Pickerel

[trout junkie]

Planning on a float/camp trip early next week on the 11 Pt. I've only fished it once and that was several years ago on a memorable fall trip. Probably sounds a little strange but I'd like to target the pickerel along with the bows and smallies. There were a few posts a few years ago that mentioned pickerel but its been a while since I've heard anything about them. How is the fishery for them? Is there enough of a population to pursue them? Also, we are planning a 2 day float. Any advice on floats and camping areas would be much appreciated.

[LittleRedFisherman]

_{I've caught pickeral from Greer on down to the state line. I like using a crankbait, or a suspending jerkbait in the slack water area's, or around some vegetation. They will absolutely attack the bait. I've caught them by accident flyfishing for smallmouth as well, there pretty aggressive.}

[gotmuddy]

the fishery on the 11pt is great. I like the section between riverton and the narrows.

[gotmuddy]

I love catching pickerel. I have a spot that has always produced them...between riverton and the narrows. The biggest I have landed was 22" but I have had a couple hooked up that were bigger.

[Gavin]

Love those toothy critters....slack water, weed, shallow running bluegill colored crankbait or inline spinner in the weed pockets usually turns the trick.

[Addicted to Creeks]

a few pickerel are my goal for this year , im hoping to get one on the current but it looks like i might be heading to the 11 point now

[Stoneroller]

• here's a tip, use a flourocarbon leader 12-17lbs is probably enough. toothy critters tend to bite through lighter line, which can cost you lures
  

for a 2 day float you could float greer to riverton. camp at horseshoe bend or at the float camps near there (can't remember their names)

[2sheds]

Hey Trout Junkie !

11Pt deserves much more than two days because there is so much more to explore in addition to the fishing.

Short 2 Day, trout intensive trek - Greer to Whitten 11.5 mi:

• Camp night before at Greer Access (NE intersection of MO-19 @ River). Allow 1 hour to visit Greer Spring (drive to the Spring Trail, S of river, W of MO-19 - then hike 1 mile down plus one mile back up). Or, allow 1 more hour to drive up to see the old mill at Falling Spring. Fish under the MO-19 bridge, upstream, and whereever you can cast to the south bank. Turn in early and get a good night sleep.
  
• See Eleven Point Canoe Rental for canoe and logistics. Get latest fishing conditions from Brian. Get on the river as early as possible.
  
• Spend lots of time fishing the side waters of the 1st island and below. Be heavy, get down, get deep. Stop and fish a lot. Great spots consecutively appear.
  
• Stop immediately below Mary Decker shoals and throw heavy stuff at the pigs that live beneath those bolders.
  
• Stop at Turner Mill north access and hike up to see the old mill wheel and the spring.
  
• Camp at Stinking Pond (5 mi and not smelly in the springtime) or Horseshoe Bend (9 mi) Forest Service Float camps. (Fish channel immediately upstream and waters across river from either Float camp). Stay up late. Enjoy the solitude. Watch the eagles and bats hunt. Keep an eye out for bears.
  
• Leisurely morning. Fish to Whitten. This is only 5 miles from Stinking Pond and even closer to Horseshoe Bend. More great fishing, so take your time and enjoy. All the way, you will need a strategy to keep the river from pulling you downstream faster than you want/need to go.
  
• Take out at Whitten
  
  Long 2 Day, fishing/exploration trek - Greer to Riverton 19 mi:
  • All of the above, plus:
    
  • Start catching 50-50 rainbows and smallmouth below Horseshoe Bend. Don's crawdad fly and Rebel Craw lure are hard to beat.
    
  • Camp at Horseshoe Bend (9 mi), Barnhollow (10 mi), Whites Creek (12 mi), or Greenbriar (14 mi). Note: Each of these float camps is a short distance up an inlet/feeder creek. Some are not marked well. They all have flat tent space, fire rings, nice latrines, and decent fishing nearby; making them good campsite options.
    
  • Be sure to check out the Boze Mill Spring on right, about 2 miles upstream from Riverton. Throw something meaty and deep downstream of the spring outlet, north shore.
    
  • Take out at Riverton, US-160. If early, fish west side of river bank.
    

  Long 3 Day, trout & smallmouth trek - Greer to The Narrows 30 miles:

  [*]It doesn't get any better than this, unless you've got all week.

  [*]90% smallmouth downstream of US-160. Rooster tail spinners (slower retrieve than trout).

[ColdWaterFshr]

2sheds - you ever seen any bear down there?

[Al Agnew]

I caught some pickerel on the Eleven Point below Greer last winter when I floated it. You don't have to really target them, you can use suspending jerkbaits or minnow shaped diving baits and catch them along with trout and smallmouth. Just look for the slowest pools and slack backwaters to catch pickerel.