Heavy trout also fall to spinning tactics. RoosterTails and crayfish imitators that get down deep will do the trick. Photo by Billie R. Cooper.

A part of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, the Eleven Point River traverses some of the most picturesque wild country in the Show-Me State. Three hours southwest of St. Louis, this national gem grows from a small stream near Thomasville to a sizeable river as it flows southward. Breathtaking springs tumbling from dolomite bluffs or rising up from a vast network of underground passages provide a continuous source of cold, clear water that make the Eleven Point one of the finest haunts in the Ozarks for hefty rainbow trout.

The Missouri Department of Conservation oversees the management of the trout fishery along the Eleven Point. The five-and-a-half-mile section from the Greer Spring junction to Turner Mill is a Blue Ribbon Area where only one trout of at least 18 inches may be kept. Artificial lures and flies only may be used in this area. The 14.2-mile stretch of river below Turner Mill is managed as a White Ribbon area. Here anglers may keep four trout of any length. Use of flies, lures, live and manufactured baits is allowed.

The Eleven Point River is a big, deep river appearing much like Ozark Rivers did before logging, burning, and hardscrabble farming techniques caused gravel to wash down from the hills and into the streams. Legend says that government surveyors gave the river its name when they were forced to change their compass points 11 times in a mile because the river was so crooked.

The Eleven Point's spring-fed character is unique among Missouri's larger trout rivers. Algae and mosses grow on the bottom, submerged logs and rocks. Overhanging trees shade the river, creating a canopy overhead. The banks are all but impenetrable in the summer creating a closed-in effect once you get away from the access points.

Because of its inherent wild nature, the Eleven Point can be difficult to fish for the first-time visitor. However, local guide and outfitter Brian Sloss, of Alton, has introduced dozens of anglers to the joys of trout fishing the Eleven Point over the last decade.

The 39-year-old guide began fly-fishing 20 years ago. After fishing the main trout streams that the Ozarks had to offer, Brian found himself returning to the Eleven Point on a regular basis as both fisherman and guide. When the opportunity presented itself, Brian and partner Ryan Griffin bought the Eleven Point Canoe Rental in Alton. They added a guide service for both smallmouth and trout fishermen.

"I settled on the Eleven Point because of its wild, remote character," Sloss began. "This is a beautiful trout stream that is protected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers System administered by the U.S. Forest Service. Unlike most Ozark streams, the Eleven Point has not seen the same ill effects of man's intrusions. This is a wild stream that will be protected for future generations to enjoy."

"Because of its very nature, the Eleven Point appears to be difficult to fish," Sloss statted. "The stream consists of long pools, rapid, rocky shoals, and deep pools. The river runs deeper than most Ozark streams. As a result, there is a lot of food available to trout deep in the water column. If you are not losing the occasional fly or lure from snagging on the bottom, you are not fishing deep enough. I see very little surface activity from trout on the Eleven Point. The fish that rise to the surface to sip an insect are usually small. Dry-fly fishing is not a good option on this river."

Trout fishermen may use either fly-fishing or spinning gear when fishing the Eleven Point. "It's a matter of personal choice," Sloss said. "That's the first question I ask people who want to come down to fish. I can accommodate either style."