Home › Forums › General Discussion › A question for the experienced boaters
- This topic has 27 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 9 months ago by George and Rhonda Palmer.
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02/08/2015 at 9:20 pm #818
What’s a relatively good water level on the St Francois for a couple of newbs to start building experience?
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02/08/2015 at 11:22 pm #819
Here’s my opinion for what it’s worth. If your doing the upper Hwy 72 to Millstream Gardens, then 3′ or 0″ up to 12″ at D bridge. It is not recommended that you attempt to run the lower Millstream to D bridge at any level without someone who is knowledgeable of that section. If you watch the message board there are boaters that will be willing to show you the lines. Especially in the winter water is extremely cold and you will swim. Hypothermia can start in as little as 15 min from swimming in cold water.
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02/09/2015 at 7:57 am #820
Thanks for the response. We were debating giving it a shot next weekend on the upper end if water levels were good.
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02/09/2015 at 9:41 am #821
I agree with Gary except—I think the upper would be good from 3′-5′ on the Roselle gauge. Closer to 5′ on the upper and the rapids become easier, more straight forward. Also, like Gary implies—dress for a swim.
Jeez, I’m becopming like Kuthe and Freddie—Giving advice from farfaraway…
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02/09/2015 at 12:35 pm #827
Bill, the only advice I have for you is to not include my name with yours or Kuthe’s…. Just what advice are you imagining I have been giving out ? You are constantly offering advice, me, not too often. Kuthe lives in St.Louis, how far away is that ?
- This reply was modified 9 years, 10 months ago by Freddie Carter.
- This reply was modified 9 years, 10 months ago by Freddie Carter.
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02/09/2015 at 11:31 am #822
I’m far from experienced but I can give you my opinion as a beginner which should help as well. I just started paddling the Saint, my first day was 11/5/14 and ran the lower with experienced boaters and I swam while practicing ferrying. I’d suggest skipping Big Drop and Cats Paw (like I did) the first time you do the lower, but I had only been in a kayak about 7 times before that day. I’ve been down the lower around 15 times since November and finally did the upper last week and would definitely recommend doing that first. Do you have wetsuits or drysuits?
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02/09/2015 at 11:36 am #823
Thanks for more input! Ive got a drysuit and some polartec fleece from NRS. What do you mean by ferrying? Ive fished out of a kayak for a couple of years now so I have some flat water experience. Just a little background about myself. My wife on the hand has only been on a kayak twice maybe three times. Shes got herself a dry suit too.
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02/09/2015 at 12:08 pm #824
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9tyoCp4t0I Ferry tips
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02/09/2015 at 12:16 pm #825
Not sure if you’ve seen this but its a great vid of the lower to give you an idea of the difficulty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj10bQrgeBE
I haven’t found a good upper video on youtube at lower levels -
02/09/2015 at 12:19 pm #826
Lol. I hate to say this, but Ive lived vicariously through that video atleast 50 times over the past year. Such a good video. I think he has another one too Ive seen a few dozen times.
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02/09/2015 at 12:49 pm #828
No harm there. I watch kayak videos more than anything else on youtube ever since I started. What kind of kayaks do you have? Do you have sprayskirts too?
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02/09/2015 at 12:54 pm #829
Both boats I got used and are in pretty rough shape. Dagger Outlaw and Pyrahna Sub 7. Got spray skirts for both. Have taken them out to practice rolling and on flatwater just to see what they were like. Not pretty, but from what I can tell they will do the job just fine.
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02/09/2015 at 8:04 pm #832
You have your roll?
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02/09/2015 at 8:07 pm #833
No I do not. We went to the clinic in November, learned a few things, but didnt come out with a roll.
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02/09/2015 at 8:25 pm #834
A nice safe pool with a competent instructor is the best way to learn a roll.
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02/09/2015 at 8:37 pm #835
Any clue what will be covered on the beginners portion at the upcoming clinic?
- This reply was modified 9 years, 10 months ago by George and Rhonda Palmer.
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02/09/2015 at 11:27 pm #837
The instructors of your beginner’s clinic group will cover whatever they are requested to by the clinic group students. Beginner groups usually start out on the Upper on flatwater for basic paddling stroke practice so the instructors can get everyone warmed up and the instructors can ascertain all the students’ performance. And then they begin moving down the Upper, easy rapids, eddy turns, peelouts, ferrying.
And they build from there.
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02/12/2015 at 2:26 pm #849
You can email the clinic director at clinicdirector@missouriwhitewater.org for questions about the clinic. Usually the beginner’s group covers the strokes – forward, reverse, sweep, and draw; edging a kayak; catching eddies and peel outs; ferrying; and other river reading/running skills as time allows. Looking forward to seeing you there!! Feel free to come out and watch the races in March, or better yet, volunteer and meet some folks in the club!!
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02/25/2015 at 7:46 am #923
Thanks for the info. We’ve been debating on the clinic. We dont have float bags yet; still working on that. Is there a youtube video of roselle to millstream? I want to get an idea what to expect.
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02/25/2015 at 8:19 am #925
This is the only video that Ive found from 3:00 to 3:50 that has some upper in it. Its not a good representation since water is high though. Ill take some video next time I run it and upload it. http://youtu.be/KWaKoRC24Js
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02/25/2015 at 1:06 pm #930
Thanks for sharing that. I didnt realize there was an entry near the dam. Do you have to enter Lake Kilarney to get there?
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02/25/2015 at 11:30 pm #937
Yes, you have to gety to that putin shown at the start of that video from Lake Killarny. And that is Lower Stouts they are putting in for.
And that putin is all on private property of Camp Penual (sp?)
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02/25/2015 at 1:07 pm #931
Atleast I think thats the name of that town….
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02/25/2015 at 2:21 pm #932
You’re welcome. I think Lake Killarney is considered in the town of Ironton/Arcadia and I’ve never ran Stouts creek starting at the Dam but it looks like you’d have to have a shuttle to drop you off there. I think it has to rain a decent amount to run Stouts but if it does keep an eye on this site to see if its runnable. http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/state-summary/state/MO/
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02/25/2015 at 6:23 pm #935
Lake Kilarney is a private community lake. It would be advisable to get permission from a local landowner before trying to put in on the lake. In the previous mentioned video, we were lucky enough to have a fellow MWA boater with good connections. I’ve heard of putting in upstream of lake and paddling across, but it’s quite a bit of extra work.
One more bit of advice. The MWA is a pretty friendly lot. If you want to paddle the Saint for your first time, I would try finding some other MWA members that would be willing to paddle down with you. If you take a swim you will have extra help to gather your boat & gear. Just be sure to be frank and let people know your experience so they know what they’re getting into.
If D bridge gage is above 0″, there’s a good chance someone will be boating. Post your intent on this website and hope for some paddle partners!
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02/25/2015 at 7:31 pm #936
So far, everyone has been very helpful and I am very thankful for that. It was the same way when I got into archery several years ago: didnt know a thing, but found a good group of guys that were willing to put up with a newbie and it just went from there. Im hoping the same goes for this new venture.
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02/26/2015 at 10:43 am #944
If you can’t afford to invest in float bags, beach balls will work just fine for easier water. Just stuff one on each side.
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02/26/2015 at 12:08 pm #949
Will beach balls be sufficient for the clinic? Float bags arent much, but I got to get ready for spring turkey and all too.
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