Avoiding Jet Boats?

[Jeff_L]

Floating the 11 Point with a group in a couple weeks, hopefully putting in at Cane if the area gets some rain by then. All the talk of jet boat traffic is making me pretty nervous. Is there any way to avoid? Early or late floating? Hoping if we put in at Cane on a Friday we will be good until float camping somewhere below Greer. Saturday sounds like a mess down to Riverton, though. Is it similar to Jack's Fork or more crowded?

[The Kayak Kid]

You'll definitely see a few, but I wouldn't let it scare you away from the EPR. With everything running low, you'd see a few on your other options also (Current, for example). Depends on your fishing emphasis, I suppose. When I put in at Cane, I go slow and camp my first night up from Greer...mostly because I'm targeting smallies much more than trout. Yes, if it's a Saturday, expect some jets. No real way to avoid 'em if you're out there on a Saturday....scooting through early would help, but certainly impacts your plans/mileage/pace.

The stretch below Cane is great. Of course, I'm always in my kayak. Loaded canoes make it more work, if she's running slow. A few narrow sections in this stretch. Mighty nice for smallies - since most folks stay downstream. I almost always have productive fishing days up there.

If you decide to take out at Riverton, enjoy Halls Bay Chute just before it. Cool rapid with rather big waves for an Ozark stream. Easy run, though.

Have fun. Holler with questions. I've done that trip several times.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/glorydaze/6047430608/in/photostream

[Jeff_L]

Awesome, thanks. I shot you a message on flickr also. You've been a huge help on upper Jacks and upper Buffalo the last couple years. We are going to be pretty loaded in 7 or 8 canoes, so unless there is rain, we will probably put in at Greer and take out at Riverton. Where is the next take out after Riverton, and is it worth floating? We are renting cabins at Hufstedlers, so Riverton takeout is nice from a logistics standpoint.

[The Kayak Kid]

Awesome, thanks. I shot you a message on flickr also. You've been a huge help on upper Jacks and upper Buffalo the last couple years. We are going to be pretty loaded in 7 or 8 canoes, so unless there is rain, we will probably put in at Greer and take out at Riverton. Where is the next take out after Riverton, and is it worth floating? We are renting cabins at Hufstedlers, so Riverton takeout is nice from a logistics standpoint.

GloryDaze is one of my float buddies, and unofficial traveling secretary - photos, trip reports, etc. That's his Flickr page. We've taken plenty of trips on the Jacks, Buffalo, Eleven Point, Big Piney, etc...

Next major take-out after Riverton is Hwy 142 bridge. I've taken out there before; however, my memory is hazy. It's another 8-9 river miles. Puts you only about 5 miles from the state line. Worth floating? If you have the time, and you're curious, sure. Nothing dramatic, as I recall, but a pretty stretch. The other guys on here could probably comment on the fishing in this stretch...

[Jeff_L]

I've corresponded Glorydaze the last couple of years, have been making the rounds of ozarks streams with groups anywhere from 10 - 20 guys. I grew up floating Big Sugar and Elk in SWMO. He's been a huge help for me trying to get my sh** together to organize for a big group. His flickr account is fantastic, I just sent around your August 2011 trip to all the guys to get people fired up.

If we can do Cane - Riverton with loaded canoes, that is ideal for us. About the right amount of time on the river. If we have to put in at Greer, we might want to do more than just Riverton, although we could also just be pokey for 2 days. Probably just play it by ear based on rainfall and what it looks like when we get down. Thanks for your help.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Look, no need to avoid the jetboders, lets just fence 'em off a little bit. Some ratchet tensioners, a solid oak or sycamore on either side of the river, and about a 100' of aircraft carrier tow-hook cable, you know, the stuff that can bring an A-6 Intruder to a dead stop from 200 mph in about 30 feet or so.

[Blazerman]

Hey coldwater don’t be too hard on jet boaters. As far as I know we are allowed to use the rivers too. I know some are a-holes but that is true of some of the non motorized group as well. I usually try and slow down around canoes and yaks but sometimes that is not possible. I am not sure how many people know a jet boat runs shallower on plane then at idle. I can run in about 4-5” of water but cannot slowdown and go off plane in shallow riffles and other low water areas. If I do I will be hitting bottom quickly.

And if I do slow down and come off plane it is almost impossible to get going again in shallow water.

There have been times where I enter a narrow shoot where the river bends and see floaters coming in from upstream and my option is to blast through and get too close to them or slow down and stop knowing that I will not be able to get going again. I always stop and float downstream until the floaters pass and I can safely get going again. And I know there are many jet boaters who do not do this which cause hard feelings.

[moguy1973]

I can run in about 4-5” of water

And therein lies the problem....places motorized boats shouldn't be...but that's a whole other topic that's been beat to death on here...

[ozark trout fisher]

Hey coldwater don’t be too hard on jet boaters. As far as I know we are allowed to use the rivers too. I know some are a-holes but that is true of some of the non motorized group as well. I usually try and slow down around canoes and yaks but sometimes that is not possible. I am not sure how many people know a jet boat runs shallower on plane then at idle. I can run in about 4-5” of water but cannot slowdown and go off plane in shallow riffles and other low water areas. If I do I will be hitting bottom quickly.

And if I do slow down and come off plane it is almost impossible to get going again in shallow water.

There have been times where I enter a narrow shoot where the river bends and see floaters coming in from upstream and my option is to blast through and get too close to them or slow down and stop knowing that I will not be able to get going again. I always stop and float downstream until the floaters pass and I can safely get going again. And I know there are many jet boaters who do not do this which cause hard feelings.

I appreciate that you are considerate of floaters, and don't buzz right past them on narrow riffles, because that can get very dangerous. I don't mind jetboaters on bigger rivers where floaters can get out of the way easily, but on small, twisty streams with lots of recreational floaters they seem like a recipe for disaster. Some of the 11 Pt is big enough for canoers and jet-boaters to coexist, but a lot of it isn't. And despite the relatively few times I've been on that river, for whatever reason I've had more hairy experiences with inconsiderate and downright reckless jetboaters than I have on about all other Ozark streams combined. It's just not big enough, especially up in the trout water, for all of the jet traffic it sees, combined with the moderate number of recreational floaters. It's why I don't go there more often than I do. Besides the safety factor, there's nothing that will ruin the fishing in a good shoal faster than a jetboater doing laps back and forth and causing all kinds of wake.

[onyourleft]

Just came back from Riverton to Hwy 142. Very, very slow. Beautiful river but poor Smallmouth fishing. For my money go above Greer for smallies, forget the rest.