Slabtown To Ross

[ozark trout fisher]

Next weekend we're floating the Big Piney for two days, spending one night on a gravel bar. We're thinking we'll run the Slabtown to Ross stretch. How's the smallie fishing up there?

Also, it that distance about right for a 2 day trip on that river? I'm not sure what the gradient is like.

[Al Agnew]

Don't have my reference in front of me, but I think that's something like 12 miles. A good two day float if you're not in a hurry. Pretty typical Ozark stream gradient, pretty typical fishing. Much better than average scenery. Gorgeous stretch of river. It was one of the three original smallmouth management areas, and in my opinion one of the most deserving.

[ozark trout fisher]

Don't have my reference in front of me, but I think that's something like 12 miles. A good two day float if you're not in a hurry. Pretty typical Ozark stream gradient, pretty typical fishing. Much better than average scenery. Gorgeous stretch of river. It was one of the three original smallmouth management areas, and in my opinion one of the most deserving.

Thanks a lot. I think I'll go ahead and plan on that stretch.

[Gavin]

Its a very nice stretch of river...but it always seems to rain whenever I float it...last 4-5 trips anyway...Fishing is usually better between Slabtown and 6x (were the party floatilla's start)...but the scenery between 6x and Ross is some of the best in the Ozarks.

[ozark trout fisher]

Its a very nice stretch of river...but it always seems to rain whenever I float it...last 4-5 trips anyway...Fishing is usually better between Slabtown and 6x (were the party floatilla's start)...but the scenery between 6x and Ross is some of the best in the Ozarks.

Thanks. Now I just need some dry weather to get the stream back down into shape... The weather.com forecast for Rolla looks pretty favorable, but they are always wrong, so who knows.

[ozark trout fisher]

Just one more question. We're watching the water levels, and I'm having never been on the Big Piney before, we really don't know what to look for. The gauge below Fort Wood says it's running at 2600 CFS, I know that's too high, but what does it need to drop down to before the river is safe to float and decent fishing?

The water does seem to be dropping quickly, so maybe there is still a chance...

[Gavin]

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv/?site_no=06930000&PARAmeter_cd=00065,63160,00060

This is the guage at Ross Bridge....I'd wait for it to get down to closer to its median flow (around 500cfs) before I'd float it. Cheers.

[ozark trout fisher]

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv/?site_no=06930000&PARAmeter_cd=00065,63160,00060

This is the guage at Ross Bridge....I'd wait for it to get down to closer to its median flow (around 500cfs) before I'd float it. Cheers.

Thanks.