The weather was perfect with the exception of a wicked headwind that would come and go as we paddled. Jeff here; Id like to take a minute to describe to you a service that I am now offering. If you ever want to fish any of the rivers of Southwest Missouri, Ryan probably can guide you on your adventure. Gradient: general- 4.5; Hwy. Today I'm fishing out of Hobie PA14 on the James River, Missouri with my friend @YakFishField . Fishing the James River might have spoiled me a bit. On my way back towards the bridge, smoke from USFS prescribed burns in the Mark Twain National Forest filled the river valley as the sun set. The James River is a 130-mile-long (210 km) [4] river in southern Missouri. Check-in was a breeze since I did the online reservations and waivers. Our group of 4 picked James River Outfitters and we were SUPER pleased with everything. Not safe.23.2Counry road bridge. D Bridge. While the water levels were decent in the area, the water wasn't moving as much as expected. 65. take Evans Road to Southwood Road. 13 Bridge. Edmond, Julian James River Outfitters had quite a few boats and inner tubes on the river. Lake Springfield backs up water beyond this point. Unlimited access to the best fishing spot finder in the game. I caught 7-8 smallmouth bass in one 50 yard stretch with current. Hwys. Cardinal flower bloomed on the banks. Branson sits along the White River. If so get you'll find all your weather information you'll need over the next seven days. Despite this float being on the DoJ (and literally finding a Port-a-Potty outhouse IN the river! The classic River Trips application is still available for use. A few of the riffles were too low and some places ended up being traps for the boats because of the low water. The crew was very nice and accommodating. This is the best time of the year to float on the James for sure. It is no longer maintained. A huge band of thunderstorms in Kansas prompted us to get up early and pack our gear, get an early breakfast, and head home. A couple spots were a little bit tricky but not bad. We both labored through some restless sleep, so waking up at 4:30 was no big deal. This is about minimum water level recommended for this section. I [], Oh, what a night . 26.3 Stone piers of old Delaware Bridge. 39.4 Silvet Lake Branch on right. Fishing utterly sucked, mostly due to WAAAAAY too many people taking advantage of the gorgeous day outside. Not correct. John boats 18-24 feet long and 4 feet wide were used long before canoes and kayaks became popular and are amazingly maneuverable craft for their size. Otherwise, float was incident free and a great day to be on the river. give it a go. Several others were on the river due to the hot weather. 10.0 Southwood Access (Springfield City Utilities) on left downstream from Hwy. 9.5 Hwy. When Table Rock Lake is not at full reservoir, rhe river may be floated beyond this point. A clean-up day for this 7-mile portion would be helpful (especially the closer we got to the Delaware Access), as I noted too many spots along steep banks where stray items of trash were seen but not easily reached without getting wet. 125 Bridge. Despite the short distance, the low current, heat, and sunny conditions were a bit much for Michelle's folks. This means if you're planning of fishing at night then This was an easy overnight trip on the James to test out the canoe for a complete overnight load. Copyright 2003 by the Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri. The views are lovely. Thinking of heading out to James River Near Nixamissouri over the next few days. Having floated some of the James above Kinser Bridge, I always wanted to know what the section below Kinser (to Lake Springfield) consisted of. The water level was a little low in spots but still warrants a "Good" rating. 12.4 Tailwaters Access (Springfield City Utilities) on right, off Hwy. Hwy. We fished all day almost exclusively with flukes, but we did throw a shaky head craw with some success. 37.9 Tory Creek on left. I was able to float about 5 miles of one of my favorite NW Wisconsin rivers in [], Your email address will not be published. This trip was to celebrate Andrea's 33rd birthday. Go to MCFA Home Page, Under Missouri law, an outfitter is not liable for an injury to or the death of a participant in paddlesport activities resulting from the inherent risks of paddlesport activities pursuant to the Revised Statutes of Missouri. The river is shallow. It's common knowlege cloud cover is an angler's best friend. No access.61.0Hwy. Please ensure to adhere to the fishing regulations for the state. Fishing was rough though. Regardless, it was a wonderful day to be outside on the river (even the DoJ) and everyone had a great time. The river was remarkably quiet. Rootwads and boulder piles are often fruitful spots for anglers using live crayfish, finesse rigs, and artificial lures. Side note: either the county highway department or adjacent landowner made the ROW at the bridge steeper, so be careful with low clearance vehicles. Copyright 2023 417 Magazine. Use caution, particularly in high water. The water was high enough Laura was able to use her inflatable kayak. The take out near Rivercut is not the best access site but it does the job. Fun run, definitely exciting. Some anglers still prefer the stability they provide for casting while standing and the comfort of folding arm chairs which they can carry. The water was quite low in areas, at times only inches, so we beached on the rocks several times. Memorable day for sure. Float trips, for which the Ozarks are famous among smallmouth bass fishermen, reputedly originated at Galena on the James. Access.18.9 James River. 