Thanksgiving Trip

[Gavin]

Think the scenery will be fantastic. Fish the slow water instead of the fast.

[steve l]

Any report from the trip?

[3hounds]

Sorry, really late on this one--but got back on the forum b/c planning another float on the 11-point this weekend. The Thanksgiving 2013 trip was wonderful---definitely a freeze-out! But we expected it. The Prongs were unreal and hands-down was the most beautiful 6+ miles of any Missouri river I have floated. We didn't scrape too much, but if we were a day later it would have been a lot different--the river was dropping quickly.

Saw about 100 bald eagles (no joke---most were migrating), but we started calling them seagulls b/c there were so many of them. Critter count: 4 otters (3 in the river, one on the bank), beaver who slapped his tail at us right by a bluff, which made a majestic, albeit somewhat nerve-racking, boom, 30+ turkey, & my friend saw a coyote cross the river in the morning. We met only one other person on the river--he was trapping--had a beaver and otter trapped...I think he sells them up to Canada and mentioned he gets $120 for otter & $40 for beaver pelts. Pretty cool guy to talk to and learn from---seemed like one tuff son-of-a-gun!

Jam up Bluff and Cave is UNREAL!!!!! Probably the most scenic place I have been to in Missouri (and I've been to Mina Sauk Falls, Elephant Rocks, Johnson shut-ins, Devils Ice box, etc). Point is: Holy $h*t!!!

Alley Spring was well-worth jumping off the river and checking out---the river is extremely fast after Alley, it felt like we were in Eminence in about 30 minutes after Alley.

I wish I could give you some info on the fishing, but we don't fish---I know, that is absurd---honestly just haven't been exposed to it nor taught by anyone (but starting to fish is definitely a goal of mine).