bkbying89

Excuse my ignorance, Mr. Wally when you reference hybrids are you referring to Stripers? I didn't realize they were in the Meramac. I have been out of fishing for a while and started back recently. And where can you buy these hidef craws? Bill

.Definately going back Monday. I may hit Baptist Camp for a change. Stocked up on some hopper and beetle imitations today. I also have some Chernoble Ants in case I get tired of the smaller fish.

Harris, you better watch out. That fly fishing can get into you. You will not want to fish any other way.

There were a few other fishermen on the water Monday. Obviously, the fishing didn't seem to slow down much with all of the small trout. At one log I pulled two fish and missed one and then on the way back upstream pulled two more off the same log. If you could get the fly close to the bank you could catch trout. I started out with a dropper tied to the fly but took it off, I got tired of the dropper snagging my shorts while trying to unhook the fish. I didn't need it to catch fish anyway. I may try to get back down next Monday. Probably Tan Vat or Baptist Camp just for a change.

I went down today and fished below the cable at Montauk. This is my first year fishing that area so I can't compare it to other years but there are some really deep stretches down from the cable. I fished some of it and have to check everything in my vest to see that they stayed dry, I caught a lot of fish on a beetle. I had to get the beetle close to the bank for the trout to show consistent interest. The largest was just under 16 with a few in the 14-15 inch range. The rest ran small including one that looked like a wild trout with the Par marks and all. It was a fun day with all of the top water action.

I understand that the Cabelas warranty is on manufacturing defects only. It does not cover owner abuse. Full neoprene waders are hot and are good for winter use. Felt soles are against the law in Missouri. I and many people I know wear studs. If you use them make sure they are installed correctly.

Thanks, 2sheds. I have at times wondered what was going on down on the NFOWR and not seen any reports since after the floods. It is somewhat heartening to see that recovery is under way. I felt that recovery would take some time but knowing it underway gives hope for the future. Bill

Just checking in to see if there is news of progress on the recovery on the NF. I hope everything is going well for the people whose lives have been disrupted so drastically by the flooding this year. Is there any news to share. Be well, Bill

I fished Mill Creek and the LP at 63 on Thursday. I think I was a little turned around about where I was on Mill Creek. I parked near a low water bridge that was heading towards the Caintuck trailhead(?). I fished downstream from there. I thought that after the rain we had that the creek would have been a bit murky but it was surprisingly clear. The trout were a bit reluctant to bite at first. After watching a bit I noticed a bit of surfaced activity. Some of that activity was a 10 0r 12-inch trout coming completely out of the creek after some bug on top. Not seeing any kind of hatch I tied on a 16 Adams and on the third cast I had an 8-inch trout. I caught another smaller fish and then switched over to a nymph and finished out the day with about six fish. I wanted to fish the LP so I headed over to Lane but forgot the day use fee and didn't have the 2 bucks to use the area so I went to the 63 access and wet waded downstream but only caught a couple small bluegill. It was a good day but next time it will be in the fall, this heat and humidity just take the fun out of it.

Nice fish and a beautiful creek.

I want to agree with rps, You spin a good story, Al. I look forward to more.

The Current is fishing fine. Visited the Current Tuesday with some friends and fished below Montauk. The new Pulse is fishing fine and made me look good. The trout were hitting everything at different times of the day, with drys and terrestrials being among the favorites. My first fish of the day came on a Stimulator with an RS2 dropper. I had just finished tying on the dropper and was just trying to straighten my line out before heading out. I flicked the line out to straighten a kink and the fly landed in a run and ways immediately gobbled up by a trout. This would have been fine except that a friend with a new euronymphing rod was fishing the run and he may have considered me poaching his fish. Sorry buddy, next time I will remember to move on before putting a fly in the water. It was a good day, a fun day for us all. Not all of the fish were small some nicer fish were caught and lost including (I am told an 18 inch Bow that spit the hook on one of the newer members of the group. It was my first time on that section of the river, I don't know why I haven't fished it before. Maybe I thought it would be more crowded. I am told that it was deeper than in the years past and the flooding has changed it so some of it is harder to reach due to the changes.

