ozark trout fisher

The stream laws are tough. But trust me, if you know the area, and know the right places to hike into, you can get into some incredible fishing for brookies and cutts, all on public water. Not sure where in Colorado your headed, but you'll want to check out Trapper's lake, as well as the Yampa around Hayden if your in that neck of the woods. Excellent trout fishing in both of those places, rainbows and pike in the Yampa, Cutthroats, and some brookies in Trappers.

I'm not much of a big river guy, but the fact is, the big muddy is the closest river to my house, and I have only fished it once. I don't have any kind of boat that will handle the Missouri, so I'll be bank bound. I have a nice access area in mind (Washington Riverfront Park), but frankly, I have no idea how to fish it. I won't be targeting huge blues or flatheads (although I wouldn't minding tangling with one), but rather just eating size channel cats. So, what baits should I use? I'm just thinking nightcrawlers might do the job, but I could be wrong. Thanks in advance.

Don't know anything about the current conditions, but the snowmelt should be through on just about all the rivers by now, based on my experiences. This should be a good time to fish, especially if your headed to the high country. Colorado is great, I sure wish I still lived out there.

Made a last minute decision to hit the Atlantic Coast in southern Maine... Managed to scrape up enough money to get on a charter for cod, as I don't have a boat or any knowledge on that sort of fishing...

Montauk is a great fishery, and I'm looking forward to reading your blog. Make sure to send us a report on your trip.

Is there still some good walleye fishing to be had in that stretch of river?

Thanks again for the info. By the way, got the passport a few months back.

To be honest we had a bit of trouble on our time through. It didn't seem really dangerous, but it would be a good place to tip if your not careful. We hit a boulder mid way through, and had to try to get out and drag, which was difficult (basically impossible), with the rocks being as slick as the are. After freeing the boat, I had to let go, and let the other guy control the boat, while I swam through the rest of the rapid. Most importantly, take the right channel. You may be in trouble if you choose, the thin, shallow left channel. It looked pretty technical.

Thanks. I've also been meaning to join TU, but I haven't yet done it.

Thought I'd fill you guys in. Got an email from TU. The Mid- Missouri chapter is contacting the National Council, and it appears they are interested in getting involved in this.

First of all, just to clear it up, are you suggesting that our Blue Ribbon areas bar spin fisherman of any kind, including those who use single hooks and no bait? If that is what you are saying, there is no reason in the world why a trout would be deeply hooked by a single hooked rooster tail, but not a hare's ear nymph. The argument simply makes no sense, unless you'd just prefer not to see spin fisherman when you go fishing. The fisheries where fly fishing only may have more fish, but they also ban a large part of the fisherman that would like to enjoy the river. That's not an acceptable trade-off in my opinion. It would be great for you based on your user name, but the fact that there are a few more fish wouldn't do a lot to help spin fisherman that aren't allowed to fish anyway. About the issue of where the trout go in the Blue Ribbon area of the Eleven Point, natural mortality and poaching probably has much more to do with it than treble hooked spinners. Have you ever seen the number of Cranes that live along that river? Do you think they aren't responsible for eating a good number of trout? Just throwing this out there. Also, I am aware that single hook only is a lot different from fly only. But it seems like making the regulation would open the door for making that "small step" to the stream being fly only. Maybe that wouldn't happen, but then again it may. But beyond this, I think habitat improvement would go a lot further for helping our fisheries than reducing the number of points allowed on a hook.

Those longears are sure pretty fish.

I have absolutely zero problem with you throwing out any ideas you have. All I'm saying is based on my experiences, I haven't had much trouble unhooking trout with regular, artificial lures. So basically, I just happen to disagree with you. Is that allowed? I wouldn't be totally opposed to the idea of wild trout waters being single hooked artificials only. But, I do have concerns, that this could quickly turn into "fly fishing only". There are quite a few western states, (Idaho, Oregon, and Yellowstone Park to give a few examples), where most of the best trout streams are restricted to flies only. I don't want to see that happen in Missouri.

I'll make sure to tell how it goes. Missouri Smallmouth Alliance could be another group that might be interested in being involved in this, as Shoal Creek is on the list of streams that could possibly be effected.

I just sent an email to the president of the Mid-Missouri chapter of Trout Unlimited asking for their help on this one. Hope it works out.

The Meramec this time of the year isn't a good option in my opinion because of the amazingly disgusting number of canoes. Seriously, I would choose any other river before it this time of year, unless your idea of fun is watching a bunch of drunk floaters tip their canoe (which at least can be good entertainment), instead of serious fishing. But the fact is, if you are adept at casting between canoes, the fishing can be good for quality bronzebacks. The Big is a good option, so is the Huzzah. The Bourbeuse River doesn't have any outfitters I am aware of, but the fishing is good and there aren't many canoers. The Gasconade would also be a decent option. I know for a fact that a canoe rental can be had at the Huzzah and Gasconade, not sure about the Big. While I've never been on it, I've heard the Big Piney is a nice, secluded float with good scenery, few people, and lots of smallmouth. I know it has a couple of canoe rentals.

