The Upper Upper Upper James Near A Hwy. Marshfield

[TSmith]

Just reasonably moved from Ozark to Marshfield, and while driving on A Hwy. I see this tiny little "creek" and as I get closer the green sign reads "James River". Quite a different sight from driving over the James on 65 in Springfield. Im really excited to try out this spot. Planing on doing some wading and kayaking (if possible). Can anyone give me some pointers on this location? Or directions to other rivers close to that location. Iv heard of Panther Creek but have no idea how to get there.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I believe the Niangua is a little east of there and about the same size.

[Flysmallie]

Iv heard of Panther Creek but have no idea how to get there.

Sorry. I dropped the ball on that one. I'll get that to ya.

[OzarksRiverman]

I'm copying my post from the thread you started titled "New to Marshfield" or something of the sort:

Just head down A Highway south from Marshfield, turn right on K highway not far out of town and you can hit some creeks that flow south. The Upper James and Panther Creek, check out Big Bell and Little Bell Springs, and Compton Hollow access. Good fishing holes all through that area.

If you continue down A Highway to US 60, head west through Fordland until U Highway, turn south. This you can follow U south and then to the west and access the upper Finley on many of the county roads (Olga, Braden, Rosemead...) on your left. Good spots all through there too.

In the late spring/early summer you can float these areas if the waters good and you pack light. Access at low water crossings. You can find all this on the map pretty easily, check it out.

And catch/release if you don't mind.

I sent you a PM with some info attached you'll find helpful.

Cheers.

[Bill Butts]

Tsmith,

Panther Creek is a little known "crick" that is a small tributary of the James, downstream from where you crossed the James on A.

If you drive south on B highway from Northview, about half way to Rogersville you will cross the James and then immediately another stream, that is Panther Creek.

It joins the James just a short distance west of the bridges on B. It would be a good little wet wade creek with light tackle like a fly rod or very ultralight spin.

The upper Niangua River would be an excellent fishery to invest time learning, floatable water is north of Marshfield but I'm not sure at what access you would be sure to have good water. Too many years since I fished it. The MO Dept of Conservation (MDC) does have a number of accesses on that river.

I suggest that you invest $20 in a DeLorme Gazeteer Topo map book of MO, and also acquire the MDC Atlas (cost?) book of maps. The combination of the two will be valuable resources for your fishing explorations for many years of enjoyment.

From your home in the Marshfield area, other fisheries that would be worthy of exploration are the Osage Fork of the Gasconade (NE of your town), the upper Gasconade River (a little further east), which stretches from Hartville northward, crosses I-44 between Lebanon and Waynesville, eventually joining the the MO River after many more miles.

Another one you don't hear alot about is the upper Pomme De Terre River which has some nice water from Fair Grove to where it flows into PDT Lake north of Bolivar. The first mile above the lake also gets a nice White Bass spawning run in the spring.

There are a number of good sized farm pond/lake fisheries in that area, too, all private of course.

Make friends and network!

Hope this is helpful, good luck in your pursuits!

Bill