ozark trout fisher

Is it a public road and and a navigable stream? If so, then it's a public access and you probably don't have any business charging folks to use it. That said, if the bridge is on a private road (or an unnavigable stream although this stream clearly is navigable, because you said it is a "popular float stream"), then you can charge however much you please. That's my interpretation of the law, but my personal feeling is that people shouldn't be allowed to charge for access to a resource managed by the state. Let me get this straight... You get the money for granting access, but it is the job of the MDC to manage the fishery and bust the poachers? That just ain't right.

I will... Apparently the quicksand story the guy told me about the Lane Spring area is true although greatly exaggerated. (I bet some thought I was just trying to scare people off the creek ) I found this on Rolla.net. "One has the opportunity to view real life quicksand while visiting Lane Spring. This phenomenon is much different than its portrayal in old B movies where someone panics and drowns in quicksand. At Lane Spring, quicksand shows up as a series of small sand boils in the bottom of the spring. Since the river deposited material over the spring outlet, the water must force its way up through the sand and other soil. The water pressure coming through the sand serves to lift the individual particles, keeping them from touching each other. When the individual grains do not touch one another, there is no frictional shear strength in the soil. When soil has no shear strength, it behaves like any other liquid and is able to boil, flow, etc. Although one might sink into quicksand since it has no strength, there is little danger of drowning. The sand adds its weight to the mix and increases the density of the water/sand slurry. This increased density increases the bouyant force of the mix and will float all but those who completely give up or try to drown."

I like it when the water is dropping from a big rain and that greenish-bluish color that Ozark streams get when the water is up but not muddy for trout, especially on the smaller streams.The fish tend to be a lot less spooky then and aren't nearly as selective as they usually are. For smallmouth bass I really prefer the low flows of summertime. The fish aren't hard to find and they're usually pretty active, as long as the water temps as the water temp isn't higher than the low 80s. Also, I've found that the fishing (for just about any stream fish) is usually very good when there is a light rain or mist.

This is something which I have changed my mind on a little. A thread came up here on a possible lead ban in national parks a year or two ago, and I'll have to admit that I was opposed to that at the time... I still think a comprehensive ban on lead in ammo and fishing tackle is probably over the top, but I could deal with it without much complaint if it was phased out slowly enough for the fishing industry to adapt. There would certainly be some benefits to it. On a nationwide, comprehensive basis, it's just not something that I care to fight for or against. It's kind of a small problem compared to some of the other things going on (like gas fracking, offshore drilling, and other ridiculously harmful practices that are going on in our country right now.) I do think lead bans are a really good idea in specific areas where there is a large concentration of ducks, geese, or other waterfowl that might get a hold of stray sinkers or shot.

I've heard that a pool on Little Piney Creek around Lane Spring has pretty bad quicksand... I'm not sure if it's true, I sure haven't tested it.

It's the truth. The best fishing is almost always in the rain- not just on the Current River, but on just about any trout stream I've ever fished. The nastier the weather the better the fishing is generally.

Yeah, the rivers did come back down a lot quicker than I was hoping. But at least it was a cool rain, which might pep things up a little.

I haven't fished it lately... I'd guess hoppers would be on, but that's just a guess and nothing more. I am going to get down there next weekend to see for myself. At 90 CFS, they'll be spooky, but you still should be able to catch them if you're a little bit careful. That's just the normal flow for this time of year. I wouldn't be too worried about it blowing out this time of year unless we really get pounded hard... The Current doesn't muddy easily even during wet seasons, and in early fall, it really takes something pretty major to make it unfishable. The only thing I've ever seen blow out the river for any amount of time in early fall/ late summer is the rain that comes from Gulf coast hurricanes every once in a while.

I'm glad we finally got some much needed rain-and cooler temps over the last two days. Most of the streams weren't yet getting to the point where I was that worried about them, but if we hadn't gotten the rain we did, things could have been heading in that direction. Hopefully we're done with the really hot and dry stuff for the year- I'm getting in the mood for fall.

