Missouri Outdoors: Current River

Showing posts with label Current River. Show all posts

Sunday, January 22, 2017

The Opportunities abound for Missouri Trout Fishermen

Current River at Baptist Camp

I used to go round and round on one of the old Google Groups that was focused on fly fishing about how good Missouri trout fishing was and is. Some of them acknowledged that you could catch a lot of fish, but because many of them were hatchery fish, or at least not native, they were somehow unworthy. I do not agree, and continue to be excited by the opportunities that await for myself, but also trout fishermen of all types.

In this post, I am just giving some basic details on the options - at the end of the article, you will find a link to an in depth article written by us on the vast majority of options available to you.

Trout Parks
You almost have to start here, because this is where the majority of Missouri trout fishermen get started and likely do the most fishing. The parks are spread out west to east, but because the spring fed waters that produce water cool enough for trout is located in the Ozarks, the trout parks are all south of the Missouri River.

These parks offer easy fishing of a wide variety of methods - bait, spin, fly, bank, wading, sitting in a folding chair... They all have stores where you can purchase most of the gear you need as well as receive advice. A little research on the internet will assist you greatly.

Rivers
The Current, Eleven Point, North Fork of the White, and Meramec are a few of the rivers in Missouri that offer outstanding fishing. A lot of these waters are blue ribbon (fish must be 18" to keep), but you will not really be fishing them for the numbers of fish. They are beautiful, and solitude can be yours here.

Small Streams
There are a bunch of small streams like Little Piney, Capps, Crane, Blue Springs, etc., that offer great solitude, unique opportunities for special breeds of fish, but like the rivers, they arenot going to fill your freezer with fish...

Finally, the MDC stocks many waters around Missouri for winter trout fishing in local lakes. This can be a lot of fun, and since the fish will not survive through the summer anyhow, there is certainly no downside in limiting out any chance you get.

If you'd like to get started, or learn some new places to go, check out Missouri Trout Fishing.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Experience Ozark History at Montauk Mill Celebration May 8-9

Step back into the past during this two-day event and experience lost skills, arts, and crafts

Wading the Current River just
downstream from Montauk State Park

of the Ozarks. Sponsored by Missouri State Parks, the celebration, held May 8-9, will include mill tours, old time music, dance, crafts, arts of the Ozarks, soap making and sheep shearing.

During the celebration, visitors can witness blacksmiths as they make steel that will be transformed into a gun barrel, a knife or horse shoes. Participants will see an Ozark quilting bee and have the opportunity to try their hand at using a cross cut saw. Friday is “Students’ Day,” when area schools bring students to the event. The free event is open to the public.

Montauk State Park is located 22 miles southwest of Salem on Hwy 119 in Dent County. For more information about the event, call the Montauk State Park at 573-548-2225. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Getting Back to what this Blog is About

I would be lying if I wrote that this blog was for sure gonna be the start of a daily routine of writing. I

have endeavored to do that so many times that it would be ridiculous to make that crazy assertion. But this might be that start that I hope it is - a return to what this blog was supposed to be about.

I don’t mind just reposting all the stuff that comes across my desktop from MDC, the State Parks, and the Forest Service that pertains to Missouri. In fact, when I look at my blog stats, my biggest days are when I post stuff about deer hunting from MDC or the weekly fishing report during the fishing season.

But, very often I don’t even read the whole article I am reposting, and it sure doesn’t connect me to the things I love to do - hunting, fishing, and camping in this beautiful state. My best writing comes from the experiences I have had, and conversely, my writing sometimes reminds me I need to get out or gives me an idea of an area I’d like to visit.

Heck, I completely missed deer season this year. I had to have surgery and as a school teacher it works out pretty nice to schedule these things around our relatively long breaks - unless that break coincides with deer season!

My two sons are in town and we have a couple of things planned. My older son likes to hunt - more small and upland game, as the whole dynamic of sitting in a tree stand in sub-freezing temperatures is not at the top of his most fun things to do. My younger son is kind of the same way, but it’s not so much the cold that bothers him, but the whole killing a deer thing is not something that he gets thrilled about. He has killed deer, and I imagine he will in the future - it’s just not a passion for him. He is passionate about fly fishing.

So we will get a little of both those activities in while they are here. For the fishing, we likely will visit the Current River and Montauk State Park. During the Winter, we like to spend some of our time in the Park and some of our time down around Tan Vat, Baptist Camp, and on down to Parker Hollow. During the regular trout season, we pretty well spend all our time outside the Park, unless we have a guest with us who wants some really easy fishing and to fill a cooler.

