Gene K

Go here: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ozar Scrol down to "General Management Plan" and click on that link. You can download the newsletter #3 PDF and then comment online.

Can't float until Tan Vat. No canoe rental outfitters will but in at Tan Vat. One of them, Jadwin, will take rentals to Baptist. It can be busy mid-day from Baptist down on the weekends, but nothing like further down (Cedar on). You can put your own personal canoes in at any of those mentioned access points.

No commercial service that would take you back to Tan Vat. Jadwin Canoe does service Baptist for rental, but I don't know whether they would simply transport you back from Cedar Grove to Baptist. I suspect not. You really need to arrange your own pick-up and transport. Most people do it by way of more than one vehicle, dropping one off at your intended take-out spot.

Were the F 15's around doing their dog-fighting thing? Wouldn't be the first time something has fallen off one of them down there!

It's pointless to get worked up over these things. It happens ALL THE TIME! I can't even count how many times I witness those fishign the Current who just refuse to play by the same rules we do. They know full well they won't get caught, and in their mind, they really aren't doing anything to hurt anyone.

For some of you regulars, if you need a lift to and from Parkers and Baptist, just check with me in advance to see if I am available. I have no problem lending a hand.

It's easier at this time of year than when the foliage arrives. Depends on how much time you spend fishing each spot you stop at. It's doable, but I much prefer to float that portian and not have to worry about it.

As far as access by car, there's really only a few. Hope this helps... Parker access road is CR 6520. There's and old pop-up camper sitting at the entrance at the moment.

"Code?" Maybe I have been away from the forum too long! Straight forward - if any members who have been actice on the forum for two years (I have decent sence of those members), and have some skills in copper pipe and drywall ( frozen water pipes), they are welcome for a free stay next weekend at my place, plus another in the future. Cold weather ruptured a water line beind a wall and I need to repair. Yes, I can do it, but I would need to buy some repair tools, eg, tourch and whatnot. I'm not a drywall and copper repair guy by any means. Never met Gavin, but I think he knows enough to know if this is on the up and up. No biggie, if there's no forum members who cannot help (and don't want a free stay for two weekends), no biggie! But this request is only for those who can lend a hand in repair. The reward is new friends and possibly a new hangout, when we are around, which is very often.

Relevant to only those to have contributed (forum) in the past two years within the CR fourm: Need a hand next weekend; Had a pipe freeze. Need to repair and fix the brass pipe, and repair the drywall. Should take an hour or so. Only relevant for those who have been on the forum (Upper Cueent forum) for more than two years. - help a brotha out. You'll have a free weeeknd in utopia (next weekend and another weekend). PM me. Speaking of regulars and the like...

Amen - I agree.

Hank, There's actually an old county road that runs from Cedar to Parker on the east / north-east side of the river. Many trails lead from that "county road" down to the river, and at this time of year you can see the river from most parts of that road (more like a trail). And frankly, with waders you can navigate most all of it without using the county road. At Parker you can cross the river, where many of the trails leading towards Baptist are on the south side.

No, not difficult to get to. YY to CR6520, about 6/10 of a mile east of the Baptist Camp access road. CR6520 is gravel, and it can hold some puddles after some rain, but no problem for a sedan whatsoever. Just keep in mind it's narrow and also has horse traffic on occassion. Yes, it's wadeable. Going upstream you will have to get out once in a while, but there is a trail on the south side. Upstream. Yes, but there are both. You are better off upstream no matter what you use, IMO. Personally, when I float and fish I like the stretch from Baptist to just a ways past Ashley. I'm lazy - I don't hike the stretch. Whatever you have the most confidence in?

It is just about perfect for kayaking between Baptist and Parker right now. In fact, it could stand to be a bit higher. The level most of the summer has been 1.25 or better (Montauk gauge), and the rain last week bumped it back up to where it is at 1.25 at the moment.

