Simple way to fish the eleven point

[Orey10m]

Hello all,

I've been finding my way around the trout landscape of Missouri a bit the last 9 months or so I've lived here, and I'm interested in making a trip to the eleven point happen this year. I'd like to fish it for trout or Smallmouth. Don't really care, although in terms of fly fishing I only really have the gear to do that with multiple people for trout (I don't have two 6wt+ rods)

I'm interested in getting your suggestions of a simple trip itinerary to make this happen, leaving from St. Louis (3.5hr drive). I would say I and my party likely don't have a ton of "stamina" when you include driving and fishing on the same day, so that's why I'm going for simple. 

I'd love to just get to see this place because it sounds and looks so beautiful, and I'm sure my girlfriend and whoever I have with me will be blown away too. 

I have a kayak, but I'm not committed to using it if it's just simpler to rent something from an outfitter, and I'll have one or two people with me likely so they'll need something to float in as well. 

Here's what I'm thinking might be simplest. 

Friday evening: drive 1 car 3.5hrs to Riverton/Hufstedlers and camp

Saturday

Morning: Rent watercraft (canoe or raft or 2 more kayaks (since I can bring mine)). Get shuttle from canoe outfitter to Whitten. 

Day: Float and fish the 4-6 hours back to Riverton. (I'm seeing that it's a 4-6 hour float, which once you add in fishing, will be plenty of time on the water for one day) 

Night: camp again at Riverton

Sunday morning: pack up and drive home. 

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This allows us to take one car and not deal with shuttling ourselves. Also allows us to take our time on the river and fish and not feel rushed to get to the end. I expect your answers will depend on the time of year, rain, and water flows so I'll have to take that into account

Alternatively we could scratch the camping gear which would make things even simpler, and rent a room in a vacation rental like at Hufstedlers. Sleep there both nights just like the camping itinerary above

 

Thoughts? Thanks!

[Lvn2Fish]

Do the top from Greer to Turner Mill . The fishing and floating below Riverton is kinda sub par compared to the top . You won’t catch many small mouth on the stretch I mentioned but the floating and trout fishing is awesome . The river really flows from Greer to Turner and is my favorite section of the river . If you’re wanting to keep trout then just do Turner to whitten or Riverton . Call Huffy and chat with him . Usually I take one car and he shuttles it to the end for me. 

[Lvn2Fish]

1 minute ago, Lvn2Fish said:

Do the top from Greer to Turner Mill . The fishing and floating below Riverton is kinda sub par compared to the top . You won’t catch many small mouth on the stretch I mentioned but the floating and trout fishing is awesome . The river really flows from Greer to Turner and is my favorite section of the river . If you’re wanting to keep trout then just do Turner to whitten or Riverton . Call Huffy and chat with him . Usually I take one car and he shuttles it to the end for me. 

You’re going to be disappointed if you drive all that way and fish the least productive and most boring stretch . If I was going it would be Friday : drive down camp at beautiful Greer campground . Wade fish the river Friday’s afternoon . And possibly hike to Greer Spring . Saturday morning drive to Alton to rent Canoes . Forget the raft idea . Arrange shuttle or drop off with Huffy . Float Greer to Turner Saturday . Camp @ Greer again l. Saturday night . Then mess around Sunday before making the drive back to the LOU . 

[Orey10m]

2 hours ago, Lvn2Fish said:

You’re going to be disappointed if you drive all that way and fish the least productive and most boring stretch . If I was going it would be Friday : drive down camp at beautiful Greer campground . Wade fish the river Friday’s afternoon . And possibly hike to Greer Spring . Saturday morning drive to Alton to rent Canoes . Forget the raft idea . Arrange shuttle or drop off with Huffy . Float Greer to Turner Saturday . Camp @ Greer again l. Saturday night . Then mess around Sunday before making the drive back to the LOU . 

Ok cool...I mean, I wouldn't be fishing below Riverton based on what I wrote. Not sure if you read it as such. 

 

But I appreciate the response. I'll look into doing it that way and staying at Greer. 

[Flysmallie]

Fishing below Riverton is great. But you won't find any of those trout down there. 

