Good Place To Fish/paddle Close To Home

[Gavin]

By abuse...I'm referring to illegal harvest and lousy agricultural land use...Pretty common to find the remains of short bass & goggs,the remains of bass taken out of season, eroded treeless mudbanks, and cattle in the river. Its still a pretty river in spots, but it doesnt fish as well as it could outside of the special management area. Good luck.

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[ozark trout fisher]

I've spent some time wading around the accesses on the Big Piney. It's definitely not the ideal way to fish that river (you really should float it) but there are some bass to be caught within wading distance of most put-ins. They're just not very plentiful or large, but if you need a quick fishing fix it's still worth trying. The best way to fish that river without a boat is to find a stretch that flows through the National Forest and hike in. Much more time consuming but it results in much better fishing most of the time. When I want to do the BP and can't find someone to help with a shuttle that's usually what I prefer to do.

The one benefit of the drought is that wading is real easy. Normally that rivers a bit deep for anything besides float fishing, but you'll have lots of options now. It is a pretty river with quality bass. As everyone else says, you really owe it to yourself to get away from the access, whether it's finding a remote National Forest stretch and covering a lot of water or preferably if you can float it.

For a river that's ideal to paddle around on without actually using two accesses (it seems like that's what you're looking to do) maybe the Big Piney isn't the best option. Just up the road is the G'nade which is perfect for that method of fishing. It's a much slower stream than the BP, which makes paddling upriver a whole lot easier.

[Slewfoot dan]

Thanks, I'll look closer at the Gasconade. That's the kind of fishin I'm after. A nice lazy day, a few bluegill, maybe some warmouth. Paddling upstream and drifting back down.

[exiledguide]

You might take a look at Mineral Springs, the next access below Dogs Bluff if theres any water left in that area there are three holes above Mineral Springs that you could paddle up throgh but you will probably have to drag between the holes. Depending on the water flow you might try further up river even as far up as Baptist camp. My nephew lives in Houston and he's been fishing the Current/ Jacks Fork around Alley Springs...

[ozark trout fisher]

Good luck wherever you do end up. It's tough to go wrong with either the Big Piney or the Gasconade. That's one of my favorite corners of the Ozarks without a doubt.

[Slewfoot dan]

Thanks again for the advice everybody . I'll wind up having fun wherever I end up.

[The Kayak Kid]

I've parked a vehicle at Slabtown several times, and never had a problem. Including a trip about a month ago. Always seem to catch decent smallies. Does it get some abuse from locals...sure. Show me a river that doesn't. Definitely one of my more productive and consistent trips - both above and below Slabtown.

I've never left a vehicle at Six Crossings, or other unofficial access areas.

Holler if you need more info, Slew...

[Slewfoot dan]

Gave mineral springs a try yesterday. Lots of fish, great little holes. You definitely have to get out of the boat between holes.