ozark trout fisher

It was a fun time. I'm just not sure the Meramec has what it takes to be much of a trout fishery below Dry Fork. Sure, you can catch fish, especially fall-spring, but I would never call it a destination. The water is just too warm in the summer. But that 1/2 to 3/4 mile from the spring to Dry Fork has good fishing and not as many people as you think, at least to the degree where you can have a few pools to yourself. Plenty of rainbows all of the time, though mostly drab, stocked rainbows that are fresh from the park. I like fishing it, even if it's nothing special. That said, while I usually find rainbow, this is the first time I've caught browns in awhile.

It was that. It's funny how fast the crowds thin away from the park.

Crystal clear.

I always like it when someone I'm going to fish with wants to go to Maramec Spring. Unless it is winter season, I will go to great lengths not to fish in the spring branch, mind you. The spring is so manicured and crowded, and I always end up too frustrated with the crowds to really enjoy myself. But I love going there for one reason that has nothing to do with the trout park: the Meramec River. It's unique because you can wade directly upstream for smallmouth bass, and downstream for trout. Both fisheries are good, neither great. The proximity of the two is what's special for me. So, in short, today was a good day. I started out upstream from the spring branch. Smallies were on my mind from the moment I left home, and I couldn't get that Rebel Craw tied on fast enough. The first few fish were longear sunfish, aggressive as they are pretty and small. It actually took 20 minutes (rather a long time on this usually friendly stretch of water) to hook into my first smallmouth, and that was a little one, about 8-9 inches. But it wasn't long until I got into a rhythm and started catching fish. The trick today was to let the crankbait drift on the surface for a few seconds with a twitch or two before the retrieve began. Rarely was there a good take on the surface, but it would usually come almost the second I started the retrieve. This is a little tactic that I'm probably going to apply a good bit more in the future. The fish were in all the usual places, but in the hot sun anything with shade had an added emphasis. After I caught as many smallmouth as I felt I needed to, it was time to see if I could bring a trout or two to net. No need to change lures, or switch to the fly rod. Just not in the mood today. The rebel craw hooked plenty of trout in the river below the spring branch, a couple being increasingly the hard to find brown trout. Those are becoming a bit too much of a rare treat on the Meramec, but I enjoyed catching and releasing them today. Compared to the stocked rainbows, they are just so beautiful and hard-fighting. Not much different from the smallies just upriver, really. So that's it. No pictures, no big fish. I caught one brown and one smallie that each went about 14", but that was the best of it. But still, a great day, fishing a couple of distinct fisheries in one pretty short stretch of river.

FWIW, hauling water on a 2-3 day trip isn't a big deal at all. Purifying water every time you need it is a pain though, I can state from experience, especially when you need a lot of it for tasks like washing dishes,etc. It's a necessary one of there are portages/other issues to deal with- but not necessary and a hassle if you're just paddling an Ozark stream IMO. My biggest advice (if you're planning to eat fish) is to have a back-up plan ready. You'll catch (legal) fish on every single trip right up until the one where you didn't pack anything else for dinner except freeze dried meals. A couple cans of chili or stew would be a nice insurance policy for slow fishing, or at least slow fishing for what you're willing/able to keep. I'm willing to go spartan if it's necessary, but when you are canoeing on an Ozark river, there's no reason not to camp in relative luxury. Not like you have to carry the stuff.

Roll Tide.

To me, it sounds like he was trying to scare you off the water in front of his property. This is nothing new, but it doesn't mean the guy has a leg to stand on. Nothing you need to do. Ignore him and keep fishing, or if it's ruining your day, move on. There are plenty of folks out there that think owning a cabin means you own the river, and it's an issue that's become a real problem.

Yep. Not just fisherman harassing those stocked rainbows! That said, the trout that survive the pike and the powerbait when they're 10 inches have been known to grow pretty danged large. I may or may not have first hand knowledge of this. That's a special lake up there. If I survive the bears (and the mosquitos) and avoid a total skunk, there will be a report.

