Ryan helped us along by standing on his kayak and pointing out submerged boulders or even fish that we could not see from our lower vantage point. Ryan was incredibly helpful, present but not overbearing. There are a couple slow sections of the float that require some paddling and the rock shelf about a mile in are still difficult to navigate. Trophies from 6-to 9-pounds are taken annually. James River Outfitters had quite a few boats and inner tubes on the river. 1/2 mi past the Big Bend Road bridge) then returned back to Shelvin. Smallmouth fishing should continue to be excellent in 2023 with roughly 25% of the smallmouth sampled greater than 15 inches. Good read! Fishing the James River was also a great way to appreciate the scenery around us. Please exercisecaution when fishing with live bait to not introduce minnows or crayfish from other streams. Fishing was non-existent. More or updated information on this topic can be found at the Missouri Department of Conservation web site located at: mdc.mo.gov. give it a go. It replaced a fish from Bull Shoals. Access. Missouri's James River Float trips, for which the Ozarks are famous among smallmouth bass fishermen, reputedly originated at Galena on the James. 13 Bridge. Originally this trip was supposed to be on Crane Creek. The water is as low as I have ever seen it and for sure it requires some stealth in both approaching and casting to these fish. There are glamping tents onsite plus camping and RV sites. No access. River was a bit crowded, especially for a weekday. Great day on the river. Difficulty:I; a few places on upper river rate up to III due to obstructions.Gradient:general- 4.5; Hwy. We facilitate and provide opportunity for all citizens to use, enjoy, and learn about these resources. Should you have any questions, comments or concerns or wish to ask a question prior to purchasing and product or service mentioned on this web site, you can contact us directly by e-mail at flyfishingwithjeff@gmail.com. A couple spots were a little bit tricky but not bad. Weather conditions are not optimal, but there is still opportunity to land some trout. In addition, we brought a few decent spotted bass to the boat. Perfect weather made this an exceptional October float. Please ensure to adhere to the fishing regulations for the state. Float trips, for which the Ozarks are famous among smallmouth bass fishermen, reputedly originated at Galena on the James. Supplies in town. H.L. If you havent yet made it to Branson, it is quite the cityand quite the story. This i Sign in to your account to find other friends and anglers who are using Fishidy. 31.9 Ftazier Bridge on county road. 12.3 Kissick Darn. The SMA runs from the Hooten Town Bridge (the Loop Road at Route O) to the Highway 413/Highway 265 bridge at Galenawhere special limits apply. With my normal Monday activities sidelined, it was a perfect weather day to get on the water. If those times won't work for you, 12:00AM to 12:00AM looks promising , as does 12:00AM to 12:00AM Remember to adjust these times based on barometric pressure, and weather changes. Lake Springfield. Unlimited access to the best fishing spot finder in the game. Before the days of Table Rock Dam a five-day float of about 125 miles was available from Galena to Branson, but now little, if any, of the river is floatable below Galena. But the rest of us had a good time and Julian used a rope swing for the first time on this trip. Just enough current to push us steadily down river and make the river a bit easier to navigate in the shallow areas. As always, good float. Access under bridge.2.7 Hwy. Oct 07, 2014 - James River 1 lb. Finley River Park (Ozatk). Did not stop much due to ample current and flow. It is not the best stretch of river to float by any means, but it'll do in a pinch this time of year. Hootentown Canoe Rental & Store offers several float trip options ranging from 4 to 13 miles. Time was very flexible and the river was great. The James Riversports an excellent population of suckers for the aspiring gigger willing to brave the dark. Lake Springfield backs up water beyond this point. There is always a man sitting at the front desk smoking with no consideration for those around him. The current state record white bass - a 5-pound, 6-ounce behemoth - was pulled from Table Rock on March 19, 2002. No access. Camping along the James and its tributaries is a popular activity during the warmer months of the year. A few people were on the river but it wasn't too bad. This was our second year on the river. James River 7 Day Fishing Forecast Outlook. Old Hwy. D. Its just a bit of a drive from St. Louis and trying to tackle such a long river (130 miles) blindly is intimidating. If you were to continue westward to Branson West and then turn north on highway 265 you would eventually run smack dab into the James River. Largemouth bass and spotted bass are also present in the James, albeit in lower densities. Supplies in town. While we had little luck actually catching any fish, the water was crystal clear and the fish sightings were abundant. Recently on my fall breakmy wife and I visited Branson, Missouri for a week. This group of poachers stole a lot of fish from legal snaggers. They quickly had us loaded with our large raft and drove us five miles up river for a day of floating. We were loaded and off the water by 1:30pm. Suckers of all types, all 3 black bass species, channel catfish, carp, crappie, sculpin, shad and minnows of all types were present. The river is a total joy to be upon and I am sure that somewhere, lurking beneath one of the thousands of boulders that are strewn along the bottomis a big, hearty smallmouth