ozark trout fisher

It's not selfish to keep a legal fish. It is one thing to dog a fragile fishery to death by keeping a stringer every day, but it's not selfish to keep a big one in a heavily stocked fishery like upper Taney. I feel like I have to defend myself here, because, when I go to the White River in Arkansas each year, I keep fish, and sometimes I keep good ones. I mean, I get there once every year, and for example I kept an 18" brown there last year. I didn't and don't feel the least bit bad about it. It was legal, and it didn't hurt the fishery one bit. I consider myself a true conservationist. When I fish the little creeks and rivers down in the Ozarks, I don't keep fish at all, save maybe a stringer or too of bluegill. But if I am fishing a heavily stocked waterway like a trout park, the White River, or Lake Taneycomo, I feel free to take my limit, and I don't feel one bit selfish. And I always enjoy the fish fry afterwards a whole lot. Fishing, is at it's heart a blood sport. That ain't ever gonna change.

Like Tgard, I don't really think they should change the trout parks either. I was just saying it would be interesting to see what would happen. And I do like to catch stockie trout, I certainly have nothing against it. As a matter of fact, on Sunday I am, (water conditions willing), going to try to do just that at Montauk. I wasn't belittling anyone I don't think, just saying I prefered the wild fish. You may not, and that's great. A trout fisherman is a trout fisherman, no one kind better than another. If you fish for comradirie, that is a great reason. It may not be the same reason I head out, (although sometimes it is) but it is still a plenty fine reason to go fishing. And I think everyone agrees that when we go fishing, we want to catch fish, so no argument there And no, I don't think there is anything wrong with you thought process. To each his own I say In the end, I think it would be disastrous to change our trout parks to wild trout streams. Think of how many people would be upset. It would also leave out disabled people, because if I am not mistaken the trout parks are the only trout streams in Missouri with handicapped access. It would also be bad for kids, because trout parks are the best way by most standards in this state to introduce new people to the sport of trout fishing. And last and probably least, it would upset those of us who kinda like to bait fish, because they are most certainly some of the best places in the state for us. Despite what I said earlier, am going to agree NoLuck and say that Missouri already has plenty of wild and trophy trout streams, we probably don't need to switch the trout parks over. Oh, by the way, sorry if I kinda hijacked this thread. It was never my intention, but I do tend to get off topic at times.

Can anyone give me an idea on their opinion of how the forecast rain for this weekend will affect fishing at the park? Thanks.

My opinion is if it is under 12" or over 20" it is a personal decision, and no one should be criticized for doing it. And yes, I am saying if someone catches a ten pound brown, there is nothing inherently wrong with him taking it home. Like Terry Beeson said, there is nothing wrong with having personal feelings against someone keeping a legal trout, just so long as you keep it to yourself, I don't try to make the person feel bad. A couple of years ago in Michigan I caught a big smallmouth bass. The fish was perfectly legal, so I decided to keep him for dinner that night. I got thouroughly yelled at by a couple of guys who were fishing on the other side of the river. I explained to them that the fish was 6" the minimum length limit, and that I had already released ten nice bass that day, so the population was clearly strong, so I am going to fry this one up tonight. People like that kinda make me sick.

I think Maramec could support resident trout, although it is doubtful it could support wild fish in it's current channelized state. There is no reason why it shouldn't. There is plentiful food (scud, suckers, insects), and of course there is plenty of deep water. The fact that they have taken away the the rivers true channel, as well as most all of the riffles, kinda makes me upset. It could be a much better trout stream if it was put back to it's natural state. The main problem would be that poachers could clean it out pretty easily. I think if Maramec Springs failed as a trophy trout stream it would be for that very reason. If it was unchannelized and the rock dams taken down, like I wish they would, I think it could become an excellent wild trout stream. But that would take more money than the MDC has to use right now, and I'm not sure if the James Foundation would be okay with it. Sorry if I hijacked the topic, I did kinda get off the topic at hand.

