Wanting To Canoe And Fish

[OzarkKid07]

I'm wanting to take my father, my best friend, my father-in-law and my brother-in-law on a float trip in the Ozarks on which we can see some gorgeous scenery and have fun floating without portaging too much, but can also have a shot at some really nice smallmouth and panfish and maybe some bigmouths. What river would be a good one for the inexperienced canoeist that also has some great fishing and is clear water? Also, when is the best time to go? We all want to go in spring, but I don't want to get killed by heavy rains, nor do I want to be in freezing water. Nah, we're not picky. I'm just looking out for these guys. My dad is a lake largemouth fisherman and the other three aren't fishermen at all. I would fish in a puddle in January in shorts if I thought it would work, but I want it to be a good memory for the fam, not a memory where we dumped our canoes, lost someone to drowning in a current, didn't catch a fish and froze to death.

[Danoinark]

Kid

I would suggest the Buffalo National River here in Ark. I would go early to mid May. I would float the lower end say from Tyler Bend down to Gilbert etc.

Smallies should really be hungry during that time. There are lots of canoe outfitters and shuttle services all approved and licensed by the National Park Service. The scenery is tremendous.

Dano

[creek wader]

Well, you'll get a lot of replies on this one. Canoe/fish trips are my passion. I think the section of the Current River between Aker's Ferry and Round Spring would fit the bill. It's a 2 or 3 day trip if your fishing or you could shorten it up. Pulltite is half way. This section has caves, springs, high bluffs, nice gravel bars for camping, clear water, smallies, trout, googleye, and lots of sunfish. It has a good current so, you don't wear yourself out paddling. Also, there are few if no portages. Pulltite has campsites, if you don't want to do a gravel bar. The Jack's Fork is another favorite, it's a little smaller but, compares to the Current in every way. The Meramec, Courtois, Huzzah, Big Piney, upper or middle Gasconade, and upper Niangua are all good smallie rivers. I haven't done the Spring, Elk, James, Bryant's Creek, or the N. Fork. But many swear by them. Late April through June, is the best time to go. If you want to keep bass. Then you'd have to go Memorial weekend or later, check the regs., for the black bass season. We catch and release so, we prefer mid-May. Temps. are right and the canoe hatch hasn't started. I strongly suggest going mid-week also. Avoid the weekends. It's the tale of two rivers. I'd also try to get a hold of member coreycottrell. I believe he or his family is an outfitter on the Meramec, Courtois, and Huzzah. He'd probably be real helpful in making it a memorable trip. Here's a site for outfitters. . . .

http://www.missouricanoe.org/display.html

[creek wader]

Another hint. If you are fishing, do not to take too long a float, . 5 miles is more than plenty in one day. On the Current and Little Piney Creek, you can do more miles, because of the curent speed. But, unless your fishing from a jet boat or other motorized boat, and your fishing from a canoe. Shorter is better. My 2nd float/fish trip, was on the Little Niangua. We put in at 1 pm. the first day. Five hrs. later, we set up camp. The next morning, I did some figuring and found that we only went a mile. We casted to every log, rock, or likely looking spot, the 1st day. We had to high-ball some great spots the 2nd day to make up time. Shorter is better, when your fishing. It's more relaxed.

[OzarkKid07]

Well, the Buffalo River looks amazing in the pictures I saw and I am definitely going to go there at some point this year! Thanks for the recommendation! I had never even heard of it before. However, I think the Current sounds like it's gonna be great and it's pretty close to home, which is important for my time constraints. Less driving, more fishing. That being said, if we plan for the first week or second week of May, what types of lures should we be fishing for the different types of fish? My father and I will be alternating between fly rods and ultralights and my in-laws will probably just be on light rods. Our main focus will be smallies and goggle eye, but I wouldn't mind catching a trout or seven. So if you guys have any input on that, it will be greatly appreciated! Tight lines boys!

[Al Agnew]

The Akers to Round Spring stretch of the Current is a bit marginal for good smallie fishing...too cold. You'll find better smallmouth fishing from Round Spring to Two Rivers, along with gorgeous scenery and maybe a FEW less people (though if you do anywhere on the Current on a decent spring weekend, you're going to be in crowds).

If you want a river that will not be any kind of challenge to float, you might look into the middle Gasconade. Pretty river, big bluffs, long pools, easy riffles, good fishing.

