Little Niangua Float

[caseysmith14]

Looking to do a weekend float on the Little Niangua in March but was curious what the flow needs to be for a decent float? Current USGS readings show gage height on the river near Mack's Creek to be 4.5-5ft and running at 80-90cfs. The discharge seems low to me but everything I can find online says this river is easily runnable except in drought conditions. Trip is still a few weeks out but should I be worried at all?

Also any suggestions on best places to drop in and take out? Looking to do a 1 or 2 nighter and would love to stumble into some cooperative smallies (catch and release of course!).

[fishinwrench]

Howard ford to Greenmill would be the best overnight stretch for a March fishing float. 4.5 - 5.0 is perfect for the LN.

You might be able to get Mike to shuttle you, and your vehicle will be alot safer at Greenmill than it would be if you left it at Fiery.

[caseysmith14]

Thanks for the info. So I see Fiery Fork Conservation Area on the map but not Greenmill, is that in the same general area?

This is the map I was looking at: http://www.missouricanoe.org/river-maps/littleniangua.html

[fishinwrench]

Sorry. Greenmill (campground) is immediately below the Jrd. bridge on river-right, about 3.5 miles below Fiery.

[KCRIVERRAT]

Upstream from where Wrenchie's talking about is a place called Cedar Camp if you're interested. Check out their website for trips. Karen and Tammy will take care of you and it's a good place to leave your vehicle.

[caseysmith14]

Awesome, thanks for the info guys. I'll make a couple calls and see what we can work out. I'll make sure to post a TR afterwards.

[caseysmith14]

Called Greenmill CG to schedule our shuttle for next weekend but he said the river was low and he wouldn't recommend floating it right now. Called Cedar Camp just to see what they thought and she said it's running just fine right now and is very much floatable. Decided to go ahead and book a float launching at Cedar Camp on Friday afternoon and pulling out at Greenmill early Sunday.

[fishinwrench]

Mike is full of beans, the LAKE is low, but the RIVER is fine. You'll have a great trip, enjoy.

[caseysmith14]

So we ended up having a great trip. Got to Cedar Camp and launched around 6pm Friday night. Floated down a mile or two and set up camp for the night (fished a bit along the way and managed a few sunfish/goggle eyes). Floated all day Saturday and caught a number of fish throughout the day with a bunch coming from the slab below the conservation area. Catfish/crappie/white bass/smallmouth/largemouth/sunfish/bluegill all were landed. Wrapped up the float early Sunday coming out at Greenmill. Never saw another person floating until we met a jetboat fishing the slab late Saturday. Drug bottom only a couple times early on and had a couple spots requiring portage to get around fallen trees but nothing too bad. Great little river!