First Time On Niangua

[Coach Joe]

Now that high school football season is over for us, a bunch of my coaching buddies are planning on coming down to Lebanon for a fishing/floating trip the weekend after Thanksgiving. We'll be coming down that Friday (most of us are glad to get away from wives/family after a long day with them on Thursday!)

One guy is planning on doing some kayaking on the river, the rest of us are planning on fishing. Any suggestions? From what I've read looks like the Bennett Springs Access across from BSP is a nice area to go. Also see that Barclay Conservation Area looks nice too. Would you guys know of any other places that might be worth taking a look at?

I've done plenty of trout fishing down at Meramac Springs and Montauk, but this is my first journey down to Bennett (let's just say I'll be taking a lay of the land for next summer at BSP). Everyone is telling me I need to hit Bennett sometime. Like I said, my one buddy loves to kayak and he's wanted to get on the Niagua for a while now. I'm guessing in the off season it shouldn't be too bad for him on a weekend.

Any suggestions on what to use? One guy has never fished before so this should be a lot of fun!

[jjtroutbum]

Welcome to OAF coach!!!!

I am sure a few guys will chime in shortly. Not planing on fishing the park at all ? Catch and release season is a great time to scout and fish the park also.

[fishinwrench]

Coach, If you guys will be assisting your kayaking partner with a shuttle, you can dump him at the 64 access, fish the access area awhile, then drive down to Barclay to meet up with him....and of course fish there too.

Leech patterns are probably the best "search fly"... trout and Smallies will both eat'em. Fish the leeches dead drift, on the swing, and on the swing with twitches, ya never know which way they want them on a given day and it DOES make a huge difference.

If your kayak'er buddy takes a spinning rod with him he can have a blast with the Smallmouth (and possibly a nice Brown or two) on Husky Jerks and big tubes like the "Mudpie" color Case 3 3/4in. tube on a 1/8oz. head, in and around the bluff holes and deep eddys.

And yeah, if you are going to be there during the weekend you can't beat the fishing in the park for numbers....and size.

[Coach Joe]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the help so far!

I was thinking about the park as well. I really wanted to get down there this past summer but never got a time that would work out with some of my fishing buddies. I'm sure we will spend time there now that everyone suggested that! Guessing the numbers won't be too bad in the park for a weekend since its catch and release only. I was wondering since it is a long holiday weekend if there would be others thinking of coming down that same time to do some winter scouting.

Any possible suggestions for our down time? We're staying just outside of the park, sure at night we might be looking for a place to catch some college games on TV. I'm thinking there will be some nice places in town to catch some games at night. Dinner, a beer and some college football after a day fishing sure sounds like a nice plan right now!

Again, thanks for all the suggestions and hints so far. I know my kayaking friend is already calling his friends about what to look for on the river. He was hoping for some fast water but looks like he'll be paddling most of the time.