Johnsfolly

I use the same set-up as Seth with PLine fluoroclear in 2# and 4#. I have found that at Bennett's I get more hookup and better casting distance with the microjigs (1/125 oz) using the 2# than the 4#. I use the 4# more for small crank or jerkbaits in the bigger rivers. After hearing the tales of the nanofil, I may hve to consider that for the bigger bait fishing.

Awesome fish. The article didn't say if he released the fish. I don't like to see fish that large only being supported by its jaw for the picture.

Has anyone fished this creek? I have seen a couple of different statements about how I can get access to the base and the creek. Anyone have experience that could tell me what do I have to do to get access? With the short length of the creek and the fact that this is a white riboon creek, I would imagine that there aren't many hold over trout after a couple of days from the last stocking event. Does anyone know where I can find out when the MDC may be stocking this creek? Any information would be appreciated.

Congrats on the fishing trip. Even with the less than stllear conditions, it was a good trip. Also good to get a few saltwater fish on the species list.

Awesome brown trout. I also liked the rainbow in the photo gallery. Your hard work is paying off.

We'll be visiting my daughter at UCM in Warrensburg that weekend. Won't get down there this year. I do go to the Missouri Deer Classic in Columbia every year. I just found out that not only have they moved the venue from Columbia to St. Louis. It will now be in July/Aug instead of March. Will still try to get out there for that event.

I got out first thing this morning and drove 20 minutes (longer trip due to the snow/rain) and had a line in by 6:50 am this morning. Within 2 minutes, I was landing the first trout of the morning. I was fishing Gulp salmon eggs about 8 inches off of the bottom. By 8:05 am, I was packed up with four in the box and heading to work. I won't make any excuses. I love to catch trout and I enjoy sharing them with my family. I would normally have to drive 115 miles or more to go trout fishing. So I really enjoy the urban trout program. Yes the fish on the opening of the catch and keep season are fairly easy to catch with bait. However, they do taste good grilled, baked, pan-fried, or in chowder, etc. I look at this program as the MDC's version of the "The Lottery" where the barbarism of killing and eating trout is done in a way such that those wild trout areas that are pristine or held in higher accord, like, Blue Springs, Mill Creek, Spring Creek, etc. are not affected by my predatory tendencies. I will enjoy the fish during tonight's Super Bowl and am already planning my next trout fishing trip to get four more for the box.

I'm lookiing forward to more catches in the future.

Great fishing story and photos. I haven't gone that far south from mid-Missouri yet to fish. However, may have to consider a long weekend trip down that way after seeing those colorful browns and big rainbows.

Mike, There's a lot of good water around Ashley. Did you catch any smallmouth? I usually would catch a couple even in Jan/Feb below the cabin downstream from the confluence with Ashley.

Great fish and story. Were you fishing upstream between Baptist and Tan Vat or downstream of Baptist?

I appreciate your first goal. I wish now that I had spent more time with my dad. So I have to focus more on time with my children. I just wish that more than one of my three kids loved to fish like I do. Since I set my fishing goals based upon the Missouri fishing license dates, I'm still working on last year's goals and won't reset until March 1. I do know that I want to catch a shadow bass this year. So I may ask for more specific information from you on the general location where you caught them on the Current river last summer.

I set fishing goals every year that are mostly based upon fishing a new water, catching a new species, or a total numbers goal for a certain species. Instead of going on the calendar year I track my goals against the fishing license year. So my goals are typically set between March 1 and Feb. 28(29). Back in 2013 I set a lifetime goal of catching a trout in each of the designated trout streams/rivers including Lake Tanyecomo in MO and I am hpoing to complete that by the end of Feb. I'm down to the white ribbon section of the Current River and the blue and red ribbon sections of the North Fork of the White.I didn't include the Stone Mill creek in Fort Leonardwood because of its size and the access considerations.

Ham what was your 2014 species total?

I have seen MDC reports for Capp's Creek that indicate that the stocked brown trout hold over at a higher rate than the stocked rainbows. I would assume that a similar pattern would occur in the Roubidoux. The brown trout that I have caught there in the red ribbon stretch were between 13 and 15 ", which would indicate that they may have been in the river for a while.

I've fished it several times throught last year and caught and lost trout and smallmouth every time. So it's worth the visit. I also agree with Ness that there are other streams close enough to make for a good day or weekend.

JK Thanks for the information about a different access. I definitely want to get back down to fish this river again. If it only had browns. Smallies will have to take up the slack.

Brian I saw your Saturday report. I'm glad that I took Friday off and made the trip then instead of waiting for the weekend.

At the end of last year I made it a goal to catch a trout on each of the designated trout waters in Missouri. I finally made it down to the Eleven Point on Friday the 2nd. I don't have a boat. So I took the hail Mary approach and hoped that I could land a couple from the bank or as deep as I could wade. Once I had a good look at the river, I now know why most folks say that this is best fished from a boat. I like to fish a lot of very light jigs and the amount of weeds and the heights of the banks made it impractical to use light baits. I did get a couple of short strikes from trout in the boat access at Greer bridge using 1/32 oz white maribou jigs. They were just pulling feathers, but I would try them later using some microjigs. I caught a 16 inch chain pickerel downstream from the launch area where I could reach some deeper water. I fished a couple of other spots downstream, but the bank kept getting higher and the wading was too difficult. I went back up to the bridge. I switched to a Rapala countdown crankbait in a brown trout pattern and caught my first rainbow just under the bridge. Behind the bridge pilings I caught a 10" smallmouth. At the confluence below the bridge, I caught this 14" smallmouth. I went back to the boat access and switched to a reel loaded with 2 Lb fluorocarbon P-line and fished a 1/125 oz microjig and caught another rainbow. Due to an untimely dip in the water, I decided to head down to the Turner Mill access to try to catch a couple of trout in the white ribbon section of the river. At the access I found this tree and was able to catch a couple of rainbows on a 1/64 oz tan maribou jig in the deep water running above and next to the snag. After I landed my second trout, it began to rain again and with my waders and rain gear soaked from my dip up at Greer I decided to cut the trip short. I'm looking forward to a return trip and with a boat. With a 400 mile round trip, I will probably try to stay down in that area instead of making another day trip. Now it's on to the North fork of the White to attempt to finish my goal.

Nice fish. I love seeing winter browns, but mostly on the end of my line. Looked like a great second day. Congrats.

Definitely nice trout. I need to get back to the Current this winter. I haven't fished it in over a year due to focusing on other trout streams.

Great post. I have a 14 year old that wants only to catch one or two to appease dad and then go back to his videos or games. He doesn't like to hold the fish either. My youngest daughter is ready to pull as many in as she can and she is a pro at unhooking the fish.

Your great video makes me want to take to four hour trip back doen to Crane and fish it again. My wife will just love that.

I would suggest the clear line. That way you can fish any trout water without having to change lines.I prefer 2 lb line, but if you want to fish any small cranks or roostertail spinners go with the 4 lb. Trout magnet and microtrout magnet jigs fished 14 to 22" below a float will work well for the community ponds. I prefer pink, pink white, orange and yellow jig bodies. Good luck.

I took my daughter down to Bennett's on Sunday and she caught a dozen banded sculpin using a microgloball with a split shot. She had already acheived her goal of catching four trout and was fascinated by the sculpin or "bottom dwellers" as she called them.