The small game hunting is a simpler proposition. We live in an area where we are surrounded by good options for that and it does not require a whole lot of planning. Basically, it is just a matter of grabbing a pocketful of shells for the shotguns we will bring, throwing on some warm clothes, and heading out for some really cool time together.

It’s kind of funny that when we hunt, even though both my boys have acquired essentially all the knowledge that I have (that word “essentially” is thrown in because I cannot quite leave out some qualifier), I still cannot quite manage to get either of them to take the leadership role. I really do want them to, as I think it’s good for learning to navigate the woods and for general self-confidence. Maybe this year they will. I am not sure whether or not there is some deeper psychological dynamic going on there or not.

I have noticed that both boys have used the outdoors as an outlet for decompressing from their somewhat fast-paced lives when they are away from home. My oldest son got married this year, and is in his first year as a civil engineer while also completing a Master’s Degree. Every month or perhaps more often he tells me about a place that he has gotten out to with some combination of himself, his wife, and/or his goofy dog. Sometimes these excursions are just hikes. Sometimes he packs up stuff for a cookout. Sometimes he does a little bit of hunting.

My youngest is a Junior at Mizzou in their Forestry program (he switched this year from Journalism and could not be happier). He has discovered all of the trails, streams, ponds and lakes, and conservation areas within walking or biking distance of campus. For him, the outdoors is and always has been a major stress-reliever.

My wife and I incorporate the outdoors and exercise into our daily existence. Even when the days get short and we have to get out in the dark, we are blessed to reside in an area where if we walk on the roads, there is little traffic. Since we are surrounded by woods, we often trek out into the surrounding forest, where after 15 minutes or less, we can be in an area where there is little sign of civilization. I

have noticed that for the first 10 or 15 minutes of our jaunts, her mind is abuzz with the events of the day. Afterwards, she typically becomes absorbed in her surroundings and she gradually transitions into a state of relaxation over the final 30 to 45 minutes of our time out.

I do not know how it can be that people completely avoid the outdoors. I know there are people who go to work every day, come home, and go through each and every day including the weekends without getting outdoors. Of course we have an advantage in being teachers, that we get to school early and are both typically home by 5 PM. I have to believe that even were it not for that, we would find a way where most days, but certainly on weekends we would still find our times of solitude outdoors.

For me, it’s not so much about the exercise. That is a nice benefit of enjoying the outdoors. It is in fact difficult to do much in the outdoors without some level of exercise. But for me, it is more about the different perspective that the outdoors provides me. In a way, it is a complex thought experiment. On those days where for some reason we can’t or just don’t get out, I feel tangibly different about a lot of things.

On those unfortunate days, I find myself getting more riled about politics, job-related matters, relationship issues, and even financial matters. It might be as simple as walking through a forest where many trees are over 100 years old and have survived storms, drought, and even by perhaps luck been missed by tornadoes. Those old trees have been presiding over a world full of fools worrying about things that are mostly inconsequential.

Those trees can talk to us if we are there and we listen. I am not crazy. I have never heard the spoken word from an oak or cedar tree. Somehow, there is a form of two way communication that occurs in nature that lifts us up and evens us out. I am certain that is true for everyone. Writing about those experiences is what this blog was supposed to be, and what I hope to make it once again. No promises.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Current River State Park to hold kayak clinics in July

Current River State Park will be hosting a series of kayak clinics during the month of July. Sponsored by Missouri State Park, the clinics will be held on Fridays from 10:00 a.m.to noon and will be taught on the park’s lower lake.

Kayaks will be provided, and visitors will learn more about kayak safety and skills. Topics covered include kayak equipment, basic paddle strokes and maneuvers, river safety and basic rescue techniques. Clinic instructors are certified by the American Canoe Association.

Sessions will be limited to 12 participants and advanced reservations are required. Reservations can be made in person or by calling Current River State Park at 573-858-3015.

A visit to Current River State Park is also a great opportunity to log miles as a part of the Governor’s 100 Missouri Miles challenge.

To celebrate Missouri’s distinction as the “Best Trails State” by American Trails and to encourage Missourians to enjoy the outdoors, Governor Jay Nixon and First Lady Georganne Nixon are inviting Missourians to join them in completing 100 Missouri Miles of outdoor physical activity by the end of the year.

