Wade Fishing

[FortunateAngler]

I know this isn't the best river for it, but does anyone know of decent areas for it in trout waters? It will be my first time to the Eleven Point and I'm not really sure where to begin. I had planned on some smallmouth fishing but I recently got into fly fishing and want to try my hand at trout fishing. Pretty set on a lot of the recommended flies I've seen while lurking around here but that won't mean anything if I can't get to the fish.

Also, does the Eleven Point get really crowded and drunk like the Spring will be?

Thanks everybody.

[Mark]

Not a great river to walk in and wade fish, especially with the water a little high right now. Expect the river to be crowded this holiday weekend and hot weather. Any other time, the Eleven Point is not near as bad as other rivers.

[flyfisherman]

Mark is correct, there are only a couple access points which is good. I wade it all the time when canoeing, the river is bit up but there ar areas to wade. These are some areas i would wade in grear to turner. Both sides of first island, shoals directly below first island, left side of small second island. I fish moderately fast to fast water with stone flys, and Crawdad pattern. Brian at 11 point sells flys, my favorite is dons Crawdad it consistently produces. With water up use additional weight to get it down, if you aren't snagging now and then you re not fishing deep enough. Enjoy the river

[2sheds]

I would rent a canoe from Brian at 11 Point Canoe Rental in Alton. I would have him put me in at Greer Crossing and take out at Turner Mill - a short 5-mile float. As others have suggested, I like to get out and wade fish around each of the 1st three islands. This will allow you to pick spots with reasonable wade conditions. With water up high and moving fast, you won't need but 90 minutes to paddle down to Turner. This allows you to pick a good spot, wait out the day trippers, and flyfish at your leisure after they are on down.

I have spent glorious afternoons tucked around the "unpopular float" side of those islands and had the best holes to myself while the summer crowd ran the opposite side.

Alternate plan is to ask Brian about the latest conditions. Depending on the water, he might recommend Cane Bluff down to Greer Crossing, or Turner/Whitten down to Riverton.

[Mark]

Agree - much easier to use a canoe as a taxi from one wading spot to the next - my preferred method of fishing. With the water at present level, you will be hard pressed to find much wading water around accesses.

[FortunateAngler]

Thanks for the quick response guys. I figured using a canoe or kayak would be the best bet. On that note, I'm relatively experienced but not everyone ill be with is. I've read that there are some pretty rough patches here and there. Do you think a less experienced person can handle this area?

[FortunateAngler]

And I keep hearing about this don's crawfish pattern so ill definitely pick a few up.

[flyfisherman]

The river is easy to navigate, just keep eyes focused down stream, there are only few mild challenges in the Greer to Turner section, i take the left side first island, park canoe at bottom walk up right side fish that and shoals below first island. With water up a bit just look out for bends where current is pushing against. Like all who posted we park canoes at areas we fish and I park above fast water and walk to we're I fish. When water is up slightly, love hurricane shoals, best place to park is right side, add weight and high stick it. Just down from hurricane around next bend is Mary Decker, left side is best approach. I would check with Brian, at 11Point, with recent high water there may be changes to river. The flow is around 800' actually like fishing it between 600-800.

Good luck, need to get down there