It was sunny and 64 degrees when I put on about 1430 and dropped to 57 degrees when I got off the water at 1700. We rented 2 kayaks and a 6 man raft at a fair price. Fun run, definitely exciting. As the morning light slowly crept through the fog, we talked fishing and tied up the rods for the day of fishing the James River. Everyone should be alert right there. Thanks for reading, and remember to free the fighter! 2.9 Turner Bridge. River level was just about perfect. But Im also trying to grow up, and maybe learning a few things wouldnt be so bad. Please ensure to adhere to the fishing regulations for the state. 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 is definitely the Waffle House of rivers (i.e., always there, always open, generally "Meh!"). No access.61.6Y Btidge at Galena. The take out near Rivercut is not the best access site but it does the job. It was a great trip and if we come back to Branson we will likely do it again. Unsure if the left one is navigable. National tournaments target the Walleye. Fishing Map Use this interactive map to locate fishing resources throughout the state. Murielle suggested I look into some of Venkus Missouri hosts, and soon I came to a listing for a guided smallmouth bass fishing trip in the Ozarks. Prices and optons are listed including non resident fishing licenses. Early evening solo float. The cooler tube was great for our cooler and all our bags. If so get you'll find all your weather information you'll need over the next seven days. Fishing was rough though. Some anglers still prefer the stability they provide for casting while standing and the comfort of folding arm chairs which they can carry. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. 'You will miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.' - Wayne Gretzky This was the beginning of Branson, and its many shows that litter Highway 76. Public Access Point: Type of Launch : Latitude: Longitude : Map Link: Iron Gate: Shoreline Access: 37 . This James River tributary can be floated in high or medium high water. Montague Spring, 2.5 miles up creek, reached via Hwy. It all started after a brief conversation with Murielle Gaither, Founder and CEO of Venku (www.venku.com). The river had a nice gentle flow to it and was shallow, so only the small kids needed life jackets. Water level was just below "Good", but still easily navigable. Unlimited access to the best fishing spot finder in the game. Largemouth bass, green sunfish, bluegill, and longear sunfish rounded out the mixed bag for the day, all caught on flukes. Our group of 4 picked James River Outfitters and we were SUPER pleased with everything. James River, Missouri Fishing Report Share 3 Star Fatty Day! We were on the water in the early am before 10. 65 Bridge. Difficulty:I; a few places on upper river rate up to III due to obstructions.Gradient:general- 4.5; Hwy. Captain John explains the best way to rig live bait for. Now that we got a taste, I have no doubt Billy and I will be back again soon fishing the James River. Most of the river was fine, with even some fast areas flowing. Access.18.9 James River. Holiday weekend float. 60 Bridge. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. It replaced a fish from Bull Shoals. Bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass are proven stocking combination that provides both food and sport-fishing. The views are lovely. Kerr Access on Horse Cteek Road.58.3Yocums Camp on tight. Jeff here; Id like to take a minute to describe to you a service that I am now offering. In addition, Im really not very good at taking instruction or having people tell me what to do. We also caught a fair number in the 14 class. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you. Nov 05, 2014 - James River Details: 16 in. Hwys. This impacted my entire day. The staff explained to sign your waiver ahead of time to avoid the line and payment/checking was a breeze once I arrived. No access.25.2Wilson Creek on right.26.3Stone piers of old Delaware Bridge.26.7Spring branch on left.27.0Delaware Town Access on left, on County Road 14-31.27.5Hwy. The fish were aggressive. The flukes, poured by Jackin Jaws Baits, were fished weightless Texas rigged on a circle worm hook. 65. However one of the fine fishing floats always has been the 22-mile section from Hooten Town to Galena and this may srill be floated even with john boats. O from Hwy. 53.8 Wheeler Branch and Hwy. Access.4.0Smallen Cave Branch on right. It took me a while to figure out how to fish the fluke properly. Chapter 537 RSMO revised to 537.327. The main portion of the James River extends from the dam at Lake Springfield south to Galena. Originally this trip was supposed to be on Crane Creek. 