For more information and to take the Challenge, visit 100MissouriMiles.com. Participants can also share adventures, post photos and learn about upcoming events by connecting with 100 Missouri Miles on Facebook and Twitter.

Current River State Park is located 25 miles south of Salem or 15 miles north of Eminence on Highway 19. For more information about the clinics, call the park at 573-858-3015. For information on state parks and historic sites, visitmostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Trout Fishing on Missouri’s Current River

By David and Paul Mann

Part Two In Missouri Trout Fishing Series - Part One

Current River Trout Fishing

Montauk State Park Fishing

Missouri Trout Fishing

Ozarks Hatch Charts

Missouri has a nice surprise for those unfamiliar with either the beauty of Missouri’s Ozarks or the regionally outstanding trout fishing. One of the several places where this all comes together to create something truly magic is the Current River.

The Current River starts like rivers in few places do: from its outset it flows from the confines of Montauk State Park near Licking and Salem with strength. It emanates from the first of many springs which give it life and the cold water necessary to sustain its brown trout and rainbow trout populations. While most of the trout that inhabit this stream are stockers, some from the hatchery at Montauk State Park where the river begins, and some from Shepherd of the Hills near Taneycomo, there are a small number of wild trout.

Learning to fish this stream requires first a short description of the sections of trout water available.

As mentioned, the stream begins in Montauk State Park and also hosts one of Missouri’s entertaining trout parks. In the park a hatchery supplies rainbow trout while browns are brought in smaller numbers from Shepherd of the Hills. The park is a really fun place to spend some time and a great place to learn a few things about trout fishing. We will come back later to specifics on fishing the park section.

The moment you pass the cable overhanging the river designating the end of Montauk, you enter into the Blue Ribbon trout section of the Current River. This section continues down to the Cedar Grove Access/Low-water Bridge/Campground. All together, the Blue Ribbon portion of the Current River trout fishing is a bit les than ten miles.

From Cedar Grove to Akers Ferry, the regulations change to White Ribbon rules. This stretch of water is approximately nine miles.

Each of these three sections has different regulations, but also requires slightly different tactics for the fly or spin fisherman. We will spend the balance of our time discussing tactics to get you catching fish on any of them.

Trout Park – Montauk State Park

Fishing Montauk State Trout Park is a great place to get started in the sport and in some really beautiful country, albeit in a setting with plenty of company. The park is stocked during the Catch-and-keep season daily based on the number of fishermen that have bought trout park tags. The catch-and-keep season runs from March 1^st through October 31^st as is the case in all of Missouri’s trout parks. The park is closed for a short period and the rest of the year is catch-and-release. The winter catch-and-release season can be a great time to visit as crowds are greatly diminished.

There are three basic areas with three sets of regulations at the park. There is a fly-fishing only area that is designated catch-and-release only all year round. The second zone is fly-fishing only but subject to a four fish limit (any combination of rainbows and browns – no size restrictions). The third section is open to any legal fishing methods, including bait fishing. In this park, fly fishing also can include spin fishing but using single hook spinners and other artificial baits that do not include soft plastics or scented presentations. Please review the regulations through the park when you buy your tag to make sure you are abiding by park rules. Conservation officers are present at all times when fishing is permitted.

Fly fishermen have much success nymphing under an indicator on 6x monofilament or fluorocarbon leader. Popular presentations include prince nymphs, pheasant tails, copper johns, egg patterns, scud patterns, and san juans (please be aware we know some of these are not in fact technically in the nymph category – but are fished in a similar fashion under an indicator and we are thus lumping them together). The princes, pheasant tails, coppers, and scuds can be fished effectively in #16-18 sizes. The woolies work nicely in the sizes of #8-#10 and should be beaded. The egg patterns should also be beaded. If you had to pick two flies try orange egg patterns and olive woolies. All of these patterns are available at the park store for a reasonable price.

If you want to go with dries, during the winter afternoons you can usually find a few fish rising to blue winged olives and midges. Summer months usually find fisherman having success fishing tricos and caddis patterns. Don’t hesitate during these times to use royal wullfs and coachman attractors. Terrestrials such as ant patterns and hoppers can be a nice option during the warm months as well.

Spin fishermen typically use marabou jigs in the fly area. You will occasionally observe fly fisherman throwing these as well.

