ozark trout fisher

Its a bummer that there are people who break in, litter, etc. If there wasn't, we would have a lot easier fishing access. But I suppose that's the obvious statement of the year.

I'd expect similar sized fish, both of them get some big old brood stock every once in a while, alongside the regular stockies. The c&r area at Bennett is you're best bet in that park to get a lunker, as well as a bunch of rainbows, all though you'll find plenty of trout pretty much everywhere at Bennett. The Niangua below Bennett get stocked with browns every year, and I would suppose some of them get pretty large, and maybe a few move into the lower end of the spring branch.

Been fishing the lakes around where I live in Warren County. Friday night fished the dam at the largest lake (about 100 acres). Got out the fly rod, and cast topwater bugs. Got to the lake about an hour after dark, but the bluegill were still rising pretty well. Picked up about 10 I believe. Hooked a nice bass, but he broke the 5x tippett. Next day fished a smaller lake out of a canoe for a few hours. Caught five bass I believe, the largest 17", so I didn't exactly tear them up, but we'll take it. Caught them on a spinning rod with a five inch zoom plastic worm (Green Pumpkin). Caught a mess of nice bluegill as well on nightcrawlers. All the bass were released unharmed, but I kept the nicer bluegill for a fish fry.

I agree with you. I'll take the Current River before the White or the Norfork any day of the week. I like the fact that, like you say, its pretty much all wadable. It and the Little Piney are my two favorite midwest trout streams. I haven't caught any 25" there though, I think my biggest is 18". That was a bow I caught just below Montauk, probably just a brood stock. By the way, I know how you feel about your boat. A few years ago, someone stole our canoe, somehow ruined it, I guess just for fun and then put it back.................... I wish I had figured out who had done it.

Looks like you did well. Nice variety of species there.

Is the water too muddy on the Bourbeuese, or is it worth driving down on Saturday? I think I kinda wanna go after kentuckies and catfish around Mayers landing, maybe try for a few smallies a ways upstream too . I drove over it last weekend at Union on the way down to the Current, and it looked at least kinda fishable, although it was pretty high.

A little powerbait fished on the bottom usually fixes the whole cloudy water problem . Good luck

I think its just because its so new.............................. Can't expect a forum to get popular over night. It'll get there, I bet.

Nice bass, but to be honest I'm more impressed with those sunnies.

Its amazing how much different it is outside of the park than in. I guarantee you would have had a slightly different experience if you had been in Montauk! I think after my last experience there I'm pretty much going to confine my fishing efforts to below the park where the fisherman are fewer and the ones around tend to be friendlier. By the way, there is some interesting water at the parker hollow access if you're looking for something different. There aren't quite as many trout, but there also aren't nearly the number of anglers. I caught mostly browns the time I went down there.

They're both trout parks, stocked daily, with fly water, bait water, and catch and release only water. Really the only difference is that Bennett Spring is more of a River, while Roaring river is more of a small creek.

There seems to be two schools of thought on this. One, is the people who think that it is unethical at its core took keep bass, and will loudly condemn anyone who does. The other is people who brag about killing bass of the spawning beds, and talking about how they will taunt catch and release fisherman. Neither is good in my opinion. Like I've said earlier, I respect people who release all of their catch, but I am also willing to respect people who occasionally keep a bass. Now I can't bring myself to say that I respect people who constantly bring home limits of bass just to fill their freezer-If I did I would be lying. I can understand the people who think that no one should ever keep a bass out of a lake like Table Rock. I just respectfully disagree. Spawn bed bass are different. I do believe, that at its core it is entirely unethical to ever keep a bass of its bed, unless it might be a state record or something. By the way, with this post, I'm in no way trying to indicate that folks like Bill Babler aren't true conservationists. Although I don't know him, I'm sure he is. And I think it is better to be all catch and release, than to just harvest every legal bass you catch. I just don't think that I should feel bad about keeping a bass every once in a while. I try not to keep more than one every couple of weeks, and none ever during the spawn. I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

