Members Conor Posted January 29 Members Posted January 29 I have been curious about floating this and it looks like the float guide says there are about 8 miles of floatable water. Is this a nice float and what is a good put-in spot? I would plan to go down to the James and take out at HL Kerr. I see "Wire Road Conservation Area" mentioned and was wondering if that would be a good starting point. Is this a high water float only and what is a good gauge to correlate it with if so? For example, is there a good level on the James at Galena to look for? Thanks, Conor trythisonemv 1
Gavin Posted January 29 Posted January 29 Probably not, it does not get logged out like most of the float streams. Coldwater, me, and my late friend Roy came across a heck of a log jam on the L. Piney above Newburg 20+ years ago. It was 200 yards of solid log jam, 50' high. We took a break to contemplate it and eat lunch before we hauled around it, but in the meantime a gentlemen farmer found us. We plied him with a couple of beers and soon our canoes and gear got hauled around the log jam with that farmer's 4 wheeler. Be prepared to hump it if you go. Daryk Campbell Sr, Quillback and snagged in outlet 3 3
Flysmallie Posted January 29 Posted January 29 3 hours ago, Conor said: I have been curious about floating this and it looks like the float guide says there are about 8 miles of floatable water. Is this a nice float and what is a good put-in spot? I would plan to go down to the James and take out at HL Kerr. I see "Wire Road Conservation Area" mentioned and was wondering if that would be a good starting point. It's not going to be a good float. You will have to do a bunch of 4 wheel drive floating. Not worth the effort. trythisonemv 1
Ryan Miloshewski Posted January 29 Posted January 29 8 miles of floatable water without stepping out of the canoe in a flood, maybe. I would say a pretty hearty, no, don't do it. trythisonemv 1 “To those devoid of imagination a blank place on the map is a useless waste; to others, the most valuable part.”--Aldo Leopold
ollie Posted January 30 Posted January 30 Only if you are a glutton for punishment! lol Not sure where you would even put in. Pretty much all of that is private property and if you put in at a bridge be prepared to get towed or something like that I would think. JMO "you can always beat the keeper, but you can never beat the post" There are only three things in life that are certain : death, taxes, and the wind blowing at Capps Creek!
tjm Posted January 31 Posted January 31 On 1/29/2024 at 10:01 AM, Conor said: curious about floating this and it looks like the float guide says there are about 8 miles of floatable water. What float guide is this? A Paddler’s Guide to Missouri (old and kinda sketchy info when new) map section for James River does indicate floatability of lower Crane Creek, it shows M 0.0 at Swinging Bridge Rd. down stream of Spring Creek confluence; M 2.1 just below CR AA-70-A; and M 6.0 at Otto Rd. off Mo. AA. However when looking on line I found no mile by mile description. All that is well below the Blue Ribbon Trout area that ends at Quail Spur Rd. and unknown to myself for that reason as well as because it's all private land with no apparent access. But I haven't explored past Doc Eaton Rd. I'm kinda surprised that the others have. However a web search finds https://rivers.moherp.org/river/?13 as giving evidence of past floats in parts of that 8 mile stretch. With dates, flow conditions and distances. If I were exploring that as an unknown stream, I might start near James River at whatever access that I could find or arrange with a landowner and canoe up from there with the expectations of floating back to my put in, then float down from the put in with the expectation to paddle back to the put in and explore the stream incrementally. I'm a bit leery of leaving my vehicle on strange county roads without landowner's prior okay, having seen several towed away on the creek near me. If you do float it, we will need a report on access, conditions, fish caught and all that, with pictures of any trophy fish. I've been curious how far down the creek trout can be caught. Quillback 1
ColdWaterFshr Posted January 31 Posted January 31 . . . . . "4-wheel drive floating", "where to park", "private land", , and "not worth the effort", "well past the blue ribbon area" These scary comments for me at least, check all the boxes for high adventure and what could be an epic float. Color me VERY intrigued. I want to float it now, and if I lived closer, I would. Conor, go forth and do it young lad! I would just pick a mild-to-warm day after some recent rains. Start early. Pack light. Use Dry Crane creek at 4.8 miles and the low-water bridge at AA at 6.0 as indicators of your progress.
trythisonemv Posted January 31 Posted January 31 hard no on this. There are sections you could float a canoe in but not doable for a Float. It's a good walk and wade
ColdWaterFshr Posted January 31 Posted January 31 11 minutes ago, trythisonemv said: hard no on this. There are sections you could float a canoe in but not doable for a Float. It's a good walk and wade Have you walked and waded the lower end? From Quail Spur down to confluence with the James?
tjm Posted January 31 Posted January 31 7 hours ago, ColdWaterFshr said: well past the blue ribbon area" These scary comments for me that is my way of saying I've never been there because I had no incentive; if that scares you, I'm sorry. I had no intention of traumatizing anyone. Again I'm so sorry. snagged in outlet 3 and Mitch f 1 1
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now