Prosperine To Leadmine - 7/8-7/9

[Goggle-Eyed]

Floated Sunday/Monday

Got a late start (As Usual) and started fishing around 9:30 Sunday morning. The fishing was great we went up to the top of the eddy at Prosperine and had over 10 fish in the boat by the time we got back to the put in. We made it down to the Oldhams take out a little after lunch and the skies opened up on us. Big Storm/heavy rain the back of the boat had about 6" of water that I had to bale out of it in the 20 minutes it rained. Put rain gear away and started fishing again after that.

The fishing stayed strong all day on Sunday. We had several nice fish with the memorable moments being a 14", 15", 16" and 17" fish all in about 2 hours. We caught numerous 10"-12" fish. The strongest bite was on a medium size White Rapala X-Rap twitched fast. Caught a few on Soft plastics and Crankbaits but the Rapala was the ticket!

We stopped and set up camp a couple of Gravel Bars above the old Blue Springs resort. Luckily we brought tarps so when it started raining in the middle of the night, we stayed dry. Got up and hit the water around 9 or so Monday morning. The fishing started off okay but by 11am it was pretty dead. Big fish for the day was a 14" and only had about 15 to 20 fish between two of us. Most were in the 10-11" range. Threw everything in the box at them but could never figure out a pattern, other than if you caught 1 throw back in 50 times because their was always 1 or 2 more. There was no constant pattern, one area they were in the push water then a mile down river they were only in the tail water then they were in slack water then they were in shallow water.... Just a whole lot of fishing and very little catching!!!

Great weekend on my favorite river! We only saw two kayakers in the two day float.

Tight Lines,

Joe

[mic]

Thanks for the report.

[MoSportsmen]

Thanks, how low was the water, any dragging?

[Goggle-Eyed]

River was low, probably closer to normal end of August levels.

Boat/Gear - Lowe 17' paddle jon with camping gear and way to much tackle. 55lb thrust minnkota and a group 24 and 27 batteries, two cases of bear two cases of water and some food... Boat was HEAVY!!!!

We hit a couple of big rocks in the usual spots. Had to drag at a couple of the very low fords and at the bottom of a couple of riffles but only drug hard twice. Once I went left when I should have went right and once it was just dang shallow. Neither time required unloading or dragging more than about 1/2 to 3/4 a boat length.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Who shuttled you?

[Goggle-Eyed]

all of my family lives in Camdenton so it is easy for me to get one to run me to Prosperine and then a couple of others to drop my truck at Lead Mine the next day! I did write down the Bird Island phone number from their sign in Eldridge (1-417-426-5960) Not sure if it works or if they are still around but they used to do shuttles and then you can just float into their campground.

Bird Island is for sure a two day float and I would want three to do it the way I fish.

Joe

[fishinwrench]

Think they'll ever have an access at Berry bluff?

[Goggle-Eyed]

Think they'll ever have an access at Berry bluff?

I hope so. Would not be that difficult and would make life so much easier... Wait, never mind I like it just the way it is. A real pain for most people to make the float!!! Keeps the river quieter!!!

Joe

[fishinwrench]

Yeah I know it's a double-edged sword.

[Dan Kreher]

Did you see any signage on river above/below Blue Springs warning floaters not to camp/stop on any of the gravel bars -- private property?

Last time I floated from Prosperine to Bird Island about 4 years ago, I noticed several of these white signs with perhaps red lettering which included this warning. I didn't pay too much attention to it, but it was still worth noting.

Nice trip report. I need to get back to Niangua and I'll check that Bird Island number out.