Baptist To Akers

[jbeardslee]

I'm floating from Baptist to Akers this weekend and I would like to catch some trout. What should I use?

[ozark trout fisher]

Fly or spin?

If you're using the fly rod, try egg patterns (beadheaded, peach and orange), #14-16 Hare's Ears, and some Elk Hair Caddis. Also it's always good to have some soft-hackles this time of year. On the spinning rod small spinners and jigs. If you are camping along the river (which you pretty much have if you're doing that float, it's way too far for one day) be on the watch for storms and flash flooding. That is always a concern this time of year.

Good luck...

[3wt]

Streamers too. mohair leach, wooly buggers. Olive for both, also brown and black.

Take your time on the upper stretch (especially if camping) That's where you'll find the most trout. I'd go real slow and fish the good spots just down from baptist, it slows down once you go through a sharp right had turn. Then I'd stop at every good looking spot. Don't bother trying to fish too much from the canoe, use it as transportation from one spot to the next, then get out and wade fish more intensively.

The Ashley creek area is one not to miss (also a good gravel bar there). There are other good locations down from there that I am not real familiar with but others here can mention. I think there is even a map labled with them somewhere here.

From Cedar Grove (low water bridge you have to poratage around, also next official put-in down from baptist) I'd just go into float/enjoy yourself mode, maybe fishing a little at really nice spots if there arnt 100 or so drunks at any of them.

Baptist to Akers too much for one day? I think you're thinking of pulltite. I've done baptist to akers in a day - a cold, rainy miserably long but doable. If you're fishing much it might be a real long day.

[jbeardslee]

Thanks for the responses.

I should have posted this topic well in advance of my trip...I'll know better next time.

I used a spinning reel with deep diving Rebel Crawdads and black/brown Rooster Tails. The Rebel Craw worked great, Rooster Tails were just OK. Caught about 10 trout in the swirling pools just below Baptist. Mostly rainbow along with 2 or 3 browns.

We took our time above Cedar Grove and then really put the paddles in the water for the bottom stretch below the low-water bridge. All in all, a great trip.

[ozark trout fisher]

Baptist to Akers too much for one day? I think you're thinking of pulltite. I've done baptist to akers in a day - a cold, rainy miserably long but doable. If you're fishing much it might be a real long day.

I like to stop and wade a lot, so 14 miles is a two day float for me when fishing is my main purpose. Baptist to Cedar is a good one day float for me. I also like Baptist to Parker, or in higher water Tan Vat to Parker for one day floats. Everyone likes to do it differently and it depends a lot on style of fishing-you can cover a lot more water if you are streamer fishing (which seems to be your preferred method) or spin fishing than you effectively can when nymph fishing, which is what I'm usually doing.

I love to take really long floats, and it's something I do sometimes. But usually not when fishing is the main objective.

[ozark trout fisher]

Thanks for the responses.

I should have posted this topic well in advance of my trip...I'll know better next time.

I used a spinning reel with deep diving Rebel Crawdads and black/brown Rooster Tails. The Rebel Craw worked great, Rooster Tails were just OK. Caught about 10 trout in the swirling pools just below Baptist. Mostly rainbow along with 2 or 3 browns.

We took our time above Cedar Grove and then really put the paddles in the water for the bottom stretch below the low-water bridge. All in all, a great trip.

Sounds good. Those pools below Baptist are very nice. I'm glad you were able to get something out of them-they can be pretty tough. Sorry we couldn't get back to you in time-but it sounds like you did just fine!