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This would be a great place to advertise your facilities. Boats, Camping, antique shops, motels. Become a mosportsmen supporter today
Chariton River
is an outdoor Mecca
LIVONIA, MO -- The Chariton River valley has been home to such notables as generals Sterling Price, John "Blackjack" Pershing and Omar Bradley. Their exploits during the Civil War, World War I and World War II, respectively, are well known. The early history of the Chariton River, like its waters, is a little less clear. Accounts vary concerning how the river became known as the Chariton. Most references agree that the stream was named for a French fur trapper. Reports mention several names, with the most likely candidates being John Chariton or perhaps Joseph Chorette. The latter was reported to have drowned in the late eighteenth century in the stream that now bears a name similar to his. While the stream's presettlement history may be vague, not so its modern-day outdoor appeal. Hunters and anglers, hikers and nature watchers, boaters and campers have no problem experiencing their favorite activities within the boundaries of the Chariton's watershed. In the early days,
the Chariton was a string of looping river bends teeming with fish, furbearers,
waterfowl and other wildlife. Today the river has been shortened and straightened
through channelization.Channelized reaches of the river have lost most
of their sport fish, but anglers and hunters still can find occasional
reaches of highly desirable fish and wildlife habitat.
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Changes to the stream channel don't mean anglers should mark the Chariton off their list. Anglers interested in cooling their fishing fever will find no problem with stream access on the river's upper and middle stretches. Additional accesses are planned for the lower stream in the future.
Set lines and pole and line methods can produce fast fishing action. The Chariton's finned quarry – catfish and carp – find live bait, stink bait, liver, worms, corn and dough bait to their liking.
The Chariton River forms the boundary between Putnam and Schuyler counties as it enters Missouri from Iowa. It splits Rebel's Cove Conservation Area (CA) as it winds south through rolling, wooded hills in a near-natural state. This outdoorsman's paradise features two boat ramps and has nearly 10 miles of river frontage. This is nearly half the portion of the Chariton River that remains unchannelized. An energetic soul can make a mile trek back from the lower boat ramp to the launch point and not have to bother with two vehicles. If time and hunting seasons allow, retrieving the vehicle may provide the opportunity to add rabbits, squirrels, quail and pheasants to the day's harvest.
Rebel's Cove to Archangel Access (on Highway 136) is approximately a 10-mile float. A brand-new boat ramp at Archangel will greatly facilitate launching and loading canoes or small, flat-bottomed boats.
Archangel is the line of demarcation for unaltered stream habitat. Upon entering Adair County the meandering stream abruptly becomes a relatively straight, man-made waterway designed to move water quickly and efficiently across the farmland of Macon and Chariton counties, emptying its contents into the Missouri River near the Dalton Bottoms Public Fishing Access. This downstream portion of the river is surrounded by crop land and pecan groves.
Several Conservation Department accesses provide bank fishing opportunities along the Chariton; Henry Truitt Access on Highway 6 at Novinger and Elmer Cook Access on Highway 11 are two such locations. The previously mentioned Dalton Bottoms access, near the confluence of the Chariton and Missouri, offers bank fishing in the Missouri River.
If a boat ramp is a requirement, try Mullanix Ford Access off the end of Highway K in Adair County, or Dodd Access at the end of Highway UU in Macon County.
Hunters make good use of the many conservation areas in the Chariton's watershed during spring turkey season and deer season. Waterfowl and upland game are also available and popular. Rebel's Cove CA has a complex of wetlands that are particularly important to duck hunters in north-central Missouri.
Many conservation areas in the Chariton River's watershed are vast and rugged. West of the Chariton, Union Ridge CA sprawls across parts of three counties, offering more than 8,200 acres of prairie, woodland and old fields. Deer, turkey, upland game and songbirds are available to hunters and nature viewers, and with a tract that size there is plenty of room to roam. Three streams run through the area, and it also contains Dark Hollow Natural Area, known for its diversity of unique plants.
At half the size of Union Ridge, Atlanta CA is still a large tract, with 4,474 acres. Nearby Mussel Fork CA adds 2,500 acres to the region's nature viewing, fishing and hunting possibilities. This area has a reach of largely unaltered wade-fishing stream that is home to the only known population of spotted bass in northern Missouri.
Several other conservation areas are scattered throughout the watershed, as are several large public lakes, state parks and historical sites. Thomas Hill Reservoir and Long Branch Lake are premier sites for campers with an itch to fish. For information on state park locations call Department of Natural Resources at 800/334-6946, or visit their web site, www.mostateparks.com/.
Details about conservation areas and public fishing accesses can be found at the Conservation Atlas portion of the Places to Go page on the Conservation Department Web site, www.conservation.state.mo.us/.
The Chariton River has changed during each of the generations of the previously mentioned military heros, but it's still flowing with plenty of outdoor potential for those willing to explore its boundaries.
- Ken Drenon -
FAVORITE FISH SPECIES ON THE CHARITON RIVER
Channel Catfish – Cut shad and dead minnows in the early spring, and worms, stink bait, frogs and chicken liver in the summer are good choices for this bewhiskered resident of the Chariton. The river supports good numbers of catfish but they are concentrated in and around areas of cover. Dip-type and regular stink baits are popular. Anglers can't go wrong with worms and other live baits such as minnows and frogs. Remember, look for cover and current, and you should find channel catfish.
Flathead Catfish – When you find dense woody cover, deep holes and swift current nearby, you may want to consider set-line fishing for this Chariton River favorite. Most serious flathead anglers use goldfish or green sunfish for bait and use trotlines and limb lines to subdue their quarry.
