Best Place To Put In Kayak For The First Time On The Lake?

[Jack Jones]

Been thinking of taking the yak down there this weekend since everything I'm reading says that fishing from the banks can be less than productive, and quite frankly, not as fun. Where would folks in the know recommend putting in? I'm looking at the COE map and trying to figure out where these points are. I know River Run. Maybe there and paddle to the Pothole and maybe onto Swan? I assume K-Dock is the access just off 76/Hwy K. How about there?

There seems to be two accesses off Highway O. One at the end of it which is Beaver Creek, right? The other appears to be of 160 and on a tributary of the lake. Don't know what that is called.

I'm looking at planning this tonight and doing it tomorrow. What are y'alls suggestions?

I won't be A-Rigging it. I'll likely be with spinning gear and plastics/rooster tails. Thoughts on lures are welcome too.

[Wayne SW/MO]

There seems to be two accesses off Highway O. One at the end of it which is Beaver Creek, right? The other appears to be of 160 and on a tributary of the lake. Don't know what that is called.

The hiway 160 location is Beaver Creek and it wouldn't be a bad place or you could put in at the Beaver Creek COE and head upstream. The entrance to the Kissee Mills Rec area is on the left and you'll see it as you approch the bridge, about half way across the flat area.

I wouldn't want to run from River Run to the pothole. Swan wouldn't be a bad place and there's a ramp at the mouth or yu can get to the water fairly easy at the east end of the park on Swan.

If you're going to spend some time go to Beaver, if not then Swan would be the better choice.

[Moswimb8slinger]

i launched at shadow rock last week and did really good fishing there away from the crowds, 16"smallie,16" LM, several dinky LM, and 11 whites

paddling from swan to the pothole might be a great challenge due to all the water coming over the dam right now, if your wanting to fish the pothole i'd launch at the pothole, there's eddies to ride in, especailly behind the rockpile thats in front of the dam(now 3-4 ft underwater) which makes it a great fish hide out, once the water gets this high alot of newbie boaters don't know that rockpile is there so they hang out in the slack water on the river run side. i had a couple of trips down there last summer in my kayak catching 14-18 in whites off that rockpile,

beaver creek, i would concure with wayne and launch at the kissee mills rec area/campground, the lake level is high enough now that it should be pretty flat from there to the mouth into the actual lake, the whites should have moved back up there by now.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Actually Richy you may be able to launch at the Slough now. The water has dropped and I'm guessing, but the channel might be exposed now. If I go down today I'll post the conditions.

[Moswimb8slinger]

that would be nice to know, i'm going in mine tomorrow but i haven't decided where to go yet. bull creek (rockaway boat launch), swan or beaver

[Stoneroller]

I don't know the lake regulations at table rock or bull shoals but at LOZ you don't have to pay launch fees at the boat ramps that charge them if you are launching a yak/canoe.

I do try to stay out of the way of the guys with boats and trailers best I can though. Especially if they are paying to launch and i'm not, but I also don't let them push me around or rush me while i'm launching. that being said, great thing about a kayak or canoe, you can launch just about anywhere you can access the water.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Beaver is back to the point that a Slough Hollow launch is feasible. Taking the road through River Run to the portholes is a reasonable possibilities also and would probably be my choice. There's a good eddy on the west side so you won't have to fight a lot of current. Just make sure the power boats can see you.

[Moswimb8slinger]

Thanks for the report Wayne

when i go to powersite, i usually drift the current that goes over the rockpile. It usually comes over the dam and makes a 45 degree turn towards the forsyth side, so i'll row closest to the generator side, drift down and cast over the rockpile with a crankbait, thats how i filled my limits of white bass in the middle of the day last july.

i tried that 2 weeks ago, but the gate at the top of the dam were reverse of where they are positioned now, and with 3 different speed currents it was rough and hard to find a good current to drift without getting into a section of emerging currents with 12in high waves. The last 2 times i fished down there last week, it seemed that i'd be able to take the Kayak out there and fish with no problem

[Wayne SW/MO]

The rockpile is visible and the current is what they are releasing through the power house. A person could easily drift the eddy line from down stream back to the rockpile and fish the seam. Puting in on the forsyth side would be possible, but a real pain. Either the end of the powerhouse road or the road on the southside of Silver creek would work better. Silver Creek would put you a little farther downstream if you wanted to avoid a lot of boat traffic at the dam.

Since Beaver has fallen you can see the channel in the Slough Hollow and F Nose area and avoid fishing in 2' of water while wondering where the creek went.