Float trips a favorite Ozark activity

Floating and fishing on the popular Niangua River near Bennett Springs.

Ken White

A favorite may activity for many people is floating an Ozark stream on one of the many float streams available throughout the Ozarks. I remember the first time the Harold Butler family took their first float trip of the year on May first and it turned out to be a very good start of the season for all four members of the family.

Starting at Van Buran, they found near-perfect weather and water conditions for their first float of the year. Butler said, “We have two canoes so we loaded them up with supplies and a little fishing gear for the day. Although fishing wasn’t the main reason, we managed to pull 11 nice crappie out of several deep holes as well as several smallmouth bass which we released since it isn’t open season for them until the Memorial Day Weekend. it added to the enjoyment of the trip.”

The Butler girls, Nancy 14 and Pam 11, started floating five years earlier on the Sac River at Caplinger Mills. The Sac is a stream that doesn’t have the challenges that some Ozarks rivers offer. Nancy said, “I was excited to go on that first trip and I still am ready to go again. I caught a small walleye and two crappie that trip and beat my dad for the first time ever.”

The Butlers live in Jefferson City and usually pick a stream close to home for many of their float trips. They float the Niangua and Gasconade more than other streams. Butler stated those two streams are fun to float in their own way.

Like anyone wanting to float an Ozark stream, the Butlers started on a small lake to learn how to handle a canoe as well as practice safety. They found that on moving water, you don’t always go where the canoe is headed. You soon learn how to avoid obstacles by using the paddle as a rudder and to go faster than the water flow. You soon learn how to use the stream to your advantage.

Butler recommend starting on slower streams like the Sac. One note of caution is that if you are floating a stream where power is generated from a dam, the water can rise fast and floaters need to be aware that that can happen. They need to check with the project office to see if power is scheduled while you are on the water.

To learn more about floating in Missouri streams, a guide to the major float streams is available from the Missouri Department of Conservation. This publication has been revised and contains maps of the streams, put in and take out places among other important information.

May is an excellent month to try floating one of our area streams. It is a great family outdoor adventure.