Kayser

Made a couple hour drive West from Billings to look at some gear at a price I couldn't pass up, which put me in a town I've passed through, but never explored- or even stopped in, for that matter- Livingston. The river and town are fairly well known, and I had done a quick bit of reading before I hopped in the car. Some reports claimed the river was murky and high, but with the main goal of the trip complete, I couldn't resist heading to an access point to check for myself. The air was cold, the sun was sinking, but the river here was braided through a gravel bar- calm enough to wade, and clear enough to tempt me into postponing (and eventually skipping) dinner. The first hole was running faster than I had initially thought, with the current barreling down the center. But the edges were calm enough where it dumped in to drift a heavy stonefly, and get it deep. After about half a dozen drifts and going deeper to tick rocks, the yarn indicator shot under! It's been a long winter, and the fish felt good- holding strong in the current, hard runs, and not showing itself. After a fight that I wish could've lasted a while longer, I landed a nice, fat ... whitefish. And I couldn't be happier. A quick picture, and back he goes. Several more casts and misses didn't produce a hookup (probably small whitefish), but the other side of the hole looked too good to not fish. I moved upstream and crossed. The second cast into the seam produced another take, but it wasn't the rocket into the current like a whitey, and it was right at my feet. The hookset was awkward, with the rod too high and far too much line out. But the hook stayed, and after some flailing an backpedaling across the shifting river rocks, a decent rainbow came to hand. Another picture, and off it swam. After a couple more whitefish and a rainbow, I moved downstream to another hole, seeing if I could pick up one more- a small rainbow took the stonefly, and that was it. Around that time, the gentleman I had bought the gear from appeared in the bank above me, out for an evening walk. We chatted for a bit, and he headed home for dinner. The fish were all near the head of the holes, with the whitefish in the main current, and the trout in the calmer water on the side. Brought 3 spunky whitefish to hand, and 3 somewhat lazy rainbows, while the mountains passed in and out of the clouds. Not bad for an hour before dark.

When I was single and in college (Rolla), I fished everything close but BSC and did fairly well on a consistent basis. Mostly used an 8' 4wt, but wish it was a 8.5-9' some days. If you have to use 6x due to water clarity, it's gonna be a tough day, and that's on any Blue Ribbon but the Current. You can pull some small fish with tungsten beadheads under a big dry, if you're sneaky and throw delicate upstream casts while keeping a low profile. Those fish live on bottom near cover, and prefer broken water. I've got lots of stories, and a couple pictures, but I don't think I've posted them here. Good luck.

Panfish: 1 part Andy's Yellow, 1 part yellow cornmeal, 1 part Golden Dipt Chicken Fry (omit for scored suckers). Catfish: add 1 part Andy's Red. Deep fry drum chips, crappie, and suckers at 375, others at 330. Pan fry walleye/perch, or beer batter. Trim mud line from fillets, fry similar sized pieces together. Catfish: trim into 1" chunks. Drum: 1/4" slices across the grain. 6-8" sunfish and yellow bass: scaled and whole. Flatheads- trim red meat, Italian dressing, grill. Or blacken in hot cast iron. In foil with citrus and tomatoes, touch of white wine. Use a recipe for grouper and you're set (but don't do ceviche/sushi/raw stuff). Blue cats- Cajun Creole. 1/2" chunks, browned in butter, with celery, onion, simmered with Rotel (diced tomatoes/green chiles). Serve over rice. You can make a roux somewhere in there to bring it all together a little more. Suckers/buffalo/grasscarp- already covered. Scaled/fleeced, then scored. Rib section of fillets do not have y-bones- fry the rack whole on smaller fish, individual "carp-cicles" on bigger fish. Snapper: fillet, pat dry. Season with salt, pepper, maybe old Bay. Flour, eggwash or milk, crushed Ritz crackermeal. Pan fry in butter and olive oil, maybe add a crushed clove of garlic to season the butter. White bass/hybrids, spotted bass: scale, score 3x on each side, rub with olive oil, then lemon pepper, and grill on well-oiled grate. Trout- Gut, leave head. Skewer on a stick, prop up with rocks. Grill over campfire (alder is preferred). Example- https://imgur.com/cuXZR76

Was there last September. Reminder- there's a fee to fish below the reservoir, I think $6/day. The regular stuff didn't get touched. Went down to a #20 cream zebra midge on 7x and caught two 16-18" browns before a thunderstorm chased me off. Saw some monsters, couldn't turn them with streamers. Headed over to Ft Collins the next day and stopped at Joe Wright Reservoir for some grayling. Good luck!

