North Fork experiences

[Al Agnew]

Hi, everybody. In looking down through the list of stream forums, I realized that I've been on most of them, and since this is something I really love...Ozark streams and fishing, I decided to just make some comments and tell a few stories on each river. This is the first one...

First time I was ever on the North Fork was on my first honeymoon, back in 1977. My new wife and I floated it above Twin Bridges (above the trout water). I don't remember much about it, but I have photos of a beautiful little river and I remember catching a couple of 15-16 inch smallmouths.

I fished the trout sections with Shawn Taylor, who lives on the river and at the time was guiding on it, with my best trout fishing buddy Tom and our friend the Montana fishing guide. It was his first time on the river, and he was very impressed with it (this from a man who guided regularly on the Yellowstone). Of course, the first fish he caught was a 20 inch wild rainbow, so that may have colored his impressions a bit. We stopped and fished every riffle, and Shawn had a rather unique way of boat handling. We were in a big johnboat, and he was out of the boat and in the water, often in water up to his neck, holding the boat back so we could fish deep fast water areas.

A day or so later, the three of us floated it in canoes without Shawn. That was the day that Tom broke his newest, high dollar Winston.

I also remember a trip in mid-October, when the fall foliage was at its peak. The river was low and clear, and fishing was tough, but was it ever gorgeous!

Beautiful river, and the closest we have in Missouri to a Western trout stream.

[Fox Statler]

Hi Al,

Fox Statler here, Larry Grishams friend.

[Brian Wise]

Beautiful river, and the closest we have in Missouri to a Western trout stream.

I hear this all the time.....NEVER gets old though.