Great evening on the River!

[LittleRedFisherman]

It's been over a month since I've been able to wet a hook, so this evening the opportunity came where I could fish a couple hours on the Current, not including the 45 minute drive.  So I got to the river with a couple hours to fish, and even tho I brought my usual 5 poles, I chose to go with my trusty spinning rod with the *&% Rig...lol.  I decided to go for numbers for as much action as I could get in.   When I got on the water, I had the entire river to myself, with the beautiful low water, fall colers and the sound of the shoals, it was just a great experience, makes you just set back and count your blessings.   I started out in one of my favorite summer spots, and caught a couple small ones, but the lower water I could really see everything, so decided to hit another spot and back way off of it with the boat.   The next spot is a stretch of about half a quarter with current in the first half with rocks and then kinda eddys back with slacker water, the bottom half with the slacker water started to produce some feisty smallies and a decent Kentucky!  As it was getting darker I moved onto another similar but smaller stretch, this time there were some channel breaks that were perfectly positioned around some big rocks, this is where the action got hot.  Literally caught a fish or got bit on every cast for about 15 minutes, the smallies were feisty but not huge, but did manage a dandy Kentucky in this spot.  As it was getting dark, I decided to try another spot with some rock piles stationed for erosion control near a cow farm, I decided to try the buzzbait I had tied on, trying to get a near dark topwater bite, after little while with no luck, I had just enough light to throw the rig again and Bam, got nailed again with 2 fish in 3 casts, one being  a nice Goggleye.  At  this point, I was getting a little concerned about having enough light to navigate a shoal on the way back to the ramp, so I headed back.   No big smallies, but caught a bunch of feisty ones, and a few good Kentuckys!   Just a great evening on the water, and long overdue, having that river to myself was like a spiritual experience that my soul needed!  If you haven't been out on the water lately and exhausted with the busyness of life, do yourself a favor and get out there!

Bret

[Mitch f]

Great report! The %#*^ rig is a great clear water bait!!!

[Mark]

LittleRed - maybe you can help me with a problem? My buddy has a nice jet prop that he uses exclusively on the Eleven Point. He has only had the boat for two years, and stays on the Eleven Point mainly because he knows the river well enough to avoid mishaps. He is apprehensive about the Current River because he doesn't know the river> I totally understand not wanting to hit a rock and punch a hole in his new boat, or suck up gravel in shallow water. What section of the river would be good fishing and have deep enough water that bottoming out won't happen - I realize you can hit a submerged rock anytime. Any sections of the river safer than others. I have only been on the Current 3-4 times myself. Last time was section right above Eminence. May try to get him on the Current in a couple weeks. I am thinking below Eminence after Jacks Fork enters. Shouldn't that section hold lots of water. Thanks in advance.

[Ham]

The Current is not trecherous. I'm pretty comfortable running my little jet rig on it. Of course, a person should only run where they are comfortable, but I think y'all should give it a whirl.

[Gavin]

Think you be fine from Welch Spring on down, but I've seen folks run above that occasionally. No jets allowed above Round Spring in the Summer, but OK to run above there in the off season watch the HP limits.

 

 

[LittleRedFisherman]

3 hours ago, Mark said:

LittleRed - maybe you can help me with a problem? My buddy has a nice jet prop that he uses exclusively on the Eleven Point. He has only had the boat for two years, and stays on the Eleven Point mainly because he knows the river well enough to avoid mishaps. He is apprehensive about the Current River because he doesn't know the river> I totally understand not wanting to hit a rock and punch a hole in his new boat, or suck up gravel in shallow water. What section of the river would be good fishing and have deep enough water that bottoming out won't happen - I realize you can hit a submerged rock anytime. Any sections of the river safer than others. I have only been on the Current 3-4 times myself. Last time was section right above Eminence. May try to get him on the Current in a couple weeks. I am thinking below Eminence after Jacks Fork enters. Shouldn't that section hold lots of water. Thanks in advance.

Mark, I run the current river mainly doniphan into Arkansas, to me this stretch is easier than the 11pt.   I fished as far up as Ellington this summer and had no problems there.  If he can run the 11pt he will be just fine! 

[Al Agnew]

Mark, anywhere below Two Rivers on the Current has more water and is easier to run than the Eleven Point.  Once in a while in the low water of summer you might find a tricky spot or two above Two Rivers.  And there are a few pools between Two Rivers and Logyard that have scattered granite boulders in the middle area of the channel that at low water levels could be a danger--if the light is bad and there is some wind to put ripples on the water.  Between Logyard and Van Buren, you'll encounter a few narrow riffles that can have logs partially obstructing the channel, but anyone with any experience running a jetboat will have no problem with them.

Back in the old days before jetboats, the riffles on the middle and lower Current seemed narrower and a lot more prone to getting log obstacles.  Us oldtimers are sure that jetboat wakes hitting the banks in the riffles have widened them and made them more simple to run.

[Mark]

Thanks I'll pass along.

[drew03cmc]

LRF, I am jealous! Thanks for letting me hit the river this fall through your pictures.

[Mark]

Thanks for the advice, gang. I had my buddy read this thread, and it went a long way to ease his fears. He wants to give it a try. Looking forward to seeing some new waters.