Floating the North Fork: From Hebron to Twin Bridges
Missouri’s North Fork River begins in South Central Missouri and flows through the Ozark hills and bluffs into Norfork Lake in Northern Arkansas. The North Fork River is predominantly known as a clear, spring fed trout river flowing over smooth limestone and watercress. The trout habitat of the North Fork begins in earnest downstream from Hammond Campground, located at the Hwy CC bridge. Upstream from the trophy trout waters lies a quite different river.
Scottie preparing our breakfast, Spam on a pitchfork and burnt coffee. Don't worry, we picked up the cans around the campfire before our departure.
My brother and our friends usually do the typical float from Hammond Campground to Blair Bridge or Dawt Mill, but we recently took a weekend trip on the North Fork putting in at Hebron and canoeing and fishing our way down to Twin Bridges. Our hope was to avoid the rowdy weekend crowds that have come to dominate many Ozark rivers, and we did just that. We saw a few people at the river accesses but no one else on the river.
The relatively short five mile float from Hebron to Twin Bridges is much narrower with more obstructions and densely vegetated banks than the lower portion. Often we paddled through swift riffles being able to touch the bank on either side of the canoe with our paddles. Surprisingly we had to drag the canoe only a few times, probably due to the wet summer we’ve had this year. Normally, this section would probably be better suited for a Spring trip, unless you’re planning to wade through the riffles. The water level for the North Fork was 2.6 feet at Tecumseh when we floated the upper portion.
The fishing was also much different than the lower portions of the North Fork. Rather than catching Browns and Rainbows we were reeling in Smallmouth and Goggle-Eye, or Rock Bass. We didn’t catch any trophy smallmouth, but we caught fish consistently throughout the day. I think the only lures we used successfully were single spinners, either Roostertails or Panther Martins, between an 1/8 ounce and 1/4 ounce in weight. These lures are the most reliable and versatile lures I’ve used. They will catch smallmouth, largemouth, rock-bass, sun-fish, bluegill, and trout, and they can be fished at any speed and any depth. While the fish were fairly abundant, we didn’t find the deep, boulder strewn fishing holes common on other smallmouth rivers, such as the Jack’s Fork River. Rather we fished the shadows and logs of relatively shallow water.
Camping on the river provided us plenty of space from other campers, though there are not a lot of gravel bars on the upper portion of the North Fork. However, there is also not a lot of competition for them. We managed to find a large gravel island to camp on with plenty of drift wood for a fire. If you’re not inclined to put all your gear in the canoe and camp on the river, there is also public camping at the Hebron access or a private campground, replete with a general store and outside movies, at Twin Bridges.
Overall, the float from Hebron to Twin Bridges is a great respite from the weekend crowds populating the lower portion. Its also appealing as a good smallmouth fishery, though it does lack the deep holes common on the Jack’s Fork. If you go in a dry summer check the water level first or expect to drag frequently.
Directions: Another nice feature of this river is the close proximity of the accesses by road. To get to Hebron simply follow Hwy 14 to County Rd. 279, which has a Missouri Dept. of Conservation sign marking the Hebron access. 279 is a dirt road which after about a mile descends steeply into the river valley. Twin Bridges is located directly on Hwy 14 and is easily recognized due to the private campground, and as there is an identical bridge about 100 yards away over another creek.
A m sitting here with Russ Cox trying to learn about these neat websites. Thought I’d just let you know we were here. You have a pretty cool one started. Keep on writing…! You seem to be pretty good at it.
David Oliver