Rod and Reel 3 day float

[Korean Redneck]

Hey what's going on guys. This is my first post so take it easy on me. I am taking my buddies on a 3 day float and I would like to show them how to catch some fish. If I was fishing on the Roubidoux I would be set, but this is my first time down the Current. I do not know the river at all. I will be fishing with a fly rod but they all will be fishing with Rod and Reels. We will be floating early August and was just wondering if you guys could help out on lure selection for this time of year. (Bass and Trout)

Thanks

[Gavin]

What section are you floating?

[Korean Redneck]

Baptist camp down to Round Springs

[Gavin]

Thats a lot of river to cover in 3 days (35 miles). Sure you want to float that far? If you do....make sure you bring a water purifier so you can get some when you need it.

Baptist to Cedargrove is the best trout water. Most of your catch will be brown trout, mixed with an occasional rainbow, and smallmouth bass.. Terrestrials work well this time of year, caddis & tricos are possible, and bring some nymphs, buggers, sculpin & minnow patterns. Your spin fishing buds should do well early and late on spinners, jigs, and minnow crankbaits (1 trout >18" limit, bait & plastic are illegal).

Cedargrove to Akers Ferry offers fishing for stocked rainbow trout and the occasional smallmouth. Bait is legal below Cedargrove, so anything goes for the spin guys, try nymphs and buggers on your fly rod...

The Akers to Pulltite stretch doesnt really fish that well. To cold for bass to grow big, and no trout stocking. Fishing picks up a little bit between Pulltite and Round Spring though. If the river isnt crowded, I'd probably run & gun with a buzzbait, walk the dog plug, or fluke and have another rod rigged with a 4" worm or grub for a follow ups. If its crowded, plastics on the bottom. Cheers.

[Scooper]

Gavin-

You appear to be very knowledgeable about the Current River; do you know what happened to the proposal to start stocking trout below Akers? As I recall, the Missouri Department of Conservation was all set to implement a stocking plan back in 2003 or 2004. Just curious. Thanks....

[Gavin]

Scooter, I had a conversation with one of the higher ups at the NPS while camping at Pulltite over 4th of July, and I also talked with an MDC biologist about the Akers to Pulltite stretch recently. Trout stocking probably isnt going to happen because the NPS has a policy against the introduction of non-native species. Accourding to the MDC biologist, the Akers to Pulltite stretch holds a depressed smallmouth population and very few trout. The Akers to Pulltite stretch is fine habitat for trout but the stockers they plant upstream get caught out before they make it down there.

IMO, it might be worth trying an experimental trophy smallmouth area between Akers & Round Spring and hope that it improves the fishing. Its fantastic stretch of river, its just too bad that it has so few fish in it. Cheers.

[Scooper]

Gavin-

Thank you for your in-depth response. For some reason, I thought that the Eleven Point was a National Scenic River, similar in status as the Current. I know that there is a wild trout fishery on th Eleven Point, along with a stocking program; so I wondered why it is OK with the National Park Service to stock the Eleven Point, but not the Current? Maybe the two streams each have a different status. Anyway, thanks again.

[Gavin]

The 11pt and Current are under the jurisdiction of different Federal Agency's. The 11pt is a National Scenic Rivers and its under the control of the US Forest Service. The Upper Current & the Jacks Fork are National Parks under the control of the National Park Service. The USFS has a more liberal attitude about land use, but both Agency's have policies against the introduction of non-native species. Fortunately rainbow & brown trout have been grandfathered in on portions of the Upper Current, same with the rainbows on the 11pt. FWIW, I heard that MDC would like to stock brown trout on the 11pt, but USFS wont let them. Cheers.

[Brian Sloss]

If MDC had their way, brown trout would be in the 11pt right now. The forest service won't allow it to happen. I've even heard from an agent down this way that they even had them on the truck ready to bring them to the 11pt, when the forest service said no at the last minute. Unfortunately, I think the MDC has given up trying. If there were ever a river in MO that could grow big Browns, the 11pt would be it.

[Scooper]

Brian, Gavin-

Thanks for your responses. I had, in past years, heard that the NPS was against stocking trout below Akers based on the "non-native species" argument. It just seems odd that the NPS would have such a policy which prevents stocking below Akers, when there already are trout in the Current. As to why the NFS would prevent brown trout from being stocked in the Eleven Point, well, I really don't understand that position.