What's the better take-out? Tecumseh or Dawt

[hank franklin]

My cousin and I are considering a float all the way down to Tecumseh and the Corps of Engineers campground there. Haven't found much info on that however. Would we be better off taking out at Dawt? If we go to Tecumseh will we hit slack water from the lake back-up?

Thanks.

[catman70]

Maybe a little, but not too bad. If you take out at Dawt you'll miss the opportunity to catch spring runs of fish. The trouble would not be slack water, but a headwind if there is one. Either way, watch out for Dawt mill dam.

[Brian Wise]

Either way, watch out for Dawt mill dam.

Yeah, that first step is a doosy!!

I agree with Catman, if you are going to float all the way to Dawt I would go ahead and add a couple of extra miles to it. The headwinds can be a little tough...I wouldn't recommend wearing baggy clothes for fear of them turning into a kite and taking you all the way back upstream.

The lake isn't backed up into the river hardly at all right now and it takes quite a bit of water to actually make "slack" water up into the river. You will be on moving water all the way to Tecumseh bridge.

Brian

[Gavin]

Where do you plan to start? The Mill Dam at Dawt will require a portage if you start your float above Dawt (portage to the right if coming downstream). If you want to start at Dawt, I'd toss in by the bridge, not at the boat ramp. FWIW, Last time we took out at Dawt, they had the boat ramp cabled off. No big deal, but we had to hump our gear and boats up the hill. Cheers.

[Brian Wise]

Good call Gavin! I forgot, there is a charge for taking out at Dawt if you didn't use them as your outfitter. I don't know if these rules apply during off season but they do during season.

Brian

[hank franklin]

Thanks for input guys. I got some Corps info on Tecumseh and it looks good. Looks like we'll portage around Dawt and head on down to Tecumseh. I'm really intrigued by the fish runs. I got into some white bass this time of year once on the Meramec. Don't know if you'd call it a run or what but it was fun.

Brian, does ROLF do vehicle shuttles? I believe I sent you a PM. If I recall from an earlier conversation you don't do shuttles yourself but could point me to someone who does?

I'm looking forward to this one. Been a while since I've been on a new stream. I generally stick to the Meramec watershed.

[Fred]

Hey, Hank,

I'm in the same boat as you, I'm looking to get into these spring runs a little...I'm relatively new to it, too. When are you planning to go? My buddy and I are going to put in at Tecumseh and try to head up either the Bryant or North Fork a little, or maybe both, possibly even down towards the lake a little, depending on where the fish might be biting (and how strong the water's flowing!). We're looking at Monday, but it might be raining all weekend, so we'll see what the water level looks like. If you go before then, I'd appreciate some info. I'll post however we do, good or bad, if we get out.

Fred

[hank franklin]

Looks like the weekend of March 17 for us. I'll post a report once we get back.