The upper Current River is small enough that I hesitate even to recommend where to fish -- so as not to reveal my secret spots. Let's put it this way: Several years ago, a friend from Maryland called and wanted information on where to fish while attending a meeting in Montauk. I drew him a map starting in St. Louis, ending at the river with an arrow and note saying "Fish here." When I caught up with him at the meeting, he was bragging about the note -- and about the largest brown trout he'd ever caught.

I guess I'll break down and tell you that the arrow ended on what Tom Shipley, part of the singing duo of Brewer and Shipley, named the "Million Dollar Mile" -- his favorite fishing area. He fished just downstream from Montauk State Park near Tan Vat access. The stream here is shallow; it's strictly a wade-fishing situation, with lots of overhead cover, rocks and undercut banks extending about a half-mile down to Baptist Camp Access. It's great brown trout water, and full of fish.

Downstream from Baptist Camp access we enter the canoe hatch zone. During spring, summer and fall, the Current River, like the North Fork, plays host to thousands of recreational floaters. During the summer, fish early in the morning or late in the evening from any access. Or, for a different experience, backpack or canoe in from Baptist Camp; set up a base camp a couple of miles downstream and fish after the canoe hatch subsides. This is brown trout water --maybe the best brown trout stream in Missouri.

Eleven Point River
The Eleven Point River Blue Ribbon Area from Greer Spring downstream to Turner's Mill access is a sleeper; supporting both wild and stocked rainbows, it's the most lightly-fished wild trout stream in Missouri. In Oregon County, the trout area receives cold water from Greer Spring, one of Missouri's largest.

It's a large river with short, fast riffles and long, deep pools; wade-fishing is limited to the riffles. To start, fish the long riffle just downstream from the confluence of Greer Spring under the Highway 19 bridge and the riffles at Turner Access. Downstream from the accesses, you need to use a boat or canoe to fish the area.

RED RIBBON TROUT STREAMS
Meramec River
The Meramec River from Highway 8 downstream to Scott's Ford access is Missouri's oldest special management area, and is now managed as a Red Ribbon trout area. Here, trout must be 15 inches or longer before harvest. Anglers can harvest two trout daily but must use artificial lures only. The MDC first stocked brown trout in 1974. The stream also receives stocked rainbows escaping from Maramec Spring Trout Park and has a small population of reproducing rainbows.

I list the Meramec last because, in recent years, the fishing here has declined. But it's still one of my favorite trout streams, and supports excellent brown trout fishing. Fish from the confluence of Maramec Spring downstream about two miles; access the Red Ribbon water through Maramec Spring Trout Park. Park, then walk down the spring branch to the river or from the walk-in fishing access on the Woodson K. Woods Conservation Area at the lower end of this section.