[Bushbeater]

Don't ignore the upper sections. I'd set a home base at Greer, float above it one day and below the next. If Richards Canoe is still there they've always been good to us.

[Lvn2Fish]

4 hours ago, Orey10m said:

Ok cool...I mean, I wouldn't be fishing below Riverton based on what I wrote. Not sure if you read it as such. 

 

But I appreciate the response. I'll look into doing it that way and staying at Greer. 

Typo my bad I meant below whitten 

[2sheds]

A few thoughts.

Takes me 4.5 hours to drive StL to Greer Crossing Campground.  But the great fishing and less-crowded floating than Current or Jacks Fork is worth it.

Be sure to check water condition (river level) before you take the time to drive down.  Call Eleven Point Canoe Rental in Alton (same ownership as Huffstetters in Riverton).

Nothing wrong with your Whitten to Riverton idea.  You could camp on the river  at Boze Mill which is pretty cool and very close to Huffstetters.    But that fishing that section of the river is less trout and more smallmouth.  The idea of shuttling up to Whitten, then floating back to Riverton gives you a better flexibility for timing your day, which can be helpful if some members of your party are ready to get off the river.

For my tastes, I concur with Livn2 that my 1st choice for a one day look at the 11 Point would be to float Greer to Turner.  Great fishing - mostly trout.  Reserve time to check out the old mill wheel and spring outlet at Turner North before you take out (Turner South).  Plenty of current in that section of the river, so the challenge for a day float is to stop and play (or fish) enough to spread out the day. 

If staying in the upper section, I also recommend floating the Cane Bluff to Greer section IF there is enough water.  Its a slower float, warmer water (for those less likely to enjoy playing in the colder Greer-Turner section), and good smallmouth fishing - plus you get the last 1/4 mile of trout water after Greer Spring Branch dumps in.

I love the USFS campground along thd river under the Highway 19 bridge at Greer Crossing, but be advised that there are no hot showers and no cell service.  Makes it less crowded and quieter, but a 15 minute drive to Alton for supplies.  Jerry Richards campground and canoe rental is only a few minutes drive up the hill and has better facilities, but not on the river.  You will also find really nice cottages to rent in Alton - google Brian Sloss who is also  the most knowledgeable fishing expert for the upper Eleven Point. 

Wade fishing from the campground can sometime become dangerous when the water is up - so please be careful.  But when conditions are good, the fishing under the bridge and wading as far upstream as you dare can be excellent.

The hike to see Greer Springs is very nice.  One of the more fantastic sites in MO.  Trailhead is a mile or 2 drive south from the campground.  I recall an hour or more down the trail to the spring and then back up the hill again to the parking lot.  A shorter hike to see the pristine spring branch is to park by the gate at the old restored Greer Mill (1 mile south of campground) and hike down the gravel road to the old cabins along the spring branch.

Once you see this water, you will want to consider a 3 or 4 nighter using Greer as a base camp, and floating Greer to The Narrows - camping along the river.  Cool historical things to check out at Boze Mills and Morgan Springs along with knowing that you have touched the soil of the former Pigman Ranch - along with 4 fabulous other soujorners.

'Nuf for now.

You should also check out the Northfork River from Sunburst Ranch as a campground and watercraft outfitter.

[Orey10m]

10 hours ago, 2sheds said:

A few thoughts.

Takes me 4.5 hours to drive StL to Greer Crossing Campground.  But the great fishing and less-crowded floating than Current or Jacks Fork is worth it.

Be sure to check water condition (river level) before you take the time to drive down.  Call Eleven Point Canoe Rental in Alton (same ownership as Huffstetters in Riverton).

Nothing wrong with your Whitten to Riverton idea.  You could camp on the river  at Boze Mill which is pretty cool and very close to Huffstetters.    But that fishing that section of the river is less trout and more smallmouth.  The idea of shuttling up to Whitten, then floating back to Riverton gives you a better flexibility for timing your day, which can be helpful if some members of your party are ready to get off the river.

