Niangua River, downstream from Lead Mine Conservation area

[podman]

Looking for information on what the lower Niangua River is like 23 miles downstream from the trout park.  I am planning a family float the weekend of July 23/24.  I'm hoping the rowdy party crowd stays away from that stretch,  the water is warm enough so the kids can swim and enough fish to keep me interested. 

[GloryDaze]

Couldn't tell you after Lead Mine- but in my experiences from Oldhams on down is much quieter than upstream. 

There's just not great access nor an easy shuttle for the outfitters in that stretch for the party crowd.

[podman]

I found a place called Living Waters Canoe Camp, just above Lake Niangua that will allow our trailer to pick up the boats for 10 bucks!  Not sure if there will be suitable gravel bars on that stretch.  I can see a few gravel bars on Google maps, but hard to determine the size of the gravel. 

[Phil Lilley]

Podman, I'm moving this to the Niangua River section.  I think you'll get better responses there.

Thanks!

[mzrealfish]

Last year my buddy and I did Bennett to the dam at Lake Niangua twice.  River was at 5.8 ft and falling and 6.5 ft and falling.  Past Lead Mine there were some really rough spots.  The area is less traveled so less manicured after flooding. 

 

I would talk to Linda at Adventure canoe to see if anyone has been through this year to clear it out.  Her in is attached here.   She put us in at Bennett and dropped our car 5 days later at the dam for $35.  Best deal I found by a longshot.  Her partner fishes that stretch some so should have some answers.  You can also try the local conservation office they may be able to give you some answers. 

 

I've never seen that stretch at normal flow so I can't speak to it's behavior at 2-4 ft.  I will say I have 12 yr old and 14 yr old daughters that canoe the Big Piney and Gasconade with me regularly.  I wouldn't take them below Lead Mine without having gone back again myself.

 

Not trying to talk you out of it but I would reaearch in depth first.

 

Mark

[fishinwrench]

The stretch just above Bird island is downright deadly.  Heavy water laden with strainers in the worst possible spots.  In all honesty it's the only place I've ever been in a canoe where I thought I was gonna die.  You can't portage around it either.  

[Flatbottom Boy]

On July 12, 2016 at 0:39 PM, fishinwrench said:

The stretch just above Bird island is downright deadly.  Heavy water laden with strainers in the worst possible spots.  In all honesty it's the only place I've ever been in a canoe where I thought I was gonna die.  You can't portage around it either.  

Yeah but...how was the fishing? 

[mzrealfish]

^fishing was really good when we weren't dealing with the obstacle course with wrecking our canoes in mind.  The other problem is, if there were a sunk canoe, it is a very remote stretch without cell phone service.   The trek out would be 1 to remember in all likelihood. 

 

Again, at 2-4 ft. Possibly totally safe.  At 5 ft. It was puckery.  I will return.

[bassfisher]

If you are willing to risk drowning pretty good but I strongly advise against it!!!!!

[fishinwrench]

2 hours ago, Flatbottom Boy said:

Yeah but...how was the fishing? 

LOL  The fishing was pretty good.  The fish in that stretch are kinda stupid, I don't think they see many baits.