Yeah. I don't know why drum are so overlooked. I think they offer about as good of sport as bass or trout. I guess it's because they are sorta ugly to be honest.................

All I can say is wow. Elk, bluffs, clear water, and massive smallmouth bass. Now that is hard to beat.

The, pike type fish is a pickeral, a close relative to pike. By the way, nice fish. I also like to fish Missouri's wild trout streams with spinners, although I haven't made it to Crane just yet. (I'm gonna this summer)

That's a pig. I catch most of mine in vegetation right by the stream bank in the slower pools.

I didn't seriously mean we should make the trout parks Blue Ribbon Areas, but I just think It would be interesting if they did, and I wouldn't personally mind it. I do think all the trout parks could at least sustain resident trout, if not wild ones. And I agree, a 5" wild fish beats a 12" silver bullet by a million miles.

Wow! A 25" drum is a monster. The biggest I've ever caught was an 18 incher in Robertsville State Park on the Meramec. Fried him up streamside, he sure was good eating. Caught him on a Bomber Crankbait that I had been catching bass on all day. I've found they really like woolly buggers too, like you said.

Good luck. You are right in the middle of Missouri's best trout and smallmouth bass fishing. If you're interested in fly fishing for trout and smallmouth bass, I would reccomend Little Piney Creek, although it isn't often floatable. Mostly a wade stream, but it's near you and a lot of fun to fish.

That is a great idea. I think Bennett would make a great wild trout stream. Even if it wouldn't, they could maintain it with yearly stocking, which would free up more trout for the White Ribbon Areas, etc...I vote for yearly stockings of browns as well. I wouldn't have too much problem with turning all the trout parks into Blue Ribbon Areas myself, but I understand that wouldn't work for some But then again, the parks do have their own appeal, and I think I would miss them if they were gone. So I'm kinda split.

If you hook a nice muskie on that tackle, It's gonna be borderline scary.... Considering most Pomme de Terre Musky are in the 35 to 40 inch range, I would say you're in for an epic fight when you hook up.............................................

Nice bass... Sounds like they have moved shallow a bit. Exciting stuff

But you see, lying, exaggerating, making up stories, and generally bragging is quite possibly the best part of fishing :lol:

Also, I would suggest the lower Meramec in the Pacific Area, if you are willing to travel an hour or so. It's not the best fishing on the river, but it's pretty close, usually clear enough for fly fishing, and a good producer for spotted bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, panfish, and freshwater drum. If you have never caught a freshwater drum before, they are a lot of fun, they fight really hard (they are usually between 9" and two pounds) , and will hit streamers or nymphs. The river around Pacific MO is practically rotten with the things. You can also could find some walleyes if you fish big streamers on a sinking line. It is one of the better stream walleye fisheries in Missouri in that stretch, although that's not saying much.

I am not familiar with the fly shops, I usually stock up at the park store when I arrive at the trout parks/ During the wintertime, I would suggest hitting Busch wildlife in the selected lakes for rainbow and brown trout. You may still be able to get a few there now, but it will be mostly fished out. During the summer, Busch Wildlife lakes fish well for bass, crappie, catfish, panfish, and you might be able to coax a musky into biting in lake 35, as the MDC stocks them every few years. For summer trout fishing, you'll have to drive down at least as far as the Meramec River system, which will probably be a couple hours. There are three year-round trout streams in the Meramec system. The first is Blue Springs Creek. Easily accessible, good wild trout numbers, but small spooky fish in an extremely small creek. The Meramec at its mouth is a great smallmouth stream. The next trout stream in the system is Meramec Spring branch. It's stocked every day with rainbow trout from March 1-October 31, and the fishing is both extremely crowded, and extremely productive. The Meramec River (both Maramec Spring Branch, and the trout holding water of the Meramec River are near St. James, MO, right off Interstate 44) for eight miles below the spring branch fishes well for rainbows and browns all year, with the spring and fall being the highlight. It is easily floated, or easily waded at normal flows. Smallmouth and largemouth bass are found as well. While it is managed for eight miles, the most consistant trout fishing is for the first two to three miles below the spring branch. The Current River is a half hour further, and there is about 2.5 miles of daily stocked rainbow trout water, 8 miles of year round trophy trout water, 8 miles of water that is stocked about once a month. As far pike, steelies, and yellow perch goes, you are completely out of luck here I am afraid to say. For steelies, your nearest opportunity would be probably Ohio. For Yellow Perch, there are a few in Bull Shoals Lake in Southwestern Missouri, but I wouldn't really bother making a trip for them. The Current, Jacks Fork River, and Eleven Point River in South Central Missouri provide good pickeral fishing, which are somewhat like small pike. There are of course countless opportunities around for largemouth and smallmouth bass, as well as rock bass, crappie, suckers, and bluegill.