Bait fishing is extremely effective in the bait area. There are many commercially prepared baits available, with perhaps the Berkeley Power Baits being most popular. The park store carries some other options that work very well. Additionally, corn, and homemade prepared baits work very well. Worms will even work. The “Social Hole” at Montauk has become locally famous. If you are not the type to turn up your nose at bait fishing, you can really have some fun meeting some interesting folks here.

Blue Ribbon Section to Cedar Grove Access

The fishing (and the atmosphere) changes dramatically in the mileage below Montauk State Park. While the Montauk water is stocked once a day with trout during the regular season, the eight mile Blue Ribbon stretch from the Montauk lower boundary to Cedar Grove is only stocked once a year with the notoriously wily brown trout (which supplement the rainbows that make their way down from the park.) This has two effects, one positive, and one negative; the positive being that it reduces the number of anglers greatly, the negative being that there are obviously a lot less fish, and the ones that are there are more difficult to catch. That said, trout remain incredibly plentiful; indeed, only compared to the insane numbers of trout which roam the park waters would the population seem slight.

Caddis

The factors that really affect the fishing in this stretch have little to do with fish numbers. Still, nearly every cast will have your fly seen by a trout or two. The two most important differences are the bait restrictions and the more wild nature of the trout. Because this is a Blue Ribbon (otherwise known as ‘trophy trout’) section, the minimum length limit is high and only artificial lures and flies are allowed. This means the dough bait and worms which are so effective aren’t going to be an option. That’s okay though, because this section is best suited to fly fisherman anyway (though this is not to say that plenty of spin-fisherman don’t have success.)

The quick, rocky riffles and deep pools are an inviting place for the fly angler. It seems that backcasting room abounds, and the nature of the current usually allows for easy drifts. Hatches occur almost daily, from the tricos of early summer mornings to the midge and blue-winged olive hatches on warm winter afternoons. This of course means that a healthy number of trout can be taken on dry flies just about the year-round. But don’t overlook nymphs and streamers; or more specifically, don’t overlook the egg pattern. Small egg patterns (or glo-bugs) account for a huge percentage of the trout taken here. I don’t know why supposedly selective resident trout are gullible to such ‘uncivilized’ fare, but they are, and why ask questions if a fly works? That said, a fair number of fly anglers can’t make themselves use egg patterns, and that’s okay too. Pheasant tail nymphs, Hare’s Ears, and even woolly buggers work quite well most of the time. A decent number of people do spin-fish here too, and small (1/32 ounce) spinners are usually great. The same is true with marabou jigs of the same weight.

The best two accesses to the Blue Ribbon stretch are at Tan Vat and Baptist Camp, each just down the road from Montauk Park. You’ll find a fair number of anglers around these accesses, but at least outside of the summer months, a short walk will get you to open, unfished water. Tan Vat tends to be a bit more crowded due to its (slightly) closer proximity to Montauk State Park.

Cedar Grove to Akers Ferry

The White Ribbon stretch (from Cedar Grove on down to Akers Ferry) doesn’t get a whole lot of press, and in some ways there is a reason for that. It’s stocked more often than the Blue Ribbon section, but unrestrictive regulations largely make up for that. The quantity of trout is just fine, but there aren’t a whole lot of lunkers here. Bait is allowed, and this is a great section to try Powerbait, worms, and even small minnows. The float from Cedar Grove to Akers Ferry is a bit long, but takes you through some awesome trout water, especially if you like to bait fish (and keep trout.) This is a wonderful place to catch some trout and eat them for a shore lunch with next to no regrets. These stocked rainbows allow for that.

The Current is a wonderful trout stream that takes many characters through its long stretch of trout water. From the crowded but trout-filled Montauk State Park, to the wild blue ribbon section, this is one of the true must-fish streams in Missouri. In our opinion, it’s the best trout stream in Missouri, although that can certainly be argued. But the ambience of this wild river mixed with the excellent trout fishing is always going to be tough to beat.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Missouri Trout Fishing has a lot to Offer

I grew up in Alaska and spent much time on the western slope of Colorado. I have had the good fortune to take budget trips to some of the greatest trout waters in the East and West. So I will not try to make the case that someone with the means to make a trip to one of these great destinations should cancel their trip and instead fish Missouri. What I will do is get you excited about some truly terrific trout fishing that can be had in the Show-Me-State; at least by Midwestern standards.

