Noser's Mill To Reikers Ford

[Bourbeuse River Angler]

Does anyone know of an area below Noser's Mill that boats can be put in? I used to float between Noser's and Reikers all the time, but our access point was closed off. We used to put in right at the mill off a service road on 185, but I think some kid got killed trying to drag race there about 12 years ago, so the road got blocked. According to some websites there is a camp called "Eastwood" with access, but I have never heard of this and don't know if it's public.

Since our put in has been shut off we've adventured up and floated mill rock to wenkle and wenkle to peter's ford, but I would love to take the old trip again. Any advice would be greatly appreciatted. Also, can anyone tell me what kind on water the river sustains up above mill rock...say from Tea to mill rock? is it only canoe water?

One last thing, I think it's pretty cool to hear people talk so highly of the Bourbeuse. I have fished it for 15+ years religiously, and can't wait to float this weekend.

[hank franklin]

Wish I could help you on Noser's to Reiker's but don't think I can. No public access that's for sure. You can't put in at Noser's anymore; you can go up to Devil's Back Floats though just above Noser's. Never heard of Eastwood; there's Greenstreet above Noser's but I don't know where access would be. Angler's of Missouri has a lot of ground between Noser's and Reiker's but from what I've heard the access isn't all that great plus you have to be a member to use it.

Regarding the river above Mill Rock, I'd say it's canoe water though you might be able to jet it or use a small prop in strong spring flow. Not in summer though. The river is faster in general though you'll still find typical slow Bourbeuse pools pretty much as high on the river as you can go.

[Gavin]

I'd agree with Hank...its canoe water above Mill Rock, and be prepared to drag and portage around some log jams..You can wade in spots, but is typical BB..short riffle section, looong deep slow hole...so you will want a boat to cover water. Cant help you with a public access between Noser and Reiker, though there are several private access points. Might have to knock on a few doors, or put in at Devil's Back and portage the dam. Cheers.

[Bourbeuse River Angler]

Thanks for advice above mill rock, thats the only stretch of the bourbeuse I haven't been on. I usually fish between 44 and Guths mill, but every spring we take float trips on the upper sections. The last couple of years we focused on Mill rock to wenkle and wenkle to peters. I like those stretches, but am always looking to try something new... as long as the river can handle my boat.

[hank franklin]

What kind of boat you got? I'd say Tea to Mill Rock would be good right now.

[ozark trout fisher]

What kind of boat you got? I'd say Tea to Mill Rock would be good right now.

I got a question for you all. I'm going down to the Bourbeuse tommorrow, for a walk/wade trip at either Mayers landing or Union. USGS says its running a bit over 500 CFS. That sounds manageable, but I just wanted to check.

[Al Agnew]

It's probably going to be pretty tough wading at that level. Problem with the Bourbeuse is that it is almost always murky, so seeing the bottom is a problem when you're wading. And while there is a lot of shallow water, there is also a lot of water that is deep from bank to bank in both those areas. I find that on streams the size of the Bourbeuse there during spring normal water levels, you are very limited in the amount of good fishing water you can reach by wading.

[Bourbeuse River Angler]

What kind of boat you got? I'd say Tea to Mill Rock would be good right now.

I have a 17-48 alweld -.100 gauge with a 35 jet, and my brother has a 16-42 alweld -.80 gauge with a 25 jet. My brother's boat is pretty lite, and can be carried if we were forced to do so, but not mine. They are perfect bourbeuse boats for our style of fishing, but I get a little leery way up top that the river may be blocked by logs and such.

[Bourbeuse River Angler]

I got a question for you all. I'm going down to the Bourbeuse tommorrow, for a walk/wade trip at either Mayers landing or Union. USGS says its running a bit over 500 CFS. That sounds manageable, but I just wanted to check.

this may be too late but, you may want to try the access at 44 and right before the union exit. You can walk/wade down from there for quite a ways.

[hank franklin]

I'd Mayer's Landing is wade-able right now though it's probably borderline. I used to fish there a lot but haven't been yet this year. Getting across the chute right downstream from the boat ramp is the tough part. In high water you might want to walk up a bit and circle back on the opposite bank. That can be a little tricky too however. You probably could bushwhack on the north (or west) bank downstream of the MDC area to get to the first gravel bar below. From that point I used to be able to wade almost to the last bend above Lover's Leap, Hartmann Bridge, or whatever they call it now.

It's hard to say for sure how a small jet would handle Tea on down. I'd say Tea to Shawnee Ford bridge (Highway AN) is probably ok. Above Kampschroeder Bend (above Mill Rock) gets kind of skinny and twisty. You oughta be able to at least jet to the bend and then get out and walk upstream. Could be some fishing in them parts.