Spring float - Mineral Fork or Black input wanted

[creek wader]

Due to a job relocation, I've been out of game as far as smallie fishing, for over 6 yrs.. Cabin fever is hitting me real hard, right now. So, I started reading past posts. Which has led to planning a smallie float/wade trip for spring. I'm still up in the air, as to which stream. I'm wanting to try a stream that I haven't tried yet. I've narrowed it down to the Black, Big, and Mineral Fork. Possibly a combination. Also, I haven't been on the 11 point, North Fork, and the St. Francis.

I have an Old Town solo canoe(trolling motor if needed) that I'll probably be using, but I'd have to have a shuttle service or just use one of their canoes. The Mineral Fork sounds very interesting and so does the Black. I'm open to about anything, as long as I can catch smallies. Size or numbers, I'm open to float, wade, or combination. I've been reading past posts on all these streams but, many are old and would like to have any input or ideas. As far as rivers, different sections, outfitters or just wading. My drive would be anywhere from 5 to 8 hrs. each way. So, to make it worthwhile I'd do a two-day or a couple of one day floats. Possibly 3 days.

[Gavin]

Think I'd head to the B. Piney, Gasconade, Current, Eleven Pt, Meramec, Niangua, or James instead. 

[Pat Magee]

I have floated the Black in the Spring with @MOsmallies several times before.  We have only had one solid year and a bunch of crappy ones.  We went in April a couple times and I think we even went once in May and always seem to be there the weekend before the action starts (with the exception of our first year).  We have also had to cancel several times due to some high water events. MOsmallies fishes the Black a handful of times every year and knows how to fish it well. When he is struggling down there, I know the fish are hard to come by.  If you do like the challenge, go for it.  Like I said, we did have one great year with a ton of decent smallmouth!  We always had a blast staying at the Parks Bluff Campground (it was always empty) and using Franklin float for a shuttle if we didn't do it ourselves. 

Not trying to discourage your trip to the Black but rather to prepare you for some of the Spring time crap you will have to put up with there.   There are definitely  some better options out there for a good Spring time float.  I would suggest the Gasconade and using Rt. 66 Canoe Rental to shuttle.  I stayed at a campground near Round Spring (I think?) but I can't remember the name of the place! 

[creek wader]

Thanks for your input. I realize that no stream is a slam dunk on any given day, especially with spring weather.  The Black and Mineral Fork sounds like more of hit and miss streams. I'm looking to float a stream that I haven't floated before.

 I guess I should list the streams that I've floated. Sugar, Elk, Big and Little Piney, Gasconade, Meramec, Big and Little Niangua, Huzzah, Curtois , Osage, Tavern, Maries, N. and S. Moreau, Jacks Fork, and Current. 

 I haven't floated the Black, Mineral Fork, Big River, St. Francis, James, Castor, Bryant's Creek, and 11point. And several others that I can't think of.

 Any suggestions on the Big River , Bryant's creek, 11 point, or any others listed above?

  I'm planning on May. Weather permitting. Of course catch and release only. 

  

[Al Agnew]

Nobody services the Mineral Fork, and access gets more problematical all the time.

St. Francis might be a possibility, though the only canoe rental is at Sam A. Baker State Park.  So you're limited on what you can float where they will shuttle you...haven't used them in a long time, but they used to only do a 6 or 7 mile float down to the park using a private access, and a short float from the park down to Highway 34.  They also used to shuttle for a float on Big Creek, which runs into the St. Francis at the park.  Big Creek is a cool stream.  You might give them a shout and see what they offer these days.

Big River--Cherokee Landing offers a 6 mile float down to their place, and a long float from their place down to Blackwell--about 13 miles.  There's also a canoe rental at Washington State Park.  They offer a 6 mile and 9 mile float above the park...don't know whether they do shuttles from the park downstream.

As for the others you named...Eleven Point upstream from Greer Spring might be a good smallmouth choice that time of year.  Bryant Creek could be good but I'm not sure who shuttles for it.  James is a nice river, don't know much about what the few canoe rentals on it offer.  Castor has a couple of little rental businesses that might shuttle you...interesting river, super clear water like Black River, fishing kinda fair.

