Help: Welch Spring To Akers

[Mark]

A buddy and I are heading down to Steelville Thurs. night to see the Ozark Mountain Daredevils. On Friday we are planning on heading down to the Current River with canoe in tow. I realize the river is high now but hope it will be floatable from Welch Springs to Akers Ferry. We have never floated this section and need some help.

1) The map is confusing - all show the Welch access on the south side of the river. We are coming from Salem. Is Welch Spring accessible from the north side of river off HWY K? I can swear that I have been on that road before and saw the sign for Welch Spring off of HWY K from the north side of the river.

2) What should the cfs be on Friday for the river to fish decent?

3) Assuming I am right about driving to Welch Springs from the north side off of HWY K, we plan on unloading canoe and gear, and my buddy will stay with canoe while I drive to Akers Ferry to park my truck. Will there be someone to pay to shuttle/taxi me back up to Welch?

4) I have a stern back canoe and a 2.5 HP motor on the back. I realize that jet props are prohibited above Round Springs, but can I use my 2.5 HP motor?

5) Welch to Akers is White Ribbon area, correct? Can we expect to catch trout?

6) Any sights we should expect to see and make sure to explore?

I've read about the old hospital at Welch Springs. I have been wanting to float/fish this section for several years and just now getting around to it. This is just as much of an exploratory trip to see how we like it, availability of gravel bars and campsites, and scenery. All comments and advice appreciated.

Thanks,

Mark from Bloomsdale

[ColdWaterFshr]

1) The Welch access is on the NORTH side of the river, northEAST to be more precise, and yes thats the only way to access it is off of Hwy K.

2) CFS? Heck, its probably fishable now, but I think if it got down to around 600-700, it would be easier to wade fish in most spots.

3) Welch Spring to Akers is less than 3 miles -- a bit short for an overnight float You oughta do Cedargrove to Welch which is 5 1/2 miles. If you need a shuttle, I would check first w/ Akers Canoe rental or Jadwin to make sure they will be around. They should be, but you never know.

4) Don't bother with your motor, you won't need it. Flow rate of the river will move you along at about 2-3 mph without even getting your paddle wet.

5) Yes, you can expect to catch trout. That section tends to do better if there has been a recent stocking though -- it gets fished out pretty quickly.

6) I would make Cedargrove your put-in instead of Welch, and either take out at Welch or Akers. That way you can check out Medlock cave which is about 4 miles downstream of Cedargrove on river right. Fishing is usually better immediately below Welch, but the water will be noticeably higher and more swift with all this rain, and that may not be what you want.

Have fun and be careful.

[brownieman]

I agree pretty much with what CWF said except if it were me I would float from cedar to akers, 7.7 miles. Motors...10 horse max I'm pretty sure...don't know if the regs change in the off season.

Medlock is a small spring but one you can paddle up in the mouth of...Welch is the 6th largest spring in the state...years ago was a youth camp there my father worked at. The kid work crews rebuilt it all back to it's original state (private little trout fishery years ago). Upon closure of the camp the tourists just flat destroyed all the efforts made to refurbish that place in no time...beyond me??

It's a real nice section of river but wade fishing is pretty limited...if the water is up much at all it would be touph to say the least. The river just about doubles in size where welch dumps in. Kinda strange, the little bluff hole just before where welch dumps in I have caught some dandy Grass Pickerel in...don't ask cause I can't explain it...can speculate but have no definitive answer. There's a real neat cave we call the "A Hole Cave" sits pretty far up a steep hillside about 3 miles or so below cedar so you know what that means....don't even think many locals know where it's at but I would have to walk you to it if I could find it...been awhile, lol

They used to stock 500 bo bo's every 2 weeks during the summer months from cedar to akers, just dinks mind ya. There are some holdovers in there but not a common catch...giggers also hit that strech pretty hard, not that they would ever stick a trout, smallie by accident...maybe a carp but never a game fish...believe that and I have some land I'd like to show you, lol.

I have caught some nice bo's on that strech on big dead minnows, nothing huge but a few 5,6 pounders. I do fish it once in awhile below Welch...seems like I either nail a nice one or absolutaly nothing, mind you I'm lookin for big brownies, bo's don't hit a large rapala very often.

There's been some big ones caught down there and I know a guy that caught an 11 pound bo all the way down at Pulltite. Over the years I've hung a few down there that I didn't even get to see, just snapped my line like it was sewing thread...that's about the time I said piss on that 6 lb. test.

Below welch is big fish lookin water if there ever was any...I know there has to be some super hogs down there.

You would enjoy the float regardless, if you don't catch any trout the otters hit pretty good down there, I've had em chase my plug right up to me...but they don't eat many fish, remember...according to the so called experts.

Plenty of nice gravel bars and after all this high water firewood should be easy to find.

I think I've posted this before but I'll show it again...it's my scary picture of a pretty nice brown I kept a few years back just below welch.

Enjoy and be careful whatever you choose...OMD and some quality time on a beautiful river, does it get much better ?

later on

[Mark]

Thanks guys. We'll probably stick to Welch to Akers just because we will be arriving late morning and the days are short. 3 miles of fishing will keep us busy. I use the motor to backtrack areas if we float fish.

[hank franklin]

Welch to Akers will keep you plenty busy. It's only 2.3 miles from Akers to Welch by road; you might walk it if you're in fair shape and save some $$. Or you could pay Akers whatever they'd get to run you up there.

The canoe put-in is downstream of Welch Hospital. To get to the hospital and spring you'll have to walk upstream from the landing along a gravel road. In lower water you can wade your way up there from Welch Landing but right now that might be tough. If you haven't seen it you should check it out.

If camping overnight you've only got a handful of gravel bars to choose from because the float is so short. But you'll find one.

[Mark]

Thanks Hank. I'm psyched and will give my report on Monday.