Weekend Trip

[GloryDaze]

Just got back from floating Barclay to Lead Mine. I cant believe this was my first time on the water in 7 months. My last 3 trips were cancelled due to snow and rain.

Weather and water were perfect. Never had a problem catching fish and they were caught from pretty much any lure.

Largest of the weekend was right at 17" or so. Caught on a grub late in the afternoon. River didn't seem too busy, it also helps we have figured out our float schedule and times to pretty much avoid the crowds.

Another great weekend on the river with great food, friends and fish.

[delopez]

I'm headed there, this weekend. i'm hoping that I have the same results... I would like to avoid to aluminum hatch as much as possible.

[GloryDaze]

The schedule we have had most success with to avoid crowds is:

Put in at Barclay around 5 Friday night then paddle at a decent pace through all the campgrounds. Then we usually camp a mile or 2 below the old bridge piers, or just belowProsperine. This gets us into the good smallie water that night, then all day Saturday.

Usually break camp Saturday around 9 and spend the day fishing pretty heavily. We usually only see a few people all day. This weekend we saw 2 rafts and a group on tubes taking out at a private access. Night #2 we usually set up camp around 6 or so and try to stay about 2-3 miles above Lead Mine. We try to set up camp before we get to a property owner's land that he is sure to let you know it's private on river left. He only used about 30 signs, had to go through 10 gallons of purple paint and has darn near every other tree marked. I know we could camp on the gravel bar legally, but prefer to not even mess with it. So, his strategy pays off at least for our group.

Sunday we break camp about 7:30 or so and are usually at Lead Mine in time to be on the road back to KC by 10.

It's as system that works well for us.... gives us plenty of time to fish, swim, etc... yet never feel like we are in a hurry. I'm guessing by our schedule we are well below where most float trips take place when we are on the water.

Enjoy the weekend!