Wanting To Canoe And Fish

[creek wader]

ozarkkid, read this ... http://www.missourigameandfish.com/fishing...g/mo_aa083202a/ ... They talk about some rivers close to St. Louis. cw

[Al Agnew]

The Middle Gasconade is probably about 2 hours from St. Louis. Problem with it is that it doesn't have many canoe rentals, so getting a shuttle on many sections is problematical, not to mention if you need to rent canoes. The missouricanoe website that Creek Wader mentioned is your best bet for finding canoe rentals anywhere in the Ozarks, but there are a couple on the Gasconade that probably aren't listed in it.

The lower Big Piney is one that a lot of people overlook even though it's pretty popular with locals and Fort Leonard Wood residents. There are a couple of canoe rentals around Devils Elbow that run the Piney from the fort down to Devils Elbow. Pretty river, surprisingly remote in appearance, fairly easily floated.

The Meramec is the closest really nice water to St. Louis. The stretch from Onondaga Cave to Meramec State Park is the prettiest part of the river, but gets a lot of traffic. It's fairly easy floating. You really don't want to do it from Friday to Sunday, though. Sections farther downstream get less traffic, except for jetboats on the weekends, and are even easier floating, but not as pretty. Still, the lower Meramec could be a good one to "get your feet wet", so to speak. I think there are still a couple of canoe rentals in the St. Clair area.

Actually, a really cool little river very close to St. Louis is the Bourbeuse, but it's only served by one canoe rental, Devils Back Canoes and Campground at Noser Mill. It gets little traffic, no jetboats, pretty good fishing. Not real scenic in the classic Ozark sense, and it's usually pretty murky, but it's so slow that it's easy floating and it has a beauty all its own.

Big River's biggest drawback is a lack of reliable canoe rentals...getting a shuttle is next to impossible if you can't shuttle yourself. It's easy floating the whole way, and there are some pretty sections between St. Francois State Park and Washington State Park, as well as the section from Washington Park to Browns Ford. But it's VERY ugly below Browns Ford.

Huzzah and Courtois Creeks are beautiful, but can be tough fishing for the beginner, and also not easy canoeing. And stay off them on weekends, they can be a zoo.

The only other streams that are pretty close to your 2 hour driving time limit are the St. Francis and the upper Black. St. Francis is definitely not a river for beginners. Upper Black is the clearest stream in the Ozarks--although not quite so clear the last couple of years since the Taum Sauk Union Electric Company reservoir collapse--but it's a zoo on weekends and the clear water makes the fishing tough.

[OzarkKid07]

Wow Al! Great post! I read an older post of your today on how to read river level graphs and found it extremely helpful! You are a tribute to fishing and I look forward to picking your brain more. However, you have made my choosing a stream a little difficult so I'll just watch the USGS graphs the week before we go and the weather forecast and make an educated guess. Thanks for your insight and great descriptions!

Mike

[chub minnow]

Even though it is a little further, don't overlook The Jack's Fork. It will be fairly easy for the unexperienced and the scenery can't be beat. You can also start on the Jack's Fork and finish on the Current which, in my opinion, is one of the best float trips the Ozarks has to offer. If you go in May the party crowd on the Current will still be hibernating. There are tons of caves, springs and ruins to visit along the way. Definitely in my top three along with the Buffalo in Ark. I vacillate on my third choice, but if you want to know about some small streams a little further away that are chock full of smallmouth pm me.

[chub minnow]

Did I forget to mention, for smallmouth action, the Kings River? Probably about 5 hours away, but if you go up above the WMA you will be alone with all of those hungry smallies. Beautiful scenery and shore camping, but maybe not the best for the inexperienced. You do start to feel a little isolated out there and help is far away, but that's why I love it. Use Kings River Outfitters or the Kings River Resort for the best boats and info on the upper section.

[Gavin]

Depends on were you go on the Jacks, the upper section offers great scenery(Prong's to Rymers) but can be tough for an inexperienced paddler..its fairly twisty, with a bridge chute & a few ledges, but the real hazards are all the big rocks that seem to lurking just under the surface of the water. Pretty easy floating below Rymers though. Cheers.

[chub minnow]

Yes-you definitely want to do the lower part with the family.

[bikehikefish]

Not sure if anyone else mentioned it, but if you are going in May keep in mind that black bass (largemouth and smallmouth) season opens Memorial weekend, so it is catch and release until then.

The middle Gasconade has beautiful high bluffs and the fishing can be great at that time of the year. But be ready to paddle, as between the sets of riffles are long slooooow pools. And jet boat traffic on weekends can be annoying, especially in the area of Vienna MO. But it is still my favorite river, for the mix of scenery, fishing and the chance to see lots of wildlife.

Indian Ford canoe rental is located at Hwy 42 near Vienna and can shuttle you up to Belle Chute for a two day float, or even Jerome, if you want a longer float.

Get a copy of Oz Hawksley's "Missouri Ozark Riverways" if it is still available. It has mile by mile descriptions of every Ozark river with maps and access descriptions. Worth its weight in gold.

[FishinCricket]

Not sure if anyone else mentioned it, but if you are going in May keep in mind that black bass (largemouth and smallmouth) season opens Memorial weekend, so it is catch and release until then.

The middle Gasconade has beautiful high bluffs and the fishing can be great at that time of the year. But be ready to paddle, as between the sets of riffles are long slooooow pools. And jet boat traffic on weekends can be annoying, especially in the area of Vienna MO. But it is still my favorite river, for the mix of scenery, fishing and the chance to see lots of wildlife.

Indian Ford canoe rental is located at Hwy 42 near Vienna and can shuttle you up to Belle Chute for a two day float, or even Jerome, if you want a longer float.

Get a copy of Oz Hawksley's "Missouri Ozark Riverways" if it is still available. It has mile by mile descriptions of every Ozark river with maps and access descriptions. Worth its weight in gold.

Glad you mentioned the catch and release, if he's from Illinios he will want to make sure he is tagged up as well (seperate trout tag in missouri to keep 'em)

Also "MIssouri Ozark Riverways" is an old worn out copy by now but it's always close at hand.. It's a great guide, and I have lived in the middle of the Ozarks all my life..

Great advice!