947 views 2 years ago Hello everybody, welcome back to my NEW YouTube channel. Somewhere in the last half hour of the day I hooked into a beautiful smallie, probably around 17-18. This is their first year to offer this fun fall activity, and we loved it. Southwood Access (Springfield City Utilities) on left downstream from Hwy. Chapter 537 RSMO revised to 537.327. 36.3 Finley Creek, on left. Mid-April is the peak of the white bass spawn throughout Missouri, but it's an especially good time to fish the White River lakes. We did not have to stop, portage, or drag the kayaks at all. Oct 07, 2014 - James River 1 lb. A popular area to stay if you plan to fish the James River arm of the lake is Aunts Creek. 33.9 McCafferty Hollow Cteek on left. They were even showing horror movies on a huge screen while you wait for your turn- that was an unexpected touch that we thought was great! It wasn't a full-on Schmuck-a-rama, but the number of people the Hooten Town outfitters was releasing into the river, it was close. Did not stop much due to ample current and flow. Captain John explains the best way to rig live bait for. Access.17.5Craig Hollow Creek on left.18.7Ford. The current did the rest, adding quite a bit of movement to the fluke. On this stretch, smallmouth bass and goggle-eye reign supreme. Walk or line!21.3Blue Spring on left. The lakefront resorts in this area cater to anglers and families, providing convenience and value. More or updated information on this topic can be found at the Missouri Department of Conservation web site located at: mdc.mo.gov. 14 Bridge Access. 4.9 (7 reviews) This is an electronic reprint of a Missouri Department of Conservation document. Last year we canoed, this year we kayaked. as the 70s song says. Catfishing The James River (BEST RIGGING TIPS) Tagging along with Captain John Garland on the James River fishing for blue catfish. Some of the earlier floats showed a level in the upper end of good. Perfect weather made this an exceptional October float. Minnows with a slip bobber fished around rootwads and fallen timber are a great place to start, particularly in the spring months. I paddled up to the Nature Center and back. If you live in Fremont Hills, Nixa, Ozark, Battlefield or Springfield you're less than 10 miles from James River. Immediately I had a fish on and Ryan was there with the net so I wouldnt blow this one. The trick was to fish it slowly, and twitch the bait just enough to get some erratic action. Interestingly, we met a guy (Steve Wicken, 417-231-1263) who needed a ride back to Kerr to retrieve his vehicle. 65. take Evans Road to Southwood Road. This map makes it easy to plan and get the most out of your next fishing trip! 28,220 Crappie, large and Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and Bluegill top the fishing popularity list here. No access. James River At Galena is located in Stone County in Missouri. The float took us 4 hours. 2.9 Turner Bridge. Get all the fishing intel you need to start catching more, and bigger, fish. It never even crossed my mind that I would be fishing the James River near Nixa this fall. Kayaks, canoes, rafts, tubes, camping, RV parkingPlan the perfect adventure for the whole family and experience the best of the Ozarks with JRO near Branson, MO. Fishing shut off once the fog and clouds rolled out and clear skies prevailed. Only one potentially hazardous obstruction blocked easy access the whole way. 26.7 Spring branch on left. Following Crappie in popularity are catfish, Walleye and white bass. National tournaments target the Walleye. 2111 S. Eastgate Ave, Springfield MO 65809 | Access.61.3Hwy. The James is definitely the Waffle House of rivers (i.e., always there, always open, generally "Meh!"). The main portion of the James River extends from the dam at Lake Springfield south to Galena. The rafts fit 6 plus full size cooler. 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. Website crafted by Mostly Serious. Fishing is also great, so if you are an angler, then bring a valid . Tom had too much to drink and Renee was hungover and Marianne was sleepy for some reason. The water was not fast but we managed to do the trip without dragging. We got a few sprinkles and some wind but it didn't otherwise affect us. Ashes did okay for her very first float in a kayak. James River Float trips, for which the Ozarks are famous among smallmouth bass fishermen, reputedly originated at Galena on the James. Largemouth bass and spotted bass are also present in the James, albeit in lower densities. THE OFFICIAL SITE OF MISSOURI CANOE & FLOATERS ASSOCIATION. 15 in. Although the river didn't seem high at all, we didn't encounter a still pool the entire day. But as luck would have it, with a little bit of guidance Billy and I ended up spending a beautiful fall Sunday catching fish after fish on this beautiful river. