The streams of the northern half of Missouri are prairie-like in character. Access can be difficult, but access sites have been developed on many. Catfish are the primary species caught from these streams.

The primary stream fishing interest in Missouri exists in the Ozarks, a river-carved uplift covering much of this state south of the Missouri River and extending into Arkansas. Ozark Mountain streams, which draw many out-of-state anglers, are gentle, clear, and crooked, which makes for perfect canoeing water. The rocky bluff banks provide habitat for smallmouth bass, which are highly prized among Missouri anglers, although the primary species is the goggle-eye (rock bass).

Most Ozark streams are not floatable, being too small to be passable most of the year. These “wading streams” represent a good many areas to fish, but it isn’t easy to find them or get access because almost all of them flow through private land. Fishing on them can be tough because of the small size and clarity of the water. But so pretty and pleasant is a float on these streams that catching a fish, even a small one, is a bonus.

A brief description of the most important float streams in the Ozarks follows. Access to these is easy because they are all served by liveries, which provide both canoes and transportation to and from the river. All an angler has to do is show up.

Meramec River

About 100 miles of this fine stream is considered canoe water. The best floats and most of the liveries are in the upper third of the Meramec, from Missouri Rt. 8 near St. James to Meramec State Park near Sullivan. Many stretches as far down as St. Louis County are optimal for fishing and floating.

Huzzah and Courtois Creeks

Pretty little tributaries of the Meramec, the Huzzah and Courtois offer excellent floating when they have enough water. The most dependable floats are the lower 12 miles of the Huzzah and lower 18 miles of the Courtois. Some of the liveries on the Meramec offer floats on these creeks.

Bourbeuse River

The Bourbeuse is a gentle, crooked little stream with some attractive stretches. Not all sections are served by canoe liveries.

Big River

A long tributary of the Meramec, the Big River features sporty riffles spaced between long, slow holes. Fishing is surprisingly good. Not all stretches are served by liveries.

Black River

This beautiful Black River is extremely popular with St. Louis-area floaters. The best floating is in the 13 miles below Lesterville. On the three forks above Lesterville, canoeing is fun only when water flow is sufficient. Below Clearwater Lake the Black is somewhat slower and better known for its fishing.

Current River

The Current is the most famous of Missouri’s float streams. About 135 miles of this stream, which with the Jacks Fork forms the Ozark National Scenic Riverway, is considered float water. From Montauk for the first few miles downstream the flow is sometimes not adequate for canoeing. Below Doniphan the river broadens and slows. Canoe liveries rent canoes only within their districts.

Jacks Fork River

The beautiful Jacks Fork River, which is part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverway, offers the best floating in Missouri when it has enough water. Only the 13 miles below Alley Spring are floatable all summer. The stretch above Alley, when floatable, is not for beginners.

Big Niangua River

The Big Nianqua is within an easy drive of Lake of the Ozarks. About 44 miles, from Williams Ford to Mill Creek, is considered canoe water. The most popular floats are those above and below Bennett Spring State Park, near Lebanon.

Gasconade River

Known more as a fishing stream than a canoeing stream, the Gasconade nevertheless has many stretches rewarding to the canoeist. Over most of its 300 miles, though, the Gasconade spaces its sporty stretches between long, slow holes. The best canoe water is the 150-mile section between Competition, near Lynchburg, to the Paydown access, near Vienna. Some stretches are not served by canoe liveries.

Big Piney River

A long, gentle tributary of the Gasconade, the Big Piney is scenic in its upper and middle stretches and is worth floating and fishing all the way through Fort Leonard Wood to the Gasconade above Jerome.

North Fork River

Clear, cold, and beautiful, the North Fork has few long holes and many sporty stretches with spectacular scenery. Flowing through rugged, remote segments of the deep Ozarks, it eventually joins Bryant Creek and becomes Norfork Lake just north of the Arkansas border. About 29 miles, from Twin Bridges to Tecumseh, is prime canoe water in all but the driest summers.

Bryant Creek

A tributary of the North Fork, Bryant Creek is smaller, more crooked, and less popular, but almost as beautiful. Only about 17 miles, from Hodgson Mill to the North Fork, is considered year-round float water.

Eleven Point River

Eleven Point, a national scenic river administered by the U.S. Forest Service, flows through some of the most rugged and remote country in the Ozarks. For several miles it forms the western border of the famed Irish Wilderness. The best floats are from Greer Spring to Riverton. Inflow from Greer nearly doubles the size of the river. The stretches above Greer are floatable only during wet weather.

Other Waters

The Missouri River provides relatively little fishing in Missouri and is not a pleasant place to be, thanks to channelization done for navigation between 1950 and 1980. The river is a flop for navigation because it is so swift and narrow. Its fishing is primarily for catfish with some crappie, bass, and carp fishing in the small remaining backwaters.

The Mississippi in Missouri, too, is channelized and provides limited sportfishing. Above St. Louis, the pools behind navigation dams provide some slack water and some angling opportunity. The most notable fishery in the Mississippi is for sauger in the raceways below the dams at Winfield, Clarksville, and Saverton. The fishing is good only in winter, when the freeze-up in northern states clears the river and limits its flow.

Trout fishing in Missouri is essentially found in three venues. One is Lake Taneycomo, previously described. Another is the four trout parks: Maramec Spring, Bennett Spring, Montauk Spring, and Roaring River. These public parks provide put-and-take fishing for rainbows stocked daily in major spring branches. The third trout fishing possibility is the dozen or so small spring branches both public and private; four have small populations of self-sustaining rainbows, and the rest are stocked.