Price Brothers Annual Winter Run 2006
Greetings OMP Board Dwellers!
Just got back yesterday from the Current River. My 2nd annual Price
Bros Winter Run. (Well at least part of the Price Bros!) Already I'm
getting requests for a report and for good reason.
The Current is not in particularly good shape. We originally were
slated to run down from Montuak S.P. to either Cedar Grove or Akers
Ferry. These sections are low and while runnable, will definitely
require some dragging. Not to mention the portage at Cedar Grove. If
you are going to run these sections, allow yourself some time for each
of these eventualities. However, they have just recently stocked at
Montauk and if you're into trout fishing, that may be pretty good. I
have two friends who put in up there this week but I haven't heard how
they did. They do like to fish, however. Remember, this is
a "Trophy" section of the River and no live bait is allowed. Plus
they have pretty strict regs on what you can keep and how many. When
we crossed the portage (low water bridge for any landlubbers!) @ Cedar
Grove, it looked horrible and if that was any indication, there was
going to be a lot of dragging from there on down and most certainly
above that.
We put in at Akers Ferry and ran down to Pull Tite. That was not in
the best of shape level wise but we never had to drag. We bumped
bottom a few times and after Cave Spring, the river got a little
deeper and wider. The trout fishing stunk for us. I didn't fish and
I suspect that may be part of the reason it stunk for me. Kirk got
hung up the first three minutes on the water and put his pole in the
boat! I think he was afraid he may actually catch something and then
have to go to the trouble of taking it off his line! So we changed
tactics and the fishing turned excellent. We then started catching
one every time we reached into the cooler for the next two days. And
I mean Trophy Budweisers! Naturally we catch, swill, & release so
there will be plenty of baby Buds for next season! The gravel bar @
Pull Tite extended way out into the channel due to the low water and
that looked like a drag. We saw a pickup truck cross the river
there. Below that, I believe you would be fine and Sinking Creek
actually had water in it, adding to the flow. According to the
Ranger, there were 6 people who put in this week. We were two of them
and I know two of the others. He considered that an especially busy
week for this time of year! As always the water quality looked good
and by that I mean we could see the bottom all the way down no matter
how deep it got. Sadly, that also meant we could see all the beer
cans from Wahoo Season and there were plenty. After several of our
own beers were swilled, I talked Kirk into diving for a few of them
but he got cold. What a wuss! Sometimes I'm embarrased to be related
to this guy!
I can't remember seeing as many eagles on one run before. They were
thick as thieves and as always the Kings of the Sky. We not only had
the Spirit of the Eagle with us, but also the Spirit of the Wind.
While I doubt anyone will believe this, it was actually a tail wind
for once in my life. We made great time (too good, actually) even
with the all the DA we did and the low level. We did the 10 or so
miles in 6-7 hrs total. Mostly, the only actual paddling we did
consisted of correction strokes to stay on track and Kirk beating me
over the head with his stick (Next time I'm bringing my helmet!) I
would not have taken a longer run, personally, but I would have DA'd
much more if I had done my homework and had any clue where we were on
the run. One could have easily done Akers to Round Spring in two days
if one had a mind to. Around 19 miles if I'm not mistaken.
Be a good weekend for a Cooler Run this weekend, and I wish I were
still on the water.
Keep Your Stick In The Water!
-Terry-
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