ozark trout fisher

I'm not sure grabbing is legal in Blue Ribbon trout water... But I'm not sure about that. Check the regs before you go. If it's legal, try to be careful not to accidentally stick one of the rainbows.

Look, the thread you started up was kind of jumping the gun. You were already asking what we would do if smallie regulations were changed, when in fact that is what we are working on right now. You have to take these things one step at a time, if you know what I mean. Honestly, I think talking about gigging while we're trying to combat a whole other problem concerning smallies is more of a distraction than anything. I say that we should get back to discussing the regulations of creeling smallmouth bass, and then if we achieve something there, then we succeed with that we can see what we can do about gigging, habitat change, and all the other problems facing smallmouth and largemouth bass in Missouri. It's really only possible to take on one issue at a time, if we're going to focus any real efforts on it. Changing smallmouth regs, at least for now, also seems to be a much more winnable cause than working to ban or even limit gigging. If anyone wants to right a petition regarding smallmouth regulations, I'm still up for trying to get signatures.

I'm not going to carry a gun while fishing anytime soon. I don't see the need. I don't have any use for my gun outside of deer hunting, and that's been over for a few months now. But now back to discussing the gigging problem.............It's funny how off-topic these discussions can get sometimes.

Good one.

No.

That riffle water at Maramec is a lot of fun to nymph. Sounds like a good (but very cold) trip.

Some of them are also quite drunk, and they are carrying around gigs for Christ sake. Once again, no thanks. I would report them, but I am probably not going to confront a bunch of gig-wielding poachers in the middle of the night. It just doesn't seem like a good idea for some reason.

And you'd be wrong. I support concealed carry, I am opposed to most forms of gun control, and I certainly do not believe the government can fix everything. But maybe they can at least help out a little on this one.

That's what I was trying to tell Chief earlier. You all can call it laziness or excuses, or whatever you please, but it is just life with a job, and limited finances. I don't have time or money to be on the stream all the time being the guy alerting all the giggers that they shouldn't be gigging gamefish. I don't see that as selfishness. I simply have too many other responsibilities. And frankly, the idea of walking up to some gigger in the middle of the night, and telling them what they should or should not be doing seems like a good way to get my butt kicked. No thanks.

I'm sorry, but I have to ask. What's the fishing like out there?

Can we get back to the point at hand?

I wish I had time to actually do the things that you suggested. But it simply isn't there. I am only able to get out on a stream fishing once every couple weeks, and I am going to spend that time fishing. I'm sorry, but that's just the situation right now, if enough time ever frees up to be involved in those kind of things, I will jump on it. The way things are right now the only conservation work I can do right now is things like emailing the MDC, and trying to talk to them. If that somehow seems lazy or undriven to you, I'm sorry. But I simply cannot be on a stream all the time doing the things you suggest.

This weather is kinda terrible. I am bound and determined to go trout fishing this weekend, if I have to wear a parka and a ski mask to do it. I haven't been able to get out in a while, and I hate it.

Sounds like a good time. Do you use electronics out there?

Amen Brother. Glad you enjoyed the post.

Sounds like a good trip. Midge fishing is tough work, I always have trouble with it.

We can't let fear of the PETA folks influence our decisions. Gigging is unsporting, and detrimental to several species of native fish in our Ozark streams. Just because some folks would like to ban fishing altogether, we do not have to stop trying to conserve our resources. I will not "band together" with anglers who are not conservation minded. I think less of them than I do the folks that hate fishing altogether.

That's an excellent idea.

I'll admit I've been tempted myself. If this cold snap continues like the weather guys are saying, the ice actually may get thick enough. Looking at the ten day forecast, this isn't going to ease up anytime soon. I've ice fished for trout a few times out west, and had a bit of success, but I haven't bought any special gear or anything for it. When I break through the ice from shore I usually just use a hatchet or an ice pick. It would be interesting to try at Busch under the ice, I bet if you could find some water about 8-10 feet deep the fishing would be really good.

I wish it were banned. In my opinion, its just not a sporting method to take fish. I think a fish should be given a chance to at least give an honest fight, and gigging doesn't allow for that. Also, I think it is really bad for our image as fisherman and sportsmen in general. It will probably never be banned, but I'll consider myself to be in the camp that opposes it. Needless to say there are a fair number of giggers that kill gamefish, probably for the most part on accident. If you are gigging, and you make a mistake, there is no "going back". You can't release the fish. I believe that any method that doesn't allow for fished to be released at least a good part of the time shouldn't be allowed.

I wouldn't ice fish personally. Missouri ice never seems to get thick enough to be safe, and I wouldn't even think of going out there until the ice is 4 inches thick. There have been quite a few close calls out at busch by folks trying to ice fish, and a guy broke through last year. Also, I think the MDC out there takes a dim view of it.

A couple inches.

The west is tougher to fish, but you have the most beautiful mountains (and trout) anywhere in the country. I almost forgot to include the area where I'm from, Northwestern Colorado. Awesome mountain fishing for cutts and brookies, lower down you have rainbows, browns, pike, and some surprisingly nice smallmouth bass. Not to mention the best scenery I've ever experienced, between the high plains, foothills, and the true high country. I am biased though. I have never been to Alaska, but that's where my folks are from, specifically from a tiny town in the interior, somewhat north of Fairbanks. They say nothing in the lower 48 can compare. I really need to get up there soon, but realistically it would just be too expensive. The ozarks are most certainly beautiful as well. It's pretty in a different kind of way than Rocky Mountain west though, more charming than breathtaking. Personally, I need a bit of both. We certainly are blessed with an amazing variety of fish, so I'm most certainly not complaining.

I was going to head down there today, but it was just too cold. Maybe next weekend.

I broke through the ice at one of the catch and keep lakes today, and caught one rainbow for lunch using powerbait, and released a few more on Marabou jigs. Today was one of those days where its so cold its hardly worth fishing. :cold: