From the moment you approach the launch site, you are aware something special is in store.

whether you’re a nature

lover simply along for the ride on one of America’s

most scenic rivers, or a consummate fisherman ready

to chase wild trout and smallmouth

bass, a modern-day treasure awaits.

With the beautiful morning light

comes a glimpse of a place where

past meets present, building the

anticipation of memories from a trip

never to be forgotten.

From shore lunches to overnight

camps on a gravel bar, be prepared

to step back in time–a time when the

fishing was good, the meals were extra

tasty and fun was the largest catch

of the day. With some modern-day

conveniences added in, the Longboat

experience cannot be found anywhere

in the nation, and treasured by the few who travel to

the Ozarks to witness this experience of a lifetime.

Welcome to where a new chapter in history is created.

Welcome to Longboat Outfitters

Reviving an Ozarks Tradition By Searching Through the Past.

Prior to the damming of the White River in the1960s, the large stream meandered in and out of

Missouri and Arkansas for more than a hundred

miles. Curious sportsmen, families and large groups

discovered the scenic,natural beauty of the Ozarks

through the only way they knew...by flat-bottom boat.

Presidents, dignitaries and everyday folk flocked to the

waterway to be one with nature in a quiet, picturesque

and very original way.

The longboats, or “Jon”

boats as the livery services

called them, were invented

and hand made expressly for

hauling people and cargo

on excursions down the

“Mighty White.” Their design

made navigating the unique

structure of the river practical.

Inspired by the historical

trips offered by the original longboat outfitters in

the 1930s–50s, Kyle Kosovich was compelled to

recreate that experience. When Table Rock and

Bull Shoals Dams appeared on the White River the

pleasure of longboat fishing was all but extinct. The

only remaining relics of this bygone era are located in

museums or on display in sporting goods stores.

Until now.

Kyle acquired the blueprints used to make the White

River longboats and built his first prototype by hand,

just as the originators of the first longboat did—albeit

with a few modern techniques.

Growing up in the Ozarks on North Fork of the White

River, Kyle has made waterways his life. In college he

studied biology, furthering his passion for learning

everything about the river, how wildlife completes

its ecosystem and how to properly fish the technical,

yet abundant, stream. As an experienced guide and

naturalist, he is fulfilling his dream by sharing this

offering with others, while adding flavor to the day with

narratives on the nature surrounding you.

We Supply a Shore Lunch, Flies and Instruction.  The River Supplies the Fish.

Whether you prefer fishing for smallmouth bass,

rainbow or brown trout (or all three) you can–in one

trip. Ozarks’ rivers contain a bounty of species.

The design of the

longboat makes a perfect

fishing platform,

whether standing or

seated. The trip itself is a

joy even for non-fishers,

as they witness the

beauty of river wildlife while riding down historical

national scenic riverways. Be sure and bring your

camera because there’s just too much beauty to

remember it all in 3-D.

You Choose the River, and We’ll Make Your Day...or Two.

Day trips are conducted on the North Fork River.

Overnight trips can be experienced on

the North Fork, Current, or Eleven

Point Rivers in Missouri.

Come play for the Day or Sleep Over if You Like.

The only experience better than a

Longboat day trip is an overnight

stay on the river. And the only thing

better than that is a two-night camp.

Fall asleep as the water runs gently in

the background, while the last crackle

of the fire gives way to the

sounds of nature one only hears

in a place like this.

Wake up to the smell of a campfire

breakfast while witnessing the

day as it slowly breaks into the

river valley. And so another

memorable experience begins.

Longboat takes care of

everything, from tents

and gear to fishing

equipment, upon

request. Food,

drink, accommodations

and lots of fun are

everything you

need in one

great package.