Last year after the flooding in the spring at Maramec Springs I watched a YUGE brown swimming by with half of a good size trout jutting out of his mouth. Don't take my comments as doom and gloom for the Current River trout fishery. In fact, I hope to see a rise in the number of larger trout caught (hopefully by me}. I have been fortunate to have returned to fly fishing for trout at a time when the misfortune of the state benefits my pastime. I am heading back to the Current to access the damage to the insect population tomorrow. I will inform you if the trout are leaving the water searching for terrestrials and small children to eat.

The Current, all rivers are resilient and yes there were no trout, to begin with, and has adapted quite well but this is a huge inundation of a carnivore to have dumped into it all at once. I believe the reason fishing is so good right now is the fact that competition for food is very high right now and that any resource has its limits.I am not predicting doom for the Current's fishery just another hiccup. Who knows, if the trout make it thru the fall maybe they will spread down to some of the spring branches further down the river. I know a few are making it downstream now. I don't know how many Browns in that river are large enough to make a meal out of some of the trout I have caught since the flood but I wouldn't mind bumping into one on a personal basis.

No doubt they already know. I just worry that by the time the small trout have been thinned the insect hatches will be decimated to the point that it may damage the stream ecosystem. The trout have to eat something.

I had just watched a video on another site where a Box Crab cracked the shell of a mussel and then demolished the mussel. I will not be letting a crab get ahold of me.

Nice day on the ocean. I always enjoyed my saltwater fishing trips. Always have good memories of those trips. Watched My Mother land a huge, (40#) Mahi Mahi. Complete with a giant backlash in the reel.

Nice fish Matt, Good to hear from you.The report was great and the fish pictures show you had a g99d time. What river were you fishing?

I have fished Tan Vat and Baptist camp and the fish seem to be everywhere. I read somewhere on this forum that the biologist don't believe that three of four of the small trout will survive the winter. Like you, I think the trout are eating everything that attempts to hatch. As the water cools into the fall and winter the trout may move downstream looking for food. I wonder what the possibilities are that the limit could be increased to allow more of the trout under 10 inches to be kept. May as well thin them out now rather than let them starve.

I read in the MDC weekly report that they had resumed stocking in ALL areas of the parks. Addressing a large amount of small trout in the stream I think it would be plausible to implement some temporary bag limits to encourage the removal of some of those small fish. If they expect many of them to die anyway they may as well allow some to be removed. Say a six fish limit with two that must be under 9 inches. Just for the remainder of the season. Bill

I was back to Tan Vat and I have to modify my previous post. I believe the ^ foot high gravel bar was immediately in front of the parking lot but I still didn't think it was six foot high at this time. The river has changed but is in great shape. I don't know hoe many trout escaped from the hatchery but there are a very large amount of smallish fish in the river. we caught browns and rainbows at Tam Vat and Baptist Camp. There was quite a few fisherman out enjoying the weather.

I have been down to Islamorada a few times. Did you take a flyrod with you? If you did and the capt. allows it throw a streamer at the Mahi Mahi. When you get one up to the boat there will be followers. Did that once with some soft baits and freshwater tackle. WOW. May be some trout around as well. Good luck.

I understand your point and believe me when I say I don't think the fishing is ruined in the park it does mean some areas may be off limits during high water periods but I already see the positive. One area in particular will, I believe will make for some really good holding water. Most of the mess I was referring to is access points. And as I said in my earlier post they seem to be working on this. The fishing was good. Lots of smaller fish, that suits me fine I am there for the experience and a mental reset. I never keep any fish and so smash or tie barbless. One fisherman said he thought they weren't stocking as they normally would have because of all the hatchery escapees. I saw a lot of smaller fish and they did not seem to be easier to catch than normal. If they wise up we may see some truly large fish in a few years.

I guess the mess is in the eye of the beholder. I saw the fly fishing only area and a lot of it was un-wadeable ate the time and the bank erosion was extensive. Holes were filled in. I also talked to other fisherman and they agreed. Right now the spring is running high and some areas may be fishable later when it comes down. Like I said the park crews were working on one access site that had been washed away. We will see how things look after the spring settles down.