2 day float recomendation

[jpjohnson]

Hello,

Heading down from St Louis and looking for a good 2 day float focused on smallmouth and lots of stops and wade fishing. Planning to use some live bait for the kids. I have been to Jacks fork but interested in opinions or suggestions for Big Piney, Gasconade, upper Meramec etc.

Thank You

 

 

[Jrod Shelton]

Slabtown to Ross may be a good two day with lots of stops.  its about 15 miles and has a good flow right now. (was muddy monday but should be good now)

try this guide on e book:

Flyfisher's Guide to Missouri & Arkansas

https://books.google.com/books/about/Flyfisher_s_Guide_to_Missouri_Arkansas.html?id=PHLkYzAg7JkC

Water Data at Piney, MO.

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/06930000/#parameterCode=00060

[Al Agnew]

Just get the book "A Paddler's Guide to Missouri", from the Department of Conservation.  There are a bunch of two day stretches of all the rivers you mentioned, and to be honest, there is no one stretch that's greatly better than any other.  Any of them can produce good fishing.  Mason Bridge to Slabtown, Slabtown to Ross Bridge, East Gate of Ft. Wood to Devil's Elbow or if you want a longer float, to Boiling Spring Campground on the Gasconade, are all good Big Piney stretches that always have enough water to float.  Stretches farther upstream can get a little low but are also possibilities.  And you've got a LOT of miles on the Gasconade.  If you are dependent on a livery to shuttle you, however, you are limited on Gasconade stretches.

[moguy1973]

If you are interested in a 2 day float on the Gasconade, Boiling Springs can put you in at Riddle Bridge and you can float to their place.  We've done that float a couple times and it's good water with lots of fish.

[MOstreamer]

How far up the Big Piney can motorboats generally make it? I'm looking at doing an overnight float and want to avoid any sort of aluminum hatch as well as power boat traffic. 

[Gavin]

I hardly ever see a jet boat on the Big Piney. I'd avoid the 6x to Ross Bridge stretch, that is the party float for the folks using Rich's Last Resort & Wilderness Ridge. Only two other outfitters on the Big Piney. One is at Boiling Springs near Houston, MO. Then there is Route 66  Canoe, about a mile from the Gasconade Confluence.

[MOstreamer]

1 hour ago, Gavin said:

I hardly ever see a jet boat on the Big Piney. I'd avoid the 6x to Ross Bridge stretch, that is the party float for the folks using Rich's Last Resort & Wilderness Ridge. Only two other outfitters on the Big Piney. One is at Boiling Springs near Houston, MO. Then there is Route 66  Canoe, about a mile from the Gasconade Confluence.

Thanks!