Float Trip Planning Question

[BrowningFisherman]

I am in charge of planning a float trip for the middle of June on the Eleven Point. We are planning on a 2 day float with 4 guys for a Sunday and a Monday. I floated it but it has been 7 or 8 years ago and I can't rememeber exactly how everything went. I do know that we did the trip from Greer to Riverton but it was with scouts and we did a lot of paddling. This time however we arent as much on the paddling and we are really wanting to fish it. When me and 1 of the guys fish on the current we do the 7 mile float from Baptist to Cedar grove in ~2 days so I don't want to go too long and not be able to fish a good hole when we see it. The other side of that is the other 2 guys going aren't necessarily trout guys and are really wanting to fish the good smallie water.

So my question is based on normal flow, good pools and level that time of year how much distance should we reasonably expect to cover? 7, 15, 20 miles? and if we don't do the whole float is there a particular chunk we should target with Smallmouth being the primary target and rainbows being a secondary (say 60/40ish)? finally any lure recommendations for that time period would also be appreciated.

[Mark]

Google "Eleven Point River Mile by Mile" and print off. For me, the Eleven Point accesses are ideal for short 5-7-10 mile floats between accesses. You might consider putting in at Cane Bluff (9.3 mile marker)and float to HWY 19 bridge (16.6 mile marker) for the smallmouth fishermen on the first day. The trout waters start at Greer Springs, just upriver from HWY 19 bridge. Then you will hit the Blue Ribbon Trout stretch from Hwy 19 bridge to Turner Mill - a little over 5 miles. After that, Turner Mill to Whitten is about 7 miles, and then Whitten to Riverton is about 9 miles - both sections are mostly trout water and White Ribbon if you are looking to keep some fish for dinner. After Riverton, you will find mostly smallmouth waters again with very few trout. So to satisfy everyone, Cane Bluff to Turner Mill over 2 days will be around 12 miles with smallmouth the first day and trout the second day.

[Al Agnew]

Mark is right...there really isn't a strong enough smallmouth population between Greer and Riverton to make targeting them very worthwhile, so to get the best of both worlds, I'd do like he said and float Cane Bluff to Turner. Hopefully there will still be enough water to make the floating from Cane Bluff to Greer easy.

[Mark]

And the Whitten access is not on the MDC Eleven Point River Mile by Mile description but it is at about the 28.3 mile marker, just above Whites Creek Float Camp. With the Cane Bluff access at the 9.3 mile marker, a 19 mile two day float from Cane Bluff to Whitten is very doable, depending on the ambition of your group. Where Greer Springs enters the Eleven Point, the river becomes bigger and faster. You will be surprised how fast you will cover the 12+ miles from Greer to Whitten. There is not that many stretches of long slow water. And IMO, the Turner Mill to Greer section may be the prettiest part of the river. If your group are early risers, and you have all day the second day, the 12 mile stretch is not too much paddling and you will have plenty of time to get out and wade fish. It's pretty easy to cover 2 miles per hour at a leisurely pace. Plus the last 7 miles will be White Ribbon Area with a limit of 4 trout and any type of bait, if you want some trout to eat. But I know what you mean about not wanting to pass up good fishing holes because of having to cover too much distance. If you are getting off the river on the second day and still have to drive home, the second day 12 miles may be a stretch. My group likes the 7 mile Turner to Whitten stretch and make it last about 8 hours, all the time we want to spend getting in and out of the canoe. Good luck!

[Brian Sloss]

If smallmouth is the primary target, starting at Cane Bluff would be the best bet, but it would only give you a quarter mile of trout water at the end of the float, though that float (Cane Bluff to Greer) would be in line with the distance you cover on the Current. Add 5.5 miles and float the rest of the blue ribbon area to Turner to get more trout water in. Call 417-778-6497 and I can help you plan it, get canoes or set up a shuttle for you.

[Phil Lilley]

I've pinned this topic because it's a good, basic topic for the Eleven Point and fishing/floating. Good information given by the guys who are authorities on the river.

I would also add there is more information and maps on this site - http://www.ozarkanglers.com/eleven-point

[BrowningFisherman]

This is great information, thank you guys for the input, I am going to share this with the group and see what they think, either way should be a great trip I will definitely have to check back closer to our dates and see what they are biting on.

[jdmidwest]

If you want good flows and fishing, Whitten to Narrows for a multi-day float. Trout at the start. But if you target them, smallies and goggle eyes too. From Riverton down, Smallies and other warmer water species.

[darbwa]

I would love to get a good answer to this question if you were targeting only smallmouth.

[Gavin]

Bass...above Greer or below Riverton. It is a water temp thing. It's 56-58 degrees in the heavilly spring fed trout water, but some will stay in off current warmer ares. Bass will seek the warmer water in the winter but they leave, to seek warmer water above, and below in the spring.