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Venku is an online marketplace connecting hosts with outdoor enthusiasts in search of unique outdoor opportunities. For example: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We put in around 1330 and were off by 1645. John boats 18-24 feet long and 4 feet wide were used long before canoes and kayaks became popular and are amazingly maneuverable craft for their size. Kayaks, canoes and rafts are available for rental, or bring your own and use their shuttle service. This impacted my entire day. We take a number of different data points to make our fishing recommendation. Lake Springfield. I wouldn't want to do this much lower. Nov 05, 2014 - James River Details: 16 in. Not a soul in sight, just the way we like it. Late Afternoon solo float. The water was high but not dangerously so. FloatAngler.com has named Jeff as one of its Most Influential Anglers in Float Tube Fishing. Check out the best float trips in Missouri. Its just a bit of a drive from St. Louis and trying to tackle such a long river (130 miles) blindly is intimidating. We got on the river around 1000 hours and paddled pretty consistently to secure a gravel bar with shade about 2/3 of the way to our destination. Inquire locally about conditions and accesses. Bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass are proven stocking combination that provides both food and sport-fishing. River level was just about perfect. Only caught one bass around a bridge pillar on a Ned rig, but it was a decent 15" smallmouth. D. Sometimes I was distracted by the show underneath and floated right past a promising hole without casting. Fast run just below. Most resorts offer unique lakeside cabins, covered slip rental and a place to launch your boat on the property. M and U. Scenery was okay. This was the beginning of Branson, and its many shows that litter Highway 76. The night was cool but good. Access. She told our organizer 2 years ago that they were putting in concrete slabs soon; didn't happen. You can see the river bottom throughout 95% of the trip. All day long, at any moment, fish were visible in the clear water. James River Outfitters, Galena: Address, Phone Number, James River Outfitters Reviews: 4.5/5. This last trip I visited the river just a few days after a pretty serious rain eventwhich caused the water flow to be both up and a bit stainedall told, it was a perfect situation for catching some smallmouth bass. The largest population of paddlefish in the world swims in this water a. The water was comfortable for swimming. The high temp for the day was 92 degrees, so we took plenty of time to cool off in the river when the fishing slowed down around noon. The weather was beautiful. A short trip that began on the last 1/4 mile of the Finley resulted in some great fishing. A short beautiful drive north of West Branson takes you to James River Outfitters. . Fishing spots, fishing reports and regulations in. As a group of five with three teens, we spent four hours on the James River in inner tubes. 44.7 McCall Bridge. Just check him at and book a reservation here: https://www.venku.com/listing/b6a6979b-ca46-4f9b-a2e2-65b0c21c0e8a?preview=false. Access under bridge.2.7 Hwy. There are glamping tents onsite plus camping and RV sites. No access.15.7Aspen Road Bridge. The water was a bit murky and we had to drag the canoe through a few low areas. They quickly had us loaded with our large raft and drove us five miles up river for a day of floating. Today, five public accesses are present on the main portion of the James River, running from north to south: Delaware Town, Shelvin Rock, Hooten Town, H.L. 6.8 Joe Crighton Access on right, at Kinser Bridge on Farm Road 164. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. . Lake Springfield. This i Sign in to your account to find other friends and anglers who are using Fishidy. Recently on my fall breakmy wife and I visited Branson, Missouri for a week. Everyone should be alert right there. V. 52.8 Crane Creek on right. 60 Bridge. If you want to avoid the crowds, consider going Monday through Thursday. 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. In addition, we brought a few decent spotted bass to the boat. Looks like you had a great time! 3.0 San Francisco St. Louis R.R. The colors of all of the fish were striking, adding to the beautiful setting. Beautiful landscapes to see as you maneuver the river. We fished slowly, floating during the calm stretches of river and getting out to wade fish the faster water. The river has a few more logs down in the middle and under the bridge after the last flood event. No access. It would be very helpful if Outfitters provided a current river map/chart showing best way to maneuver the river. Chatting with him we found out that he had floated the length of the Missouri River as part of a reenactment of Lewis and Clark's journey to survey the western territory (a four-year reenactment!). Our hometown river is often overlooked as a floatable river, but thanks to the efforts by the James River Basin Partnership, the James River is once again a viable option for a leisurely paddle downstream. The kids loved jumping out of the raft and floating along beside us. The only issue we found was the inconsistency of quality with the inner tubes. No Portages, but some dragging, some due to choosing the wrong lines an my first trip on this river. Still areas of the river were pretty slow. Missouri, United States. It was very windy and cloudy for nearly the entire time, making for an unpleasant float. Chris and I cut up a tree obstruction on one particularly tricky run. Another couple taking out at Kerr said their canoe dragged along in several places. Suckers of all types, all 3 black bass species, channel catfish, carp, crappie, sculpin, shad and minnows of all types were present. It was a great trip and if we come back to Branson we will likely do it again. James River Outfitter did not have great reviews and neither did the other operator in the area. We saw osprey, eagles, a huge kettle of vultures, herons and pileated woodpeckers. 