Hiking The Upper Jacks Fork (Prong To Buck)

[mic]

All,

A couple of buddies of mine and I are working on plans to "get away from the crowds". We have been talking about multiple sites but come back to the headwaters of the Upper Jacks Fork (Prong to Buck Hollow). Al was telling me we would do a lot of dragging this time of year (which is fine). The questions came up, can we just turn it into a two day hike, wade, camp, and fish. None of us have been there, so I ask the question to the locals and regulars. Are there any places up that way where you will have to have a canoe and one can't wade through three or four feet of water? If you can we should have it to ourselves.

Thanks In Advance,

Mic

[eric1978]

There are long stretches of shallow riffle divided by some very deep bluff holes on that stretch, so be prepared to do a lot of bushwhacking and a LOT of work. I'd take the canoes, pack light, and prepare to do a bunch of dragging. Its' still gonna be work, but nothing compared to hiking that stretch.

[mic]

There are long stretches of shallow riffle divided by some very deep bluff holes on that stretch, so be prepared to do a lot of bushwhacking and a LOT of work. I'd take the canoes, pack light, and prepare to do a bunch of dragging. Its' still gonna be work, but nothing compared to hiking that stretch.

Thanks Eric...that is what I needed to know.

[jdmidwest]

Low water to some is just normal to others. When you are used to getting out and wading the riffles anyway to fish, you never even notice that you have to walk the boat thru

[mic]

Well I don't know if we are crazy or not, but unless we run into some bad water, it looks like we are going to give this a try. We are going to float packs and swim anything we can't wade. I'll let you know how we did if the weather holds. If it doesn't see you on the Piney or Meremac. We will be there the weekend of the 23 if any of you want to laugh at us...I mean see us off.

There might be one issue holding us back...are there any land owner issues between Prong access and the beginning of the National River Area that I would need to worry about.

[Rolland Love]

[Rolland Love]

I LOVE the upper Jacks Fork and have floated it at least 50 times. When i was young i helped my uncle run a fishing camp down stream from the highway 17 bridge and i woudl guide tourist from the prongs.

Here is a download Audio version of a trip i make on the upper Jacks Fork it's called "Fishing the outer Limit" I wrote this one because a friend and I and 2 little dogs were attacked by a cottonmouth snake. There are also other Ozark stories on the CD http://tinyurl.com/3v3qabq

Here is text version of the upper Jacks Fork trip and other Ozark stories as well. https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/17203

http://ozarkstories.com/ - This time of the year there are many cottonmouth water mossican snakes in the upper part of the rivers because so few humans venture up that way. Be wise to pack a revolver just in case.