Osage Fork River

[Scooper]

The ranch is owned by the Plaster family, old man plaster is recently deceased, but I think the rest of the family is just as receptive to floaters.. But that's all I'll say, cause when you talk about that family around here, so speak softly and behind closed doors.

But the ranch is from the twin bridges crossing (now named Evergreen)on highway 5 south of Lebanon and extends all the way to Orla, possibly beyond..

Cricket-

Thanks for the info. The Plaster family sounds familiar. Other than the ranch, are they prominent in some other way? When you say "the rest of the family is just as receptive to floaters" do you mean they're hostile to floaters, as in firing "warning shots" across the bow of one's canoe or john boat?! Also...

How is the Niangua looking? Up and muddy, I would guess. I took my two boys on a float last Tuesday. It was their first experience trout fishing and they caught a few, so they had a great time. The river, then, was actually a little low, I thought, for this time of year. We took out at NRO right before a huge thunderstorm hit (hail, high winds, heavy, heavy rain). In looking at some of the gauages, it is probably unfloatable right now.

[FishinCricket]

Cricket-

Thanks for the info. The Plaster family sounds familiar. Other than the ranch, are they prominent in some other way? When you say "the rest of the family is just as receptive to floaters" do you mean they're hostile to floaters, as in firing "warning shots" across the bow of one's canoe or john boat?! Also...

How is the Niangua looking? Up and muddy, I would guess. I took my two boys on a float last Tuesday. It was their first experience trout fishing and they caught a few, so they had a great time. The river, then, was actually a little low, I thought, for this time of year. We took out at NRO right before a huge thunderstorm hit (hail, high winds, heavy, heavy rain). In looking at some of the gauages, it is probably unfloatable right now.

Let's put it this way, in the middle of the plaster land there is an old rusted sign hanging across the river that says "Warning: Live ammunition Being Used" and the hillock next to it is covered with massive pockmarks.. But this is all I can attest to witnessing myself.. Lots of local stories though. The plaster family started Empire Gas, which apparently was a multibillion dollar asset. Their ranch is very expansive, it's like 18,000 acres along the Osage fork... They have their own police force. No joke. (if I disappear tommorrow, you guys know what happened..)

The niangua was high (actually about the right depth, but fast flowing) and muddy on Wednesday. The smallies were holding to structure in the middle of the stream, and the trout were still striking, they were just close to the bottom and hard to get to without some extreme weight. I certainly wouldn't call it floatable..

[fishinwrench]

They used to fire a cannon when someone was spotted floating the river. I've heard it go off (5 or 6 times) from way downstream, about 8 seconds between shots....so they must either be fast loaders, or have more than one.

The OF is apparently not considered a "navigable waterway", inspite of the fact that you can legally access it both upstream and downstream of that particular section. I wish someone would challenge that (the right to float that section) in court....cuz I think it could be won.

[ColdWaterFshr]

I like that river, but it can run a little murky for a while after a rain. Also, be prepared for lots of long, slow pools. 14 miles in 2 days will probably seem more like 20 miles. I like the upper river up near Hwy 5 better than the lower sections below Drynob. Lots of cows in the water down there.

[ozark trout fisher]

They used to fire a cannon when someone was spotted floating the river. I've heard it go off (5 or 6 times) from way downstream, about 8 seconds between shots....so they must either be fast loaders, or have more than one.

The OF is apparently not considered a "navigable waterway", inspite of the fact that you can legally access it both upstream and downstream of that particular section. I wish someone would challenge that (the right to float that section) in court....cuz I think it could be won.

Yikes

I'm thinking I'd better pick another stream

[FishinCricket]

Yikes

I'm thinking I'd better pick another stream

Might I again suggest the hazelgreen area of the gasconade? Or possibly the leadmine section of the niangua?

[ozark trout fisher]

Might I again suggest the hazelgreen area of the gasconade? Or possibly the leadmine section of the niangua?

I think I might just do one of those sections instead.

The Osage Fork suddenly sounds a bit less appealing

[FishinCricket]

I think I might just do one of those sections instead.

The Osage Fork suddenly sounds a bit less appealing

Only that particular section from Evergreen to Orla.. As for the rest of the Osage Fork, I stand behind my first post about the Davis to Hull ford section (which is downstream from "Plaster-land")..

Good luck in your decision..