Lead story in the January issue of Traveler is from a trip last fall. Bob Todd and Roy Halbert have been working their way down Current River, a day or two every year. They completed the trip in October, going from Doniphan to the Arkansas State Line on a two-day float-fishing trip. They make the trip in style, staying in a cabin and dining on crab legs brought by wives, Pat and Gail.
Among interesting points was the catch of a nice walleye by Bob, and the unusual catch of a mooneye on a lure by Roy. Mooneye are aggressive predators in most Ozark streams, but seldom get large enough to be caught on a lure.
There's also a story about an unorganized "eagle day" when writer Rudi Rudroff decides to take his son on a wetland adventure.
Historian Jim Featherston's story this month is about a white captive who becomes the first settler in the Cape Girardeau area.
The Taum Sauk dam failure is so much in the news. Traveler's story recounted the story and how to keep up with the almost daily developments on the Internet.Basically it was a very intense and violent event, but the destruction did not extend far down Black River valley. Muddy water was about it, and it will not be a major disaster if it clears rapidly.
Catching gar on a flyrod is an off-beat idea. Doing it in the St. Francis River shut-ins is even more off the wall. Walter Weise writes about doing that.
Charlie Slovensky weighs in on the antler-point restriction idea and comes down against them, at least for the Ozarks. Kathleen Brotherton explains how Indians made fire.
Steve Roth tries to explain why he loves to float and camp in "Tradition and an
Ozark gravel bar. The size structure of bass in Clearwater Lake is excellent. A story on bass and other species tells about the year ahead. Bill Cooper writes about his favorite streams. It is repeated below.
There's also a story on Lyme disease and several news stories about conservation issues and concerns. Also, seasons, recipes, coming events and sun/moonrise tables.
Bill Coopers talks about his favorite streams
By Bill Cooper
The Missouri Ozarks is home to many of the nation’s top floating and fishing streams. From the Courtois and Huzzah that contain scarcely 25 miles of floatable water combined, to the Gasconade, which meanders for 300 miles through the hills and valleys, to the spring-fed Current, Jacks Fork, and Eleven Point Rivers, the Missouri Ozarks offers a splendid variety of undammed, wild streams for outdoorsmen to enjoy.
Every fisherman and floater that has much experience on ozark streams have their favorites, due largely to personal preferences.
I have thoroughly enjoyed every Ozark stream that I have floated or fished. However, three stand out for distinctly different reasons as my favorites.
Huzzah Creek, just east of Steelville, is one of my personal favorites. This tiny jewel is close to home and consistently produces smallmouth bass for me. I have floated and fished its clear waters for over 30 years. My most memorable smallmouth fishing trips in the Ozarks have taken place on the Huzzah.
The Huzzah is chock full of perfect smallmouth habitat. Rocky banks, boulders, log jams, fast runs, tight turns, deep pools, and a terrific food base make the Huzzah the most productive smallmouth stream I have ever fished.
I go to the Huzzah when I want to catch large numbers of fish. Other rivers produce larger bronzebacks, but sometimes I prefer quantity over quality.
Where Highway 8 crosses the Huzzah is the best access to begin a fishing trip.
Huzzah Valley Resort controls access to the stream at this point. They provide complete canoe livery services. If you plan to fish the Huzzah, check with Corey Cottrell at the resort office. He may possibly be the best smallmouth fisherman in the state of Missouri.
The Current River is another of my three favorite Ozark streams. The country along this Ozark National Scenic Riverways is, well, scenic.
Breath taking scenery changes with every bend of the river. Towering bluffs, gushing springs, caves, and abundant wildlife and wildflowers make a trip along the Current enjoyable any time of year.
Yes, I have been on the Current in January. A foot of freshly fallen snow blanketed the countryside, transforming the river into a magical ribbon of blue flowing towards the sea.
My floating partner and I encountered only one other human being on that trip, park ranger Bill Terry.
Terry is as enchanting as the river itself, weaving his stories of people, places and happenings along the river as colorfully and precisely as the river flows.
The Current is a floater’s paradise, but fishermen should take notice as well. One can actually enjoy trout fishing at the beginnings of the Current River inside the boundaries of Montauk State Park.
Fishing there is on a daily put and take system. All the amenities of comfort are available as well; cabins, a motel, restaurant, campground, laundry and phones make one feel at home.
Just outside the park boundaries, fishermen can pursue trophy trout, both rainbows and browns down to the Cedar Grove Access at the end of Highway Z.