First part of May, the water should be warm enough that you can catch smallmouth and goggle-eye on all the usual lures. Something that a lot of anglers overlook that will catch about anything is a simple white marabou jig. Deadly on goggle-eye and sunfish, if you encounter a school of crappie (which is possible on rivers with big pools like the Gasconade) you'll catch them on it, bass like it, and I've even caught channel catfish on them. And they are cheap and easy to fish, just toss them out around cover, let them sink a bit but not all the way to the bottom, and reel them slowly back in.

If you want to concentrate more on smallmouths and bigger fish, topwater lures like walk-the-dog and popper types, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits will all work that time of year.

[OzarkKid07]

The Akers to Round Spring stretch of the Current is a bit marginal for good smallie fishing...too cold. You'll find better smallmouth fishing from Round Spring to Two Rivers, along with gorgeous scenery and maybe a FEW less people (though if you do anywhere on the Current on a decent spring weekend, you're going to be in crowds).

If you want a river that will not be any kind of challenge to float, you might look into the middle Gasconade. Pretty river, big bluffs, long pools, easy riffles, good fishing.

First part of May, the water should be warm enough that you can catch smallmouth and goggle-eye on all the usual lures. Something that a lot of anglers overlook that will catch about anything is a simple white marabou jig. Deadly on goggle-eye and sunfish, if you encounter a school of crappie (which is possible on rivers with big pools like the Gasconade) you'll catch them on it, bass like it, and I've even caught channel catfish on them. And they are cheap and easy to fish, just toss them out around cover, let them sink a bit but not all the way to the bottom, and reel them slowly back in.

If you want to concentrate more on smallmouths and bigger fish, topwater lures like walk-the-dog and popper types, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits will all work that time of year.

Oh wow. Good info Al! Thanks. Your description has my mouth watering so to speak. I'm taking all this info and compiling a list that I'm going to let my co-canoeists look at and we'll make a decision based on the info. So keep it coming! The Gasconade sounds great as I just found out that my father-in-law is pretty nervous about canoeing on a river since he has never done it before. Thanks a bunch!

Mike

[creek wader]

I had recommended the Current River because of it's proximity to St. Louis. Also, it has about everything you would find on many the rivers in the Ozarks, all wrapped up in one. It's water clarity is hard to beat. The strong current lets you cover alot more of the river. But, Al is right, the middle Gasconade would be better from a fishing stand point. Actually, it's hard not to have a good trip on most of the major float streams in Missouri. One of my most favorites, which would be a bit of a drive for you. Is the Little Niangua. It is in mid-Missouri, it is a smaller stream but, compares with the larger streams in most aspects. We usually do a mid-May float on it, with good success. But, as Al suggested the mid-Gasconade might be a better trip. I've only done a section on the Lower Gasconade from Hwy. 42 down to Paydown access, and was not impressed at all. I'm sure further upstream would be much better. The section we did was very slow, almost like being on a lake. The water was stained to muddy and no scenery which to speak of. It was a long hot tiresome trip with no bass caught, only an occansional goggleye or sunfish to save the day. I have heard much better reports of the Gasconade on upstream near Waynesville and Jerome. Take Al's advice, he has been there and would know more than I. I would suggest a little web surfing on that area.

[OzarkKid07]

Thanks for that CW. Do you know how far each of those streams is from STL roughly? I do want to stay within a couple hours, but if those streams are ALL within a couple hours, I'll take my family to one and go to the rest myself!

[creek wader]

I'm not sure of the driving distance of them. If you go to http://www.missouricanoe.org/map.html ... ... That will show you where the rivers are. Then click the directory and that will show you where the outfitters are located, for each river. Then get on rand mcnally or mapquest and do a driving direction search, for the town that the outfitter is located in. Also, you might send a PM to coreycottrell, he's a member on this site. he might be able to give you some info on the Meremec, Huzzah, or Courtois. They are all within driving distance of St. Louis. The Big River is another, that's close to St. Louis. I've never been on it though, Al probably has the most experience of anybody on it. Since he did not recommend the Big river, it was probably for a reason. Since, he suggested the middle Gasconade, I believe I'd listen to him. I doubt that he would steer anybody wrong. The Gasconade is a good beginner stream that holds both largemouth and smallies, and goggleye. It is slower and has few if any portages. ..As far as yourself is concerned, you'll have to do the Current and the Jack's Fork sometime. You'll have a hoot on both.