Floating Entire Jacks Fork

[repocrazy12]

Hey guys,

I plan on floating majority of the Jacks Fork. Putting in at the Prongs and going all the way to the current. Has anyone here ever done it?

Does anyone have any advice or anything I should prepare for?

Also does anyone know how long it would take? I don't plan on doing any serious fishing until I cross 106 due to the length limit starting at Hwy 17 with the smallies. I may spend an hour or two fishing for some goggle eye for dinner until then. Once I pass 106 I plan on slowing down a little bit to enjoy some smallie fishing and even reward myself with a good dinner with them.

[GloryDaze]

Done it over the course of a few trips. 4 nights is what my cumulative total would be.

Skinny water up until Bay Creek, wide shallow riffles from their to Alley. Good floating from Alley on down. My advice would be to enjoy the river from 17 until Bay Creek. In my opinion one of the most scenic floats in the Midwest.

Have fun... get ready to duck, arrows are gonna start flying,

[SmallyWally]

Done it over the course of a few trips. 4 nights is what my cumulative total would be.

Skinny water up until Bay Creek, wide shallow riffles from their to Alley. Good floating from Alley on down. My advice would be to enjoy the river from 17 until Bay Creek. In my opinion one of the most scenic floats in the Midwest.

Have fun... get ready to duck, arrows are gonna start flying, HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Al Agnew]

Total mileage from the Prongs down is about 46 miles. So how long it takes depends upon how hard you want to paddle and how long you want to paddle each day. And that depends to some extent on when you want to do it...this time of year, you have a lot less daylight. Also depends upon river levels. If it's at summertime lows, you'll spend time getting out and dragging until you get to Alley Spring. If it's at springtime higher levels, you can cover a lot of river per day without too much work IF you are good enough at paddling fast water.

I don't guess I'll comment on the eating smallies thing, since you're at least legal in doing so (unless you plan on doing it between Feb. 28th and Memorial Day weekend). But you gotta know that most of us avid river anglers almost never keep smallmouth, so I'm sure somebody will get on your case about it

[countryred]

I'd keep the goggle eyes and pickerel, toss the smallies back. Its pretty low right now above Alley . Its about a 2 days float from Prongs to Twin Rivers.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Done it in 2 night trip. Never again. I'd recommend at least 4 nights.

[repocrazy12]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Trust me I appreciate the value of the Smallies in this river. I plan on doing this within the next few weeks. I wanted to be able to take in the fall colors along with scenery of the float. I float Y to 17 all the time. I fish it pretty hard and it takes me about 9-10 hours when fishing. When I am just floating it takes not time at all. My plan was to paddle all the way down to 106 and then take is easy. I will be using a kayak and it floats very well and moves pretty fast. My plan is to leave on a early Fri morning and be done Sun night. If it takes another day I won't be terribly upset.

Where would be the best place to take out once I hit the current?

[SpoonDog]

Two Rivers is right at the mouth of the Jack's Fork and Current. There's a boat launch just downstream of the confluence, on the west side of the river.

[moguy1973]

Two Rivers is right at the mouth of the Jack's Fork and Current. There's a boat launch just downstream of the confluence, on the west side of the river.

yep....this...

[KCRIVERRAT]

I'd fish hard from Blue Spring to Bay Creek. And then wait and do it again from just above Shawnee Creek to the Current ( meaning about the last five miles starting a couple of miles above Shawnee Creek). Good Luck!