Lower, Lower Gasconade

[mzrealfish]

My group is doing a Friday, Saturday, Sunday till we're done fishing/floating trip on the weekend of the 22nd of July. We usually float somewhere in the Schlict Mill to Jerome run. I was wondering if anyone can tell me what to expect if we floated from Paydown Access (187.6 MM) down to the Hwy. D Access (216.6 MM)? July has always been a great month for us, and there is really no need for something different, unless it is a good fishing stretch. We are focussing on the bass; all of them. Is this a good float? What should we expect? We always use Andy at Rt. 66 for hauling since we own our own canoes. Is there someone else closer who offers hauling?

Thanks, as always.

Mark

[Greasy B]

Holy cow, the river around Vienna /Paydown is fantastic bass water. The only problem is recreational boat traffic. It may make any fishing impossible except in the morning hours. Typically smallmouth bass get more active as the water warms up in the afternoon but with constant high speed boat traffic fishing and sanity is often a struggle.

[mzrealfish]

Awesome, thanks for the quick reply. We have plenty of time to weigh our options. Is the recreational boat traffic that much higher than at Hwy. 28 access or Jerome access?

[Greasy B]

Yea, more likely than not the shoal at 28 hwy won’t be passable in a couple of weeks. The larger boats will be limited to the water below Piney. From there up to Hazelgreen (44 bridge) is just about as quite place as you’ll ever find on an Ozark river. Mostly guy’s and wives, the occasional serious fisherman and every now and then an old timer in a river john with a straw hat and a cane pole.

[Guest P. owensby]

old timer in a river john with a straw hat and a cane pole.

Sounds to me like an ideal retirement, dare to dream !!!!!

[mzrealfish]

I think we are settled on Schlict Mill to Riddle Bridge. Always been good to us in the past. Still willing to listen if anyone has a different idea....

[Wormser]

Holy cow, the river around Vienna /Paydown is fantastic bass water. The only problem is recreational boat traffic. It may make any fishing impossible except in the morning hours. Typically smallmouth bass get more active as the water warms up in the afternoon but with constant high speed boat traffic fishing and sanity is often a struggle.

So there are still some good fishing spots for bass in that area? My family had a place a 1\4 mile down from the 42 bridge from the 60's to 80's. I remember catching a ton of Goggle Eye and some Smallies even as a kid with little gear and tackle. I think some friends and i are going to float that area soon using that outfitter at the bridge (Indian ford).