One of the really cool things about fishing Missouri is the diversity of options. There are classic freestone rivers of the western style, small babbling streams with small but wild trout, and at least one great option for lake fishing if that’s your style. To top it off, Missouri hosts “trout parks” which as long as you do not mind a good measure of social interaction with fellow fishermen, you can stock up on stocked browns and/or rainbows with a limit every time. If you want to put some trout on the table, these parks are the way to go.

The purpose of this blog is to highlight some of the options available to the Missouri resident trout fisherman, or the fisherman making a visit. It is not a comprehensive list of all the waters with detailed descriptions of each. Next week, I will provide some tips on tactics for fishing these waters. For highly detailed descriptions of nearly all Missouri trout fishing options, along with basic and more advanced tactics, visit the Family Outdoors Missouri Trout Fishing Section.

Freestone Rivers of Missouri

Believe it or not, and you probably won’t if you have never fished any of these waters, Missouri has some outstanding and cold crystal clear waters that might make you forget for a moment that you are not in Colorado or some other Western state. The unique geography of Missouri has water erupting from massive springs after having spent long enough in the earth’s depths to arise crystal clear and cold (mid 50’s F). This water has allowed for many miles of Missouri’s rivers fitting this description to be stocked with rainbows and browns, and in some sections to sustain what are now wild or mostly wild populations. Some of my purist friends do turn their noses up at our trout as being “unnatural” since they are stocked, or at least were at one time. I find these fish to be game and in many cases, especially the wild fish, to be as beautiful as any I have observed.

Current River

The freestone stream on which we have spent the most time is the locally famous, at times infamous, Current River. This stream has a partially deserved reputation as a party destination. However, if one is at least moderately cognizant of the section of the river they will fish as well as the season, the Current can offer a terrific experience. It begins at Montauk State Park near Salem and Licking Missouri. There is a system of springs at Montauk that initiate the cold-water flow of the river, and is thus a great spot for a fish hatchery and one of Missouri’s trout parks.

We will return to the trout parks later, but for now, the fisherman should understand that the first few miles of the river is in the Montauk Trout Park and stocked heavily with rainbows as well as a lesser number of browns. It is also subject to the rules of the park in this section.

Below Montauk, the Current is a blue ribbon trout stream under Missouri Department of Conservation Regulations, which essentially means you are fishing catch-and-release, though you will occasionally pick up a fish, usually a brown that meets the 18 inch minimum. Most fishermen will photograph their trophies if lucky enough to catch one, and then release them only to be remembered by the photograph, or perhaps a replica mount.

Current River

Below Montauk in the blue ribbon section, there are a couple of popular accesses, those being Tan Vat and Baptist Camp. Tan Vat can be busy, and so can Baptist, but it seems like at Baptist fishermen do a better job spreading out along the river. In all of this water, there is a nice mix of riffles which tend to produce more but smaller fish with deeper holes which produce larger and fewer fish. Most of the nicer browns I have caught in this area were in these deep holes. Do not confuse the deep holes with the slow rather stagnant sections. The deep holes are downstream from riffles and often butt up against bluffs which plunge the water depth quickly to greater than ten feet.

Downstream from the blue ribbon section is a white ribbon section with more liberal rules with regard to methods ande the fish you can keep. These sections are stocked and I guess one can keep fish with a more clear conscience if that is his or her desire. This section is equally beautiful, and is best accessed by canoe or kayak.

If you plan a visit to the Current, I suggest that you plan around the crowds of floaters. From the park down to Baptist Camp, you will not encounter many of them, but if you fish downstream from here on a weekend in the summer, prepare for lots of company. You are better off avoiding summer weekends if you can. Fall and spring are in fact great times to fish the Current, with many days in the winter also being enjoyable times to be on the water.

For more information on the Current River, visit Family Outdoors Current River Trout Fishing. You will find comprehensive answers to most of not all the questions you might have.

Eleven Point River's Greer Branch

The second river I will mention here is the Eleven Point. It runs through some absolutely wild country, and has a fair number of wild rainbows resident to its waters. If you wish to have more water all to yourself, this is a great option. A nice place to start is at Greer Crossing. There is very little in the way of access to the river except from on it, so this really is a canoe or kayaking river. There are some potentially challenging spots on this stream for the novice if running the stream by canoe. This sort of depends on river levels.

Without getting into too much detail, the Eleven Point differs from the Current in the respect that most of the fishing is streamer fishing and fairly deep. There are some times where dries are effective, but the Eleven Point really is not the river for the dry fly purist. For more detail, visit Eleven Point Trout Fishing.

