Date: 4-6-08 Flat Creek, Paddle Trip, Rating Class 1 class 2, lively 7 foot per mile gradient. Only still water area is about 1/2 mile long below EE, with Rapids making up for the lost gradient drop at the end of that pool. Water level, 650 CFS measured 7 miles above put in. Put in at 12:30 pm, got to EE brigde 4PM, then to Flat Creek Bridge by 7:30 PM. With only a few stops and time spent “just being there”. Weather excellent, sunny and easy 60 degrees. Approx 6 miles per section, 12 miles total. By Ozark River Company and PaddlingCenter.com
We have had record high water and floods here in the Ozark Hills, with friends that had their places flooded these last few weeks on the Eleven Point River, Gasconade, as well as our nearby neighboring James River. We have been more fortunate here at Paddling Center.com, as the water is high and keeping us from the dock due to the distance from shoreline, but it has not stopped us from lake paddling. In fact, we have used the kayaks for dock cable adjustments, to get out to the dock. With our protected areas, we have enjoyed paddling among the trees on the shorelines. Today , Sunday, we ventured upstream to the 39 bridge access of Flat Creek, trip report for April 6th 2008, to get a visual look at what the high water did to Flat Creek, the river. Click on the picture for enlargement pop up.
Flow was excellent at our put in. We got the river fever as we got our gear in our boats and got ready to launch. River trip! We loved the beautiful Sunday we were given, getting on the river at the 39 bridge access, to float down to Flat Creek Road. The water color was a deep green, much clearer a couple of weeks after the high water, with 650 cfs, (Cubic Feet Per Second), measured 7.5 miles upstream from us at the Parker Gage. With springs and much run off gone, we figured we were a little more than that, probably 800 cfs.
As we made the bends with the quick flowing current of our 7 foot per mile gradient keeping us moving the entire trip, we could start to see the flood damage. Trees were uprooted, and with good flow, we did not have to portage. We think as water comes down a bit, the new obstructions created by trees and their root wads will create more portages, especially in the upper streach. We were awe struck however at the power of the water and how it left the landscape, making the river change dramatically in such a short amount of time. The banks with fields that adjoined them were the worst for erosion, and where it was fenced off, even a few feet back from the river, the bank erosion was that much less. The natural woods that surrounded the river seemed much less compromised. Dirt was falling as we paddled down the river from the field areas, with profound layers of rock and gravel exposed that reminded of us that this was not the first change that this river valley had seen. We figured these layers were previous river beds. Nature took it’s course, and all we could think about was natures big plan, and how she was sculpting what was to be refined over and over again through the many thousands of years ahead. Damage to humans is evolution to nature, like it or not. Click on the picture for an enlargement pop up.
With the mountain range and bottom land mix along Flat Creek, the less damaged areas were near the mountain ridges, with rock and woods at creek side. It still looks beautiful, as this time of year the white wild plum trees were in full bloom, and a hint of red bud showing on the south bluffs near the water. The river flow did afford a fun pushiness to the river, making the “rapid slide” of angling the kayak and paddling through, was required to maneuver around most obstacles a frequent technique. The high water damage deposited many trees from the 39 bridge to the EE access, but below EE to the Flat Creek Road bridge, it only had one portage at that river level, and was pretty visible to the alert eye. Click on picture to enlarge.
The large birds were abundant in the area on this spring paddling day as we saw most of the population, ospreys, eagles, blue heron, even crows and buzzards swirling, the large birds were everywhere, it is in its own way, a bird watching paradise for large birds. Coming around one bend, we couldn’t help but notice the building size eagles nest perched on a leaning sycamore tree, overlooking the river. It was an astonishing site. Click on Picture for enlargement.