 

[Chief Grey Bear]

16 hours ago, creek wader said:

Due to a job relocation, I've been out of game as far as smallie fishing, for over 6 yrs.. Cabin fever is hitting me real hard, right now. So, I started reading past posts. Which has led to planning a smallie float/wade trip for spring. I'm still up in the air, as to which stream. I'm wanting to try a stream that I haven't tried yet. I've narrowed it down to the Black, Big, and Mineral Fork. Possibly a combination. Also, I haven't been on the 11 point, North Fork, and the St. Francis.

I have an Old Town solo canoe(trolling motor if needed) that I'll probably be using, but I'd have to have a shuttle service or just use one of their canoes. The Mineral Fork sounds very interesting and so does the Black. I'm open to about anything, as long as I can catch smallies. Size or numbers, I'm open to float, wade, or combination. I've been reading past posts on all these streams but, many are old and would like to have any input or ideas. As far as rivers, different sections, outfitters or just wading. My drive would be anywhere from 5 to 8 hrs. each way. So, to make it worthwhile I'd do a two-day or a couple of one day floats. Possibly 3 days.

No more KC-Jeff city?

Did you pull the pin?

[creek wader]

Not yet. Still got 3 yrs. 7 mos. 3 weeks and 3 days, left. But, whose counting. 

 

 

[Gavin]

Would use Cherokee Landing if you want to float the Big. Talk to Steve about his availability...He owns some property down at Blackwell but that's a 13-14 mile float and it isn't always an option. There is a rental at Washington State Park...but that is a crowded stretch of river...Expect to see a ton of jet boats. Your on your own on the Mineral, but folks here, might be willing to help you out. The Black is packed with floaters most days, and air clear...always tough.

The concession at Sam Baker is  a pain to deal with, and they usually run the Park to 34 float on the St. Francis. Its short and the fishing is not great. Coldwater to Sam Baker is 11miles...and fishing has never been great. Big Creek is the better float, but treacherous...5 sets of granite boulder shut ins and the concession wont run it if its under 2' on the Big Creek guage...Have floated it, and always worry about breaking an ankle on those snot rocks.

Sunburst will shuttle on the Bryant & NFOW. 11pt from Cane to Greer is usually good in the spring, but the float is short...Then a long stretch of trout water...Gets better for bass down near the Arkansas line though.

[creek wader]

  Thanks everybody for your input. It really helps. Al, I've read a lot of your past posts and as usual they are very informative. The Big river sounds like it might be worth a try. I always go midweek to avoid the crowds. These trips are my escape from human contact. I love the solitude of the Ozark streams. Catching smallies helps, too. I really enjoyed the float/wade fishing that I did in the Jeff. City area. The only problem, since I was alone, I had to return where I started. So, I was very limited on the amount of water covered. They were mostly smaller streams and other than the local swimming holes, I had the whole stream to myself. 

   Anyway, I appreciate all info and will be reading more past posts on the streams that I haven't covered yet. Since I'm getting older and my trips are limited to only one or so a year.(haven't been in 6 years). I want to experience as many different streams as possible. As I have said in the past. You guys that are fortune enough to live within driving distance of these streams, don't know how lucky you are. I just wish I would of discovered river smallie fishing 30 or 40 years ago. ... wader

[creek wader]

  Chief, I'm not doing the Jeff run anymore. Instead I drive to Omaha, (2 1/2 hrs. each way). Then take a coal train to Neb. City, dump it, then take empty back to Omaha. Then of coarse the drive back. Long days. Usually around 12 hrs. plus the 5 hrs. driving. But, I usually get around 48 hrs. off in between runs. Sounds bad but, I only work around 2 or 3 days a week. It's a guaranteed board. So, it pays rather well. Also, I don't have to stay in a hotel every other night and live out of a grip.( Wow, I've been doing that for almost 40 years, now). Since, I've got less than 4 years, I'm going to gut it out, rather than move again.

  By the way. You've invited me down several years ago to float/fish your corner of the state.  I felt bad by not taking you up on it. But, I had very little free time, back then. Does the offer still stand. What streams to you fish?