Small Stream Missouri Trout Fishing

With the internet, there are few secrets regarding places to fish. Nevertheless, undoubtedly there are some who would rather there be no mention of these little trout fishing streams. Several of them host wild rainbow populations and rarely produce fish that are larger than ten inches. Unfortunately, despite almost all of these streams being confined to explicit fly only regulations, you will often find evidence of bait having been used leaving one to conclude that these fishermen were keeping the fish they caught. These streams simply will not stand up to catch-and-keep fishing.

Having said all of that, perhaps the best protection for these little streams such as the Little Piney and Blue Springs Creek is the presence of ethical anglers willing to report transgressions of the necessary regulations. This rationale, along with the simple reality that all of this information is in some form available anyway, will be my response to any who criticize me letting the cat out of the bag on these streams.

Little Piney Creek
Vidas Slab

Little Piney is in fact my favorite place to fly fish in Missouri. There is a blue ribbon and white ribbon section on the stream, with handy access right off of US 63 at Lane Springs just south of Rolla. The section at Lane is in the blue ribbon section. The white ribbon section is a bit more difficult to navigate to, but if you want the details on finding it, visit the Little Piney Creek Trout Fishing section of Family-Outdoors.

There are numerous other of these beautiful little streams spread from down in the Springfield area all the way across the southern half of Missouri.

Trout Parks

Maramec Springs Trout Park in the Winter

Four trout parks are operated in Missouri by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Many Missouri trout anglers ritualize the start of the Missouri trout park season as the start of spring. On these first few days, the MDC releases some real lunkers, some topping ten pounds. These first few days are combat fishing at its peak, and thus not really an attractive option for me even though they do offer some real chances for big fish.

There are a variety of options of regulations at these parks. To the best of my knowledge, what they all have in common is a daily limit of four fish, and a great chance of filling that limit early in the day. The parks are usually segregated as to the methods allowed in various sections. Some sections allow bait fishing and some do not. All offer some handicapped accessible areas.

These parks can be a lot of fun if you are in the right frame of mind. They are also great introductions to the sport of trout fishing, whether you are a spin or fly fisherman. Find specifics on the trout parks beginning at Missouri Trout Parks.

Lake Taneycomo

Lake Tanycomo

Here is a lake that has held and might in the future hold again record sized brown trout. Fishing Taneycomo is a radical departure from the experience and methodology of trout fishing in the freestone streams, small streams, or even the trout parks of Missouri.

Taneycomo is stocked with over a half million rainbows every year, making the action up and down its twenty-two mile stretch pretty darn hot. There are however some interesting tactics and baits that are used which we will discuss next week, or you can read about now at Taneycomo Trout Fishing.

So, despite Missouri not being blessed with a Madison, Frying Pan, Kenai, or Ausable River, it does have some pretty nice options for the trout angler. Missouri is at the very least a great place to cut your teeth trout fishing, whether that be fly fishing or not. Next week, we will get into some specifics on tactics including baits, lures, and flies, but much more.

What are some of your favorite Missouri trout fishing experiences?

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

NPS SEEKS COMMENTS: Akers Canoe Rental Concessioner Land Assignment

Image via WikipediaOzark National Scenic Riverways Superintendent, Reed E. Detring, invites the public to comment on a proposal designating a land assignment for the Akers Concessioner operations. A concessioner land assignment is a minimally improved area where a concessioner is authorized to park, store and stage vehicles, equipment and material related to business operations. Currently, there is not a well defined area for the Akers Concessioner to park vehicles and equipment. The areas normally used for concessioner parking and equipment storage conflict and compete with other users since they are near or adjacent to the Akers Store, Ranger Station and park visitor areas. In addition, the new Akers Concession Contract Prospectus requires specific land assignment language in the document.

The park's objective is to designate a single land assignment sized and appropriately located to meet the operational needs of the Akers Canoe Rental as required for the new concession contract. A clearly delineated land assignment will allow park management to effectively manage the contract associated with the concession's activity. The selected and designed land assignment site will improve the visitor experience and promote safety around the Ranger Station, Day Use Area and Concession's Store by reducing and managing congestion.

The park will examine different alternative sites up to 1 mile from the Akers Ranger Station that meet the above stated goals. Site selection will primarily be based on its ability to provide the operational elements needed by a concession, insure a quality visitor experience, and maintain the values adequate to an area within a National Park Service Unit. This includes - but is not limited to – efficient functionality for the concessions operation without compromising aesthetics, resource protection, visitor safety, and enhanced visitor experience.

