First trip to Current River

[stlfisher]

the densities of Rainbow are much higher from the end of the park down to Baptist. There are Brown trout in this section as well. Brown trout will rule below Baptist, but you can still catch many Rainbows. There is not really a bad stretch to fish, but from the end of the park to Tan Vat will be crowded most likely. You can find solitude if you walk a little...

[DainW]

The more I hear about this trip the more excited I get. I've been fly fishing for about a year and half now and have gotten to where I can consistently catch fish on the rivers I fish often, the Lower Mountain Fork and the Lower Illinois here in Oklahoma. I'm sure some of that is just getting to know those rivers well though. I'm really looking forward to exploring some new water and seeing if I can catch a few in an unfamiliar river. Thank you again to everyone that has provided advice. I think I'm gonna take Fly Guy's advice and walk up from Baptist since it sounds like there might be less pressure that way. I was also reading the ozark anglers site information on this river and it was saying that caddis are an important food source in this river? These aren't usually very abundant in the rivers I usually fish so I went ahead and stocked up on a few caddis patterns today.

[jdixon]

I would say park at baptist and walk down. It is a pretty easy walk and lots of good water. the walk back up steam is not so easy.

[Fly guy]

Jdixon has a good point a lot of the trails upstream are faint and full of thorns and brambles if you can call them trails, it can be very simple for one to get turned around. Either way there is good fishing.

[Gene K]

I'd call jadwin canoe and have them drop me in at baptist.

[DainW]

I don't really mind a little but rougher walk/wade, sometimes it can make things fun. I really just want to give myself the best opportunity to catch a few fish. I'm giving the canoe rental idea some serious thought though.

[ozark trout fisher]

The whole blue ribbon stretch is good. Around Tan Vat and up, it's mostly rainbows, easy fishing, not that different from the trout park, honestly. Baptist and below (all the way down to around Cedar Grove) the fishing is somewhat less easy, browns are a little more dominant, and crowds (at least in terms of wade-fisherman) are lighter.

You're right to want to get away from the accesses to whatever degree possible. It will be crowded at Tan Vat and Baptist Camp but if you are willing to walk a long ways you can find some open water. In some cases it will take bushwhacking around deep holes through thick brush. But that's what you're gonna need to do if you don't want a bunch of company on Memorial weekend.

Another thing to consider is that the river doesn't end a mile or so below Baptist Camp. There's about another 5-6 miles of Blue Ribbon water below there. It all holds trout and you can get on it if you are willing to search it out on gravel roads. Think slower fishing, more browns, and the possibility of some elbow room, even on Memorial day weekend.

[DainW]

That's what I like to hear. If we don't get a canoe, I think we're headed downstream from Baptist as far as we can go. I've caught a lot of rainbows in my life, but not a whole lot of browns. Looking at the forecast for tomorrow, it could be streamer weather. I've got a 6 weight and some junk I'm bringing with me. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

[stlfisher]

Enjoy it is beautiful river...I am jealous...but with the wife due to give birth any day it will be some time before I can get back to the river. Little Brown trout seem to really like Caddis IMO...especially the recently stocked ones....

[Alex Heitman]

Take a spinning rod or bait caster and throw some jerkbaits as well