From Cedar Grove to Akers Ferry, fishermen who want to catch a meal can enjoy relaxed regulations and keep four trout of any size.
Cedar Grove is used as both a put in and a take out for trips going to Akers and trips ending that began at Baptist Camp.
Whether beginning a trip or ending a trip at Cedar Grove, take time to cross the low water bridge, go for a quarter mile to B Highway, turn right and follow B for two miles to Big Rock Candy Mountain Bar, Grill, and Campground.
Candy Mountain is a beautiful facility sculptured out of the wilderness by owner Gary Hibdon. Tell him you read it in the Traveler and that I sent you. It might get me a free meal after a hard day of fishing on the Current.
Akers Ferry Canoe Rental, operated by Gene and Eleanor Maggard, services the middle and upper Current. Gene is always a wealth of information and it doesn’t take long to realize that you are talking to a genuine river rat after beginning a conversation with him.
Below Akers Ferry water temperatures begin to warm. Trout fishing wanes, but smallmouth begin to take up the slack. Smallies may be caught in the remainder of the river, but near Van Buren anglers can pick up big chain pickerel and walleye.
The Eleven Point is the ultimate Ozark stream. This Wild and Scenic River fits the name. I never get on the Eleven Point without feeling that I am truly away from it all. It is far enough from the major population centers that it does not get the crowds that some other Ozark streams receive.
Few novices are found on this river. Floaters and fishermen that I meet on the Eleven Point are primarily experienced people who value the solitude and wild nature of the area.
The Irish Wilderness borders the Eleven Point. It is said that wild spirits still roam the hills there.
Father Hogan and his Irish immigrants, who had a settlement prior to the Civil War, left much history to the area. After the war, the immigrants seemed to have vanished into thin air.
Every time I venture to the Eleven Point, I feel the aura of the people from days gone by. Perhaps their lonely spirits do linger in the rugged terrain of the wilderness.
The Eleven Point is home to goggle-eye, rainbow trout, smallmouth, largemouth, walleye and giant chain pickerel. Dian and I both caught our personal best pickerel there on the same trip.
Hers went about three pounds, while mine measured 28 inches and weighed between five and six pounds.
Dian took photos of my fish and I quickly released it only to realize later that it could have been a state record fish. However, I know its hangout and will look for it again this year.
Mike Jones, owner of Hufstedler’s Canoe Rental at Riverton is a superb fishing guide. Mike also is an excellent historian and can add a new dimension to fishing trips with his stories and Ozark candor.
Perhaps you have your own favorite Ozark streams, but they would be hard pressed to surpass the total splendor of the Huzzah, Current and Eleven Point. I can’t wait to get on them again.
Hope to see you there.
Two dozen years ago, January, 1982
The number of hunting accidents associated with turkey hunting was growing to the point there was discussion of mandating orange clothing for turkery hunters.
Hughes Mountain was subject of a photo feature.
Al Agnew wrote about fishing Lake Wappapello with his Dad, and some of the odd fish they caught, thinking they’d latched onto a monster of a bass.
The idea of transferring state parks to the Conservation Department was being debated in the Legislature. The proposal would not send any funding with the parks, however - they’d have to be supported by the one-eighth cent sales tax for conservation. For this reason, conservation groups were opposed to the plan.
At that point in time, parks were supported by general revenue, and any income generated by parks went back into general revenue.
A new fund was being created so park income would go back into parks. But the Legislature cuts its spending on parks about equal to the new fund. So there was no net gain for state parks.
Some of the land acquired for Meramec Park Lake was to go to the Conservation Department and the Department of Natural Resources. Public hearings were being held.
At the same time, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was holding more meetings on the proposed Pine Ford Dam on Big River.
A management plan for Ozark National Scenic Riverways was being developed. Plans covered everything from what facilities to build or rebuild to what should be allowed.
Two new rules included banning water skiing and the lashing of canoes together. Boats were to be limited to 40 hosepower, but the rule would not go into affect for five years.
Turkey decoys were something new and some were advertised.
The boat ramp on the Mississippi River at Trail of Tears State Park was unusable - silted in behind a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers breakwater. Waterfowl hunters and others were complaining.
A bill was pending in Congress to finally deauthorize the Meramec Dam, but it included a $20 million appropriation to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a variety of projects in St. Louis County.
Some new books were reviewed, including one about Missouri mussels. And two books about bird feeding and watching.
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