MuddlerMax

Wow, thanks for all the input! Okay, so now what's the important thing to focus on from this USGS site...gauge height, discharge, precipitation, or combination of all three? What is a fishable gauge height? What is a high and low number to key in on? Perhaps this has already been addressed in a previous post as it seems like it could be a fairly common question for new Current fishers; if so please refer me to that post. Again, thanks for the invaluable input. You all may save me alot in wasted gas money if so!

Hello. I'm possibly coming down this weekend from Columbia to fish the Current, most likely Tan Vat or Baptist access. With storms on the forecast for tomorrow (Friday June 6) and saturday (June 7), I was just wondering your thoughts on how much rain this region can take before the Current looks like chocolate milk and is virtually unfishable. This will be my second time so I don't have much first hand experience of how much runoff will be flowing in the river. Just trying to save myself the trip if it will be bad fishing. Thanks! All input is appreciated.

Some nice pictures of some really healthy fish. Thanks for the report. What type of patterns were you having the most luck on if you don't mind me asking?

Flysmallie, what is your preferred tail material, and why? Also, when in the year do you think Gurglers are most effective for both largemouth and smallmouth bass? Ya, I'd say that smoked cheese color combination is probably my favorite too. Nice ties.

I've read posts on this site for a while now, but recently moved back up to Columbia from Starkville, Ms to start a PhD and decided since I would actually be fishing the area I should contribute with fishing reports and such. Been fishing all my life, picked up a fly rod about 5 years ago and have been hooked since. I fish for anything I can with a fly rod- trout, bass, panfish, crappie, & carp- basically anything that'll bite. I would have to say that carp are my preferred quarry to chase, and an open to anyone having suggestions on places to stalk carp in the Columbia/Jefferson City area. Am also a passionate fly tier- since i'm in grad school I tie a lot more than I get chances to fish so I have too many flies for one person to ever use! I tie nymphs, midges, carp flies, streamers (big n small), basically the only thing I really don't tie much of are small dries. Most of my time is spent in local ponds & lakes in central Mo chasing bass, panfish, and crappie. I get down to Bennett Springs enough to be dangerous. Recently (4/19) went down to the Current river for the first time and think that might be my new place to go when I get the chance to. Many thanks to everyone who provides the quality information available on this site, I know it has helped dramatically decrease my learning curve when it comes to locations to fish. Looking forward to reading up on more great posts and contributing with my trip reports. If any of ya'll are in the area and wanna hit up a spot, let me know I'm always down to go fish.

Hello, I'm relatively new to this forum, so I figured I'd start with a small introduction in case none of you all recognize the name. I've been fishing my whole life, fly fishing for about 5 years and am completely obsessed. I'm a 26 year old graduate student at MU, fishing in local ponds in central Mo and taking trips to where I can when time allows. Favorite spots are Bennett/ Niangua, however this was my first time on the Current so perhaps I've found a new spot to call my favorite. Anyways...trip report. Went down to Tan Vat access this past Saturday, arriving at about 10am. 4-5 cars in the lot when we (went with 2 buddies) showed up. Waded and fished below Tan Vat about a mile/ mile and a half or so. From about 11-4 pm that day I ended up landing a very nice healthy 18"brown as well as a 15" or so rainbow that was also well fed. Unfortunately, I didn't have my phone on my to take a picture of the nice brown, but my friend was nice enough to inform me that "we should have taken a picture with his" about 30 seconds after I released it! This was hands down the nicest brown I've ever caught, and one of the nicer of trout in general. Didn't see any other fishers, other than when we waded back upstream to the car at the end of the day. This was my first time on the Current so I can't really compare conditions. Weather was sunny and about 75, water was clear. A caddis hatch (smaller, about size 16-18 & tan/creamish) was coming off when we got on the water (~10:45 am) and lasted pretty much all day, with heavier hatching occurring in the late morning to early afternoon. Took the brown on a black 18 zebra midge suspended below a 16 elk hair caddis on 7x fluoro, and the bow on a 16 tan psycho prince soft hackle.