Water level above Boiling Spring?

[Al Agnew]

The Jerome gauge is pretty misleading when it comes to that stretch.  The Big Piney comes in not far above Boiling Spring, and adds a lot of water to the river, which is why it tends to get too low for easy jetboating above Hwy. 28--which is above the mouth of the Big Piney.  But not only that, the Jerome gauge is below the mouth of the Little Piney.  So the river just a short distance above the gauge is flowing significantly less water than it is at the gauge.  

Right now the Jerome gauge shows 960 cfs.  The Little Piney is flowing 80 cfs at Newburg, which is a ways up the creek, so it's probably close to 100 cfs at the mouth.  The Big Piney is flowing 250 cfs below the Fort.  And then add in Boiling Spring itself, which is probably flowing 70 cfs or so.  Do the numbers, and the Gasconade above the Big Piney is probably flowing very little more than 500 cfs.  In my experience, that's about the minimum flow that's jetboatable on a stream the size of the Gasconade.  The Meramec starts getting tricky in the stretch from Onondaga down when the Sullivan gauge reads less than 500 cfs.

[BassMaster#1]

I guess I will have to stay away from that area.  500cfs is about as low as I want to run...was thinking bell chute or pay down....have a few days before I go....I'll let you know how we do....thanks

[Coosa]

I don't have much to offer in the way of boating but I did fish the gasconade yesterday and the water was pretty cloudy. Paddled upstream in my yak about 2 miles out of rollins ferry. Only had one bite. Used wtd, spinner, crank, and Ned rig. Only bite came on a wtd.

[Seth]

Rollins Ferry doesn't usually get decent until you get several miles up the river. We did alright there last Sunday, but we ran a good ways up the river in a jet boat. Try it again in about three weeks and you may not have to leave the boat ramp eddy. There are a few tourneys coming up at that access.

[BassMaster#1]

I ended up putting in at Paydown and running about 9 miles up river just past the 42 bridge.  Ending up having a pretty bad day with the boat and went home with a battle mark.  A few miles up from the boat ramp I encountered a place where the river splits and it looks like your could go up three different ways.  ended up choosing the wrong path, but not a big deal as i cleaned the grate  and had her back heading the right direction in now time.  This was the First time running this section, so after my first experience of the day I decided to examine any chute that doesn't look right to me.  Ended up reaching the 42 bridge and ran a mile or so above it.  Some really nice fishing at and past the bridge.  Put out the anchor to fish and after 10min the rope broke.  Thought no big deal as the rope was a little dry rotted any ways and I knew I would just run the trolling motor.  Well, after 15 or so minutes of running it I hit a rock that you could not see from the surface and it broke a propeller.  Know I know to carry extra propellers with me.  Thought this sucks as i'm going to miss all these holes I passed up to get to the 42 brige.  I ended trying to fish somewhat as the boat was drifting in deeper spots whiles using the motor to somewhat guide me.   I got to say this stretch seemed a little tricky to me and was Not what I hope for on the day, then the worst happened on the way back to the ramp.   As I was heading back for the day within a mile or so from the boat ramp had one last hair turn will timber all around the chute....Pick my spot and was going good till I got closer and saw a lot just barley sitting there as I was turning.   tried to give it more gas cut it hard to get out of the way and it gave me a good kiss in the underneath of the boat.  Didn't seem to affect the performance of the boat, but I would say it is a pretty decent dent under the boat.  I have insurance on the boat, but curious if I should just leave it or fix it.  It is not noticeable unless looking under the boat or from the back underneath of the boat, what is a cost to fix these?  Guess I should just stick to river sections I know or pull out the kayaks

A buddy Ended up catching 17 smallies and 2 spots on tubes, drop shots and ned rig. 

[Seth]

I put in at Jerome yesterday and ran up to Boiling Spring. It wasn't too bad. I did mess up and went right too soon about a 1/2 mile below the spring and ended up hitting my lower unit hard enough to put a crack in the reverse gate. The hull didnt appear to have touched though. The only other place I tickled the gravel was the first riffle below Jerome. The high water changed that riffle quite a bit. I'm not sure if a guy will be able to make it through there without ticking bottom by next weekend.

I had planned on trying to run up to the 28 bridge, but the floaters were really thick just above the spring so I bailed on that idea.

Fishing wasn't too bad. Caught around 15 in a few hours. Most were small, but I did find one good one. This one weighed 3.28. Had a couple others around 2# hooked, but they came unbuttoned.

 

[BassMaster#1]

Nice fish....will have to hit that area up again, but need waiting on my trolling motor prop to come in.  By the way that gravel road that takes you down to paydown is loooooooooong!

[Seth]

I need to run down or up and try that area one of these days. There's too much good water to fish down from Bell Chutes and up from Rollins Ferry and I'm not one to run a long ways to fish when there isn't any need. I've heard of some really good fish being caught in that area though.

[BassMaster#1]

How is the county road to Bell Chutes?  Hope it isn't as long and dirty as the Pay Down access.  I got off the water and had to head to the car wash......On a side note was talking to a local that lives off that county road and he said his nephew caught 22" in that stretch.  He also said if you go down river 2 miles you can't get through the river as there is a log across the river.  That area has some good looking water though.

[Seth]

I drive it all the time. It's not bad. It's like a mile and a half long I think.