Big Piney River

[fryguy]

hey fellas, i am planning on doing a week long fish 'n float on the big piney during the beginning of july. i've never been on that river but i've heard that it is amazing. any thoughts? has anybody been on it ever, it is not supposed to be crazy busy over the fourth. just looking for any input from trusted compadres. and just to keep this about crappie...
uhhhh....sure, all i'll be fishing for is crappie, big brown striped crappie with red eyes that fight like the dickens and should be the missouri state fish.

[CrappieHead]

hey fellas, i am planning on doing a week long fish 'n float on the big piney during the beginning of july. i've never been on that river but i've heard that it is amazing. any thoughts? has anybody been on it ever, it is not supposed to be crazy busy over the fourth. just looking for any input from trusted compadres. and just to keep this about crappie...
uhhhh....sure, all i'll be fishing for is crappie, big brown striped crappie with red eyes that fight like the dickens and should be the missouri state fish.

The Big Piney is about the best Smallmouth Bass river in the state. I live in Rolla now but did live in Licking for years. Floated the river between Boiling Springs and Slab Town to many time to count. The area north of Slab Town is the best fishing I hear for small mouth and wild trout. Good luck. Hope it rains the week before you float. When it is dry this is a rough river to float. Not heard of any one fishing for crappie in this river.

[izzysfishin]

An ultra light or Fly Rod or both. Anything that looks like a crawdad will work. If you can find some 3/16oz Buzzbaits in Black with a Black blade get a couple, they'll kill em early and late in the day. I used to spend the summers at Fort Leonard Wood with my brother (he was stationed there) when i was around 15. Man we lived on that river. Don't know how you feel about live bait but if you siene you some small crawfish and drift them by the laydowns and rootwads under a float you'll not be sorry...izzy

[CrappieHead]

An ultra light or Fly Rod or both. Anything that looks like a crawdad will work. If you can find some 3/16oz Buzzbaits in Black with a Black blade get a couple, they'll kill em early and late in the day. I used to spend the summers at Fort Leonard Wood with my brother (he was stationed there) when i was around 15. Man we lived on that river. Don't know how you feel about live bait but if you siene you some small crawfish and drift them by the laydowns and rootwads under a float you'll not be sorry...izzy

Did you catch crappie?

[bugman]

Dont forget about the goggleye the piney is full of em.

[izzysfishin]

Smallies Duane, i think thats what fry is going after...izzy

[fryguy]

yeah, in general during the hot months of june, july,and august the only place you will find me with a rod in my hand is a nice, cold, ozark stream stalking the bronzebacks. plus it keeps your beer cold.

[bugman]

I'm with ya fry i'll be on the gasconade sat after goggleye and hopefully a smallie or two.

[CrappieHead]

I'm with ya fry i'll be on the gasconade sat after goggleye and hopefully a smallie or two.

Have you ever fished the gasconade river for crappie?
I have heard it has some good crappie fishing in it.

[bugman]

A couple of years ago a buddy and i fished it early in the spring and flat wore em out in a slough and they were nice fish but for some reason we never tried it again we usually float it a couple times a year and usually fish for goggleye we normally catch a few crappie every trip but never like that trip early in the year.