I'd recommend the Yampa if its not too high. If the water in town is running muddy/turbulent the tailwater stretch just below Stagecoach reservoir is worth a look. Typical CO tailwater, plenty of nice fish but they've been known to be selective. Also, you might try Stagecoach reservoir itself. More of a spin-fishing option but there are plenty of stocked 'bows and they're rarely too difficult to catch.

Appreciate all the tips, fellas! We are going to spend a couple days on the Uncompaghre (campground reservations have been made) but we are still working on filling out the rest of the itinerary and this is great stuff! We are also considering swinging up to the Fryingpan for a couple days. I know the drill there: big, selective trout and way too many people. This is developing into one of those trips that is taking on a life of it's own a bit. Like I said in the original post, we were starting out looking at small stream/lake cutthroat fisheries, but as more people got in on the planning stage, things have taken more of a turn towards the tailwater/big fish end of things. Which is different and something of a compromise on my end, but ultimately should work out fine. There are still mountains and still (hopefully) a few trout to be caught. And thanks for the PM Motroutbum. Once again, good stuff.

Whatever. I'm done here.

I was telling a fishing story from a beautiful place that I remember pretty fondly from a few years back. Nothing more, and anything beyond that is created within your own mind. Anyone on here who's ever read my posts knows I am almost a pure C&R fisherman in terms of smallmouth. This was a weird, almost uncomfortable situation, and one that just happened to produce the largest smallmouth I've caught to date. Releasing the fish, given the situation, would have been unethical. Black bass were not supposed to be in the system, had been illegally introduced, and were crowding out a rare strain of native brook trout with deletorious effects on the population. Pointing out that I kept several bass (including the fish in question) isn't trolling. If you're bringing something from another thread over here, then just don't.

I caught my "smallie of a lifetime" on a wilderness pond north of the Adirondacks and south of Canada that is supposed to a be a refuge for a rare strain of brook trout. The brook trout are not doing so well, but there were plenty of large and smallmouth bass. The bass are an invasive species dumped in the system by some yahoo a couple decades ago, and that fish (among a number of other small and largemouth bass) made an excellent dinner for a couple of hungry paddlers. So yes, I kept and ate the biggest smallie I've reeled in, and it was actually the only thing I could have done.

Yeah, 36K is an awful lot (about 4000/mile in the blue ribbon). If that figure is accurate the next year will be spent picking baby brown trout off the hook.

If the only way forward is to post stuff that is clearly against what the moderators here want, then it's best to cool off and think about something else for awhile, then come back. Sometimes OAF is good in small doses, to say the least, and let's be honest, this is the exact nightmare thread topic here. I don't know if you want me to apologize for not arguing with you for longer or what. The documentary (at least for now) has been called off. Best for everyone right now, I think. For those who think I'm defending him because he's a Mizzou player-well of course that makes me more enthusastic about it. But I legitimately hope I'd be saying the same things if he played for KU. Honestly. I'm willing to call out Mizzou players when they are stupid, legitimately. Look at my posts about DGB. I just don't see that being the case here.

I don't think he can just be a football player. And I don't think Michael Sam "owes" us anything. If he wants to make a quick buck on a reality show with Oprah (knowing that he might get cut before he makes any real money anyway) then that's his decision. Do I think he wants to make a point, along with just being a football player? Absolutely. I don't have a problem with this. The Rams might, which could turn out to be a problem, but that's his problem. I don't see how he has wronged anyone else. I worry about him, but since he is a former Mizzou player, I'll continue to support him. Honestly, if we are gonna be pissed at a former Mizzou defensive lineman for being in the news for non-football reasons, why aren't we all talking about Aldon Smith? That dude has a rapsheet longer than this thread, and yet it's Sam that everyone is talking about as "selfish" and an attention hound. It shows how messed up priorities can get at times, when someone like Sam (who by all accounts is an intelligent, all-around good human being) is seen as a villain while there are plenty of people that truly match that description lining up alongside and across from him.

Yep, that's basically the point of what I was saying- in three sentences instead of five paragraphs.

