First timer to Current River

[Taildragger]

   I'm from out of state, and will be canoing/kayaking from Akers Ferry to Two Rivers fishing with 8-12 guys about the 2^nd week of May.  I'm used to fishing for crappie and walleye in Kansas.. I understand the predominant fish are trout and smallies. Can someone please tell me what parts of this river have which, and the best bait to use. Just about any practical advice would be helpful. In other words, what do I need to know now that I wish I had known before I went the first time?   Thanks in advance.

[2sheds]

how many nights are you planning ?

You will get to see the Current transform from a creek into a river.     You will find some trout for the 1st 5 miles, but should aim for smallmouth bass and hope to catch some trout along the way.

Wooly Boogers, Spinners, and Jigs should be sufficient.  Anything you are confident with will catch goggle eye, sunfish, and bass.

Your only potable water after Akers is at Pulltite and Round Springs. Both of which have stores and showers.

Plenty of great gravel bar campsites, including the Hollow upstream of Pulltite and Big River after Round Springs.

Be sure to check out Pulltite Spring and Round Spring.

[bkbying89]

Anywhere you find a spring you could find trout Zebra midges, Pheasant tails, Wooley buggers and San Juan- Worms should work for them. Any lure you use at home for bass and sunfish will work though for Smallmouth you may want to downsize a little. One crankbait I used a lot was the Wee Craw and larger versions of that bait in fire tiger and crawdad colored tube jigs. I'm getting excited thinking of catching Smallies. Good luck and have fun.

[lee G.]

What kind of taildragger, Taildragger?

[Al Agnew]

If fishing is a major goal of your trip, don't spend too much time between Akers and Pulltite, because the fishing gets better as you go downstream.  Akers is the lower end of the managed trout area, so although there are trout downstream from Akers, they aren't stocked and are just wanderers from the upstream sections.  Yet the water is too cold in the summer to furnish good smallmouth and goggle-eye fishing between Akers and Pulltite (and doesn't get really good until you get below Round Spring).

Basically, smallmouth and goggle-eye, along with other sunfish, will take about anything they can get into their mouths that time of year.  So lots of smaller bass lures work.  My strategy would be to use inline spinners like Mepps or Rooster Tails in smaller sizes between Akers and Pulltite to focus more on the trout strays, along with small crankbaits which will also catch trout, then use whatever bass stuff you feel comfortable with below Pulltite.  Topwater lures will work in May.  Small spinnerbaits.  Buzzbaits.  Small crankbaits.  Soft plastics like tubes, or Senkos.  And the simple marabou crappie jig in white will catch almost anything that swims in the river.

[Phil Lilley]

I've pinned this topic for future use.

[Taildragger]

Thanks SO much guys. That is all great info. How about tackle? I have two Omen 7ft rods with Shimano Symetre 1000 reels currently with 12# Nanofil clear line. I'm most comfortable with spinning reels, and have moved to the smaller ones (1000 series). I also have an Abu Garcia 6 1/5 foot rod with the Abu Garcia Silver Max bait caster with Power Pro Hi-Vis yellow 30# line. I have become fairly proficient with the bait caster (vowing never to lose another walleye in the rocky areas around Clinton Lake Ks). I don't fly cast, but since the moderator is going to pin this thread, go ahead and post info for fly casters. Again, thanks, and keep the good info coming.

Oh, two more things. Swivels? A friend has me not using swivels for crappie and walleye, to feel the hits better. Whatcha think? And slip bobbers? I've tried them here and like them. Anyone use them on the Current?

Lee, taildragger as in airplanes that don't have tricycle gear, but have a tail wheel.  I was into radio controlled airplanes for a while.

[Gavin]

The Current flows pretty well, no need for swivels. Water is very clear most of the time, usually fish 8lb leaders on spin rigs, 6' leader tied to braid. No swivel. Inline spinners and wee craws to prospect for trout, ned or marabou jigs will work too.

 

[bkbying89]

12 hours ago, Taildragger said:

Thanks SO much guys. That is all great info. How about tackle? I have two Omen 7ft rods with Shimano Symetre 1000 reels currently with 12# Nanofil clear line. I'm most comfortable with spinning reels, and have moved to the smaller ones (1000 series). I also have an Abu Garcia 6 1/5 foot rod with the Abu Garcia Silver Max bait caster with Power Pro Hi-Vis yellow 30# line. I have become fairly proficient with the bait caster (vowing never to lose another walleye in the rocky areas around Clinton Lake Ks). I don't fly cast, but since the moderator is going to pin this thread, go ahead and post info for fly casters. Again, thanks, and keep the good info coming.

Oh, two more things. Swivels? A friend has me not using swivels for crappie and walleye, to feel the hits better. Whatcha think? And slip bobbers? I've tried them here and like them. Anyone use them on the Current?

Lee, taildragger as in airplanes that don't have tricycle gear, but have a tail wheel.  I was into radio controlled airplanes for a while.

 

I tend to go light, especially on the Current using 6# line on my spinning and 8 to 10# on my bait casters. 

[lee G.]

Just wondered, I have a few hours in taildraggers.