Smallmouth Trip

[ozark trout fisher]

The weekend after next I'm planning a smallmouth trip on the Meramec, Jacks Fork, or Big Piney. I'm wanting to wade fish-I'd prefer not to float. Does anyone know of an access point on any of the three rivers where I could park my car and find a nice gravel bar to camp on, preferably in an area where there is some wadeable water? If it's the Meramec, I'd like to stay above Maramec Spring to avoid the canoe rental crowd, and if I go to the Jacks Fork, I'd like to stay above Alley Spring.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

[Gavin]

I've fished all of those streams....take a boat and camp on the river even if you end up dragging it a good bit. There are too many slow holes, and you never know who's going to show up around an access point. The Upper Huzzah and Upper Cortois might work though. Plenty of bridge access, wadeable water, and nearby campgrounds. Good Luck.

[ozark trout fisher]

I've fished all of those streams....take a boat and camp on the river even if you end up dragging it a good bit. There are too many slow holes, and you never know who's going to show up around an access point. The Upper Huzzah and Upper Cortois might work though. Plenty of bridge access, wadeable water, and nearby campgrounds. Good Luck.

Thanks. I didn't think of the Huzzah. That sounds like a pretty good idea. I may camp at Huzzah CA... I've hunted there a few times, and where I saw the Huzzah it looked pretty good.

[eric1978]

Thanks. I didn't think of the Huzzah. That sounds like a pretty good idea. I may camp at Huzzah CA... I've hunted there a few times, and where I saw the Huzzah it looked pretty good.

Be prepared to share the river there. That's a pretty popular stretch. I'd go somewhere above Hwy 8...more wadable and a lot less people.

[KCRIVERRAT]

The weekend after next I'm planning a smallmouth trip on the Meramec, Jacks Fork, or Big Piney. I'm wanting to wade fish-I'd prefer not to float. Does anyone know of an access point on any of the three rivers where I could park my car and find a nice gravel bar to camp on, preferably in an area where there is some wadeable water? If it's the Meramec, I'd like to stay above Maramec Spring to avoid the canoe rental crowd, and if I go to the Jacks Fork, I'd like to stay above Alley Spring.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Heck bud... thought you new the Meramec. Isn't that close to you? The Big Piney I'd save for a good float. Jacks Fork has lots of areas upstream from Alley to wade. Seems like a ways for you to travel though. You just going for the day or what? Also, have you ever fished the upper JF?

[joeD]

Never mind. Camp. Fish. Have a good time.

[ozark trout fisher]

Heck bud... thought you new the Meramec. Isn't that close to you? The Big Piney I'd save for a good float. Jacks Fork has lots of areas upstream from Alley to wade. Seems like a ways for you to travel though. You just going for the day or what? Also, have you ever fished the upper JF?

I'd like to think I know the Meramec fairly well (though not as well as quite a few others), just not in the area I'm talking about. I've spent most of my time from Meramec Spring down, but by mid-May, that water is fairly taken over by canoers. I don't mind a little company, but it can get pretty rough down there.

I'm probably going for at least a couple days, so the JF isn't too far. I like that river a lot-but I've only floated it,so I didn't know that much about the wading down there. Glad to know that's a pretty good option.

[KCRIVERRAT]

OTF... do you have a Missouri Gazzeteer (sp?)

[Gavin]

Huzzah CA has a good spot to camp on the Courtois...but its really popular with the party floaters. Expect a crowd from Blunt's on down. The same can be said about the Huzzah below the bridge at Eagle Hurst. Forest Service's Red Bluff CG near Davisville would be a good choice. Havent been there in years but its a scenic spot with wadeable water on the Huzzah. Plenty of nearby bridge access too. Huzzah Valley Resort, Bass Resort, Meramec Spring and several others offer good camping opportunaties.

The Jacks....Its prime time to float it right now so I'd wait till the canoe liveries stop putting folks in at Prongs or Buck Hollow before I did a camp & wade down there.

Big Piney & Upper Meramec dont offer much in the way of camping unless you float...Might try Boiling Spring CG on the BP, but thats about it. Cheers.

[ozark trout fisher]

OTF... do you have a Missouri Gazzeteer (sp?)

Yeah. (I can't spell it either)