Jet Setter

My guess is that just about everyone reading this article has spent some time in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, either hiking, fishing, or floating. Maybe it was trout fishing on opening day at Montauk State Park, a visit to Echo Bluff State Park or a summertime float on the Current or Jacks Fork River. You know first hand the ruggedness and beauty of the Ozarks and the splendor of these amazing rivers. Conservation and preservation never seem to be without controversy. The US Army Corp of Engineers had developed plans to build a series of dams on the Current and Jacks Fork River's to provide hydroelectric power to rural Missouri, similar to the White River chain creating Beaver, Table Rock, and Bull Shoals Lakes. The new lake was to be named Blair Creek Dam and Reservoir.

A grassroots movement of residents and conservation groups formed in opposition. In 1964, after much debate and compromise the United States Congress officially established the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, creating the first National Park to preserve a river system in its wild, untamed state.

The State of Missouri donated Alley, Big Spring, and Round Spring State Parks to the National Park Service as a gift from the citizens of Missouri to the American People. This successful cooperative effort served as the prototype for the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, protecting many of America's free-flowing rivers.

I have had the fortunate opportunity to experience several adventures on the Current River catching smallmouth bass with River Guide William "Bill" Smith, a lifelong area resident who retired a few years ago after a successful career with the National Park Service and now one of only a couple of authorized guides working on the rivers he loves. Bill's family has lived in the Eminence area for generations; he's one of those people that knows everybody.

I won't go as far as to say he has all of the fish named, but I am pretty sure he has a name for every big rock and bolder in the river. He would call out; that's Cardareva Mountain on your left, Spring Hollow runs up that way to the west, Logyard is coming up, Big Spring provides enough water daily to fill a professional football stadium.

With 180 miles of Current River to cover, Bill breaks the river into three approximately sixty-mile sections. The Upper consists of Montauk Springs downstream to Powder Mill /Blue Spring access. The Middle section Blue Spring to Doniphan and the Lower, Doniphan to the confluence with the Black River near Pocahontas, Arkansas.

My first adventure with Bill began from Two Rivers access east of Eminence. This is where the Jacks Fork and the Current Rivers join, so the river gets much larger from that point downstream.

Being primarily a lake fisherman, on my first trip in the Jet Boat, I found the boat control methods were a little different than what I was used to. Just in the event you aren't familiar with Jet Boats, they are designed to run in inches of water, and the outboard motors lower unit produces a jet stream to propel the boat so it doesn't have a propeller.

Bill uses his bow-mounted trolling motor to face the boat into the current, so you actually float downstream backward (rear first). He then moves the boat left or right to keep you fishing in the river's most productive areas. After a day of fishing, you jet back upstream to the boat ramp eliminating the need to shuttle vehicles like you would with canoes or kayaks.

On subsequent trips we fished from Blue Spring to Logyard, Logyard to below Paint Rock and a gravel spring that bubbles up into the river. Big Spring, upstream to Van Buren then back downstream to Chilton, all along the way Bill calling out natural features and telling local history and folklore. Amazing adventures each and every one.

We caught a lot of smallmouths and even some nice goggle eye. When I say a lot, about one hundred fish each day, mostly on small bladed spinner baits and small jig and craws. So plenty of action to keep you occupied while enjoying the ruggedness, natural beauty and splendor of the Ozarks and this amazing wild and protected river system.

You can reach Bill by calling 573-225-3390, email bill. smith@scenicriversguideservice.com, or facebook @ scenicriversguideservice.

Scott Pauley

(Left) Bill Smith and Gayle Julian - Jet Setting. (Photo: Scott Pauley)

(Top) Scott Pauley with smallmouth (Photo: Bill Smith)