Not thinking through the full potential for a HUGE schmuck-a-rama to happen on the DoJ this Saturday, we arrived at Shelvin Rock to find the river access PACKED with fellow paddlers, cars, and trailers. Get all the fishing intel you need to start catching more, and bigger, fish. The water was high but not dangerously so. Took us about 4 1/2 hours to do this trip. Widely recognized as an outstanding fishing resource. AA near O to church.52.8Crane Creek on right.53.8Wheeler Branch and Hwy. Portage.12.5Dam at Rivetdale. Copyright 2023 417 Magazine. Wind from the North, do not go forth. Unlimited access to the best fishing spot finder in the game. 46.3 Goff Creek on left. The James is not spring-fed, so conditions vary depending on recent rainfall; however, under the right conditions the James can be floated all summer long. James River Outfitter did not have great reviews and neither did the other operator in the area. We stopped to swim in a few different places. We had a great time tubing on the James River we rented our tubes from James Rivers Outfitters. No access.6.2Hwy. This is about minimum water level recommended for this section. Smallmouth fishing should continue to be excellent in 2023 with roughly 25% of the smallmouth sampled greater than 15 inches. Weather conditions are not optimal, but there is still opportunity to land some trout. Chapter 537 RSMO revised to 537.327. The water was a bit murky and we had to drag the canoe through a few low areas. Hwys. Note that three river arms of Table Rock Lake - James River, Long Creek and Kings River - hold the majority of the crappie population in the lake. We caught the very tail end of it on this trip. M and U. Some were great and others were lacking in similar accessories (open in the center and handles). The little shop to check in had all the essentials you might need. We were allowed to peak into a tent. Following Crappie in popularity are catfish, Walleye and white bass. The cooler tube was great for our cooler and all our bags. It may have been a little tricky in a canoe. We take a number of different data points to make our fishing recommendation. James River At Galena is located in Stone County in Missouri. They have set up some awesome scenes to walk through with tons of props (we go crazy decorating every Halloween and know very well how much time and money go into something that elaborate), then you reach the river bank where a boatmen picks you up on a raft and streers you toward the tableaus on the bank. 65. The ultimate guide to camping and sleeping under the stars in southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas. Fair access.12.4Tailwaters Access (Springfield City Utilities) on right, off Hwy. Legal harvest season for paddlefish in Missouri runs from March 15-April 30 with a two fish daily limit. Not a single other paddler seen but many fishermen at road crossings. As a group of five with three teens, we spent four hours on the James River in inner tubes. Everyone should be alert right there. True to form, I managed to lose the largest fish of the day on Saturday as well when a 20 rainbow broke me off when I tried to force her in. If you want to avoid the crowds, consider going Monday through Thursday. On this stretch,smallmouth bass and goggle-eye reign supreme. 65 Bridge. It flows from northeast Webster County until it is impounded into Table Rock Lake. Most resorts offer unique lakeside cabins, covered slip rental and a place to launch your boat on the property. 44.7 McCall Bridge. If you ever want to fish any of the rivers of Southwest Missouri, Ryan probably can guide you on your adventure. Float Springfield Missouri's James River 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 current did the rest, adding quite a bit of movement to the fluke. Off Hwy. The original River Trips application is no longer updated (as of 1 Dec 2016) but can be checked for errors or for the condition of the data before it was converted to the new system. The river was very low and slow, so we had to paddle for a while to reach Delaware Town. Thanks man! A few people were on the river but it wasn't too bad. . 12.1 Public park and access on right. We got a few sprinkles and some wind but it didn't otherwise affect us. Many fish were spotted but no rods brought on the trip. Lost count, but I'd . 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. The fishing regulatory body for Missouri is Missouri Department of Conservation . 36.3 Finley Creek, on left. Still, an enjoyable day was had on the DoJ. 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. V parallels rivet.46.3Goff Creek on left. Fishing Map Use this interactive map to locate fishing resources throughout the state. Well cover this more in a blog post soon but for James River right now the wind is coming 33.9 McCafferty Hollow Cteek on left. 29.3 Rock ledge at old fotd site makes good riffle. These sites are provided for the public with the expressed sole purposes of boating and fishing. In the old days, prior to 1957, The White would regularly flood and thus the powers to be came up with the brilliant idea of placing dams along the river to both reduce flooding and to provide power, electricity through the various hydro-dams. The views are lovely. Some anglers still prefer the stability they provide for casting while standing and the comfort of folding arm chairs which they can carry. Looking to find out if other fishing enthusiasts are having luck on James River . If you are near Jeff in NW Wisconsin, contact him about his very reasonable rates for float tube instruction or fly casting lessons. 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. So naturally so were the number of other outdoor enthusiasts on the river. Here's your fishing report for today the 18th of April for James River. This is the best time of the year to float on the James for sure. 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. The water was clear and flowing slowly with only a few faster riffles. Fishing the James River was also a great way to appreciate the scenery around us. Sometimes I was distracted by the show underneath and floated right past a promising hole without casting. No fish were caught, but I was just happy to be on the water. Originally this trip was supposed to be on Crane Creek. H.L. Most of this water provides fine fishing. Nov 05, 2014 - James River Details: 16 in. We liked that you show up when you want and take as long as you want to float back before 7pm. Weather was partly sunny with a high temperature of 70 degrees with gusty winds out of the south. If you live in Galena, McCord Bend, Reeds Spring, Branson West, Hurley, Crane or Spokane you're less than 10 miles from James River. No access. The day started with a thundershower that didn't last too long. Lake Springfield. FloatAngler.com has named Jeff as one of its Most Influential Anglers in Float Tube Fishing. Only caveat was the hour long wait to get on the bus in the morning. USGS Gauge Data: Galena (07052500) Discharge: 277. Saw bald eagles, deer, and a family of beavers swimming in the current. In high or medium water paddlers can run anorher 40 miles above this as well as some of the larger tributaries. 