Most scenic float stream in Missouri

[Keiththom]

1 hour ago, Al Agnew said:

I guess it depends upon your definition of beauty, but no, I don't think Black River is anywhere near the most scenic stream in the state.  Super clear water, check.  Huge clean gravel bars everywhere, check.  Lots of wooded land surrounding it and not a whole lot of cropland, check.  But it has too many people on it, too many idiots of ATVs tearing up the gravel bars, and it doesn't have hardly any bluffs.  Long stretches of it don't even go up against steep hills.  It's a good river,  and if you know what you're doing you can catch some nice smallmouth on it.  But not the most scenic.  

Current River is beautiful, more so in some sections than others.  Has everything including some big bluffs.  Can't really beat it.  Jacks Fork is the same.  Eleven Point is closer to wilderness than most, but also has a lack of big bluffs.  Meramec in the stretch from Steelville to Meramec State Park is gorgeous, some of the best bluffs anywhere, but a little civilized in places.  Big Piney is pretty darned nice.  Gasconade is beautiful in some sections.  St. Francis is unique and different.  

But name any Ozark stream and there are some stretches that are simply gorgeous, maybe in different ways.  I can't name one that's head and shoulders above the rest, except the Buffalo in Arkansas.  The upper section from Ponca down, and the lower end from Buffalo Point to the White, is simply a cut above every other Ozark stream.  Fishing, though, is mediocre most of the time.

Meramac state park up to Steelville is my usual hangout. And yes it's nice.

I'm retiring soon and I'm looking for a "home in the woods with nice fishing and good scenery." St Louis is getting too close to me. And yes, it seems like the best places have been ruined by hordes of people and jet boats.

[netboy]

I vote for the Eleven Point.

[Mitch f]

10 hours ago, Keiththom said:

That's funny! Actually, the upper Big is very nice.

 

Well I’ve floated with Al at basically the upper most floatable section and the lower most floatable section...and some in the middle. He would know more than me, but I remember quite a few cars up against trees on the bank...and some in the river.

[snagged in outlet 3]

12 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

That's out of my 5 county area. 😏

Beat me to it

[Gavin]

The AutoZone float on a creek I won’t name is a good one. Looks like you are out west, lots of tall granite. There are several others that I will never name online.

[Smalliebigs]

On ‎5‎/‎30‎/‎2020 at 4:22 PM, Keiththom said:

This may not fit in this forum but I didn't know where else to put it.

Question:  In you own opinion, what would you consider to be the most scenic river / stretch of river in this state? Hopefully with a nice population of smallmouth.

I've heard some name the black river and I've never been on it? Just wondering what others thought.   I've floated and fished quite a few of our streams, but haven't done them all.

Sorry but, the Black river wouldn't even be close to my top 3 of scenic floats. The whole corridor has been altered and Ameren UE just about wiped the whole place out with the lake overflow/dam break. It is about as synthetic of a corridor as you can get at this point.

1)Jacks

2)Current

3) Buffalo

4) if you have the nads…… St Francios 

[Keiththom]

Definitely looks like I need to check out the Jacks Fork !

[oneshot 1]

On 5/30/2020 at 8:54 PM, tjm said:

yeppers, them old cars have character. Stories they'd tell if they could talk.

Probably all the prettiest places have amusement parks nowadays.

One time it was on the News about these people cleaning up a Sinkhole. Told my wife we spent years trying to fill it in. Many Old Cars in there.

oneshot

[Keiththom]

There's lots of nice spots around Eminence / Current River / Jacks Fork. But I can see it turning into another Branson some day.

[darbwa]

There are plenty of rivers I have yet to see but I have seen quite a few and I agree with Al that the Buffalo stands alone when it comes to the scenery.  Jack’s/Current are very nice and the fishing may be better but if you are wanting to avoid jet boats, avoid the Jack’s Fork and Current.