I would have to say 7" Berkely Powerworms Texas Rigged . $1.00 Walmart red and yellow spinnerbaits also work quite well during the spring, plus you don't have to worry about losing a few.... But my true favorite is to throw nightcrawlers off the points this time of year, always works well for me. By the way, I have no idea about LOZ, but I am just saying what works in the little reservoir I fish in Eastern Missouri.

You should have fun. Table Rock is a great lake for Largemouth, Smallmouth, White Bass, Catfish, and Walleye. Also don't forget to hit Lake Taneycomo below the dam for big rainbows and brown trout.

I know Craig, which is quite a ways downstream of Hayden, used to produce trout pretty darn well about say, ten years ago. They may be gone now, but they at least used to be there. Interestingly, I rarely caught smallmouth or pike there. I guess I wasn't using the right lures. I used to float Hayden to Craig, using small spinners and worms. Used to catch some pretty nice rainbows in that stretch. I don't much like the stretch from the dam to Steamboat, too many fisherman, plus artificials only restrictions. Bad combo for me.

Thanks. I'll do that a couple days before I go.

I will be down to the Current River next weekend, and while I plan to spend most of my time at Montauk, I would really like to try a little fishing down in the river below. Can you catch trout on spinners effectively near Tan Vat, or Baptist? Also, I was curious if anyone thinks that they would have stocked the area near Welch Spring in the White Ribbon Area yet. If so, what baits or lures should I try?

Wild trout definitely do exist in Missouri... I have never fished any of the super secret creeks, but I have fished Little Piney River, (There has been some debate on this forum over whether all of the trout in the Little Piney's Blue Ribbon Area are actually wild, but it is safe to say that the majority probably are, with a few stockies from down at Milldam Hollow mixed in) Mill Creek, Spring Creek, and Blue Springs Creek. They are a lot of fun, and I have only caught a few short trout doing this (All two from Little Piney, and one from Spring Creek), but of these streams are beautiful, they all hold fish, and the larger waters, i.e. Little Piney, are great for smallmouth in some of the same areas that hold trout populations, and some of these streams have some seriously large fish, both trout and smallmouth bass. They are, in my humble opinion, the most fun and interesting trout streams the Ozarks have to offer, they sure beat the trout parks. I am kind of a misfit on those little streams though, because I prefer to fish Mepp's spinners, although I also enjoy fly fishing with a woolly bugger sometimes. I have fished for trout in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, New York, North Carolina, and Arkansas, and probably a few other states, but the Missouri spring creeks I believe are the most challenging and the most fun trout streams I have ever encountered, even though I haven't really figured them out yet.

I don't really know. I have mostly just fished some backwaters of the Missouri near St. Louis for White Bass, and Largemouth Bass, drum, and catfish, specifically at Howell Island Conservation Area. But they might be kinda hard to cover. I know the lock and dam areas in Northeastern Missouri, on the Mississipi are good for largemouth bass, walleye, white bass, and catfish. Below there, pretty much just catfish and carp.