Current River Float Trip

There is something about a float trip on a clear Ozark stream that grabs a hold of all your senses and latches onto your soul for the entire time you are on the river.  While floating away the day I am in tune with the sound of rushing water and the singing of birds, the turtles sunning themselves on a log, and the snake dangling from the trees.  I’m obsessed with the fish passing under the canoe, and find a strange happiness alternating between the hot sun leaving its mark on my shoulders and thighs then gasping for breath as I jump into the cold water in a deep hole or spring.  The musty smell of a cave or shaded cliff along the banks lingers even as you float quickly downstream.  Sometimes I just want to fish, often catching as many sunfish and smallmouth bass as I could ever want to.  Other times I just want to glide slowly along, taking it all in, with the bluffs and enormous wall of trees all around making me feel very small.  Still other times I want to people watch, as a float trip promises all sorts of people doing all sorts of things.  For some, a float trip is an excuse to party, and I probably was that person in another time and place.  For others, it is a time to fish, bird watch, or just a means to get from one campsite to the next.  No matter what your reason for being there, I generally find that you become friends with everyone sharing the river with you on that particular day.

This recent float trip on the Current River was no exception.  Our group of 14 floaters gathered at Pulltite Spring early Friday morning, taking photos, making last minute purchases from the camp store, and applying sunscreen and insect repellent.  Our friendly bus driver from Akers Ferry Canoe Rental showed up right at 8:30 as promised, and we quickly piled on for the 25 minute ride upriver to Akers Ferry. After settling up at the front desk, we headed to the river and listened intently as our host explained the 10-mile float ahead.  Then we were off, 5 canoes and 3 kayaks in our group, and since it was early on a weekday, the river was not too crowded.  Debbie and I were joined by Daniel on our canoe, and he kept us laughing all the way.

I had not floated this section of river, and generally speaking I was surprised by the pace of the river as well as the murkiness.  It had not rained for several days but the river was still up.  The scenery, of course, was beautiful.  I think that I saw 2 buildings then entire 10 mile float, one of which a neat little log cabin tucked up in the trees.  There were numerous rock bars to sit and play, and plenty of fishing holes to test your luck.

The fishing, however, was tough.  I had not done my homework very well as I was expecting more smallmouth bass in this stretch of river. The only people catching anything most of the day were catching trout on bits of shrimp, not really my favorite type of fishing.  As a group, 3 of us fished fairly regularly along the way hitting our typical hot spots with no luck.  Not even a sunfish.  Finally, we found a nice warm slough on the backside of a rock bar and caught several spotted bass as well as a few bluegill.  The only fish any of us caught all day on the main river was a single small rock bass.  Clearly it was amateur hour, and I found it humbling.  I will get them next time.

The highlight of the trip may have been Cave Spring, a cave at the 5-mile mark large enough to float into with a canoe or two.  The entrance was guarded by nesting cliff swallows that darted along side and over our canoes.  The cool air was a welcome reprieve from the mid-day sun, and the cold water fun unless someone splashed you with it.  Everyone took their turn, lingered for a few, then moved on down river.  The float was generally pretty easy, with a few tight turns and underwater obstructions to make it interesting, but certainly not too challenging.

By the time we made it back to Pulltite, everyone was ready to get off the river and back to the cabins to get cleaned up.  Despite the slow fishing, it was another great day on the Current River and another day of memories made in the MO-Outdoors.  There are countless opportunities and outfitters waiting to serve you in the Missouri Ozarks, get out there and make it happen.

For more information, check out any of the following links:

https://www.currentrivercanoe.com

https://www.nps.gov/ozar/index.htm