A 30-day public comment period about the proposal to designate a land assignment for the Akers Concessioner operations has begun. Public input is being solicited to help define any issues to be addressed in an upcoming Environmental Assessment (EA). Public comments received during this 30-day "scoping" period will be used to develop the EA. When the EA is completed and released for review, the public will be encouraged to comment.

Public comment will be accepted through August 25, 2011 and may be submitted online by selecting Ozark National Scenic Riverways at the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment website, http://parkplanning.nps.gov, or sent to:

Superintendent – Akers Concession Land Assignment
Ozarks National Scenic Riverways
404 Watercress Drive
Van Buren, MO 63965
Fax: 573-323-4140

Commenters should be aware that their comments, including names and home addresses, are considered public information and may be released to the public. However, individual commenters may request that their name and home address be withheld from public release by stating this in their comment letter.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Opening Day Alternatives

Don't get the wrong idea about what I am saying here. I love the trout parks and I even love opening day of the trout season. You just probably won't ever find me fishing one of the opening days. I have learned the hard way to always (get the contradiction) qualify my absolutes...thus I throw in a probably before my won't. Anyway, I love the trout parks during winter catch and release season and on Summer weekdays and I love opening day because it sucks a tremendous number of the state's trout fishermen into about 5 square miles of the state's 150 miles of trout streams.

I took my son fishing in the upper stretches of the Current River on the Saturday before Monday's opening. We came in through Montauk State Park and the place was already hopping. The State Troopers had people pulled over and the campground was mostly full. We slid on through and took a look at Tan Vat and it was even a bit crowded for our liking. It was a beautiful day after all. We made our way on down to Baptist Camp, and though the parking lot had a half dozen or so cars and trucks, the fishermen were so spread out we had each hole we wanted to fish to ourselves. Though it was a warm day, the ice hung off the canyon walls creating a beautiful fishing backdrop.

We fished several hours catching and releasing a total of ten decent fish, all of which in my mind are still there awaiting our next trip. I had my required fruitless battle with what I think was a very nice brown. He is nursing a slightly sore mouth and growing to world record size as we speak. Soon, the drunken maniacs will make the river below Baptist Camp a less serene lady as she is violated by floaters who soon know not whether they are in a Scenic Riverway or the log flume at Six Flags. Then we will go somewhere else and maybe I will let you know where that is. If I am not so specific, it is because there are some smaller gems out there, but half the fun is finding them.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Ozark Area Trout Fishing

If you think great trout fishing can only be found in the Rocky Mountain West or the East, think again. More specifically, some of the very best trout fishing in the United States has developed in the Ozark Mountain Region of the Midwest. Nestled in an area mostly contained in Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas, some outstanding fishing opportunities are out there for rainbow trout and brown trout, even a few spots where brook trout and cutthroat trout can be had.

Image via Wikipedia

Essentially, these regions can be subdivided into four categories. Thinking of the fishing opportunities in this way can help you zero in on the kind of fishing you are after. There really is, as you will see for yourself, a little bit for every kind of fisherman out there. As a bit of an aside, many of these streams and rivers also offer outstanding smallmouth bass fishing opportunities as well.

The first of these types of fisheries is the Missouri Trout Parks. There are four trout parks in Missouri, all in or bordering on the Ozark Mountain Region. These parks are managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation and are stocked for the most part with rainbow trout, but also have some brown trout as well. These parks are heavily stocked during the catch-and-keep season. During the catch-and-release season, the parks are less heavily stocked but there are still very nice populations, the fish are larger in general, and a fisherman has a bit of elbow room to him- or herself. If this is not your thing, perhaps one of the Ozark Region's tailwater fisheries might be more to your liking.

Perhaps the most famous of these is the White River below Bull Shoals Dam in Northern Arkansas. However, if maybe less famous, there are also awesome fishing opportunities on the Norfork Tailwater, the Greer Ferry Tailwater (Little Red River), as well as Lake Taneycomo. These fisheries are interspersed throughout the Missouri and Arkansas Ozarks. Popualtions and size of fish are world class in these fisheries. Browns over 20 lbs are not unheard of and until recently, the World Record Brown Trout was from the Little Red.