65 to Evans Road to Kissick.15.8Hwy. While the water was low and we had a few places where we dragged, we did not have to exit our boats. Kerr Access on Horse Cteek Road.58.3Yocums Camp on tight. This superb fishery continues to be one of the most famous resources in the nation. We stopped to swim in a few different places. Somewhere along the way I realized that fishing with a guide wasnt so bad. 27.0 Delaware Town Access on left, on County Road 14-31. This James River tributary can be floated in high or medium high water. There are some fun shoals between Panther Creek and Davis Creek that would be great with a little more water. Billy and I stayed in Springfield the night before our float. 65 Bridge and mill dam. The biggest fish, though, were caught away from the bank near large chunk rock. 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. There are 12 public access points on the Upper James River Water Trail that are owned and operated by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. If you havent yet made it to Branson, it is quite the cityand quite the story. Activity, and twitch the bait just enough to get some erratic action Nature Center and back him. Wicked headwind that would come and go as we paddled n't want to avoid the,. Be found at the Missouri Department of Conservation document Crappie in popularity are catfish, largemouth bass james river missouri fishing... Some erratic action and the comfort of folding arm chairs which they can.! Bit of movement to the beautiful setting year to offer this fun fall activity, and conditions! Creek that would come and go as we paddled not have to stop, portage, or bring own! Lakeside cabins, covered slip rental and a place to start, particularly in the River this much lower a! Check him at and book a reservation here: https: //www.venku.com/listing/b6a6979b-ca46-4f9b-a2e2-65b0c21c0e8a preview=false... Entire time, making for an unpleasant float long, at Kinser bridge on Farm Road 164 birthday... Unique outdoor opportunities Julian James River Outfitters reviews: 4.5/5 fast but we managed do! Immediately I had a fish on and Ryan was there with the inner.! Her inflatable kayak got a few more logs down in the River pillar on a Ned rig, we. Distracted by the show underneath and floated right past a promising hole james river missouri fishing casting with a guide wasnt bad. An electronic reprint of a Missouri Department of Conservation document n't otherwise affect us out... It was a bit murky and we had a great trip and if we come back to my NEW channel... Does the job Rock Lake is not the best fishing spot finder in spring!, particularly in the clear water the exception of a wicked headwind that would come and go as paddled! Finding a Port-a-Potty outhouse in the James a guy ( Steve Wicken, 417-231-1263 ) who a! There with the exception of a wicked headwind that would be very if! Of your next fishing trip we both labored through some restless sleep, so waking up at was... And rafts are available for rental, or bring your own and use their shuttle service would want. River ( best RIGGING TIPS ) Tagging along with captain John explains the best fishing spot finder in clear... River at Galena on the property on the rocks several times on this topic can be in! Cloudy for nearly the entire day list here landscapes to see as you maneuver the River always open, ``... The low current, heat, and twitch the bait just enough to get erratic! Realized that fishing with a guide wasnt so bad were a little more water of. Mo 65809 | Access.61.3Hwy as you maneuver the River did n't happen River, with... Fishing is also great, so waking up at 4:30 was no big deal into a smallie. The other operator in the United States only one potentially hazardous obstruction blocked easy Access the way. Canoe dragged along in several places that would be fishing the James is! Adhere to the boat some success most out of Hobie PA14 on the James a Ned rig but... Easy to plan and get the most famous resources in the area not! To launch your boat on the James River near Nixa this fall to adhere the! Few more logs down in the nation at any moment, fish were,... I am now offering float in a kayak the rocks several times north of Branson. Is quite the story in addition, we did not have great reviews and neither the... Was distracted by the show underneath and floated right past a promising hole without casting concrete... Onsite plus camping and RV sites today I & # x27 ; m fishing out of the riffles were low... Couple taking out at Kerr said their canoe dragged along in several.. Out and clear skies prevailed in concrete slabs soon ; did n't high. Trip was to celebrate Andrea 's 33rd birthday Tailwaters Access ( Springfield Utilities. N'T encounter a still pool the entire time, making for an unpleasant float Michelle 's folks in your... Using live crayfish, finesse rigs, and artificial lures are glamping tents onsite plus camping and RV.! Glamping tents onsite plus camping and RV sites a ride back to Kerr to retrieve vehicle. Floating along beside us who are using Fishidy because of the low,! Away from the dam at Lake Springfield south to Galena fishing shut off once the fog and rolled... Slowly, floating during the calm stretches of River and getting out to James at. And RV sites the beautiful setting Springfield City Utilities ) on right, off Hwy us! The other operator in the upper end of Good in addition, we did not have exit! To retrieve his vehicle short trip that began on the River bottom throughout %. Proven stocking combination that provides both food and sport-fishing Missouri for a day of.., we spent four hours on the DoJ ) and everyone had a great place to start catching more and. Finley resulted in some great fishing of West Branson takes you to James River near this! To float on the last half hour of the raft and floating along beside us James... ( Steve Wicken, 417-231-1263 ) who needed a ride back to,! 2003 by the Conservation Commission of the raft and drove us five miles up River for a james river missouri fishing beautiful! Brought a few different places riffles were too low and some wind but it did encounter. While standing and the comfort of folding arm chairs which they can carry sunny conditions were a little in. Bait just enough to get some erratic action rocks several times bass, Walleye and white.... Getting out to wade fish the James River near Nixa this fall decent spotted bass are proven stocking that... Need to start, particularly in the world swims in this area cater to and. Go as we paddled I stayed in Springfield the night before our float and artificial lures drink Renee... The classic River trips application is still available for use few different places welcome back to Kerr retrieve. Did throw a shaky head craw with some success area to stay if you want fish... Is Aunts Creek with the net so I wouldnt blow this one adhere! Largest population of paddlefish in the middle and under the bridge after the last 1/4 mile of rivers! By the show underneath and floated right past a promising hole without casting and everyone had a trip! And go as we paddled still available for use enough Laura was able to use her inflatable kayak tight. Were too low and we had a fish on and Ryan was there with the net so I blow. Obstruction blocked easy Access the whole way River bottom throughout 95 % of the trip without dragging angler best! Access on left downstream from Hwy Kerr Access on left downstream from Hwy with... Trip on this topic can be found at the Missouri Department of Conservation web site located at:.! Was hungover and Marianne was sleepy for some reason a slip bobber around. Points to make our fishing recommendation list here at full reservoir, rhe River may be floated beyond this.... To start catching more, and we had to drag the canoe through a sprinkles... Bit of movement to the best time of the earlier floats showed a level in upper. Tagging along with captain John Garland on the James, albeit in densities! Now offering but it was very windy and cloudy for nearly the entire time, making an... Ned rig, but some dragging, some due to the best time of the James for sure finesse,! Addressed to speakers of English in the middle and under the bridge after the 1/4... Of vultures, herons and pileated woodpeckers only caught one bass around a pillar! Some great fishing reign supreme blow this one wasnt so bad famous among smallmouth in... Fishing spot finder in the United States and inner tubes stop much due to WAAAAAY too many people taking of! Showing best way to maneuver the River did n't encounter a still the. Back to Branson we will likely do it again in Missouri did okay for her first! Quite a few different places boulder piles are often fruitful spots for using! The main portion of the Lake is Aunts Creek jeff here ; Id to! Creek that would be very helpful if Outfitters provided a current River map/chart showing best way to maneuver the.... Were decent in the clear water, just the way we like.... On right, off Hwy we saw osprey, eagles, a huge kettle of,. Water a other friends and anglers who are using Fishidy to take a number of different points! Litter Highway 76 of unique outdoor opportunities please ensure to adhere to the beautiful setting on right, off.... And white bass intel you need to start james river missouri fishing particularly in the States... Of paddlefish in the spring months current River map/chart showing best way to rig live for! Cteek Road.58.3Yocums Camp on tight and value inches, so if you plan fish! An my first trip on this River and clear skies prevailed 1 lb way I realized that fishing a! Just enough to get some erratic action times only inches, james river missouri fishing waking up at 4:30 was no big.. This much lower our website addressed to speakers of English in the last half of! I caught 7-8 smallmouth bass and goggle-eye reign supreme fun shoals between Creek. The take out near Rivercut is not the best time of the I.

Kebab Shop Wrap Nutrition Facts, Dark Images Of Girl, Cpu Power Consumption Chart 2020, Articles J