May 20, 21 and 22 on the river.

[Terrierman]

Lane and I had this planned for quite some time. Wednesday was wet. Did Turner to Whitten and did well fishing. Rainbows mostly, and quality - teens nearly all of them and several in the upper teens. Also caught a couple of decent smallmouth, goggle eye, longear, goldeye, creek chub, and hornyhead chub. Zig jigs in assorted colors and later in the day, rebel craw crankbaits. The fish bit really well during the rain, slowed a lot when it quit and then started up again when the sun came out later in the afternoon. We didn't camp that night, stayed in Cotton Cottage in Alton. Lane made us a pizza and I got to watch the Cardinals put it on the Mets. Great day and great evening.

Thursday we started at Greer with Riverton as the Friday destination. Weather was perfect, blue skies and sunny. Fish were cooperative again, with quality rainbows in the Blue Ribbon area too numerous to count. Mary Decker Shoal was something in the Shawnee. We picked what looked to be the widest spot and went for it. Thing is there was a big boulder that we couldn't see from above in the way and it was too late to do anything different so we hit it. Glad we were in a fiberglass boat that slides, we made it fine but did have a log wipe the hummingbird right off the side of the boat. Next time I will definitely line through that spot in that boat. A canoe would have been fine. Wet but fine as the river was definitely running a little high. Enough excitement from that one that the first gravel bar below the shoal we pulled over and caught our breath. I had a couple of shots of Jameson's, that place could have been a lot worse.

But no real damage done so back to fishing. That part of the river is really nice, a lot of good riffles and holes and fish were cooperative. Lane had a nice fish on in one riffle run out (first hole below Hurricane Creek) and I made a cast to almost the same spot. Hooked the biggest rainbow I have ever had on. Worked with him maybe five minutes and finally he came up and made a big jump and broke off. Disappointing but still, heck of an experience. We were thinking this is like "A River Runs Through It" grade fishing. Lane had another big one on momentarily after that but we never put an eye on that one before breaking off.

Soon we were back to Turner's Mill and some water we had good success on Wednesday. Thursday was even better. We caught steadily until we were almost in the middle of one deep pool when Lane says "You are going to need to get the net" I told him sure in a minute as soon as I get this jig tied on. Then I saw the fish. A really really nice one. Lane lightened his drag a bit and played that fish very well. No exaggeration, at least 10 or maybe 15 minutes. I ran the motor to keep us in the pool and watched a really good battle. A couple of heart stopping jumps, lots of line stripping runs and finally I got the fish in the net. A beautiful rainbow that measured 21", a great personal best for Lane in a great spot.

We didn't do anything really memorable after that one fish wise. Just more rainbows that are really beautiful and in good numbers. We camped Thursday evening in White's Creek float camp, cooked some ribs and beans on the grill and then in the Dutch Oven. Slept the sleep of the honestly tired and got up to do it again on Friday.

Friday was rinse and repeat, nice rainbow on the first cast and then just more of the same all the way to Riverton. Hall Bay Shoals was a picnic compared to Mary Decker, nice clean run to the right. Really no problem at all.

Want to especially thank Brian and 11 Point Canoe Rental for all the help getting shuttled and also for the great accomodations at Cotton Cottage. What a remarkable fish factory of a river and a really great trip. Lane is a heck of a young man and really put it on me when it came to catching the trout. He took all the pictures and is supposed to e-mail them to me, I will put them up when I get them.

[Terrierman]

That's all folks!

[Brian Sloss]

It was great meeting you guys, glad the trip went well.

[BilletHead]

Now that's a great trip,

Love the fish face on that chub. Thanks for the post,

BilletHead

[Ham]

Awesome Rick! Those Rainbows have some great color. No Shadow Bass? no Chain Pickeral? The River looked like it had a little extra flow.

I'm about a month away from my first overnighter of the year. River is undecided and will be unannounced.

[Smallieguy87]

Great report! Those are some purdy rainbows. I'm hoping to make my way down there in the near future (weather permitting of course).

[Mark]

Sounds like a great trip.

[Johnsfolly]

Great Post! I fished the 11-Point once last year and can't wait to get back on it this time with a boat and likely my family. this post definitely puts the spurs into trying to get there.

[Plastic_worm]

Nice trip report. Beautiful bows and great pictures.

[Troutnut69]

That's a beautiful river for sure...you guys did it up right , that looks like an awesome time!!