Waterways a Great Opportunity to Cool Off in Missouri
Jefferson City, Mo. - The so-called dog days of summer are here and 90-plus degree temperatures are forecast for the foreseeable future. But the rising mercury shouldn’t spoil your summer getaway; make one of Missouri’s many beautiful waterways a part of your end-of-summer plans.
Around the Show-Me State, there are dozens of lakes, rivers and streams offering relief from the oppressive summer heat. A hot summer’s day provides the perfect opportunity to take a float trip, go for a boat ride or swim, scuba dive, or fire up the bass boat to find that trophy fish your mantle so desperately needs.
A float trip is a great experience for anyone who appreciates nature and enjoys a leisurely day on the water. At dozens of Missouri’s canoe outfitters, you’ll find folks who will load up canoes, rafts, kayaks and tubes – whichever conveyance you prefer – drive you down to the water and offer hints on tips for having a fun and safe experience on the water. Missouri is home to the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the first national park area to protect a wild river system, and two great destinations for floaters: the Current River and the Jacks Fork River.
On a hot day, taking a dip in a spring-fed body such as the Current River can be quite exhilarating, considering the water temperature hovers near 60 degrees. Along the Current and Jacks Fork, you’ll find outfitters such as Akers Ferry (about 25 miles south of Salem), KC’s on the Current in Doniphan, Two Rivers Canoe Rental near Eminence or Silver Arrow Canoe Rental, also near Eminence, among the many facilities where floating is the name of the game.
If you’re not going to be near the Current or Jacks Fork rivers, fret not; float-trip options abound in Missouri. You’ll find outfitters who serve the Big Piney River, Elk River, Huzzah Creek, Meramec River, Niangua River and White River, just to name a few. For a complete list of floatable rivers/streams and outfitters, visit www.MissouriCanoe.org, the website of the Missouri Canoe and Floaters Association, whose members serve 29 rivers in Missouri.
If you prefer vessels with horsepower instead of arm power, you’re in luck because Missouri’s rivers and lakes are great places for a day on the pontoon, runabout, bass boat or personal watercraft. Central Missouri is home to the Lake of the Ozarks and Pomme de Terre Lake; Southwest Missouri features Stockton Lake and the Tri-Lakes area of Lake Taneycomo, Bull Shoals and Table Rock Lake; Northeast Missouri offers Mark Twain Lake; Northwest Missouri is home to the Smithville Lake; and in Southeast Missouri you’ll find Lake Wappapello which is part of Lake Wappapello State Park.
These lakes are great swimming locations (remember to always wear a life jacket and be aware of boats and other vessels operating near you), and they’re good fishing locations. Stockton Lake, including Stockton State Park, is known for its sail-boating and scuba diving opportunities; Smithville Lake and Table Rock Lake are other popular places for scuba divers.
Scuba Diving at Bonne Terre Mine
Other options for scuba divers include Roubidoux Spring Cave at Laughlin Park in Waynesville and the Bonne Terre Mines in Bonne Terre. On a summer day, expect the water to be in the refreshing 60-degree range at Roubidoux, where the daily average flow is 37 million gallons of water. Don’t forget, you must contact the local 911 center and present your diving certification before diving Roubidoux Spring. Farther east, you’ll find a great scuba diving venue at Bonne Terre Mines. These excursions, for groups of nine, are led by two guides. The 58-degree waters are illuminated, offering visibility at depths of more than 100 feet.
If the only thing you’re interested in underwater has gills and fins, you’re in luck there too. Missouri offers some of the best fishing options in the country. Catfish, crappie, bass, trout, muskie – Missouri has them all and they’re just waiting to take the bait.
At Truman Lake in Harry S Truman State Park, you can expect to land crappie, catfish, black bass and white bass at one of the state’s top fishing lakes. With more than 55,000 acres, the lake presents a great deal of room to get away from it all and to find a hot spot where the fish are surely biting.
Trout Fishing at Bennett Spring State Park
Trout fisherman can test their luck seasonally at Bennett Spring State Park, which is open for rainbow trout fishing from March-October. The spring is very active with an estimated 100 million gallons of water flow from it each day. Another trout-fishing option is Lake Taneycomo, where rainbow trout and brown trout are abundant; the lake boasts several record trout catches.
If you’d prefer to try your luck fishing for muskie, check out Pomme de Terre, which is the only lake in the state that offers muskellunge (“muskie”) fishing; Pomme also has a good walleye population. Muskie are fairly rare fish that can grow from two to four feet in length and weigh more than 60 pounds. If you’re interested in learning more about this fish, or taking a guided trip, check out Pomme Muskie Guide Service.
These are but a few of the floating, boating, swimming, diving and fishing options in Missouri. If you’d like to learn more about the options on Missouri’s waterways, log on to www.VisitMO.com today. If you’re interested in attractions, events or lodging near any of the locations mentioned above, log on to www.VisitMO.com and type in the name of the location in the search field.
To order your free copy of the Official Missouri Travel Guide for 2010, call 800-519-4800.
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Links used in this release:
Ozark National Scenic Riverways: www.nps.gov/ozar/index.htm
Missouri Canoe and Floaters Association: www.MissouriCanoe.org
Missouri State Parks: www.mostateparks.com/trumanpark/misc.htm#fishing
Branson/Lakes Area Convention & Visitors Bureau: www.explorebranson.com/lakes/taneycomo.php
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Contact:
Sarah Luebbert
Missouri Division of Tourism
573-522-5501
Sarah.Luebbert@ded.mo.gov
