Eleven Point Report

[WestCentralFisher]

Here's a phrase I always say about the Eleven Point: there are probably better places to catch trout in Missouri, but no better place to fish for them.

We started at Greer Crossing on Friday morning. Before putting in, I fished a little around the access. I quickly broke the skunk with the first fish, a chain pickerel, caught on a red and white Mepp's spinner. His teeth left a mark on my finger that's still healing. 

The first trout of the trip would not come as easily, however. Shortly below the put-in, I hooked and lost what appeared to be a very small wild rainbow. That would be the last trout I'd hook in the Blue Ribbon Area. But not the last fish. A little above Mary Deckar Shoal, I  found a deep hole with some little smallmouth. A rebel craw worked well enough. That, combined with the absolutely stunning scenery was enough to keep me happy, despite a real slow start to the trout fishing. There are few rivers that can keep me this happy with this slow of fishing, but the 11 Point is one. Several times I looked at the next piece of drop-dead scenery around the bend and just muttered to myself "this is heaven."

We crossed Turner WAY ahead of schedule (11 am), largely because the fishing was so poor we ceased bothering to stop and fish. This resulted in a planned 3 day float from Greer to Riverton becoming 2.

The fishing picked up significantly  as we entered the White Ribbon section, however. From Turner down to Whitten, the trout fishing was solid. Not great, but pretty good. Mostly fresh from the truck type fish, but a few 16-17 inch holdovers mixed in. Furthermore the smallmouth fishing was fair to pretty decent below Turner in the deep, slow pools, especially bluff holes. All fish were released, except one rainbow yesterday morning in the White Ribbon section that took the Panther Martin too deep. He became a part of a wonderful breakfast. We didn't fish a whole lot below Whitten because the crowds got pretty heavy below there and some of the fast water that would be good fishing demanded significant attention to avoid canoe tippage.

We camped on a lovely gravel bar between Turner and Whitten with a bluff on the far side, and a lively set of wadeable (with difficulty) riffles and pools, where a large proportion of the fish we caught and released came from.  Panther Martin spinners worked well for the trout, and rebel craws were decent for both smallmouth and trout. All fished as deep as possible. This is still the Eleven Point. 

Overall, amazing scenery and wildlife, very enjoyable trip, enough fish caught to make us happy. Just a weird start with the Blue Ribbon Area fishing poorly for us and then getting better from there. 

Some initial pictures. Waiting on my buddy to send some more pictures of the fish I caught (other than the super grainy shot of the pickerel 😆)

[WestCentralFisher]

[netboy]

That is a beautiful river. Used to fish it when we lived in Cherokee Village.

Thanks for the report.

[Terrierman]

Mary Decker Shoal made me drink whiskey after running it in a 20' Shawnee.  Man what a river it is.  Nice report sir.

[WestCentralFisher]

Just now, Terrierman said:

Mary Decker Shoal made me drink whiskey after running it in a 20' Shawnee.  Man what a river it is.  Nice report sir.

Thank you!

Our run was strange in that the two "named" rapids (Mary Deckar and Halls Bay) went somewhat uneventfully, but around Whitten (both above and below) there were several places where we got forced pretty hard into some sweepers on outside bends, mostly in places the river split into two channels.

We didn't tip, but once we came pretty close and took on enough water we had to stop at the next gravel bar and empty it out. At the flows it was at (recent rains mostly skirted the watershed) it was annoying, but you could see the same places being a little spooky at high flows. I've usually run it in kayaks; it was MUCH harder in a fully loaded canoe. Like, orders or magnitude. So much less agility, it was really jarring.

[jdmidwest]

Those sweepers are tough on even jet boats if you are not paying attention.

This warm weather and the decision to make the upper part above Turner a trophy area has ruined it for fishing.  I does fish better in the fall and winter.  It gets a supplemental stocking in December if they are still doing it.

It is the most beautiful and wild stream in MO.  We need to keep it that way.

[Terrierman]

I hear Mary Decker is not what she used to be.  Big flood moved big rocks.

[ColdWaterFshr]

I don’t think Mary has been tricky for a number of years.  Low water even.  Pretty straight chute. The big boulders are still there, but I don’t think much has changed 

[Terrierman]

13 hours ago, ColdWaterFshr said:

I don’t think Mary has been tricky for a number of years.  Low water even.  Pretty straight chute. The big boulders are still there, but I don’t think much has changed 

Once upon a time there was a big tree hung up in it.  Wiped everything above the gunwales into the bottom of the boat, including the sonar unit.  And made me drink whiskey.

[Gavin]

The locals run up and down Mary Decker in jet boats all the time. It's an easy shot to the right if going downstream, but it could be nasty if there were some sweepers in it.  If it is clogged up, walk it through the shallow side on the left. Your gonna want to fish/camp/eat lunch there anyway. We climbed to the top of that bluff across the river from Mary in the winter years ago and an Eagle greated us. Good times!