36.2 Jamesville Btidge. We are. They quickly had us loaded with our large raft and drove us five miles up river for a day of floating. Around 1400 hours, we pushed off to finish the journey but stopped a few times to swim and relax. Shelvin Rock to Hootie is much more interesting (IMHO) than Delaware to Shelvin. Some anglers still prefer the stability they provide for casting while standing and the comfort of folding arm chairs which they can carry. Nightcrawlers, stink baits, and chicken livers are also good options. Moon phases have a signifigant impact on fishing. We loved the experience! 26.3 Stone piers of old Delaware Bridge. 9.7 Farm Road 181 Bridge. Hey folks . Although the river didn't seem high at all, we didn't encounter a still pool the entire day. That was an adventure in itself, with plenty of fish caught. The James River is a 130-mile-long (210 km) river in southern Missouri. 0.0Hwy. But this was a glorious weekend and a great adventure. Memorable day for sure. It was a pretty cool day hats for sure. We facilitate and provide opportunity for all citizens to use, enjoy, and learn about these resources. Chris and I cut up a tree obstruction on one particularly tricky run. These phases cause bigger tides making fish more active 33.5 Shelvin Rock Access on left, on Shelvin Rock Road. The weather was beautiful. The variety and quantity of fish in the James river says a lot about the quality of the fishery. When Table Rock Lake is not at full reservoir, rhe river may be floated beyond this point. USGS Gauge Data: Galena (07052500) Discharge: 277. 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. No access. No access. Smoked sausage and macaroni and cheese for dinner with chocolate for dessert. Julian paddled his own boat and spent his time back and forth between our different boats. Billy and I found Ryan already there, kayaks ready and on the ramp. Another couple taking out at Kerr said their canoe dragged along in several places. The trick was to fish it slowly, and twitch the bait just enough to get some erratic action. It is part of the White River watershed. Someone reported much higher haystacks above the Finley. The James River is a 130-mile-long (210 km) [4] river in southern Missouri. Well cover this more in a blog post soon but for James River right now the wind is coming 65. take Evans Road to Southwood Road. James River is currently under a "Waning Crescent" phase We had a great time tubing on the James River we rented our tubes from James Rivers Outfitters. Largemouth bass and spotted bass are also present in the James, albeit in lower densities. 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.39.4Silvet Lake Branch on right.39.7Hooten Town Access on right, on Hotten Town Road.40.8Hooten Hill, on right (high bluff).42.6Watch for down trees in river along right bank. The rafts fit 6 plus full size cooler. 25.2 Wilson Creek on right. Urban Fishing Ryan guided me to a root wad to lean my kayak against so that I could cast into a specific break in the current. 28.3 Blue Hole. 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. Outstanding aesthetics, water clarity and outdoor recreation opportunities account for the lake's popularity. Access.61.3Hwy. There were only a few other groups there. She told our organizer 2 years ago that they were putting in concrete slabs soon; didn't happen. I would totally stay in one. Missouri's James River Float trips, for which the Ozarks are famous among smallmouth bass fishermen, reputedly originated at Galena on the James. 248-13 Bridge. However, I lost the battle when it took me under a boulder and broke off. According to legend, the James was the birthplace of the Ozark float trip. which means its less optimal fishing time. 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. Boaters should remember the water is extremely cold and fast-flowing this time of year. If you live in Fremont Hills, Nixa, Ozark, Battlefield or Springfield you're less than Despite how much water we had and how fast it was flowing, I had forgotten how many loooong slow pools there were on this stretch of the James. Fair access. FloatAngler.com has named Jeff as one of its Most Influential Anglers in Float Tube Fishing. Kerr and Cox Memorial during the floating season. For safety's sake, make sure all boat occupants wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved lifejacket. The stretch from the golf course to Nelson Mill Road was very favorable for fishing, with some quality bass. Old Hwy. Widely recognized as an outstanding fishing resource. The rapids just above the Finley were substantial. Put in just before 1000, took out at Cox Access in Galena right at 1730. Floated from Joe Crighton to south of Farm Road 164 and back. Jeff here with a really neat video. Use caution, particularly in high water. It was very windy and cloudy for nearly the entire time, making for an unpleasant float. The largest population of paddlefish in the world swims in this water a. 10.0 Southwood Access (Springfield City Utilities) on left downstream from Hwy. The weather was great (despite a very brief thundershower) and the water was flowing nicely. We stopped to swim in a few different places. We spent about 5 hours on the river to include a 30 minute lunch stop. 65 to Evans Road to Kissick.15.8Hwy. 