Put-In On Huzzah

[405z06]

I was looking at the map and wondering about a put-in at a low-water bridge about 11 miles above Scotia. On "Canoe the Rivers of Missouri" map it indicates that its a private campground, but is there anyplace there to park a truck for a few hours if we self-shuttle a canoe trip down to Scotia?

If that doesn't work, is there a similar put-in if we wanted to start on the Courtois and end up at Scotia?

I am aware that there are outfitters who will accomodate access to these waters, but we are looking at shuttling ourselves and getting on the water about daybreak to beat any crowds.

Thanks

[moguy1973]

Yep. At harpers slab there's parking on the west side of the Huzzah. And there's parking at scotia at the Huzzah conservation lot on the east bank. That's about a 12 mile float. Good luck avoiding the float mobs.

I believe there's really good access and parking at Butts Slab on the Courtois and then take out at Scotia on the Huzzah. Never floated that stretch before though. It's about a 6 mile float.

http://www.missouricanoe.org/river-maps/huzcourt.html

[405z06]

Thanks, Jim

[hank franklin]

Were you able to park at Harper's Slab? I've been told the west side is off limits for parking. We have parked on the east side years ago.

[Al Agnew]

Huzzah Valley has exclusive use of the east side. The west side, I believe, is owned by the Forest Service, but they have tried to discourage parking there at times in the past due to partying and litter problems. However, when I floated it a few weeks ago, there were several cars parked and even campers set up on the west side.

[405z06]

Yes, we parked one vehicle on the west side of Harper's and the other vehicle at the take-out at Scotia. The fishing was very good, at least compared to my prior experiences on the Huzzah/Courtois. Nothing over 17, but almost every fish was between 13-15, and quite a few over 15, too. Very few dinks for whatever reason. Caught mostly on 1/4 oz spinnerbaits, but I think they would hit just about anything thrown at them. Up until now I have always thought of the Huzzah and Courtois as option of last resort, if everything else was blown out, but this float on Saturday is going to make me rethink that.

Not seeing a jet all day is pretty sweet, too.

[hank franklin]

My bad, I had my directions mixed up above. East is off-limits, west is probably OK. Thanks for confirmation.

I had a good trip on the upper Huzzah recently as well.

We were on upper Meramec this past weekend. Fishing was fair. This guy helped supply dinner.