I took a chance and floated the upper current between Baptist Camp & Oak Grove last weekend with some guys from a Facebook group the ” Trout & Smallmouth Hunters of the Ozarks” The Group has close to 1500 members and was started by Walt Fulps the Missouri Trout Hunter a guide out of Rolla. As far as Facebook Fishing groups go I recommend this on it’s all fishing and clean no BS at all. Just a bunch of people that love to fish.
Back to the trip, 6 of us met at Pinecrest camp ground Friday night to hang, tie and just to get to know each other. The skill level was all over the board two guys had under a year in the game and another guy had been Fly fishing 7yrs. Two others none at all, plus we had two guys on stand up paddle, boards those things rock I need one.
The next morning we were going to meet up at Baptist Camp 10-12 more that had indicated they were coming. Only one showed MARK VAN PATTEN himself. He hung around for about 30min but we had a slow poke in the group and he had to shove off and get to Oak Grove by 2PM. ( The folks at pine crest shuttled our vehicles).
We started fishing/floating at 9:00 am at Baptist and fish were on all day. The six of us would float to a gravel bar fish/ wade then move on. We made it 3 miles before camping that night. The fishing was great. We had success on everything from Pheasant tails, RS2, Elk Hair Caddis, P&P, Gurddle Bugs, Stone Flys and the Cerise Worm. Saturday the fish were feeding in the film taking emergers, nymphs and dries and on Sunday they were deep and you had get down and fast.
The real story was the river. You had everything to fish – pocket water, long deep holes, fast runs, lots of structure, rocks, trees and rock/grass over hangs. And the river was just amazing, perfect weather and beautiful. The most beautiful section of river I have fished in Missouri. I will be going back soon.
Don’t crowd my stream!!! Sincerely, Jason Edwards
Jason Edwards
