Kings

[Hojo]

Anybody been over there in the last week or so? Gonna float this weekend, just wondering what the level was like.

[bobber]

low and clear!

[Guest]

The kings river has some of the most educated smallmouth that Ive been around.

The slot/length limit is certainly working.

There's a big pool up river from the Kings River outfitters.

Its always got a couple big smallmouth hanging out.

By far, one of my favorite creeks in Ark.

[DaveMac]

+1 on the educated smallmouth! I'd say these fish are so educated they probably have master's degrees... ; )

Fished the 4.5 mile stretch from Trigger Gap to McMullin farm on Saturday 06/15 (was in Eureka for the Blues Fest so only had time for a short float). The traffic was not too bad but just about every boat had a fishing rod or two in it. I can confirm the water was low and clear - missed all the rain that Springfield had - and the fishing was tough. Caught a few smallies on tubes but the action was slow and the fish came in shady spots in areas where the water was flowing along rocky ledges and boulders. I had no luck in the fast water which is unusual for me.

Gave me a reminder of why I try to stick to longer floats and go on weekdays that tend to discourage the masses. Have to agree that despite the high pressure, Kings is a great little river. I'll be back!

[Hojo]

We did the next float up. Rockhouse to Trigger. Fishing was decent. Lots of traffic. We shoved off just after 0730 and had a couple big groups catch us within the first mile. We had better luck in the current than other water. Low water.

[marcusearlt]

On Sunday, we did Rockhouse to Trigger Gap. Like Hojo said, fishing was decent. About 8 smallies, a few goggle eye and lots of sunfish. It was our first time so we spent too much time on certain spots early on not knowing that the last half of the float had some really fishy looking places, but by the time we got to the second half we were tuckered out. The float took about 6-7 hours. Lot's of traffic. Can't really say what conditions were best, some on the fly, some on a crank bait, some in fast water and others in the slow stuff. If it gets much lower it could make for some serious dragging in some places.

[Guest]

On Sunday, we did Rockhouse to Trigger Gap. Like Hojo said, fishing was decent. About 8 smallies, a few goggle eye and lots of sunfish. It was our first time so we spent too much time on certain spots early on not knowing that the last half of the float had some really fishy looking places, but by the time we got to the second half we were tuckered out. The float took about 6-7 hours. Lot's of traffic. Can't really say what conditions were best, some on the fly, some on a crank bait, some in fast water and others in the slow stuff. If it gets much lower it could make for some serious dragging in some places.

Its tough out there sometimes, especially during canoe season.

Most of my better trips have been Aug/Sept.

Usually low water, dragging, plus heat tends to slow the pressure.

[marcusearlt]

Ya, we are def going back. Nest time we will try to put in at Trigger and float down to wherever the next takeout spot is. All July and most of August I will have 4 day weekends, so you better believe I'm going to make the rounds! I gotta get these pretty Ozark streams figured out. I couple more trips and I pretty much could have bought a nice canoe. Hmmm....

T-Fish-R---- Did you float it last summer at all? I was there once way down river and it was pretty low, lots exposed point bars and warm water. In your experience, will the SM bite continue despite these conditions? Or will it slow the Sm bite and allow goggle/sunfish the first shot at your bait? I know about jack-diddily concerning SM, if you couldn't tell...

[Hojo]

In my experiences, my best fishing has been in April-early May depending on Spring weather.

[Brownie Whisperer]

I've fished th Kings for several years...I really prefer the upper stretches that are harder to reach.. They pot hole up and aren't nearly as picky as long as you don't spook em..

When it's heavily pressured, try parking the canoe and dead sticking with a finess worm... They can't take it.... And to keep the small fry off try an EWG hook and ignore the fast tap.taptapratataptaptap "perch" bites...