For my tastes, I concur with Livn2 that my 1st choice for a one day look at the 11 Point would be to float Greer to Turner.  Great fishing - mostly trout.  Reserve time to check out the old mill wheel and spring outlet at Turner North before you take out (Turner South).  Plenty of current in that section of the river, so the challenge for a day float is to stop and play (or fish) enough to spread out the day. 

If staying in the upper section, I also recommend floating the Cane Bluff to Greer section IF there is enough water.  Its a slower float, warmer water (for those less likely to enjoy playing in the colder Greer-Turner section), and good smallmouth fishing - plus you get the last 1/4 mile of trout water after Greer Spring Branch dumps in.

I love the USFS campground along thd river under the Highway 19 bridge at Greer Crossing, but be advised that there are no hot showers and no cell service.  Makes it less crowded and quieter, but a 15 minute drive to Alton for supplies.  Jerry Richards campground and canoe rental is only a few minutes drive up the hill and has better facilities, but not on the river.  You will also find really nice cottages to rent in Alton - google Brian Sloss who is also  the most knowledgeable fishing expert for the upper Eleven Point. 

Wade fishing from the campground can sometime become dangerous when the water is up - so please be careful.  But when conditions are good, the fishing under the bridge and wading as far upstream as you dare can be excellent.

The hike to see Greer Springs is very nice.  One of the more fantastic sites in MO.  Trailhead is a mile or 2 drive south from the campground.  I recall an hour or more down the trail to the spring and then back up the hill again to the parking lot.  A shorter hike to see the pristine spring branch is to park by the gate at the old restored Greer Mill (1 mile south of campground) and hike down the gravel road to the old cabins along the spring branch.

Once you see this water, you will want to consider a 3 or 4 nighter using Greer as a base camp, and floating Greer to The Narrows - camping along the river.  Cool historical things to check out at Boze Mills and Morgan Springs along with knowing that you have touched the soil of the former Pigman Ranch - along with 4 fabulous other soujorners.

'Nuf for now.

You should also check out the Northfork River from Sunburst Ranch as a campground and watercraft outfitter.

Thanks for this great info. 

Could I do a similar thing for this Greer to Turner float where I stay somewhere near the  take out?

Also, it takes you 4.5 hours to GC??? It says it should take me 3 to GC, but maybe I live in a different part of St Louis than you. I generally feel that Google maps is a little faster than I actually drive, but not by an hour and a half. 

[2sheds]

After a few gorgeous, scenic drives down H21 and H19, my driving route settled in to:  I44 to Rolla, US63 south to Cabool, US69 east to Winona, and MO-19 south to Greer.  Mostly all straight 4-lane until joining H19 after it straightens out at Winona.  The extra miles (and perhaps longer time) are balanced against more comfort for passengers on those windy ridge roads and less risk of getting stuck behind a turtle-ish trailer.  

No camping permitted at Turner Mill north (aka Surprise, MO).  I don't remember examining the few first come - first served campsites at Turner South.  You can read a bit by googling USFS Turner Mill South.  I can tell you its a long drive down the hill on a 1-1/2 lane gravel road that I would only attempt with a high-clearance vehicle.  And once there, I would not be tempted to make lots of trips back up to town, but I am a fairly cautious type.  I am also not familiar with the types of folks who typically use that remote campground.

Much easier drive into the parking lot of Boze Mill campground near Riverton. But you need to carry your gear 1/2 mile or so into your campsite.  And absolutely no issues with the roads at Greer Crossing where you can camp directly out of your trunk.

As for fishing - Smallmouth upstream of Greer Spring.  Rainbow trout predominate from where Greer Spring Branch enters the river thru Turner Mill.  Smallmouth mix back in increasing proportion until Riverton.  Then mostly smallmouth with a few walleyes down to Myrtle (old Stubblefield Ferry crossing).

This is big water !  Plan your rig to fish as deep as possible in case they are hugging the bottom out of the heavy current.  I bring sinking tip flyline and tie some of my flies (don's crawdad, black stonefly, and shad-gray jigs) that are more heavily-weighted than I would use almost anywhere else (except maybe some spots on the Northfork).  Heavy spinners (aka blue fox or rooster tail) have been good for me.

You can also search this forum for excellent advice from those much more experienced/successful than me.