Info Needed About Current River between Cedar and Akers

[trumpy]

Hello all, new guy here... I'm planning a Feb 3-4 flyfishing trip to the Current and I wanted to try some new water. We usually fish the water between Baptist Camp and Cedar Grove. This time I wanted to try the water between Cedar Grove and Akers Ferry, more specifically, the water between Welch Spring and Akers. Does anyone have any fishing experience on this stretch? I'm looking for some pointers on where to fish, what flies might work best in this section, what water conditions in Feb might be like, etc, etc. We'll be walk/wading only but not affraid to put some miles on our boots.

Thanks!

Mike

[catman70]

Haven't been down that stretch of river in sometime. With most folks using bait below Cedar it always seemd to me that this water was less productive than above Cedar unless you hit it at the right times – particularly after a stocking. That being said, it is a beautiful stretch of river with Welch included. Pink Lady Glo Balls and white jigs are my baits of choice, although I'm not a fly guy. Sam Potter would probably be of great help to you. I think you'll probably need a canoe to get through some of the deeper holes. Water is down now but a rain beofre your trip (particularly being downstream of Welsh) could make wading hazardous, and you don't want to take a dive in Feb. Let us know how it goes.

[trumpy]

Catman, you've hit directly on two of my fears (if you can really call them that...)

1. Unproductive/overfished water

2. Big water

If the section from Cedar to Akers gets fished out by the locals ten minutes after the stocking truck leaves, then that's a problem. Likewise, if the river isn't wadeable because it's too deep, too wide to cross, etc., then that's a problem too.

I guess I'm really looking for some hidden jewel, some stretch of water that doesn't get pounded on by all the usual folks that hit the upper stretches. Or, maybe the upper stretch is really better?

[hank franklin]

Welch to Akers is a beautiful stretch. You might want to wade up from Akers, there's an unimproved road you can use to get to certain spots if you can't wade. The immediate area around Welch gets fished hard.

I'd like to know more about Cedargrove to Welch. Is this section wade-able?

[Watcher]

I was down below Montauk this week and found the river low and clear This has some nice size browns gathered up in the few deeper holes. I used a Crackle Back dry to wet, and caught 4 browns over 18".

I talked to three guys that were fishing below the bridge at Ceder Grove using bait. they had their limits of 12" rainbows for the table. They were using Secret Bait and Power Bait.

I stopped in at Reeds Cabins for a soda and saw that they have added all kinds of trout tackle from Bass Pro, like White River rods, Line, leader, backing. they have done a great job and have what is going to be the Hot Tackle store in the area. Prices a lot lower than I've seen in the parks.

The MDC stocked the river below Ceder Crove last week with rainbow. The locals have not been hitting it so hard.

[Sam Potter]

Mike,

the water below Cedar is bigger than above, especially when you get to Welch. There are longer and deeper pools below Cedar making a canoe ( or john boat ) necessary to cover that much water. I like to use the canoe to really fish the holes the way they should be fished. I always carry a sinking leader and use it a lot more below Cedar than I do above because of the deep water. I suggest that you take a sinking leader, or a spool of sinking line for that section. In addition to the deep pools, there will be plenty of runs and flats for you to wade. There are some BIG trout down in that section, but they are hit pretty hard by local fishermen so the numbers per mile are less than above. ( Unless you hit it after a stocking )

Early February can be pretty cold, so be careful not to get wet. Take extra clothes in a dry bag, and a lighter to start a fire.

Streamers, woollies and sculpins work pretty well that time of year, AND if the weather is warm you should get some caddis hatches.

Good luck, it is a beautiful stretch of water and going in February, you should pretty much have it to yourself.

" A bad day fishing is still a Great Day"

www.TightLine.Biz

[trumpy]

Thanks Sam! Unfortunately, that's not exactly what I wanted to hear... For my style of flyfishing, canoes just don't mix. So, I really wasn't (and still aren't) planning on taking a canoe. Basically, we'll have a full day and a half to be on the water, with a sleep in two of Montauk's cabins in between. We'll be on the river by Friday afternoon and I had originally planned on hitting the section between Baptist and Ashley creek that evening. Then the following morning, I planned on taking the guys to Welch and fishing that section all day. But, if the water has the chance of being too big, maybe we'd be better off heading to Welch Friday afternoon to fish and look the water over real good. Then if it's just too big to walk/wade, then we can just plan on the Baptist to Parker section for all day Saturday.

Speaking of which, I've never fished the section down past Ashley creek to above Parkers Ford. By the maps and aerial photos, there's quite a bit of water there, where the river takes a big swing south and then back northeast with very little to zero access points in between. Is this section any good? GoogleEarth shows a lane that travels the ridge down to that large bend, but I didn't know if that's private property or not. Any info on this section would also be greatly appreciated!!!

thanks everyone!

Mike

[catman70]

In the winter we'll usually float fish from Baptist to Parkers – shorter days, less floaters and if you get into trouble it's a walkable distance to either access.