There are a few freestone rivers that give trout and smallmouth fishermen some outstanding waters to both float and wade fish. Perhaps the most famous of these is the Current River. It can be a bit (okay a lot!) of a party river, but this is only in the warm weather months. Additionally, for more solitude, try the Eleven Point River, barely a stone's throw away from the Current and with a small fraction the traffic. World class smallmouth fishing and some very nice rainbow fishing can be found on this river as it winds through the Irish Wilderness and then meanders down to the Arkansas border. The Meramec River and especially the North Fork of the White River should also be considered.

Finally, tucked into the rolling region can be found some smaller fishing gems that can be classified as smaller streams. With a bit of research, these streams can yield a very nice experience to the fisherman looking for wild trout fishing opportunities as well as a place to himself. These streams are beautiful and so are the fish taken (an hopefully released).

To continue researching these areas and for more specifics, go to Ozark Trout Fishing.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Fishing the Current River of Missouri's Ozarks

By Davidson Manning

There is no doubt that the Current River is the most diverse stream in Missouri. It begins as a spring creek style trout river, and slowly transforms into one of the best smallmouth bass streams in the nation. Besides these species, there are also populations of Rock Bass, Walleye, and of course Bluegill.

The first twenty miles of the river make up the classic trout water. The river begins where Montauk Spring rises in the streambed of Pigeon Creek. For three miles below this point, the stream is stocked once a day with rainbow trout from March 1 through October 31. The upper part of this stretch which flows through Montauk State Park is managed for flies only. Artificial lures such as marabou jigs and single hooked rooster tail spinners fished on a spinning rod are perfectly legal, along with traditional fly gear. The rest of the river in the park allows all lures and baits. Montauk Spring Branch also flows through the park. The first quarter mile is catch and release only with flies only .Below there, all baits are allowed until it reaches the Current River, and fish may be kept. This area is also stocked daily.

Below Montauk State Park for nine miles, the river is managed for trophy rainbow and brown trout. The trout population varies from year, but you can count on there being between 250 and 700 trout per mile, which is a respectable number. Most are browns, but there are quite a few rainbows as well, including a number of wild trout. This is a great area to float, but there is wading access at the lower end of Montauk State Park, Tan Vat, Baptist Camp, Parker Hollow, and Cedar Grove. This is a year-round fishery, with the best fishing in the seven miles between Montauk State Park and the Parker Hollow Access. Between Parker Hollow and Cedar Grove there are certainly trout, but wading can be tough, and the fish numbers are not terribly high. Artificial lures and flies only are allowed, and there is a restrictive length limit in place.

The eight miles between Cedar Grove and Akers Ferry is managed as a put and take trout fishery. It is heavily stocked with rainbow trout between March and September. In the four miles between Cedar Grove and Welch Spring the best trout fishing will be in the spring and fall, as that is the only time trout are stocked. Below Welch Spring until Akers Ferry, the water is significantly cooler, and trout are stocked all summer long. The best fishing is generally near the mouth of Welch Spring, where trout are stocked extensively. Below Akers Ferry, there are pockets of trout all the way to Pulltite Spring seven miles further downstream, but numbers drop significantly the further below Akers Ferry you get.

Between Akers Ferry and Round Spring, the fishing is spotty for both smallmouth bass and trout. There are decent rainbow trout numbers in the upper half, and decent smallmouth bass numbers in the lower half, but the fishing will be marginal. Smallmouth bass fishing picks up in earnest at the mouth of Round Spring. Between this point and Doniphan, Missouri lies some of the finest smallmouth water in the state. Fish in the one to three pound range abound, and larger fish are not uncommon at all. Rock Bass and Bluegill can also be found in great numbers. Around Van Buren, walleye enter the scene. This is one of the best stream walleye fisheries in the nation, and big Ozark strain walleyes abound. The next world record could come from the Current River. Jigging, trolling, and live bait fishing are all popular to catch these big walleye.

Every fisherman in Missouri should try fishing the beautiful Current River. Its crystal clear waters are home to some of the best fishing to be found in the United States. Whether you like smallmouth bass, trout, walleye, or just a big stringer of bluegill or suckers, this is a great place to go.

Davdison Manning is an avid outdoorsman spending over 100 days per year pursuing his passion for fishing, many of them in the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas. He details many of his favorite spots on his website http://family-outdoors.com/ He has devoted a section of his site strictly to Missouri's trout streams at http://family-outdoors.com/Missouri_Trout_Fishing.html

His other pursuits include many days spent in the field camping and hunting. Davidson loves to share his knowledge of the outdoors in the hope of helping others to find their own connection to the outdoors.

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