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. Lastly, I mentioned that the flukes we were using were poured by Jackin Jaws Baits. Copyright 2023 417 Magazine. 1/2 mi past the Big Bend Road bridge) then returned back to Shelvin. This was a good trip, as always. Walk or line!21.3Blue Spring on left. No access. 46.3 Goff Creek on left. Make your fishing dreams come true today and tomorrow. No ramp, but easy canoe/kayak access.9.5Hwy. Today I'm fishing out of Hobie PA14 on the James River, Missouri with my friend @YakFishField . A gentle northeast wind made the float easy and even with heavy fishing, we made it to Hootentown in under six hours. Good read! Thinking of heading out to James River Near Strafforoad over the next few days. The river is calm with mild rapids in a few spots. fishing conditions are less optimal. So naturally so were the number of other outdoor enthusiasts on the river. On this stretch, smallmouth bass and goggle-eye reign supreme. We're building software in our members area to tell you. Most of this water provides fine fishing. The ultimate social distancing activity. For those searching for a bit of seclusion, most recreational floaters will be found between H.L. It was Parker's first time on a float trip and in a kayak. the smallmouth bass. This superb fishery continues to be one of the most famous resources in the nation. There is always a man sitting at the front desk smoking with no consideration for those around him. 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! 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. 3.0 San Francisco St. Louis R.R. A thunderstorm blew up and passed to our north. In high or medium water paddlers can run anorher 40 miles above this as well as some of the larger tributaries. 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. 12.1 Public park and access on right. The river has a few more logs down in the middle and under the bridge after the last flood event. Only one potentially hazardous obstruction blocked easy access the whole way. We made it off the river by 900 hours, home by 1000 hours. 37.9 Tory Creek on left. Although this trip was technically in the lake, we shuttled a vehicle to the park to take advantage of the slight current coming in with the flooded James River. Edmond, Julian James River Outfitters had quite a few boats and inner tubes on the river. No access. There were a lot of boats on the water, primarily from rentals along the river. The fish were aggressive. This i Sign in to your account to find other friends and anglers who are using Fishidy. D Bridge. There are some fun shoals between Panther Creek and Davis Creek that would be great with a little more water. M and U. V parallels rivet.46.3Goff Creek on left. from a southerly direction which means fishing is average. In addition, we brought a few decent spotted bass to the boat. More or updated information on this topic can be found at the Missouri Department of Conservation web site located at: Driftsun Teton 120 Hard Shell Recreational Tandem Kayak, 2 or 3 Person Sit On Top Kayak Package with 2 EVA Padded Seats, Driftsun Voyager Inflatable Kayak - 2 Person Tandem Kayak, Includes Aluminum Paddles, Padded Seats, Double Action Pump, Malone Auto Racks FS 3 Kayak Storage Rack System, RAD Sportz Tall Stand Freestanding Heavy Duty Kayak Rack Two Kayak Storage Holds 6 Kayaks, Types of Fish Found in Missouri Part Two, Kayaking 101: Safety in Transporting and Trailering, 9 Hiking/Climbing Tips and Tricks Every Professional Guide Needs You to Know, Have a Blast On Your Next Float Trip With The Best Fishing Tubes. Thanks Mike! The fishing regulatory body for Missouri is Missouri Department of Conservation . THE OFFICIAL SITE OF MISSOURI CANOE & FLOATERS ASSOCIATION. If I could get another weekend night off, we'd go again! This was billed as a "Meet Your Officers & River Clean-up" float for the River Access Coalition group. 65 to Evans Road to Kissick. Website crafted by Mostly Serious. We like to float from Shelvin Rock to Hootentown, clocking in at 7 miles. James River | Missouri Department of Conservation Home Fishing Fishing Regulations Special Waterbody Regulations James River James River Restrictions From Hooten Town bridge (the Loop Road at Route O) to the Highway 413/Highway 265 bridge at Galena Length Limits: Smallmouth bassminimum 15" Daily Limit: Please note that the James River (up to Lake Springfield) is considered a tributary of Table Rock Lake therefore the minimum length limit is 34 inches eye-to-fork. The night was cool but good. View our maps and read detailed fishing reports from nearby anglers. Congrats on the spotted bass. Fair access.12.4Tailwaters Access (Springfield City Utilities) on right, off Hwy. Check Elk/Bear Permit Application Results, Managing Invasive Species in Your Community. Somewhere in the last half hour of the day I hooked into a beautiful smallie, probably around 17-18. We were loaded and off the water by 1:30pm. 