Hwy F down to 47 bridge a couple times..its about 9-10 miles and it will take all day..usually try to do it in June when the days are at there longest. Other options, 47 down to Mammouth on the Big or paddle upstream on the Big to Washington State Park..or float from 21 bridge through WSP and wade up the MF before you float down to Mammouth. Good Luck.

[trpastor]

Thanks for the help Gavin

Do you (or anyone else) think I'll run into problematic people down there on 47?

Thanks!

Tim

[Terrapin Station]

Thanks for the help Gavin

Do you (or anyone else) think I'll run into problematic people down there on 47?

Thanks!

Tim

Depends on your definition of "problematic." If meth-induced psychosis is your cup-o-tea, then you'll do just fine. It's those darn cottonmouths ya gotta look out for

[trpastor]

I know I've heard of cotton mouths down there, but how many of you have seen them? I've wade fished a LOT of streams in MO and have never seen one! Possibly one on the big down in st francis county, but he was on a tree stump across the stream and high up, so I couldnt' really tell for sure so I can't say I've seen any

From what I understand their normal range is much more south (boot heel and slightly higher). I don't doubt that there may be some here and there but are there really a lot on that little creek for some reason?

[Al Agnew]

Last time I was on the Mineral Fork was last year...haven't been on it at all this year. At that time F Hwy. was still a good access, and 47 Hwy. was usable. The Kingston Ranch people had put up a fence across the path leading to the river at 47, with a big sign that said something to the effect that you had to have a valid fishing license to use the river there...I think they were trying to keep out the swimmers and party animals, but not the anglers. Maybe somebody else has been there recently and will chime in. Since there is good road shoulder parking at 47 and you can stay on highway right of way to get to the creek, they SHOULDN'T be able to keep you off. It's a long, hard trek to the river there, but doable. Assuming that's the case, the choices are as Gavin said. Scenery is best above 47, but it is 10 miles from Hwy. F, and that's a LONG way in low water.

[lizard]

Im still tring to find the acc. off hyw F. We use to fish for smallies at brickies untill last year when modot put a new bridge in and droped the water level to nothing and with all the concrete wash out in the river, seems all the fish left or died out. I drove out from Potosie on F last weekend out to Pat Daly but didnt see any acc. to the river. Guess I needed to go a little farther.

[Big Sac]

I grew up around there and found the Mineral Fork fascinating. The creek is beautiful and I would usually see lots of trophy smallies, although they were hard to catch in the small clear creek. I have also had some of my sketchiest "people" experiences there while floating. Bottom line, go for it, the river needs more upstanding catch and release fisherman for it's own good. HWY 47 kind of is a dividing line between largemouth/spotted bass habitat, and more smallmouth suited habitat above. I always expected a real toad smallie to live in the section below though.

[ColdWaterFshr]

We floated it yesterday from 47 down to the Big and then paddled upstream to Wash SP. Fishing wasn't all that good, And the float turned out to be a lot of work. Recent floods have really changed some things around. There were at least 4 massive deadfalls we had to portage around. Above 47 I would imagine there would be even more deadfalls which would make a long day trip even longer. As it was, we were paddling the last mile and half up to WSP in the dark, which wasn't much fun.