2006 Fish Populations

[Phil Lilley]

2007 Fishing Prospects - Dave Mayers - Ozark Region

Current River (upper)

(Ozark Region - Dent and Shannon Counties)

Information: 417/256-7161

Camping, trout fishing, canoeing, the 19 miles of river from Montauk State Park to Akers Ferry has it all. Visitors have the choice of three areas to visit.

Montauk State Park

Rainbow trout are stocked daily in the 2.3 miles of water within Montauk State Park. If you don't mind the company of other anglers, this is the place to catch trout. The state park here also offers lodging, and restaurant facilities. See the Trout Fishing section of this publication for more information.

Blue Ribbon Trout Area

The 9.0 miles from the state park downstream to the Cedargrove bridge is managed for large size brown trout on a put-grow-and-take basis. Trout must be at least 18" to keep and the daily limit is one. See Trout Fishing Section for more information.

Brown trout, 8-10", are stocked each spring but do not reach legal size until at least two or three years later. Density of brown trout found in fall of 2005 and 2006 averaged 416 fish per mile and is up 11% from the 2001 to 2004 average. Cooler water temperatures and near normal flows during the past two summers has helped with trout survival, as well as the increase in the minimum size limit from 15” to 18” in March of 2005. About 24% of the brown trout population will be made up of brown trout 15” and larger, up 5% from the 2001 to 2004 average. Browns over 18” will make up about 6% of the population. Anglers wanting to catch rainbow trout should concentrate in the upper two miles of the Blue Ribbon Area from Montauk Trout Park boundary downstream to Baptist Access. Rainbow trout here make up about 25% of the trout population with the vast majority of them 11 - 15” long. These fish are the result of stocked trout moving out of the Trout Park. Downstream of Baptist Access the rainbows make up less than 10% of the trout population.

White Ribbon Trout Area

The 9.0 miles from the Cedargrove bridge to Akers Ferry are managed with rainbow trout on a put-and-take basis. This section has no minimum length limit and four fish per day limit. See Trout Fishing Section for more information. Rainbows, 10-12" are stocked once a month and twice a month from March through June. During the months of July and August, and when river levels are low, trout stocking is limited to the cooler section from Welch Spring downstream to Akers Ferry. Fishing in the White Ribbon Area is less crowded than in the trout park and the stream can be easily waded or floated in a canoe.

Current River (middle)

(Ozark Region - Shannon and Carter Counties)

Information: 417/256-7161

This 70-mile stretch offers some spectacular scenery, easy floating and great smallmouth bass fishing. Look for deep rocky runs and pool with rootwads and boulders. A canoe or jon boat is recommended to get to the best water. The National Park Service has camping and access sites at Pultite, Round Springs, Two Rivers, Powder Mill, and Watercress at Van Buren. 2006 saw an increase in percent of smallmouth bass over 12” as well as those over 15”. Smallmouth fishing in 2007 should be excellent. Goggle-eye (Rock Bass) populations did not improve as well. In 2007 anglers will see similar catches to those in 2006. For an Ozark Riverways map of these and other access sites contact the National Park Service in Van Buren at 573/323-4236.

Current River (lower)

(Ozark Region – Carter and Ripley Counties)

Information: 417/256-7161

The 52 miles reach from Van Buren to the Arkansas state line offers some big water for smallmouth bass, walleye, and suckers. Look for smallmouth in deep bluff holes or areas with large boulders or rootwads in the summer. Springtime anglers may find the smallmouth in the faster water of the rocky shoals. Walleye, although not present in extremely high numbers, can be found in the deepest part of the river, with the best population found in the Ripley County waters above and below Doniphan. MDC is working aggressively to boost walleye numbers with annual spring stocking. In 2003 about 76,000 1 to 2 inch walleye were stocked. Walleye anglers should see increase catch rate of 18 inch walleye in 2007 as these stocked fish reach the four year old mark. Suckers probably make up the most of the total pounds of fish in this section of the Current River. Hog suckers and several species of redhorse suckers are the most common. Anglers should expect above average numbers of hog suckers due to good spawns in 2003 and 2004. The abundance of 3 and 4 year old suckers should be up in 2007. Summer time fishing can be excellent for these tasty species. A weighted line holding a number 4 or 6 size hook tipped with a worm can be very effective. Gigging of these fish from the front of a boat at night is a very popular tradition from September 15 through January 31.