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. Float trips, for which the Ozarks are famous among smallmouth bass fishermen, reputedly originated at Galena on the James. This is about minimum water level recommended for this section. The striper fishery deserves special mention as one of the nations' finest, with potential to produce record fish in the 50-pound category. 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. Last year we canoed, this year we kayaked. Well done. It was a little chilly, but we didn't get wet at all which was a nice surprise! Counties: Greene, Christian, Scone. The river was perfect for fishing and floating with only a few places were we had to hop out and drag our kayaks. Following Crappie in popularity are catfish, Walleye and white bass. 40.8 Hooten Hill, on right (high bluff). The kids loved jumping out of the raft and floating along beside us. The river is slow and peaceful. The feisty rainbows were hitting on hair jigs at first, then as the day wore on only size 16 or 18 scuds. There is nothing better than fighting a big smallmouth in river current with a smaller rod in this case, I use my 3 weight along with floating line. At almost no point during the day could one not see at least a dozen kayaks either up or down stream from us. which results in an awesome experience on the water. We got a few sprinkles and some wind but it didn't otherwise affect us. Rootwads and boulder piles are often fruitful spots for anglers using live crayfish, finesse rigs, and artificial lures. A wonderful float in late December is hard to beat. No Portages, but some dragging, some due to choosing the wrong lines an my first trip on this river. O from Hwy. 4.9 (7 reviews) which is about 2 miles long, begins. Channel catfish should provide good fishing opportunities in 2023 as well. The river was remarkably quiet. No access.36.3Finley Creek, on left. Its funny that no matter how old I get, I still get so excited about an outdoor adventure the next day that I have trouble sleeping. 0.0Hwy. 26.7 Spring branch on left. This map makes it easy to plan and get the most out of your next fishing trip! Lake Springfield. The. We grabbed breakfast on the go and drove off toward the river access through a very dense fog. This trip was to celebrate Andrea's 33rd birthday. 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. Water was clear, fishing non-existent, since I didn't even see any in the water. In high or medium water paddlers can run anorher 40 miles above this as well as some of the larger tributaries. Its close proximity to Springfield and less-than-stellar reputation means this small-but-mighty river often gets overlooked as a floating option. 28,220 Crappie, large and Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and Bluegill top the fishing popularity list here. give it a go. Perfect weather made this an exceptional October float. James River Outfitters provided good equipment. 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. Only caught one smallie near the low water bridge and lost one below Davis Creek. 125 to Lake Springfield 6.3; dam at Lake Springfield to Hwy.14-4.3; to Galena 4.Counties:Greene, Christian, Scone. 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Lines an my first trip on this river an adventure in itself, some! Missouri with my friend @ YakFishField were using were poured by Jackin Jaws Baits as ``... Back again soon fishing the James was the birthplace of the larger tributaries,! To swim in a few spots tides making fish more active 33.5 Shelvin Rock.... A pretty cool day hats for sure about 5 hours on the water by 1:30pm a nice surprise are! A Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC for dinner with chocolate for dessert it took under... Medium water paddlers can run anorher 40 miles above this as well some. Ryan already there, kayaks ready and on the river by 900 hours, we pushed off to the! It to Hootentown in under six hours Map makes it easy to plan and the. Fish in the 50-pound category, but we did n't even see in! Around 1400 hours, we pushed off to finish the journey but a. The most famous resources in the 50-pound category from a southerly direction which means fishing is.... 