Canoeing The Finley

[dano979]

Hello,

I've never floated the Finley before..I was wondering how the fishing is from below the lake at HWY125?

And there is a launch right there right? at the bridge?

Is it a easy float from there to the park in Ozark? obstacles etc...

Thanks

[RSBreth]

Hello,

I've never floated the Finley before..I was wondering how the fishing is from below the lake at HWY125?

And there is a launch right there right? at the bridge?

Is it a easy float from there to the park in Ozark? obstacles etc...

Thanks

It's pretty good for numbers of Smallmouth, and lots of Rock Bass, too. Usually you don't get very many big fish, but it's a small river, what do you expect.

It's an easy float from 125 to the park at Ozark, and very popular during summer.

There's some small log jambs sometimes, but usually us locals (and the Ozark Mountain Paddlers) remove them if at all possible.

[dano979]

Thanks RSbreth thats the information I needed to know.

I love small creek fishing so this sounds perfect.

Is that park at Ozark open 24/7? Reason I'm asking is I like to start early when I'm fishing.. I would more then likely be dropped off at put-in.

edit: Also what is the 'primo' water depth for Finley.

[Wheatenheimer]

I floated that stretch this past Saturday and wished that I would've brought my chainsaw!

[RSBreth]

I floated that stretch this past Saturday and wished that I would've brought my chainsaw!

Yeah, sorry, I haven't made it up there yet this spring. I usually take the chain saw the first trip, or after high water.

As for the other question, they usually have the park open by about 6:00 in the summer, but it varies. You can park just over the mill dam bridge next to the old mill, and take out under the bridge to avoid the park if it's not open, or during the middle of summer.

People tend to mill around and block the park boat ramp in summer.

I do that trip a least a couple of times every month in warm weather - get dropped off at 125 with the boat, and float back to the truck at the park.