Help! Big River Or The Gasconade River

[BassMaster#1]

My Cousin is in town and he wants to do some small mouth fishing. I was originally going to do the upper meramec, but decided I wanted to do a stretch I've never done before and the wife ok it, so a longer float won't be a problem. So, the choice is the Gasconade with Gasconade hills or the Big River with Washington state park. If i do the Gasconade, it would be either Black or Barlow to the hills. We will be renting a canoe on this trip, so I'm looking for the best water where I can get out and fish the rapids and not just float by them. In your opinion, which stretch will offer up the best opportunity to catch some nice small mouth? Thanks

[Guest]

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[Geoff]

My buddy was catching a bunch of big ones on the Big at Morris Mills a month or so ago.

[BassMaster#1]

Man, tuff decesion does any one else have any input? I know both of these stretch's are great, but I I'm having a hard time deciding.

[Al Agnew]

Yep, tough choice. The stretch of Big River above Washington Park is nice water, with roughly equal numbers of smallmouth and spotted bass. That stretch of the Gasconade is mostly smallmouth.

I don't know how far upstream the people at WSP put canoes in. If they only put them in at the Hwy. 21 bridge, that's only about three miles, and although it's good looking water I consider it one of the poorer stretches for fishing. If they put in farther upstream, the fishing is a little better up there.

The stretches of the Gnade above Gnade Hills, like most of the river, have quite a few long, dead pools, but where the water's moving it's decent fishing.

[Mitch f]

I did the Gasconade not long ago and the fishing for smallies was better between Gasconade Hills and Hazelgreen. The only thing I can say is there must be a bunch of floaters and catch and keep anglers down to Gasconade Hills

[Gavin]

Think I'd opt for the G. Nade....but not that reach...Better fishing north of I-44 IMO...

[BassMaster#1]

It looks like the Hills put you in at Black ford, which is a 10 mile float or Barlow ford, which is a 6 mile float. For time sake, is this stretch of 10 mile float faster or comparable to a 10 mile stretch on the upper Mearmec river? Does the water in this stretch move pretty fast and is there less dead water or deep pools? Would there be a different outfitter to go with on a better stretch of water in the same general area or is this pretty much it? Thanks for the help, just trying to pick the best water that not over 2hrs from my house.

[Greasy B]

That stretch of the G-nade will be slower than Meramec. I have floated it many times for the same reasons as you, shuttle availability and a safe place to park. The river above and below would probably have better fishing but shuttles and not having your vehicle vandalized are a high priority. Either way Gasconade is a good choice.

[BassMaster#1]

Man, it’s really tuff relying on a outfitter to shuttle you. Looks like Gnade Hills can only put me in at Barlow Ford to the campground, which is 6miles. I really wanted to do the Hazelgreen access, but the Hills only offers a 4 mile float to this place.

I called Washington state park and the guy I spoke with said that he would only do the first 4 miles in the park as the other 3 miles is to shallow and isn't worth fishing. He also said there was no flow and wouldn't advise putting in people who wanted to tube. Not to mention they wouldn't be able to get me on the water till 8:30a.m. and the canoe had to be back by 4:00.

Guess I'm thinking either the upper meramec with my 10' pond prowler or a rental from Boiling Springs resort. I can do 5 miles on the Big Piney and 2 miles on the Gasconade. Does anyone have any info on this particular stretch of water? My buddy and I floated the Gasconade last year in our kayaks from route 66 to Jerome, but we didn't catch a single fish on the two miles we were on lower Big Piney. Trying to get this figured out before Sunday rolls around. thanks