Gavin

Drove by the Current on the way home from the NFoW yesterday...The water was perfect, up a tad with just a bit of cloud in the water.....Only fished for an hour, but I caught 7...One on a big stonefly, but the rest on a brown mohair leach. Should be fine wading till it gets to 3.0 at Akers. NPS usually closes the river to float traffic at around 3.5 on the Akers guage, but I've had good floating and fishing at that level. Cheers.

Had fun this weekend...Bobber and I arrived at Sunburst on Friday afternoon, set camp, and caught a few fish around the Campground. Lots of rain Saturday night and a bit Sunday AM. Took a float from Kelly down to Sunburst...Got into fish right away and we had such steady action all day long. The weather was variable to say the least. We enjoyed everything from blue bird & sunny skies, light rain, heavy thunderstorms, and sunny with 30-40mph winds. It was just amazing how the fish would turn on when the weather changed a bit...Fish for 20 minutes with no action...change in the weather, and you would catch 2-3 in as many casts. I hooked a nice one at Cave Riffle around 3:30pm and I had a river runs through it moment..Went completely underwater while chasing it downstream, kept the rod high and came up with it still attached. We danced abit longer then she left me..along with my hat. Stripped down and paddle through 30-40mph gusts on the way to Sunburst. Bit more rain on Sunday night, but the river was still in good shape. Floated from Sunburst to James...again into fish right away, and we caught em all day long on the way down to the bridge. Black & Brown Pat's Rubberlegs with brown legs was the ticket. Smaller sizes caught, but the #4 was the ticket for about 80% of our fish. Big Bobber, about ten foot of leader, and one to four AAA's above your Pats and dropper and fish the softer water in the 5-6' depth range. Thanks to Justin & Amy for their fishing tips and hospitality. Cheers.

Things go wrong sometimes. Losing stuff sucks but its easilly replaced. Be glad for a nice day on the river and thanks for the report.

Bring a big stick...9' 6wt or 7wt for chucking heavy nymph rigs and streamers...Big Thingamabobbers, lots of shot, some big black Pat's Rubberlegs, Prince Nymphs, something green and caddis like, some big red fox squirrels or hares ears, eggs, and other assorted nymphs and streamers. Youll want a canoe or a pontoon as well. Cheers.

Awesome....see you Friday.

I'm nowhere near as good as Ralph Brown. He was an interesting fellow to say the least. It was a lot of work to pole up that far but I had fun doing it. I've canoed and waded that section of river many times and I'm glad I took the boat. It helped me spot some fish, and fish a few of the deep spots that are impossible to wade fish effectively. Cheers.

Nice...hit one of the Meramec tributaries last Friday...Tossed the boat in the water at a high bridge and attempted to pole my canoe upstream...Almost fell out of the boat twice, but I didnt get wet after two miles. Lot to learn, but its a start. Fishing was kinda slow, but their were lots of fish on beds and I dont fish for them. Caught some smallish smallies, a couple fairly decent largemouth and a couple spotted bass before the front hit. Caught a couple on top with a B-2 buzzer, but my best producer was a chartruese/white twin spin. Cheers.

Find your net? Bobber and I are heading down Friday-Monday and a few others may drop in...Will take a look see if we float down that way.

I've floated it during the deer opener a couple times. The boat traffic wasnt bad at all. Kinda neat to watch folks run up Mary Decker in the dark, then come back a few hours later with a deer in the boat. Cheers.

Looks like fun...That creek has been on my list for a long time but I've never floated it..Thanks for the report and pictures. Cheers.

Found my first mess on April 4th in STL...not much since...several more while out floating last Friday, but they were all dried up. Maybe this week, who knows. It been a really fickle year for them. Cheers.

19 is pretty good road for the most part...except for the stretch between Cuba & Salem...Try 34 between Piedmont & 160 if you want twisty.

Sounds like fun...I've fished Joachim a bit, but its been a long time. Headed down to camp at Hawn in a month or so...might have to explore a bit. Thanks for the report.

