Ozark Trail Fishing/hiking Trip

[Midwest troutbum]

Ive always liked hiking hawk state park and nearby pickle creek. Sandstone creeks, Pine forests, wild azaleas in and the spring and great views. Always wanted to bring the flyrod and check the fish population but each visit was with a camping/hiking only group or family. Anyone here fish these parks?

I remember Johnson shut ins used to be a good small stream fishing and hiking experince. (Below all the main swimming areas). My most recent trip to that park was before the old dam broke and decimated the park. Its been a while to say the least. The granite rocks were slick as snot. Its best to wear steel studded shoes in that area or a helmet! No joke! Its extremely easy to crack your head open and then fall into the water in that area of the park, mostly due to the slick as a wet marble floor algae not being worn off the rocks as it is in the upper part of the park where the swimmers tend to stay.

Regardless me and my fishing buddy reeled in several nice smallmouth purportionate to the stream size. All were good strong fighters. A great day out in nature.

Hows the shut ins park and stream looking these days post park restoration? Is wading downstream off the designated trail allowed anymore? There used to be several good deep pools at the bend in the creek just before the high voltage power lines cross. (Approx a mile downstream of the swimming and bluff jump area.) Has anyone fished elephant rocks? I would like to hear anyones recent experiences with these parks.

[Al Agnew]

Hawn Park...Pickle Creek has small sunfish, a few small largemouth, and the occasional little smallmouth. It used to have some grass pickerel which were fun little fish to try to catch, but I haven't seen one in it in many years.

If you hike the far loop of the trail, you'll reach River Aux Vases. It's a small creek as well, but a little bigger than Pickle Creek. It has a decent population of smallmouth, though the top end size is about 15 inches and most of them will be under 12 inches. I've actually backpacked in and spent two days fishing it, because there's a surprising length of stream back there...I'd fish it down to the mouth of Pickle Creek and then hike back up Pickle Creek. But the problem with doing that is that a lot of the creek back there is in private ownership, and although I never ran into any trouble doing it (and I know a couple of the landowners anyway and have permission from them at least), I'm reluctant to tell anybody they can do it without running afoul of landowners. A couple of the owners have cabins, and one house, within sight of the creek, so your chances of having trouble are pretty good.

[mic]

Taking Al's advice, I tried Pickle creek down to the river. It was really small without a drought, but fun. If you do go, make sure you have cleats because the rock is slick as hell. Here is the report, plus it has a lot other suggestions.

[hank franklin]

Lots of good suggestions. Has anyone hiked the Roger Pryor Backcountry and in particular the Big Creek watershed? Never done it, it is high on my list.

Agree very much on Rockpile Wilderness. Unusual place, little tread. Never actually fished the Saint there but the creek Al speaks of is very nice.

[MrFalcon]

SamC489,

I'm curious where you ended up going on your trip. I am planning almost the exact trip. I am looking to spend 4-5 days fishing and hiking. We have been looking at the Big Piney Trail with maybe a quick jaunt over to the river. Any suggestions?