Streamers

[Al Agnew]

Nope, they move up to escape warmer water. If it's low in the summer, that means it's going to get warmer downstream. Montauk becomes a thermal refuge.

[fishinwrench]

Then wouldn't they do the same after a good rainy spell and resultant higher warm(er) water ? (ie; good lower river streamer conditions)

I've felt the Current during the heat of Summer and it's a darn sight cooler than the lower Niangua. The Niangua fish don't all head for Bennett during the low water Summer period because there are still plenty of places to hide.

Just thinking out loud here. You can't lure a brown out of a good hiding spot with some slightly cooler water. If I was a current river brown wishing for better conditions I'd prolly go Down, not up.

[Al Agnew]

A rainy year means a lot more water coming out of the springs as well, and in the case of Current River, Pigeon Creek above Montauk goes back down as fast as it goes up, and the sustained higher water levels are solely because of the springs. So a high water year means cooler water as well, as opposed to one flood coming down Pigeon Creek that usually happens in the spring when the flood water isn't real warm.