ozark trout fisher

Sounds like a nice trip. The Niangua's still on my to do list.

I agree with that. By the way, this post is not an allusion to the Crane Creek and Indian Creek issue. Those streams needs to be saved for what they are heck, I'd still fight to protect them if they only held suckers. And I couldn't agree more with you about how we need to protect the stream and its banks for future generation. I agree strongly. I don't know what I'm even trying to say with this post really, maybe I shouldn't have made it at all. It just seems tough to me to endorse the idea of stocking trout, when it does seem like we are playing a role we shouldn't be playing. But on the flip side of this, I enjoy catching those trout more than just about anything else. It's really tough when you get to the core of it. I hope you guys understand. I'm not trying to step on anyone's foot.

It's a good one... Too bad it's so far away for me.... Almost a two hour drive. I'll tell you what, if I could ever get the permits, and the river experience I needed, I'd put everything aside, move down to that area, and guide on the Jacks Fork, Current, and the Eleven Point. But if that ever happens, it'll be quite a few years off. It's always been a dream of mine. I've spent extensive time fishing streams from Montana to Colorado to New York, and the Ozark streams in that area are my favorite, anywhere in the country. There's just something about them that not even a mountain stream can compare to. Heck, everybody out here envies those who live in rocky mountain states like Colorado.I lived there, in the heart of trout country for five years, and the Ozark streams are still my favorite. What we have is truly special here. Sorry. I'm way off topic here.

The Eleven Point is great. The clearest, cleanest water you could hope for, and few people. The trout fishing is truly world class, and there are quite a few smallies too. The Jacks Fork is pretty awesome too. That's sure a nice stream. I've only floated it twice, but the smallmouth fishing has been pretty impressive both times. By far the best I've had in Missouri.

Okay, first of all, I'm not trying to anger anyone with this post. As most of you probably know, when it comes to fishing, trout are my first love. Most of all, I'm not suggesting anything. An admission of guilt would be a better word for it. I've been thinking about this in depth for a pretty long time. Like most people on this forum, I enjoy trout fishing in Missouri more than anything else. But I also consider myself a conservationist. The simple fact is, trout are non-native to our Missouri streams. So, put simply, any trout present in our streams are an intrusion on the natural, native ecosystem. It's really a tough thought. Basically, the species of fish that I love to catch more than anything else, are pretty much nothing more than an invader to the native species of our streams. This is something most Missouri trout fisherman don't want to face up to, but basically we are hypocrites. We want conservation of our streams, but we also want this non-native species that we enjoy catching so much. Like I said at the beginning, I'm not suggesting anything. I would be totally crushed if trout weren't stocked anymore in Missouri streams, or they weren't protected in the streams in which they are wild. Basically, I'm just facing up to an uncomfortable fact. It's a tough deal for me. I really feel like I'm straddling both sides of the conservation fence here.

These are full scale, large reservoirs. This would be disastrous if implemented. CBNMO, sorry about the insult. I read into your first post a bit too much. My bad.

I don't know the river well, but I would assume the Cane Bluff to Greer stretch would be too low for an enoyable float. Anything below Greer Spring should be fine though. Maybe Greer to Whitten would be a better two day float this time of year, just an idea

How big do you catch them? My biggest so far was a 7 pounder from Robertsville State Park on the Meramec, on a Bomber crankbait. I bet they get bigger than that on the Mighty Mississippi.

Yeah, you can get them on flies, no doubt about that. A woolly bugger or a leach pattern will do nicely.

I'm with cricket. ScudzRules is trying to ruin the forum, and get in as many low blows on the way as possible.. If he can stop being a jackass though, I'd be willing to welcome him to the forum and forget about this. I am fully aware this post could be taken as over the top. But I would say ScudzRule has been more than a little bit over the top, wouldn't you? As I said earlier, egg patterns, woolly buggers, small nymphs (prince, pheasant tail, Gold Ribbed Hare's ear #14-18 will work quite well. Remember to use light line, and approach the stream quietly, but I'm sure you know all that already. That's all the Tan Vat advice I have right now. Therefore, I'm done with this thread. Mr. Scuds would do well to follow suite. Oh yeah... P.M. sent to Scudzrule

If you cook them the day you catch them, you'll have some very tasty, firm meat. If you freeze them, they'll still be edible, but the flavor goes way down hill. Maybe some of the folks who meat fish for bass could switch over to this feisty creatures. Just an idea. They grow large, and fight just as hard.

Okay.... I realize this is a odd topic, but I'll go forward anyway... Am I the only one on this forum who enjoys fishing for freshwater drum every now and then? Freshly cooked, they're awful good to eat, and they readily hit both artificials and worms. What's not to like. I was just curious, cause I never hear anyone talking about them. I know many consider them a trash fish, but I think they're fun. I catch most of mine in the Meramec below where the Bourbeuse flows in.

I personally wouldn't go out anywhere on the Mississippi in a kayak.... I have heard many horror stories about small craft being sucked under barges, not of which have had favorable outcomes. Being below a dam further complicates the situation. I would very strongly discourage it. A common misconception is that the Missouri is the same as the Mississippi to paddlers. This is very untrue. Barge traffic is extremely light on the Missouri, whereas it's extremely heavy on the Mississippi. The Missouri is pretty easy to kayak or canoe. The Mississippi is only for those who really know what they're doing if you ask me.

That's good news. I hope they mean it.

:lol: :lol:

You've got issues. Seriously.

Sounds good. I have a tough time with the patience level required to fish those jigs in deep water, but I'll try. If I go, I'll do my best to stay away from the redds. Anything to boost the wild trout in that water, I did notice several real pretty fish I caught last time I'm pretty sure were wild. I have a quick question. I noticed that in the Greer to Turner stretch last time, I had a lot of luck towards the head of the deeper pools, just tossing a spinner, as well as some of the shoals. Will that still be the same sort of pattern I'll be looking at in the Fall?

Nope, any artificials legal,except soft plastics. Cedar to Akers sounds like fun, maybe a good float for the scenery first and fishing second,although the goggle-eye fishing sounds pretty good.

Please don't do that. If posts are being deleted, you don't really know what everyone is saying, and it just makes the argument unfair in my opinion. There are lots of forums where anything slightly offensive is deleted, and no arguments or disagreements are allowed. Those are the forums I no longer visit.

Sounds good. I'm glad to hear they service into the fall. I was thinking about maybe floating the river and fishing for trout one day, and then going somewhere else to deer hunt the next. Seems like that would be the perfect fall weekend. How's the trout fishing that time of year? I'll probably just be tossing spinners like last time.

Sounds like a nice trip. How long did the float take? That might be a fun one to try sometime.

I agree, that its a tough situation. But the point I am making, is that it is not an option to keep damming up streams at will, just to accomodate more folks. Frankly, I would much rather see some water restrictions go in place, or have water pumped from Table Rock. Yes... Doing the right thing sometimes does hurt the economy. But aren't some things more important?

You're right. Being fair and open minded has nothing to do with being willing to watch a perfectly good spring creek be darn (Yes I know, I spelled it like that on purpose). There is nothing fair or open-minded about thinking with your pocketbook, which seems like Dutch's and CBMNO's only concern in the world.

Pretty self explanatory.... Do any canoe rentals down there offer shuttles of canoe rentals mid to late November? I'm considering a trip then.

Tailwaters frankly scare the heck out me. I had a scary experience below Bull Shoals dam a few years ago, really knocked the sense into me. I don't and won't fish the White River tailwaters anymore, except from the bank. I will not wade or fish from a boat anymore in any of those areas.