Honestly, Smalliebigs and fly-flinger, if that's really your opinion I sure as hell don't want to hear about it. Simply put, it sounds pretty heartless.

Smalliebigs, the kid's dead... Just think about that before you type a post like that.

You're right. I was wrong to speculate about what may have been the cause when none of us know whether alcohol was involved- I only said that because that is the cause of so many of these tragedies, but it still wasn't appropriate for me to suggest that may have been the cause of this gentleman's death. My thought's are with the family of both this man and the kid from Flourissaint who also passed away on the river-it's so sad.

Yeah, this is definitely White-fly time, or at least getting close to it. I've fished the hatch a couple times in the prime stretches of river, and it's just never been that great to me- I just don't think trout rise very well as a rule on the Meramec at anytime, but especially not at the time of year the white flies come off. They usually coincide with low, relatively warm water, and they tend to come off best in the slow water where there just aren't that many fish. But I have talked to some people who have done really well with this hatch, so other people's experience may be different from mine. Also, if the White-flies are coming off in the areas of river with good populations of smallmouth, that could be worth looking into. When you get a hatch of big mayflies or caddis, sometimes the smallies get every bit as interested in it as trout would. I've always thought of the Meramec as a river best fished with deep nymphs and scud patterns- I've only rarely caught fish on dries there.

That's more than likely the case. I see how it could be possible to drown in a sweeper during high water, but I don't know how it could have happened to a sober person in the middle of August. PFD's are important, but arguably it's even more important not to paddle when you're drunk, especially after dark. It's very sad- I just hate hearing about these things happening on our rivers.

Chief, when I made that post a couple weeks ago asking folks to give Little Piney a break, I was just saying that the water temps were likely very high, and it would be irresponsible to fish it at that time. And yes, I would be a bit upset, if the day after I posted that, someone came on and gave a glowing fishing report about Little Piney, saying that they had caught trout in conditions in which they likely can't be released alive. But in all, I don't mind folks posting reports about Little Piney or other relatively well-known small streams when the conditions are such that the stream can handle a bit of pressure. I've done it myself, and I have no right to criticize others for doing the same thing. When I write a report or give someone advice about a stream like Little Piney, I trust that those who read it will show enough respect to release the fish they catch and otherwise use the resource wisely-if someone takes advantage of that trust, shame on them. As I already said, I don't talk about the truly fragile, secret streams (and there are a few of them out there if you're willing to do what it takes to find them) with anyone besides my closest friends. There does come a situation where basic angling etiquette demands that we have to keep a secret. There is a difference between say, Little Piney, which is a relatively well known Blue Ribbon trout stream, and a tiny tributary creek deep in the Ozarks that holds just a few nice smallmouth and that only I and a couple buddies know about.

This is not an issue that I feel particularly strongly about. If for example, someone writes a fishing report on Blue Springs Creek, that makes some people cringe because it's a small stream. But I don't think it's a big deal. It's a well known stream, been written about in Missouri Game and fish, and it's name is in the fishing regulation book that is distributed to every person upon buying their fishing license. It has special regs, is publicly owned, and is meant to be fished by the public. Period. Special regulations guarantee that it's not going to be fished out by legal anglers, and I don't buy into the conspiracy theory that a bunch of poachers are reading OAF to get fishing tips. If someone wants to write a report on it that's their own darn business, and no one really has any right to get all up in arms about it. There is another side of it too. If you know of some really great (but small and fragile) trout or smallie stream that is not listed in the reg book and has no special protection, for the good of the fishery, please don't go blabbing about it on a public forum. If there are no special regs to protect the fish, your post could easily cause more meat fisherman, and in the end, less fish present in the stream. And I also don't find Al Agnew's or other's posts about nameless streams to be useless. Far from it. While I may not learn about a new sweet spot, I get to read an excellent, well-written account of a day on a stream without even having to pay for a book or a magazine. I don't find that to be useless at all.

