bigredbirdfan Posted May 11, 2011 Posted May 11, 2011 Thanks for the heads up. I havent floated that far up since I was a kid. Canoe it is and the Ponca to Pruitt is the "Groups choice" so it sounds like for fishing I'm going to book it on down to kyles landing and commence fishing. "The Groups" plan is to float to Erbie for overnight and the Erbie to Pruitt. In an effort to not take too much tackle if it's unesscary should I just stick to crawdad crank baits, tubes and flukes this time of year?
Al Agnew Posted May 11, 2011 Posted May 11, 2011 Bigredbirdfan, if it was me I'd just plan on using stuff you can fish fast while drifting and forget the tubes. The current will be moving you along and you have a lot of water to cover. Think crankbaits and spinnerbaits, maybe try buzzbaits. Hey Bobber, the last time I floated that stretch I believe it was flowing about 150 cfs and there weren't hardly any big wave trains at that level. I don't remember what the level was on the Ponca bridge. At what level does it start to become a rock dodging run instead of the big wave trains? By the way, I totally agree with you...in fact, the Ponca to Pruitt stretch is THE float of the Ozarks and maybe the whole Midwest. For scenery outside the mountainous West, it's the most beautiful river I've ever seen, the rapids are great at optimum water levels, and the hiking up the canyons running into the river is nothing short of spectacular... Geez, I gotta get down there again soon!
Al Agnew Posted May 11, 2011 Posted May 11, 2011 But one of these days I'm gonna do the Hailstone stretch...just gotta be there at the right time. I want it to be just barely enough water to make it down, since I'm not as gungho on risk taking as I once was!
bigredbirdfan Posted May 11, 2011 Posted May 11, 2011 Thanks Al, what size on the spinner? I'm assuming green in color?
bobber Posted May 11, 2011 Posted May 11, 2011 everything changed easter weekend with the big flood event, in some parts the river channel move right to left. other spots it took out the middle . gravel bars washed away making camping a change from last year. had some mean strainers above the the erbie ford the park service has been cutting for days ........as for water levels around 23 inches of air space. and we move down stream to steel creek (this weekend) and as it drops we just keep moving down stream put ins.2 seasons ago gray rock was high up on the left back . now the river is moved so the water is pushing floaters back into it. some spots there isn't any gravel at all just boulders the size of grapefruits and bigger. hailstone is bad at low levels you can't miss the big rocks and it's a beat down run about half way your spent! and the tough stuff kicks your butt.the land scape is all together different than any other river i have been on. 16.5 miles of wicked white water. and you have to scout every bend some times twice ! lots of wood strainers, rock sives .and under cuts . we did it in a raft with 5 men and i was the guide. about 3 miles down from the put in we went over a pour over and the raft stopped dead! laughing at myself. i didn't stop. flew over the top of everyone slapping heads with my paddle as i went by. i landed about 15 ft. in front of the raft head first into a pool luckly it was deep water. we lost another guy under the raft as we walked a bad looking rapid. he stumbeled and was gone. the water pushed him belly first down the wash and under the raft. we pinned it twice and filled it to the top 4 times. at a low level 4.68 on the gauge. i don't want to go back anytime soon that's for sure! <*)))))))>< * AMERICAN CANOE ASSOCIATION CERTIFIED CANOE, and SWIFT WATER RESCUE INSTRUCTOR.*
jdavis Posted May 11, 2011 Author Posted May 11, 2011 It looks like the water is dropping out fast on the upper section. Would we be better off floating below Pruitt?
bobber Posted May 12, 2011 Posted May 12, 2011 watch what happens with the rain tonight . <*)))))))>< * AMERICAN CANOE ASSOCIATION CERTIFIED CANOE, and SWIFT WATER RESCUE INSTRUCTOR.*
Guest Posted May 13, 2011 Posted May 13, 2011 watch what happens with the rain tonight . Its rained 3" up there (Ponca-Boxley) so far tonight? I'm floating with a different group on saturday. At what point does it become white water around Steel Creek to Kyles? I don't like swift water that kicks your butt.. thanks
bobber Posted May 13, 2011 Posted May 13, 2011 12 inches of air space is beefy good water ! NOT SURE WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT BUTT KICKIN' but it's fast and pushy (WARNING )there is a tree across the river @ erbie ...not sure if it's muddy brown water , might slow down the fishing? <*)))))))>< * AMERICAN CANOE ASSOCIATION CERTIFIED CANOE, and SWIFT WATER RESCUE INSTRUCTOR.*
Guest Posted May 13, 2011 Posted May 13, 2011 12 inches of air space is beefy good water ! NOT SURE WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT BUTT KICKIN' but it's fast and pushy (WARNING )there is a tree across the river @ erbie ...not sure if it's muddy brown water , might slow down the fishing? It didn't come up as much as I thought it could've. We are likely floating from Ponca to Kyle's. If its milky/blue colored water, is that good for fishing? Thanks
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