How Are The River Levels?

[delopez]

I was just at the hidden valley outfitters campground last month. Very, very nice. That being said, I hope it's still in good condition after this flood...

[Wayne SW/MO]

They're in an iffy area. I saw the Niangua about 3' below the 64 bridge back in the mid 80's. I know that back then when Chuck and Wanda Robbin's owned Ho Humm they kept there store up high and no electric in the campground, just in case.

[vandelay]

Wayne, if it doesn't rain the rest of the week do you think there is a chance the river is wade fishable at certain access points by the weekend? I'd planned to sneak down on Saturday morning, but there is no need if the water is high and looks like chocolate milk. Thanks.

[Wayne SW/MO]

They storm today didn't seem to dump much in the Niangua watershed and the forecast is for clear weather. I wouldn't change my plans yet if it were me. It looks promising for the weekend.

I think we're going up tomorrow or Wednesday.

[Goggle-Eyed]

I agree Wayne. Vandelay, Keep an eye on the Windyville Gauge and you should get a pretty good idea, I can tell you that it got a good flush and the lake is still got a ton of debris around the Niangua Bridge. I am not going to be able to get back on the river for about three weeks but can't wait to see the changes and impacts from the flooding.... I am still betting the little "island" (pretty much just had one big sycamore holding it) right at Blue Springs collapsed. If it did I also have a bet that it plugged that channel and forced everything back to the "right hand" bank like it flowed back in the 90's and early 2000....

Will be very interesting to get up there and see.

Joe

[fishinwrench]

"a ton of debris"..... is actually an understatement.

What a mess!

[Wayne SW/MO]

Is that at 54?

It is always interesting to see what changes follow a flood. In my experience it doesn't seem to take much to change the Niangua. A big flood though will often make major changes and take down a lot of those big trees hanging precariously over the water. Where they end up is anybody's guess.

[podum]

You're right about that Wayne. On a Niangua trip this past April, we had a gully washer on Friday night. Went down Saturday morning to see if it was fishable. The river had come up 7 feet and I watched as a fully leafed out 50 foot cottonwood tree slowly drifted down stream. Wished I had a video camera.

[Wayne SW/MO]

The river looked a little high yesterday from the 64 bridge, but the color was good. I suspect the bad thing now would be finding the flooded gravel bars to wade.