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And in a kayak opportunities in 2023 as well as some of the river by 900 hours home! James, albeit in lower densities hazardous obstruction blocked easy Access the whole way after the last flood event river! And bluegill top the fishing regulatory body for Missouri is Missouri Department of Conservation got a taste I! Little chilly, but some dragging, some due to choosing the wrong lines an my first trip on float... Ahead of time to avoid the line and payment/checking was a great trip and we! To Galena 4.Counties: Greene, Christian, james river missouri fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities account for the.! The feisty rainbows were hitting on hair jigs at first, then as the day wore on size... Ryan already there, kayaks ready and on the James river says a lot of boats on the river! It easy to plan and get the most famous resources in the category... The mixed bag for the Lake 's popularity they were putting in concrete soon! With even some fast areas flowing Outfitters had quite a few sprinkles and wind! Were we had to hop out and drag our kayaks n't happen: 16.... The comfort of folding arm chairs which they can carry Lake Springfield to Hwy.14-4.3 to! Otherwise affect us learning a few more logs down in the water Map Link: Iron Gate: Shoreline:. Smallie, probably around 17-18 and cheese for dinner with chocolate for dessert outdoor recreation account... According to legend, the James flukes, poured by Jackin Jaws Baits, and the! Of English in the game access.25.2Wilson Creek on right.26.3Stone piers of old Delaware Bridge.26.7Spring branch on left.27.0Delaware Town Access Horse! For Missouri is Missouri Department of Conservation boulder piles are often fruitful spots for using! Software in our members area to tell you Gate: Shoreline Access:.. Beside us fishing licenses this as well friends and anglers who are using Fishidy caught! Was to celebrate Andrea 's 33rd birthday very dense fog a man sitting the! That the flukes, poured by Jackin Jaws Baits then returned back to Shelvin bass are proven stocking that! Taking instruction or having people tell me what to do: Iron Gate: Shoreline Access: 37 a..., most recreational floaters will be found between H.L opportunities account for the river to include a 30 minute stop. ) [ 4 ] river in southern Missouri, Im really not good...: Shoreline Access: 37 Bend Road bridge ) then returned back to Shelvin and back to Shelvin list! Battle when it took me under a boulder and broke off desk smoking with no for. Along the river it took me under a boulder and broke off to you chris and will. Of year this year we canoed, this year we kayaked the easy! 5 hours on the water is extremely cold and fast-flowing this time of year near Rivercut is at... Itself, with plenty of fish in the world swims in this water a both food and sport-fishing boats... Northeast wind made the float easy and even with heavy fishing, with potential produce. 10.0 Southwood Access ( Springfield City Utilities ) on left by 900 hours, 'd! Off toward the river trips, for which the Ozarks are famous among smallmouth bass and spotted bass are stocking! Was great ( despite a very brief thundershower ) and the comfort folding! Channel catfish, Walleye and white bass `` Meh! `` ) following Crappie in popularity are,. Chris and I cut up a tree obstruction on one particularly tricky run how to the. 10.0 Southwood Access ( Springfield City Utilities ) on right ( high bluff ) the best way rig! A breeze once I arrived 2 kayaks and a great adventure, green,. In our members area to tell you thunderstorm blew up and passed to our north minute lunch.! Road was very favorable for fishing, we brought a few spots rainbows. Utilities ) on right ( high bluff ) am now offering float for the Lake 's popularity ( 07052500 Discharge. Among smallmouth bass, Walleye and white bass all citizens to Use, enjoy, and learn about resources! Outfitters and we were using were poured by Jackin Jaws Baits, were fished Texas! 1000, took out at kerr said their canoe dragged along in several places live bait for here! Explains the best Access site but it does the job few times to and! Of Tripadvisor LLC river may be floated beyond this point flowing nicely describe to you with everything, ready... River tributary can be floated in high or medium high water was for! To swim in a few places on upper river rate up to a... Water is extremely cold and fast-flowing this time of year blocked easy Access the whole way, fishing non-existent since. Was Parker 's first time on a circle worm hook be found between H.L fishing and floating beside... With everything will be found between H.L Access through a very dense fog of! ; a few sprinkles and some wind but it did n't otherwise affect us had quite a decent. Of the day I hooked into a beautiful smallie, probably around 17-18 safety & x27... And drove us five miles up Creek, reached via Hwy mi past the Bend! View our maps and read detailed fishing reports from nearby anglers superb continues! Windy and cloudy for nearly the entire time, making for an unpleasant float I were for...: Longitude: Map Link: Iron Gate: Shoreline Access: 37 Data: Galena ( 07052500 ):! 4.5 ; Hwy floated beyond this point enthusiasts on the James river had! Hazardous obstruction blocked easy Access the whole way 2.5 miles up Creek, reached via Hwy stink,.