Short Float?

[snagged in outlet 3]

I was wanting to float the Niangua this fall from Bennett on down. I only want to float a few miles so I can fish all day. Is there a takeout about 3 or 4 miles down river? Hopefully at an outfitter's place so we can float back to our car? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks, SIO3.

[oneshot]

I was wanting to float the Niangua this fall from Bennett on down. I only want to float a few miles so I can fish all day. Is there a takeout about 3 or 4 miles down river? Hopefully at an outfitter's place so we can float back to our car? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks, SIO3.

Me and my wife are thinking NRO would be the best place.

oneshot

[Gavin]

NRO is the nearest takeout..followed by Redbeard's. MDC's Barclay access is about 100-150yards below Redbeards.

[FishinCricket]

yoou definitely want to do NRO as the takeout.. If you make it a Sunday I may tag along and show you all my "special" spots... Either way make sure you put in above the public access (at the boat ramp by the wooden bridge) so you can hit the area where the spring enters the river.. They stock this spot with lunkers on occassion. My number is listed below if you need anything else... GL

[snagged in outlet 3]

Thanks everybody!!! How far is NRO from Bennett?

SIO3

[oneshot]

Thanks everybody!!! How far is NRO from Bennett?

SIO3

Its about 6 miles.

oneshot

[FishinCricket]

Its about 6 miles.

oneshot

It's about 6 miles on google earth, but only 4 1/2 miles of actual water... Strictly paddling it's only a two to three hour trip but I suggest you take your time and make it an all day float with a

Minimum of 5 stops to wade/anchor and fish the holes.. Here's some suggestions..

1. Previous suggestion: put in up next to the park and fish the first 1/2 mile (to the long hole past the public access, below the bridge)

2. Once you get 100 yards past the last boat ramp at the public access you will be in a massive, slow flowing hole that looks like heaven for smallies... Put up your poles and move on... Don't take em back out for almost a mile.. While those holes look great and may yeild a few, there's better action downstream..

3. 1 1/2 miles downstream from the access you will see a cabin on the right side and a beautiful camping spot on the left with a 100 yard set of riffles just below it. Fish the mudbank below the cabin (me and that 2 lb smallie have a history, so please put him back) and then hit that entire riffle set. Surely I don't have to insruct on how to fish a riffle set, but I will mention that every riffle from this point to NRO will yeild something.. Also the head of every riffle harbors one smallie and one brownie that will hit on crawdads swimming DOWNSTREAM (one would assume they would hit a wet fly as well)

4. Once you've had your fill of the cabin area, head on downstream about two miles (fishing the riffles hard) and you will find a split in the stream. This split separates the river for about 1/2 mile.. The left side is the side to float (it's wider and looks much more inviting) and the right side is deadly for rainbows and smallies. I might suggest leaving the boat upstream and floating the left side, as the right side may be gummed up from the recent flooding..

5. Where the stream comes back together they strike each other at odd angles and create a swirl that is very dangerous. Some of the most entertaining moments this summer for me was watching people tip in that swirl and get taken for a ride..

6. That swirl is 500 yards upstream from NRO. The entire area between the swirl and NRO yields some bigger fish, particularly the swift area just below the swirl. I have anchored there and caught 25 trout without moving the boat.

7. Lastly, at NRO, wade out in the riffle right in front of the takeout and fish close to the right bank, under the trees.

Please come back and let me know if my advice helped..

Good luck...

[snagged in outlet 3]

Thanks Cricket! We're heading down around the week of of Oct. 20, if the tailwaters in AR are still generating around the clock. Which BTW, I believe they will. I'll let you know what happens.

I've fished the Niangua for years but not recently. I didn't know of any short floats and I don't like 8 milers when I'm trying to fish. Thanks again.

SIO3