With fun rapids and a rare spill by one of our paddlers, and wave splash there was no way to keep water out of the boat through a strong rapid stretch without a kayak skirt on. This float trip was an awesome experience to see the power of mother nature, the awe of natures birds, and the fun of a steady 7 foot per mile gradient on a class one, class two river was never far from our immediate senses. All in all it was a wonderful day on Flat Creek with great flow! The trees, yes might make for a paddling problem above the EE bridge access, but below to the Flat Creek bridge looked great with one portage exception. It might be a long portage too, although we did find a place at this water level to squeeze through. Spring promises different rivers than you saw last year all over the Ozark Streams, but the water is up and excellent, the karst caves are full of water, and flow will be good through the spring. Once we got out there, we immediately remembered why we do this. It was a blast! Paddlers: Bill, Frazier, and Martin, of PaddlingCenter.com, located at the 173 bridge on the Flat Creek arm of Table Rock Lake, Cape Fair MO
Not far from the PaddlingCenter.com dock at Table Rock Lake, the staff at PaddlingCenter.com can’t quit thinking about kayak fishing. When an hour comes available they head for the waters, this day to catch a nice striper bass around the 2:00 hour. The sun was high but it didn’t seem to matter. With a stealth like approach, he slid right in by the trees to catch the striper bass on a small jig. Kayak Fishing, definately our way to go. Click here for a large picture of Tim while 
The PaddlingCenter.com - Table Rock Lake Water Quality inc. Special Clean up of Table Rock Lake and Flat Creek has been extended all week from the original May 3rd date to include the entire week through May 10th. For additional information, go to 
Kayakers’ Bistro Restaurant features great dishes with beer, wine, and spirits including Rib Eye and KC Strip Steaks, Delicious Prime Rib on Friday and Saturday nights, Chicken, Fish, and Shrimp entrees, to ruben and hamburger sandwiches. Also featured is a variety of delicious daily specials that are quoted as fun to create, something different every day! For a destination restaurant night out and a visit to Table Rock Lake, Kayakers Bistro Restaurant has now become an informal excellence, dining destination.
Fishing Guide for Table Rock Lake, Dan Boyer, caught a 6 lb, 22 inch large mouth bass this april 24th, 2008. The lake is high, but the fishing is excellent. With depth finders, it does take an effort to see where all the fish species have migrated to, but they are indeed feeding and getting plenty of new grounds, grasses, trees, to explore. Carp have been rolling and feeding near the cedar trees, trees that are not normally there with the water down. Also the Catfish are coming up in the grasses at night, making for great cat fishing from the bank. Access is only limited to the dock here at PaddlingCenter.com, but the ramp and parking has not been a problem, and there are plenty of spoonbill to finish out the last days of the season, as well as crappie, small mouth bass, white bass, fishing is great!
Table Rock Lake had all gates open today to release what has been a deluge of rain that has fallen. With the rain and flooding in south Missouri, the lakes are full and running open, letting a large amount of water through the gates. Not being to Niagara Falls, this seems like a sample of what that water sounds like. It is a roar! With warnings sent below the Taneycomo dam for high water levels, the rest of the ozark streams in the Black and White rivers both are seeing very high levels. We wish all of our friends safety and as we say, we have to roll with the river levels. It is all “just stuff”. PaddlingCenter.com 
Kayakers Bistro Restaurant will now feature local musician, Fred Priddy, Friday Nights at the Bistro with prime rib dinners on the menu those nights. The response was excellent from patrons of the restaurant from Mr. Priddy’s talents, that we decided to make it a Friday night venue for a while. Other music is anticipated to be scheduled, and the Bistro “music with your meal” Friday nights are now on our schedule pending changes. Freddy has played with many country music stars over the last 38 years, and the good music he plays gives him fire in his eyes with pleasure, as he obviously pleases the crowd with tips and aplause throughout the evening. Older classics, country, blues and folk with a fine older classic guitar making the sounds of an accomplished pro, generations of experience has done Fred Priddy for the better. Check our schedule of events, and come see Fred Priddy with your meal, Friday Nights at Kayakers Bistro, Cape Fair Missouri. Kayakers Bistro is located in PaddlingCenter.com outdoor center. Go to PaddlingCenter.com for the Maps page, 18 miles from Branson Missouri, and 45 minutes south of Springfield, MO, on Table Rock Lake, Cape Fair, MO You may also call 417-538-4822