Enjoy. Pictures from a phone:

If I have time later, I will. I was having problems direct uploading due to file size, didn't realize I could add links here to display them until I added the smallmouth photo.

SIO3- try it now. And if you're bored in winter, get a tank of gas and head down 44 or 55 a bit, then kick off for some hiking. Or grab the waders and some hair jigs. This was February a couple years ago.

It was -24 on Tuesday. Still got a long way until Spring. Let me know if the link is still working. Trying to change the privacy settings on the album.

Since I can't seem to figure out how to reliabily upload photos to this forum, I made an album to share. I moved to Billings this summer, and have spent most of my free time running around the mountains within 2 hours, aside from a week spent in Yellowstone and the Tetons with a friend that now lives in Georgia. Hope you guys enjoy the highlight reel, taken from my phone. http://imgur.com/a/QkNHSLx (Photos are displayed on a later post, so you don't have to click that link). And before you get too jealous, it was -24 when I rolled into work yesterday morning. Cheers.

I grew up running tackle for bass, panfish, and catfish, and the odd trout trip once I was in my teens. Then I picked up a fly rod and chased bluegill every chance I got. If it swam, I tried to catch it on a fly rod- every warmwater I can think of (even buffalo and grasscarp!). High school saw me catch the trout bug really bad, and college saw it take over entirely- I spent more time chasing trout during daylight than doing anything else- probably even going to class. But in an odd twist of fate, now that I've moved to Montana, I find myself reaching for that spinning rod with a rapala more often than I ever thought possible. Is it as graceful? No, I don't think so. But it has its own challenges, and it has definitely cut the learning curve for some of the nearby streams, as to where the fish lie, the quality of fish available, and the overall density in those rivers. And it while it isn't the same as fly fishing, it can be graceful in its own way. But it's going to be blowing 40+ over the next couple days- I think I'm going to try out that new vise my brother got me for Christmas. And fix my 8wt. And condition my lines. And seal the pinholes in my waders. I've got the bug again during the preparation season.

Got tired of everything that is Chicagoland, so I've accepted a job in Montana, just west of Billings. Two weeks is in at my current job (wish them all the best), so it's time to move west. Hopefully I can get some content to share on here from time to time. Trout, elk, mountains and skiing all within an hour's drive. And a seemingly endless winter. Here we go... Now I just need a house. And a boat. And a truck to haul the boat. And a garage to store the truck. And shelving for the garage. And....

Glad to see them making a bit of a comeback. Especially after the STL Zoo had the fungus issue.

I'm in Colorado for my cousin's wedding this coming weekend. Since I'm making the trip, and had to take some days off anyways, I took the week. Picks from yesterday afternoon. River held browns and some type of cutthroat, maybe cuttbows. Missed far more than I caught, especially the cutts on dries. 1.75 miles in, 800ft down- fairly easy. Racing the thunderstorm out- not so much. But I did it on under 30 minutes, so I'm kinda proud of that.

It's still very, very cold, but I managed to get a fish from the big water last week. Water looked chalky blue-white, and I threw a jerkbait around some industrial rip rap. I would guess 16" or so on the fish. It had been a very long winter for me until this point.

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv?site_no=06932000 This is the Little Piney gauge. Don't fish this Creek until the CFS is 400 or under. It still has a lot of color and is moving fast, even at that level. Recommended only for experienced waders. Spring Creek and Mill Creek are in this area, and can be approximated from this gauge. Upper reaches of Spring go down first, then Mill. I've gone from Mill to Spring Creek when Mill wasn't fishable- takes about 20 minutes on AA, P, & J? The Little Piney gauge reads 1000 CFS or better, but I think I completely stay home at 1500. High water is dangerous. The streambed is unstable and will scour out around your feet. New snags wash into areas and you can't see them in high water. Holes and drop offs move around, so even if you know the area, be careful. Take a friend. Take a wading staff. Avoid Lane Springs due to water depth. Don't go past your inseam if you can't see your feet. No fish is worth drowning. Oh, and get involved with getting funding for this water gauge. It's invaluable for this watershed, even if the usgs doesn't think so.

