Don't know a hellgrammite from a caterpillar?  Ever seen a riffle beetle feeding on the rocks or a scud hiding in the moss?  Do you know what Karst is or what a Karst window looks like?  Would you know a Great Crested Flycatcher if he flew down and bit you on the nose?

You can learn about all this and much more on a Longboat Outfitters float trip, where environmental knowledge is a natural part of the fun. Our guides are out to help you not only enjoy but fully understand the nature of Ozarks nature.

Qualified by virtue of studying the natural sciences through the university level and lifetimes of living in the outdoors, every Longboat Outfitter staff member has areas of expertise to share about the Ozarks environment.

The interests of our clients are the focus of every trip.  Whether you're a catch and release fisherman or just like the sound of a running stream under your boat,  it's a natural fit, and if you are interested in ecology, you've found a home with Longboat Outfitters.  On a typical float trip, you could start your morning to the song the Wood Thrush then drift from riffle to riffle fishing for trout or smallmouth bass or both.  Follow that with a leisurely gourmet lunch on a gravel bar topped off perhaps by a brief siesta and, then, if you like, we can break out the collecting equipment and show you the secret life of the stream -- the macroinvertebrates that are the base of the food chain.
Or perhaps you'd prefer a bird watching hike, a trip into a natural cave, or a lesson in tree and shrub identification. Even if you'd rather just take a leisurely swim in the afternoon sun, every trip always brings the possibility of sighting deer, otters, beaver, wild turkeys, eagles, osprey, and more fish than you can imagine.

It's all possible with Longboat Outfitters, and it's all done in the true Ozarkian tradition of regard for the beauty of our natural surroundings, respect for the streams and their inhabitants, and not much interest in hurrying anywhere. Come join us for a breath of refreshing, stress-free, slow-moving Ozark outdoor air.  You'll not only enjoy yourself, but you're likely to go home knowing a great deal more about the outdoor life of the Ozarks than you brought with you when you came.  Just tell us what you want, and we'll do our best to arrange it for you.