I don't think you need to worry about that. I bet that every trout fisherman in Missouri worth his salt knows the Current River well already. Its a great river, and can offer a challenge, but it always produces at least a couple trout for me every time I go. Of the streams in Missouri I've fished, it is by far the most productive. Last time I was there, I saw, (but unfortunately couldn't catch), a rainbow trout at least 7 pounds. At first I thought it must be some kind of a sukcer, but when I saw the pink stripe I was shocked. I spent at least two hours fishing for him before I finally gave up. Threw everything in the box, both spinning lures and flies. Glad you had a great trip, and even more glad you're not sooner fans :lol: :lol: :lol:

It seems like we kinda both misunderstood what we were saying. Its all good........................ My policy on this is pretty simple. I catch and release at least 95% of the legal bass I catch, but if I'm fishing a lake with a strong population, I might keep one for dinner that night. Pretty much though, If I'm hungry for fish, I'll go after bluegill or catfish, or maybe trout in one of the parks. Personally, when it comes to bass fishing, or other species, I think that the right answer is sensible harvest. I tip my hat to those of you who haven't kept a fish in years. It really does show your dedication to the conservation of the species. But I like fried fish a little to much to give up catch and keep altogether, although I do try to keep bass as little as possible. Especially smallmouth By the way Whack em Good, good luck fishing.

Sir, I'm not sure what you're reading, but I wasn't trying to taunt you or anyone else. I was just simply stating that I didn't feel like getting into this argument, but it was hard to keep my mouth shut. In fact, I wasn't even really referring to what you said. I may be incorrect on this, but I think you read me all wrong. Really though, I'm kinda confused how you could have taken this as me taunting you..................................................

Just a rumor, might not actually be true.

Personally, I wouldn't suggest walking from Cedar or Parker Hollow to Tan Vat, unless you like walking more than fishing. It's something like seven miles to Cedar Grove, and five and a half to Parker Hollow. If you can't arrange transportation, the wading is pretty easy, and you'll probably catch just as many fish. Hit it at Tan vat, Baptist, or Parker Hollow, and wade upstream. If you're dead set on a float and can't find any transportation, you can probably get a shuttle from Cedar to Akers, which is a pretty good White Ribbon trout fishing float. Not quite as many fish as the Blue Ribbon unless you hit it soon after a stocking, but I believe you'll find a good mix of rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, and a few brownies. I've heard it's a pretty area with decent fishing, and about nine miles long. This is further downstream, so the water is a little bigger and a little slower. Or you could run the really short float from Tan Vat to Baptist a few times, walking to the car would be a little more reasonable, I believe its only about a mile and a half or so. There is some really good trout water in that stretch. But then again, the whole section is wadeable most of the time, so it might be a waste of time to float it. Oh yeah, I've heard rumors that the Blue Ribbon Area has been recently stocked with brown trout. There about 8 or 10 inches long when stocked, so they're nothing really to get excited about, but it should mean you won't have too much trouble catching some naive trout.

Holding my tongue, wow this is really too hard.

As to the OP: Geeeeeeez, guys.. It's fishing! Not politics.. LOL I keep fish nowadays cause I am getting poorer.. LOL You're not the only one.

Goggle eye were biting on gigs? They most be pretty dumb :lol: . Just kidding, I know you meant to say jigs, at least I hope so

Well I'll admit it is kinda fun to read......................................................

Now that looks like a fish I would want to catch....................................................

Oh yeah, one more thing. Does anyone have any good pictures of dead horses laying around?

I forgot the Eleven Point. I guess I didn't rank it in my top five, just for the simple reason that I've never fished it. By the way trout cowboy, you said something in the last thread about a trip to Montana. If you go, feel free to PM me. I might be able to tell you about a couple of streams you'll want to hit. There mostly to small to post on the main board here, but I'd be glad to share them with you.