Eleven Point River Greer-turner 7-13

[Snow Fly]

Arrived at Alton Mo. Sunday night 7/12 with my friend Craig Stevens for a day float with Brian Sloss, from his "Benefit Guide Trip Auction". We arrived at Brian's Eleven Point Canoe Rental Shop at 630am 7/13 for a good day of fishing. Cloudy day with a prediction of possible thunder storms. Loaded up the equipment and drift boat and put in at Greer. One thing for sure with all the rods we had set up we didn't need to worry about breaking off in the middle of a good drift....just grab another rod. There for a while I thought we might have to leave Craig at the launch site a/c not enough room . I started out rigged with a brown Stone Fly with a weighted Craw pattern tied by a friend at T. Hargroves fly shop. Stated catching fish right from the get go, with Craig and myself hooking up on numerous occasions, whether it was in the mouth of a great looking rainbow or a rock/tree which equals fish DEEP and if you are not hitting bottom your not DEEP enough. I think at times Craig was using a Don's Craw pattern dropped off a Stone also. Basically stayed with the same same the entire day. Did use an egg pattern up top with a black Stone as the trailer caught a few with the set up until Brian rigged my rod back up. Brian feels the egg pattern up top is a good attractor for the trailer fly.......Could have a good point since the 5-6 fish caught on the rig was on the Stone and only one on the Egg. Also as mentioned in previous fishing report we also noted numerous fish following our flies with 1-2 taking the fly right off the surface.

What even made the day better was the lack of canoe's with I think numbered around three for the whole day. Brian kept us on fish and good runs all day, which I'm sure played a large part in our success. Biggest fish of day was Craig netting a healthy WILD Bow around 16 +/-". Most fish were in the 14" range and were willing to give you a good fight to the net. The fish hooked in the rapids had a big advantage with the flow adding about three/four inches to the fish's fight. I would say for the day the two of us probably brought to the net around 50 fish, with many long range release, stung mouths and just some out right go to sleep misses . Weather was great with some thunder in the distance but NO rain until a few drops as we were loading up for the trip back to Alton.

Really want to give Brian a BIG Thank You! for the hard work he did all day, on the oars and the numerous times he hit the water and walked the boat through the really good runs to make sure we were able to work the water. It was well worth the time and I would suggest others take advantage to our guides knowledge of the river and the fine fishery Eleven Point has to offer.

[superfly]

Great Report Snow Fly! Sounds like an excellent day on the water and for a good cause.