I was out fishing by myself with a double nymph rig, and had been doing pretty well. Came to one of my favorite holes and hooked a 12" fish on the lead fly. As I'm pulling him into the eddy away from the boulder-filled run, a shadow darts out of the dark, broken water and slashes at my fish. Three times. The experience reminded me of a barracuda with the speed and agility it came after that trout, spinning on a dime and rushing after it. I can't even move, and forget about the fish on my line for a while- I just sit there, stunned. Heart hammering as fast as it ever has, stomach in my throat. An encounter measured a couple seconds long, but my legs go weak and I have to sit down in the gravel. Good God, he was big... Minutes go by, at least it feels like it. The shock wears off a bit and I stand to start reeling the smaller fish. In less than a heartbeat, the shadow is back, and he slashes again. I feel a jolt in my rod hand, and have no idea what's going on- did he hit the smaller trout? No, he completely missed it... But now I realize he's not slashing at the fish I've hooked- he ate the dropper fly. And the jolt I felt was him setting the hook on himself, pulling the lead fly out of the small fish. It finally hits me- he ate the dropper. Fish on. The hookset surprised him, and he rushed in random directions a few times, faster than either of us could react, spinning when he ran out of room so he could run again. Maybe a second into the fight now. He got oriented towards the main water. The rod bent, the drag screamed, and he porpoised his way across the creek like he was a flying fish in a previous life. Three jumps, and the final one cleared a boulder on the far side, where he landed in the water. The life left the line. It was tight, but no more head shakes or tail thumps. I hoped he was only resting, but I could clearly see my point fly in the air, and my dropper in the moss on the boulder. He was gone. Less than ten seconds to break my heart. Easily 27" long- would've beaten my 25" best on the fly, no doubt in my mind. Alternately: had a trout follow, but just wouldn't commit. I'd caught a 22" fish earlier that day, but I could've used that one for bait to tempt this follower. Wish I had musky gear for that fish... Estimate is somewhere between 12-15lbs (yes, I've landed a 15lb trout before). Looked like a crocodile with how it swam. Also hooked a trout in high water, that just held midcurrent against my 4x. Eventually bulldogged lazily upstream and wrapped me on a log. Big... 20" smallmouth splashing at a buzzbait as I pulled it out of the water. Missing the hookset on my first tarpon, because I lifted the rod instead of stripped... All of these times, I started fishing harder. But nothing has been as bad as losing that big trout. I'm feeling a bit sick just remembering it, and it's been years.

Thanks to awhuber- Mark Twain National Forest is name of the largest federally owned public land system in Missouri, with several different units, and a patchwork of small and large areas of forest, totaling over 1 million acres in the state. The area you want is the Houston/Rolla Ranger District. Here is a link that will serve you well. Forest Supervisor's office in Rolla is listed, but it's only open weekdays, during banking hours. But since we're not bankers, order online. Navigate around, download the order form, and order a Forest Visitor map for the Houston/Rolla District for $9 (inflation...) plus $3.50 shipping on your entire order (go wild- buy them all!). Regular mail with a check- it's all explained on the order form. Read up on all the rules, regulations, and access laws while you're there. Just remember- not all roads listed on that map are passable by car, or even by truck. Some wash out annually, and mostly get put back in annually. And show respect for the gem in our backyard- keep it nice, and it will stay nice forever.

The creek hasn't been the same since 2011- the famed cicada hatch. Towards the beginning, the fishing was great. As the summer went on, not so much for size, but still numbers. I haven't fished it much the last two years, though. The problem was people figured it out, and the creek got hammered. A lot of fish went home- perfectly legal. But also, the 1 fish/day 18", might not have been followed by all. Live cicadas on spinning gear accounted for a lot of fish being taken from the creek. Same thing for the LP. I saw several people taking fish home that summer (I lived in Rolla at the time, and fished a lot). Small dries get plenty of action from small fish. Focus on deeper water with current and cover. Skip the unproductive water. Nymphing gets more consistent action. Act like you're stalking deer and you'll do even better than that. I remember lots of brush in Spring Creek. Smallest of the 3. Access on the lower end towards the Big Piney. A colorized MTNF map can be purchased at their office in Rolla for $7, and is worth every penny even for one trip to the Ozarks. Good luck, and I hope you have as much fun as I did figuring out those spooky fish.