12.3 Kissick Darn. fishing conditions are less optimal. Fishing spots and baits to use at James River? The fish were aggressive. It was a pretty cool day hats for sure. The float level today was on the lower end of "good" and that is what is has been for about a month. 2111 S. Eastgate Ave, Springfield MO 65809 | The fish were everywhere. The fall colors were in their first stage of full display, so it was a nice cool-ish October day float. Bridge.6.8Joe Crighton Access on right, at Kinser Bridge on Farm Road 164. 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. The James is a great place to float, fish, and camp. The James was flowing very nicely. Copyright 2003 by the Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri. This trip was to celebrate Andrea's 33rd birthday. 160 Bridge. Some of the earlier floats showed a level in the upper end of good. I think I scraped more surface off the bottom of my kayak on this trip alone than all other trips combined. 'You will miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.' - Wayne Gretzky Rated as the second best lake in the state for bass tournament success and number one in average bass weight and winning weight. 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. Hey folks . Anyone interested in fishing James River or waters within the wider area around Branson should consult with local resources before heading out to fish. 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. In addition, there are plenty of good smallmouth waters closer to home that I am more familiar with. Even the bigger fish were active, striking sometimes as soon as the bait hit the water. Billy would stand in a riffle, kick up the rocks underneath him, then cast directly downstream and catch one every cast. Ryan was incredibly helpful, present but not overbearing. MO Fishing App This free app shows public boat ramps and underwater fish-attracting structures at Missouri's major lakes, rivers, and streams. Just check him at and book a reservation here: https://www.venku.com/listing/b6a6979b-ca46-4f9b-a2e2-65b0c21c0e8a?preview=false. 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. At the beginning, the water was flowing well. We got in at 10:20 and took out right around 14:00 with a very leisure lunch/swim break less than a mile from the take-out. Missouri, United States. Trophies from 6-to 9-pounds are taken annually. Kayaks, canoes and rafts are available for rental, or bring your own and use their shuttle service. We did not have to stop, portage, or drag the kayaks at all. Old Hwy. Did not stop much due to ample current and flow. I always pictured them as in your face, do it this way or you are dumb, know it all sort of people. 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. 37.9 Tory Creek on left. The gradient of the lower 18 miles is 6.5. Swimming and fishing were both good and the water was comfortable. Disclosure: Some of the links on FlyFishingWithJeff.com are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase we will earn a commission. A 2-3" rain in S Spgfld loaded up Wilson's Creek enough to send a wave of water down the James. which is about 2 miles long, begins. 14 Bridge Access.28.3Blue Hole.29.3Rock ledge at old fotd site makes good riffle.31.9Ftazier Bridge on county road. There are dams to portage, but the pools they form are short. I caught 7-8 smallmouth bass in one 50 yard stretch with current. Joe Crighton Access on right, at Kinser Bridge on Farm Road 164. Click here for the latest 7 day fishing weather forecast for James River. Looking to head out over the next few days. The river had a nice gentle flow to it and was shallow, so only the small kids needed life jackets. Fair access. 15.8 Hwy. It was the first overnight river trip for Julian. Sometimes what youre looking for is right under your nose. 26.3 Stone piers of old Delaware Bridge. Portage. 50.4 Private access on right side, off Hwy. Largemouth Bass with a 7.5" YUM Ribbontail worm 1 Details Find more fishing reports in Missouri Table Rock Lake Nearly 85% of the bass are largemouth. This impacted my entire day. 18.7 Owens Bridge. Great day on the river. Please ensure to adhere to the fishing regulations for the state. This group of poachers stole a lot of fish from legal snaggers. Someone reported much higher haystacks above the Finley. The manager was very rude when we arrived, even putting down the organizer of our trip as if we were all old friends! The. Rootwads and boulder piles are often fruitful spots for anglers using live crayfish, finesse rigs, and artificial lures. 61.6 Y Btidge at Galena. This was a good trip, as always. Pictures are beautiful! 1/2 mi past the Big Bend Road bridge) then returned back to Shelvin. 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. First, to see the experiences Venku has to offer: For information about the Ozark Smallmouth Alliance and some great fishing tips, check this out: https://ozarkssmallmouthalliance.blogspot.com, https://mdc.mo.gov/property/watersheds/james-river. This is an electronic reprint of a Missouri Department of Conservation document. James River is a stream located just 3.2 miles from Kimberling City, in Stone County, in the state of Missouri, United States, near Marmaros, MO. If you havent yet tried going-small while fishing for smallmouth . 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. Obstruction is located just under a mile from the put-in, right at the southern edge of Rivercut Golf course property. Perfect weather made this an exceptional October float. Its just a bit of a drive from St. Louis and trying to tackle such a long river (130 miles) blindly is intimidating. 65. take Evans Road to Southwood Road. 53.8 Wheeler Branch and Hwy. 125 Bridge. Only caught one smallie near the low water bridge and lost one below Davis Creek. Topwater fishing, particularly around sunrise and sunset, can provide an especially thrilling experience to kick-off or cap-off a day on the water. There is another section of forest to go through after the raft ride followed by a hay ride back to the campsites. Thanks for reading! Lake fishing regulations apply downstream from here. Ryan discussed techniques, and showed us the most effective way to throw the baits we would be using for the day. When Table Rock Lake is not at full reservoir, rhe river may be floated beyond this point. For example: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. First thing I'll mention is that the gauge has evidently been messed up at Galena. 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. 61.7 Access on right. The main portion of the James River extends from the dam at Lake Springfield south to Galena. 15 in. Check out the best float trips in Missouri. To Shelvin and fishing at Galena is located just under a mile from the North, do it this or! 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