Carp – There are many favorite dough bait recipes used by carp anglers. Here's one version: Mix 1-1/4 cups flour, 1-1/2 cups yellow cornmeal, two tablespoons sugar and one teaspoon salt together. Set aside. Boil 1-1/2 cups water; turn heat down to simmer. Add a small package strawberry gelatin and a tablespoon of vanilla, stir. Using a wooden spoon, add dry ingredient mixture on top of the gelatin water until surface is covered. When the water bubbles up through the dry mixture, continue adding mixture. Stir dough or take out of pan and knead for two minutes. (Be careful, mixture will be hot!) Dough bait will be very stiff. Store in refrigerator in plastic bag until ready to use.
DOWN THE CHARITON
RIVER
(Average stream
gradient approximately 2 feet per mile.)
RIVER MILE 112.5--Missouri/Iowa
state line.
RIVER MILE 105.2--Boat
ramp at Rebel's Cove CA. Hwy. N 1.25 miles west.
RIVER MILE 104.2--Foot
bridge at Rebel's Cove CA.
RIVER MILE 100--Boat
ramp at Rebel's Cove CA. Hwy. N 1 mile west.
RIVER MILE 92--Archangel
Public Fishing Access at bridge on Hwy. 136. Boat ramp. Livonia just west
of bridge.
RIVER MILE 89.1--Bridge
on Schuyler County road. No access. Hwy. H 1.25 miles east.
RIVER MILE 87--Bridge
at Hwy. W. Queen City 5.5 miles
RIVER MILE 81.5--
Bridge on Schuyler County road off the end of Hwy. K. Greentop 6 miles
east.
RIVER MILE 81.4--Boat
ramp at Mullanix Ford Access.
RIVER MILE 79.2--Bridge
on Adair County road 19A. No access. Hwy. B 2 miles east.
RIVER MILE 76.4--
Bridge on Adair County road 157A. No access. Hwy. 149 1 mile west.
RIVER MILE 73.5--
Henry Truitt Access at Hwy. 6 bridge. No boat ramp. Novinger is one mile
west.
RIVER MILE 69--Adair
County road 224C.* Hwy. K less than 1 mile west.
RIVER MILE 65--
Elmer Cook Access at Hwy. 11 bridge. No boat ramp.
RIVER MILE 62.5--Bridge
on Hwy. N. Clubhouses. Private access.
RIVER MILE 57.3--Bridge
on Hwy. 156. No access. South Gifford .25 miles east
RIVER MILE 53--Bridge
on Fountain Road. No access. Elmer 2.5 miles east.
RIVER MILE 51.2--Bridge
on Hwy. J. No access. Elmer 1 mile east.
RIVER MILE 50.8--Railroad
trestle.
RIVER MILE 47
--Bridge on Emerald Road. No access. Hwy. HH 2.5 miles east. Ethel 3 miles
west.
RIVER MILE 42.7--Dodd
Access. Boat ramp. End of Hwy. UU 1 mile south. End of Hwy. EE 1 mile north.
RIVER MILE 38.5--Railroad
trestle.
RIVER MILE 37.2
--Bridge on Hwy. 36. No access.
RIVER MILE 30--Bridge
on Chariton County road 312. Hwy. P 2 miles west Hwy. 3 1.5 miles east
on Falcon road.*
RIVER MILE 19.6--Bridge
on Hwy. 129. No access. Salisbury 8 miles south.
RIVER MILE 17.2
--Bridge on Chariton County road 338. No access. Hwy 129 1 mile east.
RIVER MILE 14
--Bridge on Chariton County road 346. No Access. Hwy. 129 3.5 miles east.
RIVER MILE 12--Bridge
on Chariton County road 305 off end of Hwy. UU to the west. No access.
RIVER MILE 8.8--Bridge
on Hwy. 24. Future site of Keytesville Access. Keytesville 2 miles west.
RIVER MILE 6.8--Bridge
on Hwy. VV. Future site of Price Bridge Access.
RIVER MILE 0--Confluence
of Chariton and Missouri River. Dalton Bottoms Access, off the end of Hwy.
WW south of Dalton, fronts the Missouri River upstream from the mouth of
the Chariton. No boat ramp.
*State and county
roads crossing the stream. Access is questionable. As a matter of courtesy,
permission should be obtained from landowners to gain access to the stream
bank at these locations.
CANOE OUTFITTERS
Chariton River
Outfitters Canoe Rental
Macon, MO
660/226-5391
Tom Morrow
660-341-0527
For more information on outfitters and streams Visit www.thetent.com/arcadia
JOIN A STREAM
TEAM
Missourians take
great pride in their streams. Stream Teams are citizen groups dedicated
to the stewardship of Missouri's streams. Stream Teams are supported by
the Missouri Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources and the
Conservation Federation of Missouri. Stream Teams, with the consent and
help of stream side landowners, adopt specific stretches of streams and
conduct trash pick-ups, stream maintenance and water-quality monitoring.
At present, there are 4 Stream Teams on the Chariton River and its tributaries. For information on joining or creating a Stream Team contact: Streams Unit, Mo. Dept. of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, 800/781-1989 or Conservation Federation of Missouri 800/575-2322.
Maps of some MDC areas mentioned may be obtained by writing or calling the Conservation Department's Northeast Regional Office, 2500 S. Halliburton, Kirksville, MO 63501, phone 660/785-2420 .
River basin maps of selected streams available at: www.conservation.state.mo.us/atlas/rbasin/rbasin.html.
Conservation areas are open daily from 4 a.m. until 10 p.m. unless otherwise designated. Purchase and development of some of the areas mentioned were made possible by the use of federal funds obtained through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Acts.
- Ken Drenon -
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