The
Current River is not only one of the finest trout streams in the country, it
is also among the most beautiful and pristine floating rivers around. That's
a good thing, because the river is only accessible by road every few miles.
So, to reach some of the finest fishing waters, you'll probably have to float
it. During your trip down one of the most incredible rivers around, a part of
the Ozark National Scenic Riverways system, you'll float past all manner of wildlife,
including river otter. You'll see springs and caves and breathtaking bluffs,
and there are plenty of gravel and sandbars to stop and take in the sights.
But, of course, this website is all about trout fishing, and this river has
three distinctly different fishing opportunities.
The headwaters of the Current are found inside Montauk
State Park, which many say is the finest of
the four Missouri Trout Parks. It certainly is less crowded than the others
on most days, and there are areas where you can actually fish quality water
alone. Below the park, you'll find a 9-mile Special Trout Management Area.
Just below that stretch, you'll find an 8-mile "regular" Trout
Management Area. If you include the river within the state park boundaries,
that's almost 20 miles of continuous productive trout stream -- more than
just a little impressive, wouldn't you say?
Current River Blue Ribbon Trout Area
From the Montauk State Park boundary downstream 9 miles to Cedar
Grove Bridge, including all tributaries. Only flies and artificial lures may
be used, specifically excluding soft plastics. Daily limit is 1 trout at least
18" long.
This
portion of the river holds a very nice brown trout population, as well as
rainbows, a few of which are stream-bred. This portion of the river also gives
you a real good chance to catch a 2-foot long fish, as recent surveys
indicate that 15% of the fish are of trophy size. There are five primary
access points from which you can wade into some great fishing. You can enter
from Montauk State Park by entering the campground area and parking at the
furthest lot, closest to where the river leaves the park. There are well-used
trails that will lead you on foot, and a prominent wooden sign is posted at the
river's edge to show where the park ends and the "trophy" area, as
the locals call it, begins. There are some great pools and a few sets of
riffles just below the park that routinely give up quality fish.
The
second access point is at Tan Vat. Exit the park out the back door and you'll
find yourself on a narrow dirt road. When you see Eagles Park on the left,
get ready to turn right onto the gravel road to Tan Vat Access. Upstream from
Tan Vat you'll find some good holes that often give up big fish, especially
to spin fishermen casting mini-crankbaits and marabou jigs. Immediately
downstream there is a stretch that works well for lures or flies. Below the
riffles 100 yards downstream, however, the river quickly turns into a
textbook trout stream, with plenty of riffles alternating with pools and only
the occasional run.
Massive morning Trico hatch, but
no trout feeding on them!! What gives?
By
following the county roads, you'll find Baptist Camp Access, Parker Access,
and Cedar Grove Access further downstream. In some spots, you may have to
wade a while to find some water that holds good fish, but when you find a
good set of riffles or a deep pool, you'll also find the water packed with
good-sized trout. With rivers such as this, you may think it would be fun to
commit yourself to a hard-core day trip, starting before dawn at one access
point and hiking and fishing upstream to the next before nightfall. However,
many portions of this river are too deep to wade (even in August) and have impassable
banks that butt against bluffs on one side and are overgrown with serious
brush on the other. So, we suggest you float a stretch before you decide to
hike it. If you don't take that advice, at least plan for a possible extended
stay (i.e. matches, flashlight, dinner, etc.). At the very least, touch base
with a Ranger to let him know your plans before you strike out.
Now,
there is one notable oddity about this portion of the river. There does not
appear to be any dominant aquatic insect food source that the trout tend to rely
on. If you seine the stream, you'll find a few caddis, the occasional little stone,
and a good
teeny mayfly population, but that's about it. This is likely the reason that
purist fly fishermen have been known to struggle here. They come equipped with
traditional Western fly patterns and are often blown away when they see people
outfishing them on orange glo-balls and white mini-jigs. The trout here have been
known to hit well on such flies as Zug Bugs, Mohair Leeches, and other attractor
patterns. You can often bring a trout up to the
surface to grab a variety of dries, including Elk Hair Caddis and generic mayfly imitations.
Prince Nymphs and Copper Johns are also productive at times. In August and September,
there are massive Trico hatches which can occur daily, but, often, you'll
fish Trico dries, spinners and emergers right through the best part of the
hatch without getting a single hit and without so much as seeing a single
trout rise. Now, there are other times with the fish will hit readily on
Trico patterns, tiny Adams, Griffith's Gnats, etc. during the hatch, so be
sure to stock these flies as well, just in case.
This 15" brownie came up to a #22 Adams during a morning Trico hatch.
And, as
is the case in all streams with limited aquatic insect populations, bring
your terrestrial patterns -- ants, hoppers and such -- for summertime fishing.
Big streamers will work
well in the deeper holes below good riffles. Spin fishermen have been known
to tear them up on jigs and itty bitty crankbaits, as mentioned earlier. But,
above all else, if you want to catch fish here, you absolutely must not
forget to bring glo-bugs. When nothing else is working, glo-bugs will work and will
often work extremely well -- even on big bruiser resident fish. It may be hard for the
purist fly fisherman to accept, but if you want to catch fish here, you'll have to
resign yourself to using what works.
Current River White Ribbon Trout Area
All water downstream from the Cedar Grove
Bridge. No bait restrictions. Daily limit is 4 trout, of which only 1 may be
a brown trout 15" or longer.
This
stretch of water is also quite productive, with many more rainbows than
browns. There are only three riverside access points -- Cedar Grove, Welch
Spring and Akers Ferry -- and since the 5-mile distance between Cedar Grove
and Welch Spring is not entirely wadable, you will need to float down to
reach much of the finest fishing. If you don't have access to a canoe or
raft, the Welch Spring Access boasts consistent fishing results downstream
from the Spring for quite a long distance.
Bait
fishermen will see success drifting worms and salmon eggs under a bobber
while wading to cover more water, and spin fisherman always do fine here with
most anything. Flyfishermen will find that the aquatic insect population is
much higher in this stretch, so traditional flies work better than they do upstream.
In fact, a recent insect survey conducted by Missouri Trout Hunter found a surprisingly
large number of aquatic insects in a notably wide variety, including many mayflies,
caddis and stoneflies (sizes 12-18), hellgramites (size 10), and scud (12-14). We
even discovered several jet-black stoneflies similar to those found on the
North Fork, albeit smaller (size 12).
The primary challenge for fishermen will be dodging canoes throughout the summer. As is
the case with all popular float rivers, you can avoid most of the canoe
traffic by fishing the lowest reaches of trout waters early in the day when
the floaters are still upstream. When the water begins to get crowded with
boats, load back into the car and head upstream to fish the upper stretches.
