How many rivers have you floated the whole thing?

[Johnsfolly]

I'm with Flysmallie in zero and in fact even less than zero since I rarely float any Ozark waters for any real distance . That's a direct effect of not having a canoe or kayak. 

Now if you asked how far would you travel to catch at least one trout in each designated trout park, Taneycomo, and designated trout stream in Missouri (plus at least one not designated anywhere) then I would answer over 2,200 miles .

[fishinwrench]

I'm the type of guy that once I locate a stretch of river (or area of a lake) that I like, I pretty much prefer to visit it again and again instead of constantly looking for different or better spots.  One pass on a fishing hole is never enough to truly learn it, and I like being more intimately involved with a stretch of water.

Even on these creeks and flats here by my place that I fish constantly, I learn more stuff about them every time I go out.

[TroutRinger]

4 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

I'm the type of guy that once I locate a stretch of river (or area of a lake) that I like, I pretty much prefer to visit it again and again instead of constantly looking for different or better spots.  One pass on a fishing hole is never enough to truly learn it, and I like being more intimately involved with a stretch of water.

Even on these creeks and flats here by my place that I fish constantly, I learn more stuff about them every time I go out.

I always like the idea of trying new places (floating to me is 50% scenery too). But at the same time, it seems we always end up back at the same couple places that we know hold fish. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

4 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

I'm the type of guy that once I locate a stretch of river (or area of a lake) that I like, I pretty much prefer to visit it again and again instead of constantly looking for different or better spots.  One pass on a fishing hole is never enough to truly learn it, and I like being more intimately involved with a stretch of water.

Even on these creeks and flats here by my place that I fish constantly, I learn more stuff about them every time I go out.

Things change over time too. 

Me and my brothers swam Bennett one summer. 😆. Lotta yellin!!!

[jdmidwest]

Floating the whole thing is pretty impressive.

I have been on the 11 Pt from Thomasville to the MO State Line and into Arkansas.  I have waded it above Thomasville and a couple of its tributaries, Hurricane and Frederick creek. 

Castor River from 72 to below Greenbriar.  Then from Block Hole to the confluence to the Mississippi.  The only part missing really does not have good access and is slow with mud walls.

St Francis from Saco to Wappapello Lake.  Waded and floated other portions above but never done the upper parts much.  Big Creek from Brunot to St Francis and waded around Des Arc.

Black River from above Lesterville to below Poplar Bluff and the tributaries of Cane Creek, 10 Mile, Fourche, and Little Black.

Whitewater and Little Whitewater.

Current River from Tan Vat to MO State Line and below.  Most of Jacks Fork from 17 down.

Big River from Belgrade to Leadwood, then a few portions below.  Cedar Creek.

I have been on parts of the Meramec, Huzzah, Courtois, Little Piney, Big Piney, Gasconade, and Niagua.

Many others that were not that memorable.

Spring River, Warm Fork and South Forks too in Ark.  Buffalo, Crooked Creek, Parts of the White River and the Norfork from Dam to White River.  Strawberry and Mulberry Rivers too. 

Several streams in KY and TN.  Kenai River in Alaska.

I too have rubbed my butt raw several times with canoe butt.  My river miles are far more than lake miles.  I prefer flowing waters.

 

[Al Agnew]

Of course, I have my favorite river stretches, but every year I try to do something new.  Sometimes it turns out well, other times it's not so good.  Back when Bob Todd published the "River Hills Traveler", he and I always did a couple new stretches of river for both of us each year so he could write about them.  We once did Dry Creek, which runs from Westover Spring to Huzzah Creek at Huzzah Valley.  Hoped to catch escapee trout, and did catch a few, but it was a really brushy creek and it took us a long day to cover 6 miles.  Then one time we put in on Pickle Creek in the middle of Hawn State Park, dragged the canoe down to River Aux Vases, and floated it down to the next bridge.  That was an adventure!  Maybe the worst trip we did was on the lower end of the Bourbeuse, from the Union Access to the Chouteau Claim Access at the mouth.  It was mid-July and blazing hot, the river was low but very murky (as it usually is), that float is well over 14 miles, and the lower end of the Bourbeuse is SLOW!  There was one long pool above the mill dam that was nearly three miles long back then.  The fishing sucked, and the water was even too hot to cool us off much when we jumped in.  But at least it allowed me to say I'd done all the supposedly floatable length of the river.

[moguy1973]

I just wish I had time to do all of that paddling, and a wife that would understand why I would want to. HA!

I'm slowly filling in the Big.  I've done from FDL to Leadwood and Leadwood to the DesLoge access, 21 at Washington state park to Mammoth,  Merrill to Browns Ford, Morse Mill to Cedar Hill, and Byrnesmill to the mouth.  Lots of missing pieces but maybe one day.  There's a lot of long stretches in there that would be long days.

I've done a few stretches of the Meramec, Gasconade, Big Piney, both of the lower 6 mile floats of the Huzzah and a section of the Courtois.

[Gavin]

I can probably get access at Goode's Mill on the BB....A friends family owns it. Its the only spot worth fishing on that entire stretch IMO. Good spring and fall only. Always fun to hit some new water....but....usually go to same same.

 

[jdmidwest]

Life is short, new water is always good.  Sometimes.

[ColdWaterFshr]

47 minutes ago, jdmidwest said:

Life is short, new water is always good.  Sometimes.

Exactly.

Entire length is the wrong question.  Variety is the spice of life.  And the quality of that variety.

There are sections of the Eleven Point, Current, Meramec, Big River, Gasconade, Niangua . . . that I have no desire, or even mild interest to float.  So why do it?  I have seen their prettier and fishier portions, and don't want to be disappointed by something less.  Could be talked in to seeing them, but I'd rather seek out the cool little out of the way places I've been, and do them over again, rather than, for example, . . . . .the Meramec from Valley Park down to the Mississippi, or Big River below Morse Mill.  That would be depressing.  Lets float the River Des Peres!

Life is short is right,  so why check off meaningless milestones?  Swan Creek, Bull Creek, Flat Creek, Bryant Creek, Black River, Marble Creek, upper St. Francis, upper North Fork . . . . and all the many creeks and small rivers that I loved before and just haven't had a chance to get back to again . . . . I'd rather see again.  And there are too many adventures that are far more interesting and unexplored.  I could even do sections of the Missouri and Mississippi before I could be talked into putting a canoe in at say, the Gasconade at Jerome.