Coldwater to sam baker.

[top_dollar]

 I fished the Coldwater access down to Sam Baker back in the end of November.  This report is a bit late.  Bass were biting really well.  I caught fish near winter areas, but they were surprisingly up in spots with more current.  I didn't bother crappie fishing, I just threw jerkbaits, jigs, and swimbaits for bass. With the exception of a 24 inch walleye, and an 18 inch largemouth it was all smallies and spots less than 15 inches.  I released the walleye so maybe it will grow to be a real giant!  

[MObassin95]

Thanks for sharing! I’ve always wanted to check the St Francis out. I’m just not sure it’s worth the drive from Republic. But I’ve seen pictures of good fish coming out of it. 

[Gavin]

That's a long slow float. Glad you had fun and thanks for the report!

 

[jdmidwest]

It's a great stream, but slow floating.  Long pools with short fast dropping runs.

Big Creek and St Francois are cut out of Missouri's oldest hills and offer some unique scenery.

[Quillback]

Looks like some great water to fish.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

By others stating it's a slow float, how long was it.   I've been to the access at ColdWater and was curious about it.    It's not terribly far from me, just a bit out of the way.  

[jdmidwest]

22 hours ago, Daryk Campbell Sr said:

By others stating it's a slow float, how long was it.   I've been to the access at ColdWater and was curious about it.    It's not terribly far from me, just a bit out of the way.  

Long slow pools with short fast drops at end of each.  I have floated Saco to Coldwater in a long summer day.  Put in at daybreak, come out at dark.  Using GPS to keep track of location.  That lower part to Sam A Baker has been jet boat in spring flows for me, but it is overniter.

[top_dollar]

On 1/26/2025 at 8:22 AM, Daryk Campbell Sr said:

By others stating it's a slow float, how long was it.   I've been to the access at ColdWater and was curious about it.    It's not terribly far from me, just a bit out of the way.  

Coldwater to Sam Baker is good for an overnight, maybe 10 miles or so.  Sam baker to HWY 34 bridge is short and good for a day float.  I don't consider it to be too slow, but I fish the big river mostly, which doesn't have much current.  

[top_dollar]

                         I did this same float again the weekend after Christmas (12/26, 12/27, 12/28).  It was ridiculously warm out, so I thought I had to spend a few nights on the river.  I fished Friday, Saturday, and half of Sunday.  The river was at least a foot low, and I could see the bottom in about 5 or 6 feet.  I caught my fish out of the same few winter holes I have the last few years.  Apparently I wasn't the only one who wanted to enjoy the weather, as there were several guys in jet boats fishing the same spots as me.  It didn't matter, we were all catching fish.  Nothing bigger than about 15 inches, but if you were in the right water, and put a bait near them they ate it almost 100% of the time. 

                      I found a nice school of crappie in one of the holes, and caught about 5 or so on a 3 inch swimbait.  I'm sure I could have sat on them for a while with a crappie jig and caught more.  Other than those crappies, and a few largemouth and spots, it was all smallmouth between 10-15 inches long.  The best bait by far was a 3 inch Keitech on a 16th oz jig.  I also caught them jerkbaits, crankbaits, jigs, and worms, but I caught them 5 to 1 with that little swimbait.   Color didn't seem to matter much.  The wind was blowing like crazy on Sunday, so just fished a few hours and headed home before the front came through.  

[BilletHead]

4 hours ago, top_dollar said:

                         I did this same float again the weekend after Christmas (12/26, 12/27, 12/28).  It was ridiculously warm out, so I thought I had to spend a few nights on the river.  I fished Friday, Saturday, and half of Sunday.  The river was at least a foot low, and I could see the bottom in about 5 or 6 feet.  I caught my fish out of the same few winter holes I have the last few years.  Apparently I wasn't the only one who wanted to enjoy the weather, as there were several guys in jet boats fishing the same spots as me.  It didn't matter, we were all catching fish.  Nothing bigger than about 15 inches, but if you were in the right water, and put a bait near them they ate it almost 100% of the time. 

                      I found a nice school of crappie in one of the holes, and caught about 5 or so on a 3 inch swimbait.  I'm sure I could have sat on them for a while with a crappie jig and caught more.  Other than those crappies, and a few largemouth and spots, it was all smallmouth between 10-15 inches long.  The best bait by far was a 3 inch Keitech on a 16th oz jig.  I also caught them jerkbaits, crankbaits, jigs, and worms, but I caught them 5 to 1 with that little swimbait.   Color didn't seem to matter much.  The wind was blowing like crazy on Sunday, so just fished a few hours and headed home before the front came through.  

  Thanks for this. Fun times.