Report on Bourbeuse from Safe to Redbird

[Conor]

I got permission to use private property of some of my customers just upstream from EE.  The property is not far upstream from the Hwy EE slab where we were able to pass using one of the culverts.

The first 5 miles from the start to Hwy B was nice but nothing spectacular as far as scenery goes.  The water level at High Gate was about 95 cfs when we put on.  I had always assumed the gauge was at the Hwy 68 bridge but it sure didn't seem like 95 cfs where we put on.  I was thinking maybe 40cfs.  Anyway, the gauge is on Hwy B and I would say that it was accurate by that point.  It was pretty low and scrapey  for the first bit although we didn't have to get out.  Clear Creek not far below Hwy EE almost doubled the flow and water levels were not an issue from that point on.  The gradient was high of course being this far up in the headwaters and had only a few slow sections that the Bourbeuse is known for.

One of the guys measured it to Hwy B at about 5 miles on the dot using his phone.  At this point we rescued a dog stranded, scared, cold, and hungry on an island of logs piled up against the bridge so that was good.  We called the owner using the number on the tag and the dog was picked up quite far from home.

The first 5 miles was nice but not something super spectacular.  It was charming as the Bourbeuse often is but had several pastoral sections with no bluffs.

The scenery and sportiness REALLY picks up after Hwy B.  This segment was full of sporty riffles and scenic Roubidoux sandstone bluffs/overhangs.  I always thought the Mint Spring to Tea segment took the cake for this but I am not sure.  There was some really spectacular scenery and the gradient was definitely higher which makes sense this high in the watershed.  I would have to say this is probably the most scenic 7 miles of the river I have experienced so far.  Riffles were tricky and kept you on your toes!

Water clarity was really good as far as the Bourbeuse goes.  The riffles were nice and blue-green in color and deeper pools had more apparent turbidity of course with the depth of the river being greater and looking through more water.

This 7 segment was really close behind the far upper Big Piney from Simmons Ford to Dog's Bluff as far as scenery and sportiness goes.  If you want to best part, get someone to drop you off at Hwy B and carry down to the river.  I am not sure if it is a good idea to park at this bridge although it is possible.  We went back to make sure the dog had been picked up and it was.

We did Redbird down last year and the section down to Mint Spring definitely slowed down after Redbird but it does pickup through that part and offers great scenery and decent gradient.

The fellow with the GPS app indicated this was 12 miles in total from the start above Hwy EE to Redbird Rd.

Conor

[Jerry Rapp]

kudos on the dog rescue

[mic]

Agree... great report, but win with the dog.  Did you fish at all... or just a nice float?

[Conor]

43 minutes ago, mic said:

Agree... great report, but win with the dog.  Did you fish at all... or just a nice float?

It was just a nice float.  I wonder if this has many fish as much of this part is just dry gravel with pools between in the summer.  The scenery on the last 7 miles was really incredible and not what I was expecting.

Conor

[mic]

5 hours ago, Conor said:

It was just a nice float.  I wonder if this has many fish as much of this part is just dry gravel with pools between in the summer.  The scenery on the last 7 miles was really incredible and not what I was expecting.

Conor

LOL... only one way to find out.  You may be correct.

[frymorefish]

Before the bourbouse filled/graveled in so badly the stretch below highway b had great lm and sm fishing.

I suspect you try to park there and carry a canoe to river likely to meet some less than friendly local landowners and maybe the county sheriff!

[Conor]

On 2/19/2023 at 6:50 AM, frymorefish said:

Before the bourbouse filled/graveled in so badly the stretch below highway b had great lm and sm fishing.

I suspect you try to park there and carry a canoe to river likely to meet some less than friendly local landowners and maybe the county sheriff!

I got private property access from someone about 5 miles upstream of Hwy B so just floated on through with no problems.  The bridge would be a hard carry but could be done.  I didn't see any no parking signs but parking is definitely not ideal at this bridge.  It was rebuilt not too long ago and quite tall now with built up embankments and approaches.

It looks like there is another access about 2 miles upstream from where I put in.  The people who let me use their place put in here in tubes sometimes and float down to their property.  Of course they are local so leaving cars there isn't a big deal.  This is probably the farthest practical upstream access on the Bourbeuse.  I don't see it being anything special for those 2 miles when compared to the scenery below Hwy B.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/38°05'02.5"N+91°39'01.0"W/@38.084038,-91.650818,173m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x2beef5e9bfa32655!8m2!3d38.0840369!4d-91.6502708

Hwy 68 would be an extreme push to get it when there is enough water but not a flash flood.  As with Hwy B, you would probably want to be dropped off here.

Conor