Prongs To Bay Creek 4-10&11

[ColdWaterFshr]

Jacks has some good fish here and there, but its more of a scenery river. I get down there about once a year now, but used to go several times a year. I think the best fishing is between Bay Creek and Alley. Never fished above the Prongs, but I know a guy who grew up in that area and used to fish them all the time as a kid. Like a lot of things, its not what it used to be.

[Coldspring]

I agree with coldwaterfisher.

I was out there Saturday, spent Friday night looking at the stars, enjoying the sunset and sunrise. As many times as I've been there, it seemed more beautiful than ever, probably one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen in Missouri. Didn't catch much, but I sure enjoyed being there. Wouldn't have minded catching something, so if that's what your after, good luck.

[fozzie.]

I used to fish the Jacks Fork 2-3 times a year, sort of fell off the wagon with the whole trail rides/e. coli issue and watching folks misuse ATVs. It was decent fishing, caught plenty of 10-14 inch fish, and each trip caught one or two fish from 15-18 inches. Fishing always seemed more consistent very early in the morning, and well after sunset, from what I remember. Stow your rods and enjoy the scenery during the day (especially this time of year, with all the trees flowering), and bust them out when you get to the campsite

[KCRIVERRAT]

From a fishing standpoint, more times than not I've always did well on the JF. Mind you, I've never caught a smallmouth over 20", but have caught plenty over 15". I've spent many a day fishing the lower river from Shawnee Cr. to the Current... ten or eleven hour days fishing every nook and cranny in a three mile stretch. There are lots of nice fish down there. I'm not saying you guys do this, but too many people who fish the JF, or any river for that matter, float too many miles in one day and pass over many a good spot where decent fish are. I'm floating from Buck to Bay Cr. in June and will give a report. I've always tried to float during the week but if that can't be done I'll leave up here from KC on a saturday and float a sunday and monday. Never expect to catch much on a saturday. As far as dodging the big trailrides down on the lower river, the Eminence chamber website lists what weekend each month the rides take place.

Eric... nice pics and sorry you cracked your canoe. Did it happen at the rock garden heading into Chalk Bluff?

[eric1978]

Eric... nice pics and sorry you cracked your canoe. Did it happen at the rock garden heading into Chalk Bluff?

It was in the Prongs section, a mile or two above Buck Hollow. It was this stretch of about 20 yards or so that was just a mine-field of boulders and probably had a gradient drop of two or three feet...almost looked like the stream-bed of a shut-in, minus the smooth, deep gorges and the rhyolite. Anyway it was probably a stretch you would have to drag through at normal levels, but with the river a foot high it was navigable and looked like a fun but tricky class II, maybe an easy class III even. I made it through almost the whole thing no problem, but blasted that one hidden rock at the end when I was really cruisin'. It just came out of nowhere...simply didn't see the thing. It wouldn't have been an incident if I didn't have my tackle box under my seat. Lesson learned I guess.

[GloryDaze]

Thanks for the report Eric- hey we can't have it all can we?? Perfect weather, great water level, beautiful river....and slow fishing. I'll take that any day of the week. I'm surprised fishing was a little slow I thought you might slaughter them.

When we float, we usually put in at the Prongs for one reason- extending the length of our trip. So we usually float a little faster so we can get the best of both worlds, fishing and floating. My buddy who I float with most of the time could float 2 miles all day as long as he can fish. Me on the other hand, while I love fishing, the good Lord didn't bless me with a little somthing called patience...so I have to cover a little more ground. To each their own is the way I see it- - there are many times I pass a spot that looks perfect to be holding fish and I'll cruise right on by.

I guess I just like to soak in the whole exeperience and if I happen to catch some fish it's an added bonus. I'll be sure and post a report after our trip the first week in May. Hopefully, there will be more pictures off fish than empty beer cans.

[eric1978]

Yeah GD, we wanted to float the Prongs mainly because we never had before. It was a nice stretch...more paddling fun than anything. It was kinda technical in spots, but a real blast with the water moving. I think the next time we do JF, I'll plan on doing Buck to Bay. That's my favorite stretch and a perfect distance to float and thoroughly fish the best spots in a day and a half or so. I really don't stop much either, but I like to be able to if I want. 25 miles was perfect last weekend, but at normal summer levels that might be a bit of a haul.

And as for the fishing/floating equation, I'm the opposite...the fishing is primary for me and if it's a tough bite then I'm happy to be able to just enjoy a nice float. But I don't care how nice the river is, when I get skunked it really sticks a thorn in my side. Just one decent fish can cure it though.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Hey that is a nice brownie!

Did you do an over nighter?

[eric1978]

Yep CGB, we camped at the Prongs Fri. night (actually we had to float down about half a mile in the middle of the night because camping is prohibited at the Prongs access and it's surrounded by private property...that night floating is always interesting...in a kind of stomach-churning and butt-puckering way. ) Then we camped somewhere past JamUp Cave Sat. night.

[Chief Grey Bear]

...that night floating is always interesting...in a kind of stomach-churning and butt-puckering way. )

Was there a banjo?