3-Day Float On James Next Week?

[LetsGoToTheRiver]

Planning on a 3 day float next week. Considering Hootentown to Galena. Don't mind dragging a little but don't want it too low. Any thoughts? Thanks!

[Dale Hartigan]

I just made that trip. We floated Hootentown to the Blunks in Galena. Amazing fishing trip, we caught over 50 smallmouth and a few largemouth. We stopped counting after 50. All were released for later catching. We did have to walk the canoe a few times but it was worth it.

[LetsGoToTheRiver]

Thanks! Sounds like a great trip! Did you find good gravel bars for camping??

[RSBreth]

For a float from Hootentown to Galena to take three days you'd have to take out a few times and drive back to Springfield for the night or something.

Not to rain on your camping trip, but I've paddled from Hootentown to Galena in one day, fishing the good spots and skipping the rest. Now, it makes for a long day, but still, camping three days in that stetch means really slowing down and spending more time camping than floating and fishing.

Maybe that's what you want, I don't know.

[LetsGoToTheRiver]

Please do rain on it...we need it!! I am good at taking a short trip and turning it into a long one. I have done two day trips from hootentown to horse creek. It normally works out okay especially if one or both days might be a little short. I've never floated all the way to Galena. Thanks!

[Osage]

Three days on that stretch might be pretty good. Put in of an evening, float all the next day camp down somewhere around Kerr's and then float out the next morning. That would give you two camp outs on the river, two mornings and two evenings for fishing and an unhurried put in and take out.

[LetsGoToTheRiver]

That's kinda what I was thinking Osage. I just hate being in a hurry on the river. To me it kind of defeats the purpose. Not to mentiong, it seems like I always get on the water later than I intend. We did 3 days on the Niangua last week, 21 miles or so. It worked out about right. The James is a little slower, that's why I thought it might be about right for us. Everybody has their own ideas though, I've been with people who like to do 15 miles plus a day. For me that makes a good 2 to 2 1/2 day float. Different strokes for different folks, that's what makes the world go around. Have a good one.

[grizwilson]

For a float from Hootentown to Galena to take three days you'd have to take out a few times and drive back to Springfield for the night or something.

Not to rain on your camping trip, but I've paddled from Hootentown to Galena in one day, fishing the good spots and skipping the rest. Now, it makes for a long day, but still, camping three days in that stetch means really slowing down and spending more time camping than floating and fishing.

Maybe that's what you want, I don't know.

Buzzbait Fisherman? Key word "Paddled" not fished and camped. Sounds perfect, I am jealous.

[RSBreth]

Well, Spinnerbait, Crankbait, Jerkbait, Wakebait fisherman.

I did stop and use a wacky rigged Senko while stretching my legs a few times, or throw a finesse jig at a really choice spot, but otherwise it's run-and-gun if the fish are on it.

[Cajunangler]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion but going from Hooten Town to Galena in one day with any amount of fishing is crazy!! Sure, there are "floaters" that do it all of the time but they aren't letting their paddles dry off any. I recently did from HT to HL Kerr with one night of camping and adding the stretch to Galena for another night should be fine. Of course, it all depends on whether or not you are FISHING or simply making the occasional cast. If I did that float I would make sure my second night stop was prior to reaching Kerr.

The only bad thing I can say about the James this year has been the size of smallie I have been catching. Not nearly as many keeper sized (over 15") and lots of fish in the 8-11 inch range. I know the James gets hit real hard and there is no doubt that some folks are keeping fish ( to each his own ) but unless I am just targeting the wrong areas I have seen a drastic decline in larger smallmouth. I wish I had another alternative with decent shuttle services but very few rivers offer those options within a 1 hour drive from Springfield.

Good luck on your float.