So what kind of flies do you use for them, and what are your success ratios like? I'm talking fish seen, to fish looking at flies, to takes, to hookups, to landing. Love catching them when I can, but it's usually bycatch on the long rod.

When ice turns cloudy, instead of perfectly clear, that's called rotten ice. It is not strong, and is incredibly dangerous. This normally happens as the ice starts to melt. Stay off, even if there is 6". And do not go alone, until you learn what ice should sound like. It makes different sounds based on strength, thickness, and rot. Good luck, and stay safe.

Thanks for the replies. I'll keep fishing, but I don't think it's going to be quite the same. Going to miss the hills and deep woods, and mostly the ability to just get away from the high-traffic areas. Wild trout in fast water are where my real passion lies, and that's a bit harder to find in this region. Oh, there's fishing to be had, but I'll have to see what I can take with my apartment's living arrangements. I would like to take my kayak with me, but storing it can be a hassle when you don't have a house. Vacation time is very limited the first year, and I'm in some weddings later this year that will eat up a couple days. Heading back to the Ozarks might have to wait until next year. I tried the steelhead runs a couple summers back, but I wasn't impressed with it. Something about not enough rain, or too much rain, or not enough food in the lakes meaning no fish came up. I'll look into rivers in MI, like the PM, or the St. Joe, but the Kankakee in IN is closest to where I'm living, and I just might try that out for smallies if it thaws (or ice fish the sloughs for bluegill). Norm, I will definitely be asking for some advice on adjusting to winter, once it gets here. I haven't spent any cold-weather time north of St. Louis, so this could be a bit of a change for me. I might pick your brain about river access and bank fishing- no kayak, but good waders right now. And Foghorn- I'm sorry I can't quite remember that trip. I've had the chance to meet a lot of folks on this forum through the years, and I'm thankful for every one of those opportunities. Only regret is that I didn't meet up with more of you while I was in the area. I'll keep posting when I'm able to get out, and hopefully I find some places to stay sane.

Terrierman- how did it turn out? I couldn't believe how the lemon brought it all together, especially with the slight tanginess of the vinegar in the gravy. And I had leftover German potato salad as the side. No celery seed for me, though- just pepper.

After spending entirely too much time in school, I graduated and accepted a job in northern Indiana. I'll be moving up there Sunday, and starting the week after. Not much for flowing water up that way, but I'm taking some fly gear just in case. I'm going to miss the fishing, hunting, and general accessibility to incredible outdoor opportunities around Rolla that I probably took for granted. But I'm going to miss this forum as much, if not more- you guys are top-notch, and the info you post on here is second-to-none. Trip reports, techniques, conservation, recipes & cooking, and just odd opportunities I would have never thought of. I can blame all of you for my obsession with paw paws, oyster mushrooms, and wild trout. And possibly a bout or two of frostbite from chasing winter smallies and trout. So a big thanks to Phil and the other mods, and to everybody here, for making this place what it is, and helping others enjoy this amazing playground I took for granted for far too long. You are one passionate bunch, and I'm glad you choose to share it here. See ya, Rob

Two things from this week, but no pictures... First was a smoked turkey. I tagged a poult (yearling Jake) with the crossbow last week, and decided to make an event of it. The skinned bird was brined for two days with salt, garlic, brown sugar and Cajun seasoning. Pat dry, more Cajun seasoning, and bacon on top to keep it from drying out. 2-3 hours at 225-250, Apple and cherry smoke until breast was 160. Also made German potato salad with it, and some baked beans. Not much left after 6 people dug in. Even the drumsticks were juicy and tender. Tonight, I made jaegerschnitzel. Pork chops, pounded thin. Seasoned flour, egg wash, then bread crumbs with lemon zest. Pan fried in a bit of Crisco. Gravy had flour, beef stock, 4oz can of sliced mushrooms, 1/3 cup milk, and two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Squeeze some lemon juice on a cutlet, spoon on gravy, and enjoy.

Due to funding issues, the only USGS stream gauges on the Big Piney and Roubidoux Creek will be discontinued in 2017. There will be a public meeting held 12/12 from 2-4pm in the Waynesville municipal center. I found out in an email this morning, and thought I'd share it here.