New To The Eleven Point...

[jimrandolph]

Good evening everyone. My friend and I from Illinois are planning a trip down to the Eleven Point and have never been there before. Probably around the 18th of April. We have both been down to the Spring River in Hardy AR. for years and years, and were looking to switch things up.

We are hoping to stay at one of the Rose Cottages in Alton; I have read quite a few nice things about her accommodations. Additionally, we are planning on renting a canoe from Brian at his place and take a one-day trip.

My questions are many; so any help you experienced fisherman can provide about the area would be very much appreciated.

1. What section of river would you recommend canoeing/fishing during that period in April. Obviously water levels will play into it at the time...but we are really looking to catch whatever can be caught. At the spring river we always targeted trout, and from reading these posts, there appear to be trout and bass present. We only have one day to do this (this time around), and I want to select the appropriate distance trip for a good day of fishing.

2. Regarding the water and geography; does the river or recommended section of river provide for wadable fishing? Or is a majority of the river require staying in the canoe? We are very accustomed to wading and fishing.

3. Neither of us fly fish, I always meant to learn, but it hasn't happened yet. I pretty much exclusively use live bait; seining minnows, sculpin, crawdads out of the river. I know this form of fishing seems to cause much debate, but I use very small circle hooks which are barbless in an effort to reduce mortality. I feel like I have a lot of success with doing so. Obviously, this rules out the "blue ribbon area" but I am OK with that. Is there a place to buy live bait in town, or should I bring my seining net?

I am sure I have more questions...hopefully with this message thread it will prompt me to remember additional ones. Thank-you in advance for any and all help or tips.

-Jim

[Brian Sloss]

I would advise either Turner to Whitten or Whitten to Riverton depending on how they are fishing for trout when you come. If you want to target smallmouth, I highly recommend Cane Bluff to Greer that time of year. There will be places to get out and wade on all those floats. I sell worms and minnow traps at my shop.

[jimrandolph]

I would say that we are down for catching whatever is going to be biting the best....with unfortunately, only one day to attempt the eleven-point (this time); we want to make the best of it.

I'm guessing Cane Bluff to Greer is some wider, slower moving water?

[Brian Sloss]

Actually it is narrower water as it is upstream of Greer spring, which doubles the size of the river and chills it for the trout. The other to floats are downstream of Greer, so the water is bigger.

[snap]

Jim...adding my two cents here!!! Do the Turner to Whiten float! Great sceneryand plenty of stops to wade. This is probably our favorite. Plenty of minnows in the river and easy to seine.

[Mark]

I'll second Snap's suggestion. Turner to Whitten is about 7 miles with more places to stop and wade. This would be trout water and White Ribbon area with no bait restrictions. The first 3 miles you can stop about every 1/4 mile with plenty of small rapids, shoals, ripples, and turns. There isn't a lot of slow water where you have to paddle for long stretches. Take your time, as 7 miles isn't very far, but if you stop at every fishable/wadeable spot, you can make it last all day and not spend much time in a canoe. Plenty of minnows, crawdads, and sculpins to be found. The scenery is awesome. The entire length is Ozark National Scenic Riverways with no private ground on either side for 1/4 mile from the river, so no houses, private cabins, private gravel bars, etc to worry about.

The second half of the White Ribbon area is Whitten to Riverton. It seems to be about 9-10 miles although most will say it is also 7 miles, but it does seem longer. More stretches of slow water requiring some paddling. The best fishing for trout is in the first half of this stretch. You also would have to go through Halls Bay Chutes, a rather hair raising experience that could be close to Class III water with a couple hundered yards of whitewater over a few ledges. It will get your attention. The trout fishing slows down considerably after that, and it is more smallmouth water. So that stretch may be more suited for you if you were wanting a wider variety of fishing.

It sounds like you like to fish just like we do. You can't really go wrong with either stretch and you could do the entire stretch in one day. But we find we spend too much time in a canoe and pass up too many good fishing spots when we go the entire 14 mile stretch.

Snap and I and our group will be going the week before you on our annual Easter pilgrimage. We'll try to save some fish for you!!!

Where you coming from in Illinois? We come from Ste. Genevieve so we may be able to save you some driving time as we have learned a few short cuts. You don't want to take HWY 160 from Poplar Bluff to Alton without a supply of Malox!!!

I have a feeling that once you experience the Eleven Point, it will become your favorite. Go on a weekday and you will practically have the river to yourselves.