ready to do battle. Though somewhat scenic, the entire length just has FAAAAAR too many long, slow, wide, tedious sections for my taste. Thanks for reading! Tom had too much to drink and Renee was hungover and Marianne was sleepy for some reason. Our group of 4 picked James River Outfitters and we were SUPER pleased with everything. One real exciting rapid with a drop 6-9" just above Finley on the right fork. Required fields are marked *, Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Ryan guided me to a root wad to lean my kayak against so that I could cast into a specific break in the current. small mouth Details Find more fishing reports in Missouri Grand Lake O' the Cherokees Rated as the second best lake in the state for bass tournament success and number one in average bass weight and winning weight. Lake Springfield backs up water beyond this point. Fishing spots, fishing reports and regulations in. Low Water on the St Croix River on the Fly, Fly Fishing Instruction; 3 Wt for Smallmouth Here in NW Wisconsin. The feisty rainbows were hitting on hair jigs at first, then as the day wore on only size 16 or 18 scuds. 10 miles from James River. Shelvin Rock to Hootie is much more interesting (IMHO) than Delaware to Shelvin. Channel catfish should provide good fishing opportunities in 2023 as well. Often one fish would strike the bait but not get hooked, but 2-3 others would keep after it as I continued the retrieve until I would finally catch one. The main portion of the James River extends from the dam at Lake Springfield south to Galena. Woo hoo! more, Fishing Charters & Tours Nature & Wildlife Tours, ELVIS: Story of a King - Admission Ticket, Illusionist Rick Thomas - Mansion of Dreams, Great Woodsman Zipline Canopy Tour Branson. I own 4 float tubes and 4 sets of kick fins so I am offering an opportunity for you to come to Northwestern Wisconsin and fly fish from a float tube [], In this video I take a small/short trip down the St Croix River here in NW Wisconsin in search of my favorite game fish . James River is currently under a "Waning Crescent" phase Fair access.12.4Tailwaters Access (Springfield City Utilities) on right, off Hwy. Our guide for the trip was Ryan Walker, founder of the Ozarks Smallmouth Alliance. James River, Missouri Fishing Report Share 3 Star Fatty Day! The little shop to check in had all the essentials you might need. Only caught one smallie near the low water bridge and lost one below Davis Creek. I wouldn't want to do this much lower. Public Access Point: Type of Launch : Latitude: Longitude : Map Link: Iron Gate: Shoreline Access: 37 . For those searching for a bit of seclusion, most recreational floaters will be found between H.L. Waded / paddle up to the mouth of Panther Creek and then floated back to the bridge. Here's your fishing report for today the 18th of April for James River. We took our time, enjoyed the water, and made the float last about 4.5 hours. Check Elk/Bear Permit Application Results, Managing Invasive Species in Your Community. We caught the very tail end of it on this trip. Website crafted by Mostly Serious. A warm December paddle on Lake Springfield that included a beautiful sunset. The striper fishery deserves special mention as one of the nations' finest, with potential to produce record fish in the 50-pound category. Wind from the North, do not go forth. In high or medium water paddlers can run anorher 40 miles above this as well as some of the larger tributaries. It was also fairly crowded with rental boats and others. Captain John explains the best way to rig live bait for. The James River is a 130-mile-long (210 km) river in southern Missouri. Moon phases have a signifigant impact on fishing. We spent about 5 hours on the river to include a 30 minute lunch stop. James River Fishing. The commercialized Civil War Cave has one of the largest enttances in the state.4.7Bridge at Riverside Inn. Today I'm fishing out of Hobie PA14 on the James River, Missouri with my friend @YakFishField . Please ensure to adhere to the fishing regulations for the state. Rivers daily change flow levels and current speeds. At almost no point during the day could one not see at least a dozen kayaks either up or down stream from us. Your email address will not be published. The only problem is that I had this crazy issue in my mind about fishing with a guide. Hootentown Canoe Rental & Store is only 40 minutes from Springfield, which means you can be on the river and floating about an hour after leaving the house, which is one of the best parts about living in the Ozarks. A short Christmas Float on a beautiful sunny day. The James River is located in an historic part of Missouri, near the Wilson Creek Battlefield site that was part of the "War of Northern Aggression" (aka the Civil War), so there is much to see around this stream, as well as the enjoyment derived from paddling its quiet waters. 