Need Local Advice On River Fishing

[Wayne SW/MO]

For solitude the Osage Fork would probably be a sure bet. The fishing has always been average, but in all the trips I've made on it I've seen 5 people in 3 canoes on one trip and they were all adults doing a quiet float.

[Colorado Bassmaster]

Good info guys, thanks. What I meant to ask was when we leave CC and head up to MO to float, where should we go? I have heard good things about the upper Niangua, the Jacks Fork, Gasconade and sections of the Current. Again, looking for quality rather than quantity, maybe try to stay away from high pressure areas where the jet boats go... Ideas? Thanks!

[Brian Sloss]

The upper Eleven Point is too small for jet boats most of the time. Rare to see one above Greer and the smallmouth fishing is very good usually in June on that upper stretch

[Gavin]

Sunday to Friday is a good plan to avoid the jet boaters & floaters. Too many rivers to cross down that way for a 6 day trip. If I had 2-3 weeks...I'd probably do Buffalo> Crooked Creek> North Fork of the White> Bryant Creek> Eleven Point> Jacks Fork> Current...If I had to pare it down...Buffalo> Eleven Point (Alton, MO)> Jack's Fork & Current (Eminence, MO).

[Colorado Bassmaster]

Ron, by lower Current, are you talking below Two Rivers or down further?

[Al Agnew]

It's really not a question of quality vs. quantity in the summer. Any good stream will have LOTS of bass, with a chance at one or two big ones. There aren't many streams where your chances of getting into more than a couple of big (18 inch plus) smallies a day are even halfway decent. Most of the time and on nearly all the good streams, the big fish are few and far between in the summer. Crooked Creek is as good as any stream and better than many. Brian's upper Eleven Point can be very good. But I wouldn't come to the Ozarks looking for a bunch of big fish. I'd come to catch good numbers with an occasional very nice smallie, while floating and fishing some really pretty rivers.

On most rivers, mid-week you won't see enough jetboats to bother you too much. But on the jet-boatable rivers, like I said earlier, the fish are more pressured and the fishing gets tougher. For a visiting angler, even a very experienced one, who doesn't know all the ins and outs of Ozark fishing, the easier fishing will always be on the streams too small to jet boat and not served by a whole bunch of canoe rentals. My experience on the jetboatable rivers is that you'll catch fewer fish overall, and probably have about the same chance at a big one as you do on the non-jet-boatable rivers...unless you've been fishing a river like the Current below Powdermill as long as Ron has. (Or have Ron show you how.)

If you are going to use your toons, I think I'd stay in the "deep Ozarks". The Gasconade, Piney, and Niangua are slower and have more long, dead pools. I'd stick with the area including Bryant Creek, upper North Fork, Eleven Point, and Current once you leave Crooked Creek.

Keep in mind that the streams I just mentioned will usually be very clear, with visibility of 5-8 feet, sometimes more. Bring your best clear water techniques!

[FishinCricket]

It's really not a question of quality vs. quantity in the summer. Any good stream will have LOTS of bass, with a chance at one or two big ones. There aren't many streams where your chances of getting into more than a couple of big (18 inch plus) smallies a day are even halfway decent. Most of the time and on nearly all the good streams, the big fish are few and far between in the summer. Crooked Creek is as good as any stream and better than many. Brian's upper Eleven Point can be very good. But I wouldn't come to the Ozarks looking for a bunch of big fish. I'd come to catch good numbers with an occasional very nice smallie, while floating and fishing some really pretty rivers.

This doesn't remind me of your fishing reports at all, Al...

[Colorado Bassmaster]

Thanks everyone. Brian, I will probably be paying you a visit in June. I like the idea of the variety and not having to deal with too many people. Al, great advice as always and much appreciated. You all are very kind and willing to help. Thats what I miss the most about living in Mo. Not much of that here in Denver. It's a whole different country out here. Twelve more years (till I retire) and I'll be back home.