You know what, I agree with you guys as it relates to his NFL career. His problem (and I get the irony of this reference) is that he's creating a Tim Tebow style flurry of attention around himself at a time when he is very much on the chopping block of the Rams roster. I disagree pretty strongly with his choice to go on the Oprah Documentary. It's a bad idea at this stage of his career. That said, if he's hurting anyone with the publicity he's creating, it's himself. If the Rams ultimately deem it not worth it, they'll cut him, citing (potentially valid) performance reasons, and he'll go try to make a roster somewhere else. So if the only person he's hurting is himself, I don't know where the hate is coming from. Also, from a pure financial standpoint: he's a 7th round pick with precious little stabililty as an NFL player. All of these media engagements are getting him a lot of money. Honestly, with a somewhat cloudy future in the NFL, would you not take the opportunity to take the sure $$$$$ now, even if it's at the risk of some future NFL cash that may or may not pan out anyway? It's a question that anyone in his (rare) situation would have to consider. I know the whole "he's cashing out on his circumstance" is something that people are using against him.....but almost anyone would do that. He's a recent college graduate who presumably needs the money and there are people willing to give it to him.

Here's the final thing I'm going to say about this, after about four days of cooling down: the first ammendment says you, legally, are able to say what you want to say (barring something dangerous like yelling fire in a crowded theatre.) So, you can go off on Michael Sam. You can make dumb jokes about his sexuality, or footage of him as he was being drafted. You can call it gross, disgusting, whatever, and be legally fine. But in other (non-legal) arenas? The first ammendment offers no such protection. The way Michael Sam has handled this media circus, in some ways, hasn't been ideal. It's definitely not going to help him make the roster. But it has been perfect for one thing. His decision to do what he's done has drawn every ignorant person out from the woodwork, and seemingly, despite their better judgement, they haven't been able to contain said ignorant thoughts. We get it from Marshall Henderson, from Miami Dolphins DB Don Jones, from countless others across the public and less public sphere. And every one of them (at least those in public sphere, like Henderson and Jones) are facing some sort of societal consequences for their action. Henderson got denounced by his own (former) school (and Ole Miss, for goodness sakes), while Jones got suspended and fined. Heck, in another similar example, see what is going on with the Clipper's owner. He did nothing illegal, and yet, his life isn't real enjoyable right now. You can't say stuff this stupid anymore and expect it just to slide. Society has decided that, for right or wrong. You are, by the constitution this country was built on, allowed to say exceedingly dumb stuff- but don't expect me or others to give you a pass just because of that. I don't mind you saying you were uncomfortable with the ESPN footage. But there's a line, and it benefits us all to watch for it. "I CAN SAY WHATEVER THE HECK I WANT, IT'S A FREE COUNTRY, DANGIT" is a philosophy that hurts you more than anyone you're insulting.

Edit: actually, you know what, never mind. NOT worth my time.

Alright, I'll definitely look into that area. Thanks.

Ok, so slight change in plans....I'm looking hard at fishing the Uncompaghre River in the tailwater down below Ridgway reservoir.....anyone been there?

I think his game will translate fine.....but the Rams are not the best landing spot. Their defensive line is loaded and his chances to make the roster are going to be slim unless he is all-world in training camp/thre preseason. Chances are he gets cut before the season opener and ends up signing as a FA somewhere. Or the practice squad. But someone will take him. He's too good not to get at least a hearty chance.

So I've spent a ton of time fishing in CO, but all in Northwest/Northcentral region. I'm thinking of changing things up a bit this summer by heading out to the Durango area in the SW corner of the state (where I have zero experience and almost as little knowledge.) I plan to camp and fish for a week to ten days in late July/early August, with a kayak for any stillwater angling that might end up happening. Anyone been out that way? If so, any suggestions? The Animas and the Dolores seem to be the most popular options in the area, but I'm open to anything with trout in it, lake, small stream, whatever and honestly would rather stay off the famous rivers. High country and pretty scenery are more important to me than big fish, as always.

This is immature bullcrap, and you deserve to be called on it. Tacked on to the fact that this post makes literally zero sense. I won't get of on too much of a tangent here, because it's not even worth my time. But you shouldn't be okay with the way you're coming off, because it's really not putting you in a good light.