Float Trip 7/22-7/24 Upper Upper Current Questions

[polock]

a buddy and I are going to put in tue 7/22 and take out at round spring thursday 7/24. We were planning on putting in at baptist camp, but with the water levels I was kicking around the idea of starting at Tan Vat. I am gonna be leaving a rig at the put in point and coming back to get it on thursday. is there any parking at Tan Vat or is baptist camp a better spot to leave a vehicle? is it worth the extra mile or so to float from Tan Vat? Its been many years since I've been that far up river and I have never been to Tan Vat so I was just wondering your thoughts from those of you that are more familiar.

[Guest]

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[ColdWaterFshr]

Baptist to Round Spring is 34 miles. Water levels are very low on the upper right now and this will likely continue for the next couple months. It takes a lot to blow it out above Cedargrove -- don't get me wrong, it can happen at any time, but it takes a LOT of rain.

34 miles is at least double the distance I would even remotely consider for a 2 nighter on the upper Current, and closer to triple. Unless your idea of fun is paddling and dragging and almost no fishing time. I would re-think to something more like 5-8 miles per day maximum. And you will have to carry your boat over the low water bridge at Cedargrove. Akers to Round Spring (16.5 miles), or Akers to Pulltite (9.5 miles), or Cedargrove to Akers (7.7 miles) -- any of those would be much better choices and more relaxing.

[XP 590]

Tan Vat to Baptist will involve lots of pushing off the bottom at the current water level. Beautiful stretch to walk and wade fish though. Baptist definitely has better parking and is a more common put in point.

[3wt]

If you have the time park at Baptist, wade fish upstream early in the morning, then back down. Then get your rigs in the water and float on down. If you are looking to catch trout, I'd take your time between tanvat and cedar grove anyway.

[ozark trout fisher]

Baptist to Round Spring is 34 miles. Water levels are very low on the upper right now and this will likely continue for the next couple months. It takes a lot to blow it out above Cedargrove -- don't get me wrong, it can happen at any time, but it takes a LOT of rain.

34 miles is at least double the distance I would even remotely consider for a 2 nighter on the upper Current, and closer to triple. Unless your idea of fun is paddling and dragging and almost no fishing time. I would re-think to something more like 5-8 miles per day maximum. And you will have to carry your boat over the low water bridge at Cedargrove. Akers to Round Spring (16.5 miles), or Akers to Pulltite (9.5 miles), or Cedargrove to Akers (7.7 miles) -- any of those would be much better choices and more relaxing.

This. You really need to consider cutting the mileage. Seeing more river doesn't necessarily equal a more enjoyable experience. It only insures you'll have sore arms at the end of the day and no fishing time. I only stress this so much because it's cost me a couple of what could have been enjoyable, relaxing fishing trips that instead turned into daylight to dark death marches. There are few things worse than paddling past good bluff-hole after good bluff-hole without a cast in order to avoid paddling an unfamiliar river in the dark.

I'd start at Baptist and either take out at Pulltite (8+/day, 25 total) if you are insistent on a longer float. But realistically, I'd just take out at Akers (about 5 miles/day, 15 total) and stop and fish whenever you want. One thing to consider: the upper Current above Welch is very small, and fishing out of the boat is a losing proposition. You'll have to get out and wade to be successful. So plan for plenty of stops.

If this is just a paddle trip, then it's alot more manageable. But if fishing is a priority then I think Baptist to Round is to much to bite off in 3 days.

[polock]

Thanks for the info fellas. We are going to be putting in early tuesday morning, so we will have 3 full days of floating. I think we are going to go ahead and float the entire trip. My dad and I floated baptist cedar grove in a day a while back and still had lots of day light left and we were in no means in a hurry. if we average 2 miles an hour and figure floating 5 hours a day, we should be set to have a relaxing and enjoyable float. I know the river picks up after welch and pulltite so the last day if we have to make up a bit of time it won't be as hard. We are gonna be on the water about 9 the first day and I would like to make it to a nice little spot i know just past cedar grove and set up camp. My dad did this same float years ago in 2 days, but they didn't stop and mess around. One thing is can you leave a rig at round spring parking over night? Worst case scenario is that we don't make it in time and we have to take out further up the creek. I have in-laws in emience that I could get a text out to if that arises.

Fishing question>> do the trout like the marabou jigs on the upper current like they do at taneycomo or are spoons and mini cranks a better bet? I am not taking my fly rod this outing.

[3wt]

I'd say if you only want to get from Baptist to a little below Cedar on the first day, you're setting up for a couple long days (your last day should be the short one). I'm with you on the concept, because the fishing is better in that section.

This will make your second day a big push. I'd put the rods away and get to paddling and try to make it to pulltite. Then it's like 10 miles the last day. You may be driving home later than you like that day once you're out of the water, dried off, packed up, shuttled around etc.

I'd call it do-able, but I've never done it. I've seen Baptist to Two Rivers considered a three-day trip. Spend some time in the evening of day one fishing, I don't think you'll have much time anywhere else

I've done Baptist to Akers in a day, and it kind of sucked. Zero fishing, little stopping.

Yes, marabou jigs are a good bet. I haven't fished out of the park with a spincast (maybe ever) but I see guys doing it, and the standby's work great: 1/32 oz. black/yellow, white, olive, brown olive. Probably some bigger ones for browns. I'd guess rooster tails are a good idea. I think people have some luck with the mini-crank baits, but watch your regs...I'm not sure what is allowed up in the blue ribbon area - I always just fly fish there.

[Flysmallie]

34 Miles!!

Is it do-able? Yes. Is it worth it? No. Especially on some of that seemingly void of life water.

I'll be doing 17 miles, on a better flowing river, over three days. And that's a stretch for me. But I do like to screw around a lot.

[ozark trout fisher]

Back when I used to spin-fish there I have done well with 1/32 Panther Martins, 0 Mepps, and Rebel Teeny Craws. You honestly won't catch as many fish as you would on a fly rod but they tend to average a little bigger.

Please pinch the barbs down at least when you're fishing the Blue Ribbon stretch. Especially important when you are fishing anything with a treble hook.