Had a bit of color to it yesterday. Level wasn't all that high - didn't check the gauge but it looked only slightly above what it has been the past few weeks. BTW, most rain gauges around me showed a bit over 5 inches for the week. No reason at all to stay home!

I know you were generalizing - thus my smiley. Trash? Tell me about it. There have been campers every weekend at Parker this summer, and almost always they don't take all their trash out with them. I have picked up more trash than I care to remember.

Hoosier sounds a bit nicer than idiot, which evidently I am for riding my ATV to Cedar Grove. Always nice to make new friends.

There is no camping restriction at Parker. It would be nice if people didn't throw down a tent in what amounts to the turn-around area or the ford area, but they do - and it's quite legal. Heck, better spots to toss a tent down just a few hundered yards down stream, and easy access there as well...

Sure, if that's where you want to fish in the morning. If you walk accross the low water bridge and up the road (ZZ) about 3/10 of a mile, there will be an old road on your left. You can walk that all the way to Parker Ford (~2.5 miles) or just head down the hill at almost any point in between to access the river. There are a few decent spot to camp in between. [edit]: I might have misread what you posted? If you don't need facilities, which I assume you don't because you ask about camping upstream from Cedar, then I would simply camp at Parker (drive there on YY>6520). Some nice places to put a tent up. [/edit] As to the question about it being party central, it can be, but it's better than some years ago. Sundays are better than Saturdays in terms of fewer party folks. If you have time Sunday, go to Jadwin Canoe and rent a canoe from Baptist to Cedar. The stretch from Baptist to Parker is far better than from Parker to Cedar IMO. Last Sunday I only saw two other canoes on that stretch, and they were fishing. The weekend before I floated the same stretch on Saturday, and spent most of my time picking up beer cans from a group I ran into later, and they were no fun to be around!

Baptist is marked "no camping," but I have routinely seen people camp in the upper lot. Legal? I don't really know.

Plenty of spots at the Cedar Grove area to camp, and no hiking necessary to get to them. If you are looking for a hike-in camp area, you can get to just about any sand/gravel bar on the upper Current via trails or an old county road that run along side the river. Some could be a short hike, while others could be a few miles.

Assuming you are stopping a bit to fish, these are close to a day trip: Baptist to Cedar - Floatable blue ribbon portion (Jadwin Canoe only rental service for Baptist). Cedar to Akers - Trout and SMB. Akers to Pulltite - Trout and SMB. There are also some one day trips further down stream. Just google "current river canoe rental."

Gene's swimming hole. It is the creek that comes from Schafer Spring. It is also fed from a small spring and creek that run through my property, as well as run-off from the hills surrounding the hollow. I suppose it should be called Schafer Creek... I could give you a Google Earth map of some good hikes should you want to learn the area. Some that you would never find otherwise. Some interesting stuff to see. It fairly easy to find. Just drive down to Parker Ford and turn left at the bottom of the hill. Cross Schafer creek and there will be a sign on your left just a few yards past the creek that designates Nichols. Just follow the path. If you want to see another old homestead, you can go past Nichols and continue on into the field. Take the right fork in the path and head almost due east. As you begin walking through a hollow you will see the old Schafer homestead on your right. The coordinates for the entrance to Nichols is 37.43833 -91.62111. The coordinates for Schafer spring are 37.45306 -91.61944. Indeed. I have actually spent some time with Kenny Nichols, who is now in his 90's. He did some dozing work for me a few years ago. Learned a lot from him. Turns out he told me he was the one who cut the timbers for my barn many years ago. He has all sorts of stories. The other families from that area are the Medlock's and Schafer's, and I have spent some time with them as well. Interesting stuff.

Yes, not the best place to have a fuel pump go out. I know exactly who towed you out. He actually considered buying some of the property I now have (at Parker Ford), and has even been back to visit for more than just your tow. And his brother did some electical wiring for me a while back.

The river runs from Montauk (first access is Tan Vat link) and can be floated ~130 miles to Arkansas. Just google current river maps for access points.