56.6 Horse Creek on left. Never have I seen so many fish of all species under the boat. Catch rates in 2022 were some of the highest recorded with roughly 35% of goggle-eye sampled greater than 8 inches. Hey folks . Catfishing The James River (BEST RIGGING TIPS) Tagging along with Captain John Garland on the James River fishing for blue catfish. The spring has a flow of nearly 2 million gallons per day, is used to supply a private trout hatchery and is one of the largest springs in this river drainage. Outstanding aesthetics, water clarity and outdoor recreation opportunities account for the lake's popularity. At the beginning, the water was flowing well. According to legend, the James was the birthplace of the Ozark float trip. He is a fixture along the banks of the James River, and "Catfish TC", as he is known, is quite content on solid ground, thank you very much. Catfish and white bass are present but underfished. The last third of the trip was Lake Springfield. Kerr Access on Horse Cteek Road. Fishing James River, MO on 4/14/2023 will be best from 12 . Water level was just below "Good", but still easily navigable. Next thing you know Billy and I were booked for a half-day trip on a Sunday in September fishing the James River. The James River is situated right in the midst of the Ozarks and quite frankly is some of the most lovely water and scenery that I have experienced while fly fishing across America. H.L. Interestingly, we met a guy (Steve Wicken, 417-231-1263) who needed a ride back to Kerr to retrieve his vehicle. Difficulty: I; a few places on upper river rate up to III due to obstructions. Saw bald eagles, deer, and a family of beavers swimming in the current. Make your fishing dreams come true today and tomorrow. 12.4 Tailwaters Access (Springfield City Utilities) on right, off Hwy. Still areas of the river were pretty slow. Anglers regularly report catching smallmouth greater than 18 inches, particularly in the Smallmouth Special Management Area (SMA). This superb fishery continues to be one of the most famous resources in the nation. 46.3 Goff Creek on left. No access. Cardinal flower bloomed on the banks. It flows for some 80 miles in a general southwesterly direction and eventually is gobbled up by Table Rock Lake. Counties: Greene, Christian, Scone. The lady with microphone to herd us on the shuttle bus had a good sense of humor but clear directions. This was a lazy summer trip with low (but acceptable) water levels. Memorable day for sure. Inquire locally about conditions and accesses. For future trips, the level should be lower if one expects to get a current for the entire trip. This section was very stagnant, smelly, and overran with bugs. Crankbaits for James River Smallmouth | BoatUnknown Episode Here's the link for the full video from Westin's channel, https://youtu.be/HDEMUzCuZS0.James Rive. Largemouth bass, green sunfish, bluegill, and longear sunfish rounded out the mixed bag for the day, all caught on flukes. 15 in. Paddled upstream from Farm Road 166 Bridge at Joe Crighton Access to Pierson Creek and back. These multi-species days using the same bait and technique is one of my favorite things about fishing Ozark streams. Put in just before 1000, took out at Cox Access in Galena right at 1730. Good news, the wind speed is currently at 9 mph is considered in the optimal range for fishing as the ripples caused by the wind on the water's surface will help hide the line an lure on James River. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. No ramp, but easy canoe/kayak access.9.5Hwy. Once in a while all the stars align and weather, water and flies are on the same page . We both labored through some restless sleep, so waking up at 4:30 was no big deal. Floated from Joe Crighton to south of Farm Road 164 and back. Not safe. There are lots of spots along the banks to pull aside and relax. The flukes, poured by Jackin Jaws Baits, were fished weightless Texas rigged on a circle worm hook. Having paddled upstream for 2 miles there wasn't one moment where I couldn't hear the drone of traffic noise along highway 65 and / or highway 60. Montague Spring, 2.5 miles up creek, reached via Hwy. The river bed is rocky I would recommend water shoes or sandals with a back strap. Smoked sausage and macaroni and cheese for dinner with chocolate for dessert. Off Hwy. You are trying to access a feature that requires a Fishidy account. The weather was beautiful, the water level was nearly perfect with clear, flowing water. swear their catch improves when the moon is in a "New" or "Full" moon phase. 40.8 Hooten Hill, on right (high bluff). First thing I'll mention is that the gauge has evidently been messed up at Galena. Not correct. AA near O to church. The water was high but not dangerously so. Not safe.23.2Counry road bridge. It took me a while to figure out how to fish the fluke properly. Branson sits along the White River. Access.18.9 James River. The water was high enough Laura was able to use her inflatable kayak. Many fish were spotted but no rods brought on the trip. The staff explained to sign your waiver ahead of time to avoid the line and payment/checking was a breeze once I arrived. At one point, a sharp shinned hawk was chasing an angry kingfisher as if it was going to catch it. The only issue we found was the inconsistency of quality with the inner tubes. 417-883-7417 | Fun run, definitely exciting. Current fly fishing conditions are still good. Required fields are marked *. We take a number of different data points to make our fishing recommendation. The crew was very nice and accommodating. Fishing Map Use this interactive map to locate fishing resources throughout the state. It is updated with the new system using a data retrofit. and susceptible to feeding meaning an opportunity for you to nab a catch. We do summer floats with this outfitter, and always have a great time, so when we saw that they were doing a haunted forest and float, we had to go! Anglers who are familiar with James River and want to make a suggestion to the information provided are asked to use the suggest changes button below on this page. . We spent most of the day on a gravel bar about 3/4 of the way through, cooking burgers for lunch and swimming and snorkeling. 125 to Lake Springfield 6.3; dam at Lake Springfield to Hwy.14-4.3; to Galena 4. Everyone should be alert right there. 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