[jimrandolph]

Thanks guys...it seems like Turner to Whitten seems to be the general consensus. Are there any smallmouth to be caught on that float, or are they more heavily located in the latter half of the 14 mile float?

We will be coming from the St. Louis area; I am a State Trooper on the IL side, so I get to play in East St. Louis everyday.

I really like the fact that there is no big development on the eleven point river. The Spring River in AR is so nice, but seeing houses and campgrounds is always a distraction. Obviously, the eleven point can probably get busy, but I am guessing that even after memorial Day, through the summer to Labor Day it is probably less busy than the Spring River or the Meramec River? I usually pack it in from Memorial Day on due to the drunken a-holes on Mo and AR waterways.

The directions look like they have us (from St. Louis) going south on Rt. 67 for the bulk of the trip. Then at poplar Bluff, turning West on Rt. 60, then south on 19 at Winona; taking us into Alton. Although, I wonder if it would be quicker just to stay on 55 out of St. Louis and head south instead of traveling on 67?

[Mark]

Yeah - take 55 to Festus and get on Hwy 67 there.

A couple other shortcuts that will save 30-45 minutes;

On 67 past Fredericktown about 30 miles, take right on HWY 34 thru Piedmont (toward Sam A Baker Park and Clearwater LaKE). Hwy 34 combines with HWY 21 for several miles. Splits off again and stay on 21 to end. Eventually ends at HWY 60 just east of Van Buren. Right on 60. Easily saves 20 minutes vs. going to Bluff.

About 10 miles past Van Buren, turn left on State J (Conservation sign points toward Irish Wilderness). Go 25 miles and turn right on Hwy 160. About 20 miles to Alton. Probably saves another 20 minutes vs. going to Winona.

Takes about 3 hours from Farmington to Alton.

Grannies in downtown Alton is a good place to eat.

As I say, you will be pleasantly surprise at the wilderness. Even in summer, during the week, it isn't very crowded usually. Better smallmouth on 2nd part of White Ribbon Area, and further on down to Ark. border, also walleye below Riverton. I have a feeling your Spring River trips may be over!!! The Eleven Point is Missouri's best kept secret, so mum is the word!!!!!!! HA (My friends always rip me for telling people about it. We like the seclusion and want to keep it that way).

[jimrandolph]

So, just to clarify, you advise that as I enter MO from IL I should just stay on I-55 South as opposed to taking U.S. Rt. 67 south for the biggest part of the trip? Even though I-55 bends east and I will have to double back west on U.S. Rt. 60 near Sikeston? Or are you saying that I should take U.S. Rt. 67 straight south where it diverges from I-55 at Festus? (God...did any of that make sense??)

Also, Mark, you mentioned that you fish the river in a similar way (with live bait) is there anything too specific that you find that works? (Without giving away all your trade secrets...) At the Spring River I fish alll the falls and deep holes etc...just by presenting a minnow or crawdad with a couple of split shots, depending on the water currents.

Giving up a yearly trip to the Spring is a big task...I have been going there since I was a child. It's what keeps me going throughout the year sometimes! I will really enjoy the apparent seclusion and lack of riverside development. You may all rest assured that my friend and I will speak to no one of this, as I, as much as anyone appreciate unspoiled and isolated wilderness beauty.

[Mark]

Take 67 at Festus.

Our group has a variety of preferences. The one common approach is determining the amount of weight to get the bait bouncing off the bottom, The secret is just enough weight to get it to the bottom without getting hung up. Brian will also advise you to fish deep whether using live or artificial. Power eggs are also popular with our crowd. The stay on the hook well. Mix combos of white, pink, and yellow.

I prefer the tailwater of rapids where water begins to slow in deeper pools such as after the water has come around a bend. Others in our group fish the fast shallow water again with alot of weight. All in our group prefer moving water, but one in our group has shown us success is drift fishing the deep slow water. You will see those in jet boats drift the slow deep water, turn around and come back, and continue doing the same all day. Like I said, if you are just going the 7 mile stretch and get an early start, just stop at every stretch of moving water, pull the canoe over, and wade from top to bottom of stretch, and you will catch fish. It really is a pretty easy river to pull over and wade which it sounds like you like to do. We spend the whole day fishing this way and usually do well. Just make sure you are bouncing it off the bottom. You may tie a few hooks throughout the day, but will catch more fish.

Good luck - we look forward to your report and impression of the river.

Mark