Planning First Trip

[Mark]

I am planning my first trip to the Niangua this summer. We hope to float and camp on the river. Is there places to camp or is it all private land? If we have to camp in a private campground - what would you suggest considering we would definitely want to camp on the riverbank? I have a 2.5 HP motor on my square stern canoe - is that legal? Is the shuttle services available and reasonable? Since we have never been there, is it a safe easy float? Any tricky spots to look out for? Plenty of ripples and shoals? Any springs or "must see" sights along the way? It could be a mid July float - what can we expect with the fishing? Thanks, in advance.

Mark

Ste. Genevieve, MO

[eric1978]

You won't need the motor if you're just floating downstream, but if you choose to take it I'd do a lower stretch. Lots of public accesses and private campgrounds, but the gravel bars are yours for the taking. And remember, smallmouths taste like sewage.

[Mark]

Yes, we prefer floating downstream vs. floating upstream!! HA (I couldn't resist that one!)

Motor comes in handy where getting to spots that you float by quickly and can turn around and spots that are tough to reach by paddling. Good to know gravel bars are OK to camp on, that's whatwe will be looking for.

Do the smallies really have a nasty taste? I can relate - fishing the Mississippi backwaters around here, all fish have that muddy taste!!

Thanks, Eric, any more advice is welcome.

[eric1978]

Do the smallies really have a nasty taste? I can relate - fishing the Mississippi backwaters around here, all fish have that muddy taste!!

Some people paddle or motor upstream, then float back down...that's what I meant.

No, smallies don't have a nasty taste (they do have worms on occasion though)...it's just that they're more fun to catch than to eat, and they grow extremely slowly. C&R those smallies, Brother!

[Mark]

No problem on the samllmouth!! We are wanting to trout fish/wade fish/camp on gravel bar. We really like camp spots where you can wade upstream and downstream a half mile or so, and just hang out for a couple days. Is there a stretch of such water along the way that you could recommend?

[FishinCricket]

Sounds like you need to consider using NRO's shuttle services, I would recomment that you float from Bennett to either Barclay (overnight) or Prosperine (more than one night).. Float down just past NRO (a mile or so upstream from Barclay Public Access) and pick a Gravel Bar..

And if you wake up and your canoe and motor are gone, it wasn't me!

[Mark]

Just leave our guitars and cooler!!

[oneshot]

You might consider bringing two Vehicals.Put in at Bennett float to Barclay,Camp at Lead Mine for free and fish the river there.At Lead Mine you can catch fish just not Trout.

oneshot

[Mark]

Thanks all, I will print off suggestions and keep handy for the trip. YOu all know how it

is to go somewhere new and waste a half a day figuring out the ropes.

But 2 vehicles won't be an option. Our tentative plans are to take 10-12 days, hit the White River, Little Red River, and Buffalo River in Arkansas and head to SW MO and hit some trout streams in SW and South Central MO that we haven't fished. We are only taking 1 pickup truck with the canoe strapped to the top.

Is shuttling going to be a problem on Niangua River? We would gladly pay a local for a shuttle - drop canoe off at put in and leave my truck at the take out. ONESHOT - would you be willing to make an easy $20 to help out a fellow OAF member?

Also on the Missouri Conservation Dept. mile by mile description, the Bennett to Barclay float is 6.4 miles - just right for us. But Lead Mine is not listed on mile by mile.

And is there still trout from Barclay to Prosperine? Other good fishing in this section?

While we are in this area - is there any "must see" sights?

[oneshot]

Thanks all, I will print off suggestions and keep handy for the trip. YOu all know how it

is to go somewhere new and waste a half a day figuring out the ropes.

But 2 vehicles won't be an option. Our tentative plans are to take 10-12 days, hit the White River, Little Red River, and Buffalo River in Arkansas and head to SW MO and hit some trout streams in SW and South Central MO that we haven't fished. We are only taking 1 pickup truck with the canoe strapped to the top.

Is shuttling going to be a problem on Niangua River? We would gladly pay a local for a shuttle - drop canoe off at put in and leave my truck at the take out. ONESHOT - would you be willing to make an easy $20 to help out a fellow OAF member?

Also on the Missouri Conservation Dept. mile by mile description, the Bennett to Barclay float is 6.4 miles - just right for us. But Lead Mine is not listed on mile by mile.

And is there still trout from Barclay to Prosperine? Other good fishing in this section?

While we are in this area - is there any "must see" sights?

Well I would but hoping by that time I'll be moved out of the area.

oneshot