Trying To Plan Float Trip, Considering Gasconade

[Gavin]

From Tulsa...Weekdays...I'd be heading to Justin's place on the N. Fork...Base camp it at Sunburst Ranch and do a differnt float each day.

[Al Agnew]

Hmmmm....

I ain't telling my first choice. It would be the creek I floated last summer for 2 days plus and caught lots and lots of fish and didn't see another floater or fisherman.

But honestly, it's a tough question. I'm perfectly willing to work at a float to get into good fishing and relative solitude. I don't much care whether there's enough water to float it easily. I want scenery, solitude, and the chance at great fishing. Coming from Tulsa...my own first choice might actually be the Kings River. It would probably be too low to float easily, but the Kings is pretty wild and scenic and the fishing could be great in late summer.

Here's another choice if you're willing to put up with low water...Beaver Creek. I've only floated it once, but I loved it.

Third choice...maybe the Niangua. Or maybe the Big Piney.

But IF the water was low, I'd also have to think long and hard about floating the lower end of the Buffalo. I like low water because it keeps a lot of people off the rivers.

[skillet283]

re: Kings River--talked to a guy two days back who floated it over this past weekend (Aug 12 and 13) and he said it was perfect right now. Plenty of flow and the fishing was fantastic. Just an FYI.

I have base camped at Sunburst once in early Spring. We stayed in their little fishermen's cabins and had a pretty good time. That time of year it was total solitude on the NFOW, but it looked like summer might be a much different story up there. Justin and crew were super nice. I have stayed other places on the NFOW that I liked better, but it's a great river in any case. Lots of variety depending on where you float.

[darbwa]

So if we choose the Kings, what water level should we be hoping to see before we can expect to do a bunch of dragging? Also, any recommendation for what section of river to float for a 2 night trip? How about outfitters? We will not be bringing canoes. Thanks in advance.