I have to agree with Chief on this one... Hunters have been using canoes for thousands of years, they are totally hand propelled (except what the current does for you, and it's just generally a pretty natural way to hunt game (you could say the same about dogs I realize, but float hunting doesn't take away from the fair chase element to anything like the same degree that a few hounds with radio collars do)- I'm thinking about float hunting the Eleven Point one of these deer seasons, that would be all kinds of fun. Might even mix a little trout fishing in.

Cedar Grove to Two Rivers is 40 miles. That's way too far for a 3 day float and fish trip. Round Spring would be a better take out point- that's only about 25 miles down river. Are you after trout or bass? The best trout float will be from Baptist Camp to Cedar Grove, although there are also trout between Cedar Grove and Akers. For a three day float from Baptist, I'd only go as far as Akers Ferry, but if you want to do a fair bit of paddling you could pretty easily extend the trip down to Pulltite access. Below Akers, trout are a lot harder to find. I haven't spent much time smallmouth fishing on the Current, so someone else will have to help you out with that. For flies (assuming you're after trout), hopper/droppers, scuds, Hare's Ear Nymphs, and Stonefly Nymphs will get it done. Also bring dries to imitate all the various mayflies around, and maybe a few big streamers. If you're nymph fishing, it's really important to get the flies down right on the bottom, especially in the deep holes. Good luck!

That's interesting that the 11pt has a good Hex hatch- That sounds like it might be worth looking into... If you ever run into a good Hex spinner fall, you are never going to forget it. I hit a good one on a wilderness pond in the Adirondacks this summer- It was like a squad of #6 Para-troopers was descending upon the water- a bad analogy, but that's what it looked like. The brookies went crazy.

The conservation commission has now approved an appeal of the Ripley county case... I bet the MDC will win if the judge is from anywhere outside of South-Central Missouri (in other words if he is not part of the "good old boy network" that Al Agnew referred to.) http://www.semissourian.com/story/1658374.html

Yeah, just wait till the first cool rain of Sept. and the fishing should be great on the Little Piney. Throw a Hopper dropper if you're fly fishing and a 1/32 ounce silver Panther Martin spinner if you use a spinning rod. Again, feel free to PM if you want to know specific spots. Good luck!

Just remember that Lane Spring and the rest of Little Piney's Blue Ribbon area is artificials only and Catch and release only.(essentially, you can keep one rainbow over 18", but I don't know anyone who can find 18" trout there on a regular basis)

I don't know the Big Piney really well, but I floated it from Slabtown to Ross a couple weeks ago. I waded the stretch right at the Ross Bridge Access awhile after the float and did well for smallies and goggle-eye- it's a Special management area and they have to be 15" although most folks throw the legal smallies back too. The Little Piney can be good too for trout and smallies(although it will be a lot better when there is more water in it). Shoot me a PM if you want info on that. There are some bank fishing opportunities in these areas, but you'll have a lot more options if you're willing to wade.

It's been too hot to expect much from the Cardiac area. The area between the park and Dry Fork should be cooler (closer to the spring and Dry Fork's warm waters aren't in the mix yet) and you should be able to pick up at least a couple there. Park at Maramec Spring branch and work downstream. Try the pool right at the junction of the river and spring. It should be full of fish as trout look for cooler water when weather is this hot. Just be responsible, if the water temp is above 70, trout more than likely will not survive being caught and released. I don't know exactly what the water temps were doing, but it's definitely the time to take a stream thermometer along. My best advice is to head down to the Current-it's way a way more consistent fishery when it's hot. If you do fish the Meramec, fish a small gray scud pattern and get it really deep. If anything is going to work that probably will.

But they would do better without the poaching and legal methods that go on, that's all I'm saying. I'm not saying the deer population is in any serious danger, but it's pretty well documented by MDC studies that there are less deer in the Ozark region than Central and Northern Mo. A good part of that is habitat of course, but the deer doggers sure don't help.