About eight miles downstream lies the second abandoned mill, where newcomers portage to the right. The next access is at Woody's Canoe Rental and Campground -- (870) 892-9732 -- about four miles northwest of Dalton in northern Randolph County. At Dalton, swift currents make for a challenging put-in near the state Highway 93 bridge, also on private property.

Another eight miles downstream, be prepared to portage around the third dam and the willow strainers immediately below. From there, it's a mile to the state Highway 90 bridge, where you'll see what looks like a landing -- but it's on private property and posted, according to Internet forums. The next stop is at the bridge on Black's Ferry Road (County Road 527), where a steep bank leads to a tricky access in deep water.

You can paddle over the fourth dam a mile above the AGFC's access near the U.S. 62 bridge west of Pocahontas. From there, shoot through one of several breeches in the fifth and final stone dam a few miles above the Eleven Point's confluence with the Spring. It's another four and a half miles on the Spring to the AGFC's public ramp on the Black River. Lodging and supplies are available at Pocahontas, and Old Davidsonville State Park offers camping.

FINDING THE SMALLMOUTHS
During the AGFC's three-year study of the Eleven Point, the highest average catch rate occurred from the mill dam to Woody's Campground and Canoe Rental and from Woody's downstream to Dalton. Generally, you'll find more smallmouths above there, and the population dwindles downstream, especially below Black's Ferry Bridge. However, that decline is balanced by a general increase in the percentage of larger fish, Henry says.

Overall, 32 percent of the smallmouths sampled from the river were 11 inches or longer, a figure that doubles the statewide average. About 10 percent were 14 inches or longer, which exceeds the state average by 40 percent. These numbers mean that you should expect to catch plenty of average-sized fish anywhere between Woody's and the Black's Ferry Bridge and that you'll find bigger fish around the U.S. 62 bridge, where 16 percent of the smallies exceeded 14 inches.

PADDLING ADVICE
The Eleven Point has fewer rapids than the Spring -- mostly in the Class I and II range -- but heavy rains change its gentle nature. In addition to the dams, beware the braided currents through gravel islands that occasionally cave in below Dalton in Randolph County. As on the Spring, you'll pass tempting campsites, but remember that private land borders most of these rivers and treat it and the owners with respect.

Despite these warnings, don't hesitate to take on the Eleven Point. The outstanding scenery and fishing are well worth it.

FISHING TACTICS
For either river, choose light spinning or spincast outfits and an assortment of small lures, including inline spinners, jigs, crankbaits, plugs and soft plastics. Of course, both rivers have plenty of smallmouths that can suck down your largemouth-worthy lures, too.