Looking For Wading Streams

[ness]

Al offered all the printed resources I would have suggested. I was also a little disappointed in the Tryon's book because it left out the SW corner of MO, which is closest to me. But still, lots of good info in there. He also did a book on called Trout Fishing in MO that is a great resource, though somewhat dated.

I'm much more familiar with trout fishing opportunities around here. Matt Tucker's site at Ozark Chronicles is a good start on locations and basic info. MDC's website has info too.

If you sniff around here or the Ozark Chronicles forums, you'll be able to glean some really good info from the comfort of your chair. But, nothing beats hitting the road as Al suggested.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Fishin4fun if you ever see your way to get a canoe to transport you and the boys, there are lots of rivers and creeks that have good wading potential, but with a few deep hole barriers. Any type of canoe would expand your waters, even if it wasn't big enough for all of you to fish from. The problems with the deep holes is that they can be hard to get around because of steep banks, private land, fences, and plain old heavy brush.

[Chief Grey Bear]

By all means head down to the local book store or Walmarts and get you a De Lorme Missouri map. It will be less than $20 and will be one of the best investments you ever made! It is a big red map in a book style. Personally I think it is the best investment you can make for learning your area.

Get that, a tank of gas, toss in the rods, and a saturday with you and the boys and you will come home with more memories that you can shake a stick at. And just repeat next saturday!

I would like to suggest getting some waders. For you and the boys. Don't limit your wading to the warm water months. Plus you will want to do some trout fishing at some point in time during the winter months.

[Fishin4Fun]

Hey Guys,

Thank you all so much for all the good info! I already own the De Lorme Missouri map and the Missouri Paddlers Guide, so I guess I better start putting them to use. I am also starting to realize that a canoe would probably be a good investment. There seems to be a lot of water that is great for floating. Do you know if anyone ever floats the creeks around here in personal pontoons? I have two of them from my fly fishing days back in Idaho and was wondering if they would work well for the waters around here? They have been in storage since we moved here 5 years ago.

As far as waders go, I have two pairs for myself, but none for the boys yet. That might be a Christmas gift this year.

Ness, thanks for the info and the link to the Ozark Chronicles website. I will definitely be checking that out also.

I appreciate all the feedback to this post thus far. My boys and I fished the Finley this past Saturday and though the fishing wasn't great, we had a great time just getting out. They are ready to go again this weekend. Their excitement is getting me all excited again for stream fishing. It has been a long time, but I sure do love it. Nothing beats the challenge of a great day on a beautiful stream.

Well, I will keep you all posted on our adventures. Maybe we will see you on the waters someday in the near future. That is, if I can find the secret holes.

Tyy

By all means head down to the local book store or Walmarts and get you a De Lorme Missouri map. It will be less than $20 and will be one of the best investments you ever made! It is a big red map in a book style. Personally I think it is the best investment you can make for learning your area.

Get that, a tank of gas, toss in the rods, and a saturday with you and the boys and you will come home with more memories that you can shake a stick at. And just repeat next saturday!

I would like to suggest getting some waders. For you and the boys. Don't limit your wading to the warm water months. Plus you will want to do some trout fishing at some point in time during the winter months.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Do you know if anyone ever floats the creeks around here in personal pontoons?

I don't know of anyone, but I have one and I'm familiar with them. There's no reason you couldn't use them. You would obviously have to watch the flow and not allow one of the boys to be overwhelmed, but most of the creeks and small rivers can be rowed during normal water levels. You could add the Osage Fork to your list with the 'toons.

[ness]

I've always wanted to get a personal pontoon, but I've just never been able to pull the trigger. The canoe is just so versatile. Holds plenty of gear and a passenger or two. It will scoot over rocks and through riffles, and you can easily drag it in shallow areas. And, they're nice when you get to a big, slow pool too. I think a 'toon would be OK on a bigger stream, but I think I'd still favor a canoe. Still water -- that's a different story.

I bought a Wenonah Solo Plus when my boys were younger (they're 13 now) and it worked great -- me in the middle, one up front and one in the back. Now they're too big for that, so we're down to me solo and them in a canoe on their own.

[Wayne SW/MO]

You're close enough to the James to do floats, and the 'Toons would work there. If you could sweet talk the wife into shuttling you, there wouldn't be any problems. The one nasty trait of the Toons, namely being a bear to row against the wind, shouldn't come up on the James. The James, or any of our streams, are likely to get the upstream winds that the western canyon streams get. The James isn't very fast nor does it have any shoals to give much thought to. It does have a nice population of Smallies and is virtually on your doorstep.

[Fishin4Fun]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the feedback on my 'Toons. I just might have to get them out and give them a try. It's been so long hopefully I can find all my stuff and remember how to put them back together. I used them a lot for flying fishing in Idaho on small lakes and a few rivers. The one place I loved using them was the Green River on the Wyoming/Utah border. That was some awesome fishing!

Well, I will keep you posted on how they work when I get the time to get them out and give them a try.

Have a Great Night/Day!

Tyy

You're close enough to the James to do floats, and the 'Toons would work there. If you could sweet talk the wife into shuttling you, there wouldn't be any problems. The one nasty trait of the Toons, namely being a bear to row against the wind, shouldn't come up on the James. The James, or any of our streams, are likely to get the upstream winds that the western canyon streams get. The James isn't very fast nor does it have any shoals to give much thought to. It does have a nice population of Smallies and is virtually on your doorstep.

[eric1978]

I had a Water Skeeter toon for a while some years back. It was really snazzy and I thought it was great...until I used it. It weighs a ton and it's awkward to haul around. You have to inflate/deflate it. You have to worry about punctures. It's hard to reach gear and whatnot while you're on it. It doesn't have a lot of "cargo area." It's too wide for skinny water (pretty much anything with "creek" in its name is out). It's like trying to paddle an aircraft carrier through slack water. The list of negatives goes on and on. The one thing I can say about it though, was that it was super comfortable.

A decent royalex canoe that seats three would be great for you and your boys, and you could use it on a lot smaller waters than the toon, plus it's faster, easier to paddle, and simply more convenient to haul around and use.

[Fishin4Fun]

Thanks for the info. I might just have to break down one of these days and look at getting a canoe. We will see what happens. The last time I went out in a canoe, I tried to tip the thing over with my dad. Actually, I think that was my first time in a canoe and we were on the Niangua I do believe. And to think, I was wanting to get a bass boat. I guess the canoe would be a little cheaper. LOL Thanks again for the info.

Tyy

I had a Water Skeeter toon for a while some years back. It was really snazzy and I thought it was great...until I used it. It weighs a ton and it's awkward to haul around. You have to inflate/deflate it. You have to worry about punctures. It's hard to reach gear and whatnot while you're on it. It doesn't have a lot of "cargo area." It's too wide for skinny water (pretty much anything with "creek" in its name is out). It's like trying to paddle an aircraft carrier through slack water. The list of negatives goes on and on. The one thing I can say about it though, was that it was super comfortable.

A decent royalex canoe that seats three would be great for you and your boys, and you could use it on a lot smaller waters than the toon, plus it's faster, easier to paddle, and simply more convenient to haul around and use.