Three Day Float

[jdavis]

I am headed to the Current for a two night float starting next Friday since the upper Jacks Fork appears to be unfloatable. Obviously I would prefer to avoid the weekend altogether, but that is not an option. I would still like to avoid as much of the party scene and jet boats as possible though. How is the stretch from Round Spring to Logyard? I believe that is around 35 miles. Is that an appropriate distance for two and a half days on the river?

[Gavin]

Are you running your own shuttle or dependant on an outfitter? If Two Rivers canoe is busy it may limit your choices. Round to Logyard is a wicked long float for 2.5 days...maybe Round down to Powdermill..25 miles if your running your own shuttle. You will see some floaters down to Two Rivers, but mostly jet boats below there.

[jdavis]

We will shuttle ourselves. What is an appropriate miles per hour estimate?

[ozark trout fisher]

I believe that is around 35 miles. Is that an appropriate distance for two and a half days on the river?

If you are fishing even remotely hard, no. A good day's float if you are fishing can be anywhere from 5-12 miles, depending on your pace, ideally (at least in my opinion) 7-8 per day. A good two and a half day float would be anywhere from about 17-25 miles. Now if you are just paddling and don't mind setting a nice, brisk pace, 35 miles would be doable for a 2 1/2 day float.

[Gavin]

You will have to paddle and cover some distance on Day 1 & 2 if you want a short float out on getaway day. I'd shoot for a spot near Bee Bluff on day one, and down near Martin Bluff/Blair Creek on day 2...which would give you a short float out on getaway day.

[The Kayak Kid]

If you are fishing even remotely hard, no. A good day's float if you are fishing can be anywhere from 5-12 miles, depending on your pace, ideally (at least in my opinion) 7-8 per day. A good two and a half day float would be anywhere from about 17-25 miles. Now if you are just paddling and don't mind setting a nice, brisk pace, 35 miles would be doable for a 2 1/2 day float.

Amen to that, otf. Nothing worse than realizing at 5pm that you have to paddle hard (when you're already tired, hungry, etc) and pass up interesting spots, in order to stay on pace and avoid the dreaded long Sunday morning paddle. I agree, 7-8 is just about right. Nice thing about the Current is that it's one of the few streams that you could fish, swim, relax...and still end up doing double-digit mileage...easy. I'm always amazed at the constant current (duh, right?).

Always nice to have time budgeted for something unplanned....checking out a spring, throwing rocks, a long lunch, etc.

I'm a fan of Round Spring to Two Rivers...17 miles or so. 7-7-3 or so, depending on what time of day you put-in and take-out. Adding the 7 miles to Powder Mill wouldn't be much of a problem, I just don't like seeing the jet boats.

[3wt]

I am headed to the Current for a two night float starting next Friday since the upper Jacks Fork appears to be unfloatable. Obviously I would prefer to avoid the weekend altogether, but that is not an option. I would still like to avoid as much of the party scene and jet boats as possible though. How is the stretch from Round Spring to Logyard? I believe that is around 35 miles. Is that an appropriate distance for two and a half days on the river?

I don't think weekends are too crazy until you get passed memorial day. I'd think this weekend would be minimal crowds.

If your looking to fish it may change your options depending on how much and what you want to catch.

.

[jdavis]

It sounds to me like it is all a matter of how much time we want to spend fishing and we will need to keep track of our mileage to make sure we don't run out of time or river depending on where we decide to take out. Can anyone tell me where I can get a good river map aside from the ones posted online?

[Gavin]

Go to the USGS store...you can download free 7.5 x 7.5 Quads and print them. Or use Phil's maps on the Current River Home page.

[The Kayak Kid]

Thanks for pointing out Phil's maps - had not noticed that page.

jdavis - You've probably noticed the mile-by-mile descriptions on http://www.missouricanoe.org/river-maps/current.html These aren't perfect (Oz Hawksley did these many years ago), but they're close enough for general time/mileage tracking. The original book - Ozark Waterways - is out of print; however, MDC sells "A Paddler's Guide to Missouri" online and at the MDC Nature Shops in Kirkwood, Cape, Springfield, JC, etc. Great guide - with updated mile-by-mile's, more streams, etc. Spiral-bound; 40+ streams. http://www.amazon.com/Paddlers-Guide-Missouri-Featuring-Streams/dp/1887247378

I like to print my mile-by-mile's on regular copy paper, add notes, then cover them in clear packing tape. Makes them waterproof. Just fold it up, and keep it in your canoe/yak (in a coozie, under a bungee, etc). I think GloryDaze punches a hole in the corner, and puts his on a carabiner.