Try a triple surgeons knot...Used to use uni to uni but its a PIA to tie. Its an absolute no brainer, and no problems so far. Cheers.

Had one years ago...they make a pretty good reel.

Blindfolded no thanks, but I've floated it a night a couple times. If your salvaging, dive that horsehoe bluff...might find some good stuff there. And who knows...maybe Ness will pay you a finders fee ;>)! Still need to return your lantern Ness. Will haul it to the UPS store later this week.

That tree has been there for awhile...had enough clearance to push my boat under it on the last trip..There was a big sycamore down across the creek about a mile and a half up from Parker as well....you could float under it on river left on last trip, but someone pinned a boat badly there.Look at the "Anyone loose a canoe" thread in the Current River forum for some pictures of it. If you need some landmarks to time your float... Tan Vat to Baptist 3/4 of a mile and you cant miss either of them, Baptist to Ashley Creek..bought a mile..big gravel bar below the creek on river right and Love's cabin is on the hill on river left. Good spot to camp...Next landmark, the powerline crossing...bought a mile and a half below Ashley Creek...youll pass two bluffs holes and enter a long slow stretch before you get there..The powerlines mark the top of the Horseshoe bend. There are 3 Horseshoe bluffs and a big gravel bar on river right just below the third one. Great spot to camp, and its about mid way between Baptist & Parker. The entrance and exit of the 2nd Horseshoe bluff can be kinda tricky..Stay left going in, and scout the exits because the channel has several braids. You dont want to pin your boat against that bluff...Again, see the anyone lose a canoe thread. Parker Hollow is about 2.5 miles below the Horshoe Bend on river left..Schaffer Spring Branch...bout a 1/4 mile below Parker on river left..Cedar Grove..bout a mile and a half below Shaffer..cant miss the low water bridge at Cedar. The takeout is on river left, floater parking is up the hill aways on river left. Have a great trip.

The floating is great....especially at the present level..(around 2.5' at Akers). Tan Vat or Baptist to Parker is my usual milk run..6.25 miles from Tan Vat to Parker, 5.5 miles from Baptist to Parker. Youll have to make your own arrangements for a shuttle on those..If you need an outfitter, contact Jadwin Canoe for a shuttle or a rental..Probably the same price either way. They service Baptist to Cedar (7miles)..Baptist to Parker or Cedar can be done as easy day floats, but I usually fish a ton and camp on the river. Beats a stay in the park, hands down.

Thanks for the report, are you using circle hooks or J hooks?

The ONSR doesnt start till your down a mile or so from Prongs...and you never know who is going to show up at a public access point. I'd paddle in aways just to avoid a possible crowd of undesirables. Cheers.

Nice!

Good for you guys. Bobber and I are planning to head down soon..Sometime between the 22nd & 27th. Is the CG gonna be busy that weekend?

Nice, wheres the other dozen? I try to handle fish gently if I'm gonna release them, and I kill them immediately if I plan to eat one..A quick knife to the gills and their done. Bought all you can do...No sense in complaining about what someone else might do..You cant control that, so why let it ruin your day. Cheers.

Its aways unfortunate when you run into a knucklehead on the river. Sounds like a good trip anyway, thanks for the report.

Plenty of access on Mill...There's Forest Service Land above and below Bohigian Conservation Area, so you have a couple miles of creek to fish. There are maps on the MDC Site, and check out the Kaintuck map on the Mark Twain National Forest site. Spring Creek...All the access is on the lower end..The bridge, the TU lot, and theres a Forest Service Road that hits the creek aways upstream from the TU lot...maybe a mile or a mile and a half of public water. Getting around is tough too...Lots of high Mudbanks, loose gravel, heavy brush, and some deep pools that you cant wade. Strictly private on the upper end but its a pretty valley, and Relfe Spring is worth a look even if you cant fish there. The Roubidoux, plenty of access at the City Park on the upper end...middle section...youd have to knock on doors for permission, or blatently walk through someones yard. There are a couple spots to park by the road on the lower end. Have a great trip.