I am not one who dislikes government agencies just because they are part of the government, but this is sickening. Whoever is responsible for this cover up should lose their job over this. I mean it. I also wouldn't be opposed to hitting whoever in the DNR who was involved with criminal charges, assuming they applied. It is simply unacceptable to put tourism before public safety.

Gonna be fishing the Bourbeuse River tommorrow evening... Probably gonna head up to Mayer's landing with the canoe, paddle upstream aways, and fish downstream. So how has the fishing been? I'll be targeting mostly bass, but maybe catfish as well.

Gonna be fishing the Bourbeuse River tommorrow evening... Probably gonna head up to Mayer's landing with the canoe, paddle upstream aways, and fish downstream. So how has the fishing been? I'll be targeting mostly bass, but maybe catfish as well.

Really appreciate the help. Just the sort of info I was looking for. I was up to the UP last summer, and mostly fished for smallies. Still, I made it to the upper section of the Escanaba, as well as the Fox. Pretty decent trout fishing up there.... But the best place I found up there was a place called Nahma point, right at the mouth of the Sturgeon River. 14 and 15 inch smallies were thick. At times I'd get one on about every other cast, just fishing off the bank. But a buddy who went up there a couple weeks ago said he got nothing in that same spot, except a few perch, so who knows. The guide thing sounds nice, but I might not have the funds to do it this time. But if it would work out, I'll keep the names in mind you listed.

I have luck with scuplins in several ozark streams, although not the White. Rig it through the lips on a tiny hook, stun it a little, cast out and hold on. The smaller ones will catch the average rainbow, bigger, and you'll be targeting trophies. Oh yeah, I almost forgot you'll want to add a split shot a foot above. Based on my limited experience trout fishing on the White, pink berkely trout worms and earthworms have worked from me when rigged on a long shank hook on a white river drift rig. I have also had good success on Mepp's Spinners, size two is good for the average stocker. 1/16 and 1/24 rooster tails also are killer for stocked rainbows and the occasional brown, although I say this from experience on rivers other than the White. I know this isn't exactly the advice you were looking for, but its something, and at least its not insulting. There is a certain part of the fly fishing community that will always be bitter towards bait fisherman. I truly believe most fly-fisherman aren't like this, but it is a fact of life that some are. Except for our more vulnerable streams that can't handle bait fisherman (a number in which the White River certainly wouldn't be included), its a very silly argument that will probably never end.

Well, I'm getting a bit excited. I'm going on a two week trip up north (leaving next week), and I'm gonna hit the upper Peninsula of Michigan, Quebec, Ontario, and Maine. I'm kind of winging it (don't know exactly what waters I'm fishing where I'm staying etc just yet), but I'll be mostly trying to find brookies, browns, smallmouth bass, pike, walleye, and perch. I'll try to spend as much time as I can trout fishing, but I'll cast to anything that'll take a spinner, spoon, or Rapala. Gonna bring an ultralight rod with four pound test for the trout and smallmouth. I might also bring a medium action with 12 pound line for the pike. I know my planning is a bit half hazard, but I don't want to set hard and fast plans. I more just want to kinda just stop wherever it looks good, look up places in the atlas etc. Lodging plan= a one man tent, and lots of public land. I'll have waders, but no boats will be brought. I'm primarily looking for brookie streams anyway. Wish me luck.

Well, I'm getting a bit excited. I'm going on a two week trip up north, and I'm gonna hit the upper Peninsula of Michigan, Quebec, Ontario, and Maine. I'm kind of winging it (don't know exactly what waters I'm fishing yet), but I'll be mostly trying to find brookies, browns, smallmouth bass, pike, walleye, and perch. I'll try to spend as much time as I can trout fishing, but I'll cast to anything that'll take a little spinner or rapala. I know my planning is a bit half hazard, but I don't want to set stringent plans. I more just want to kinda just stop wherever it looks good, look up places in the atlas etc. Lodging plan= a one man tent. Wish me luck.

Treble hooks rarely cause any sort of unhooking problems for me. Sorry to bring up a bit of an old conversation. Was out of town for a week and didn't have a chance to check the forum.

I vote alternative A. What do you all think? By the way, (although this wasn't the Current, but the Eleven Point), the guy that almost swamped my canoe with the wake of his jetboat was not exactly a young guy.... Just throwing that out there. He did seem very drunk however, which I believe is a problem if you're operating a powerful boat on a tight river. Just me I always get a kick out of the way the people in a jet boat will pretty generally smile and wave at you right as they almost run over you. It's like they don't even know they did anything wrong. Also, lets face it. The Current is a National Wild and Scenic River. What is wild or scenic about the roar of a jet boat, or the wake from one that almost tips over your canoe? Really, not trying to start an argument with any responsible (that is the ones that actually slow down when they see canoers) jetboaters on here. I just don't think they belong in a relatively small section of a national river. I mean, they are considering banning jet boats above Round Spring. If you are on a jet boat above round spring anyway, I believe that is less than intelligent. Also, the idea of banning them on the entire Jacks Fork seems okay to me. That certainly doesn't seem like a jet boat friendly river anyway, but I could be wrong.