June On The Current

[briant]

Heading down with my wife to the Current River near VanBuren in early June. It will be my first time going. I was wondering if anybody had some tips for smallies? I won't have a boat or canoe and will only have a couple hours in the morning and evening to fish since as my wife was quick to point out this in NOT a fishing trip. Looking forward to the trip and getting away for a few days. Any tips on areas near VanBuren that are good for wading and techniques that the bass like on the Current would be great!! Thanks and good fishing!

[Al Agnew]

The Current in that area is NOT easy to wade. It's pretty big water, especially in June when it will not have come down to its late summer low water levels. Given that the Current is usually clear to very clear, the fish won't be up shallow except maybe in the early morning, so wading close enough to fish much good water with some depth will be problematical.

So, don't want to discourage you, but you will be limited in where you can fish by wading. If you're willing to get up early and drive for a little while before getting to where you can fish, you might drive up to the Jacks Fork, either around Bay Creek or down below Eminence. It will be easier to wade.

As for what to use, all the usual stuff should be working then. If wading and limited in the water you can cover, the best thing is usually to fish something fairly slow on the bottom, like a tube, Senko, finesse type worm, or about anything in soft plastic meant to be fished on the bottom.

[briant]

The Current in that area is NOT easy to wade. It's pretty big water, especially in June when it will not have come down to its late summer low water levels. Given that the Current is usually clear to very clear, the fish won't be up shallow except maybe in the early morning, so wading close enough to fish much good water with some depth will be problematical.

So, don't want to discourage you, but you will be limited in where you can fish by wading. If you're willing to get up early and drive for a little while before getting to where you can fish, you might drive up to the Jacks Fork, either around Bay Creek or down below Eminence. It will be easier to wade.

As for what to use, all the usual stuff should be working then. If wading and limited in the water you can cover, the best thing is usually to fish something fairly slow on the bottom, like a tube, Senko, finesse type worm, or about anything in soft plastic meant to be fished on the bottom.

Thanks, I will look into the Jacks Fork. Good fishing!

[eric1978]

Thanks, I will look into the Jacks Fork. Good fishing!

There's some decent, wadable water with fish-holding spots right upstream from the Bay Creek access on JF. If I remember correctly, The Buck Hollow, Blue Spring and Rymers accesses have some deeper pools nearby and might be tough to wade...unless the water is down, say below 75 cfs or so.

Remember JF is a Smallmouth Management Area. Good luck!

[Wormser]

Agreed with what Al and Eric said, and in the evening don't forget your topwater action. My absolute favorite (not the most productive) lure of all time is a black jitterbug fished after dark using a headlamp.