Great two day float Riddle Bridge - Boiling Spring 10/11-10/12

[moguy1973]

Bassmaster#1 and I had a great time on the Gasconade the past two days.  Had Boiling Spring Campground put us in at Riddle Bridge for a 14 mile float back to the campground at about 8am yesterday with plans on floating about 8 1/2 miles, camping on a gravel bar and finishing the final 5 1/2 miles today.  Water was low and slow with great greenish hue.  Right off the bat at Riddle Bridge Bassmaster hooked up with something big, but never saw it before it came off.  Set the tone for a great day of fishing.  I had my best day fishing on a river and ended up with 32 fish (22 SMB, 1 LMB, and 9 goggle eye) and he got 22 (18 SMB, 2 LMB, 2 goggle eye).  The smallies ranged from 6-18" with each of us getting a couple 2lbers.  He had one LMB that was 2 1/2lbs.  The water for the first 5 miles or so on that stretch looked amazing and very fishy looking, with deep slow pools full of chunk rock and it did indeed hold a lot of fish.  It made it hard to not fish that a long time but it was getting late and we needed to get to a good spot to set up camp.

Today we got on the water around 7:15 and found the 2nd stretch was a lot less desirable, but we still managed a pretty good day with him getting 26 fish and me only getting 15 although I had probably that many hooked get off.  A lot more fish came off laydowns as there wasn't as many deep holes as the day before stretch, and quite a bit more largemouth were caught.  I did end up catching the big smallie, which was a fat 18" fish that weighed 2lb 6oz.  He ended up with big fish though, a nice 3lb 3oz largemouth that was caught directly across from our takeout.  90% of our fish came on a tube, the rest were on the Ned rig or on a buzz frog.  Not much happening with topwater either day though.

We really do wish that float wasn't so long or there were other accesses along there so it wouldn't have to be a two day float.  It's definitely one we want to do again.  It was perfect weather for the 2nd weekend in October and we had the whole river to ourselves both days.  We didn't see another person on the river until we saw a jet boat heading down river from near our takeout today.

Here's a few pictures:

[Gavin]

Good for you guys! The first part of that float goes past Portuguese Point, one of the most scenic parts of the Gasconade. Pretty good habitat mostly but some long sucky spots. Did that with Al, Coldwater, & SWMO as a day float on a 95 degree day years ago. 8am to 4pm or so. Overnight would have been better. Think Coldwater got the best one. 17" at the confluence on a buzz bait the size of a small parrot.

[joeD]

That's why people have jet boats (for that river especially). The float was long because you had to paddle through EVERYTHING. And probably fished everything 'cause it looked "fishy."  Anyway, good on you guys. BTW, one of you is in shorts and t shirt, and the other bundled up for a snowstorm or the ebola virus. Thought it was nice weather.

[moguy1973]

That's why people have jet boats (for that river especially). The float was long because you had to paddle through EVERYTHING. And probably fished everything 'cause it looked "fishy."  Anyway, good on you guys. BTW, one of you is in shorts and t shirt, and the other bundled up for a snowstorm or the ebola virus. Thought it was nice weather.

The sun isn't too kind to my skin and so I cover up so I don't end up looking like a lobster. 

A jet would have been nice, no need for a shuttle, and can skip over all the poor water quickly. Although there was a spot where even a jet couldn't have gotten through.  Lots of big trees down and only a couple of inches of water where there wasn't trees.  We both had to portage a bit around that area.  A couple other spots would have been real tricky to maneuver one through too. 

[BassMaster#1]

definitely one of my better float in terms of quality fish.  As Moguy said, I lost well over 12 fish the first day of the float, but it happens.  Just wish there was better access to fish 5miles to really pick apart the river.....I could have easily spent 45 to an hour just fishing Riddle bridge.  I've been searching for that 4lb smallie and I'm sure it would come from these section of the river.  Heck, it could have been one of those big ones I lost, but that's why they call it fishing and not catching..  Wanted to test the zoom horney toad to see how it compares to the normal dawg jr or megabass x walker jr..and I can saw this will be a neat addition to my top water baits...Can't wait to do this section again, but it's time to put away the rods for the bow...

[Seth]

I'd love to fish that stretch that you floated, but I've never ran my jet boat above Boiling Spring. I know guys that make that long run up river and find some dandy bass, usually largemouth, in that area.

[Bruno]

Thread reincarnation - 2 of us are planning to do this float on Mon/Tue.  Any thoughts on if the river will be too high or too dirty during that time to be worth it?  Based on current water clarity and levels, that is.  Anyone been in that area?  Any locals?

[Greasy B]

The river has stabilized after high water a couple of weeks ago, it should be in fine shape. Good luck. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

I bet it’s still muddy.  

[Bruno]

That's our fear - water just too churned still.