ozark trout fisher

I love the Flint Hills area. I've fished there a few times, some very nice spotted bass streams out that way. Fun stuff.

I've been using beadheaded woollies (black, white, and olive) and little marabou jigs on the fly rod lately with some success. Fish them real slow and deep and you should catch a few. I don't think they're interested in chasing anything down that's moving very fast now. Obviously wait for the afternoon of a nice warm day if you can, and good luck!

Trying to compare the upper Current and the Meramec Red Ribbon water is a bit like comparing the Jacks Fork and the Bourbeuse as smallmouth streams. They're just too different. The Current is really just a small spring creek that's hardly even floatable, steady flow, water temperatures that rarely leave the 55-64 range. And it's almost 100% spring-fed. The pools and riffles change a fair amount with big floods, but not nearly as much as the Meramec. And, big surprise, it's a consistently really solid trout stream, probably one of the three or four best in Missouri. The Meramec Red Ribbon stretch on the other hand is pretty big river, and only fed partially by springs. The water temperatures vary wildly, getting well into the 70s in some areas during the summer, and very cold during the winter. After every big flood, it looks like more or less a completely different river. The flow is anything but steady, varying from below 200 CFS in times of drought to 20,000 or more in times of flood. Is that a recipe for consistent trout fishing? Of course not. But it's still a pretty decent trout stream, at least in a few of the better stretches. That in itself is actually pretty amazing. And when things do go well on that river, I think it's a lot more satisfying than on the Current, where unless the conditions are terrible or you're really having difficulties you'll almost always catch fish. Here's the final difference that really comes close to evening the two out: everyone knows that the Current is the better trout stream, and it's really paying the price right now with all the pressure. I don't think it actually hurts the fishing all that much, but it sure does hurt the atmosphere. Baptist and Tan Vat can be real zoos on the weekends throughout the year, and all the time during the summer. Those of us wanting a little solitude can usually find it in less popular parts of the river, but you'll almost never have the river to yourself the way you sometimes can on the Meramec outside of floating season.

The Buffalo is definitely the big one that I haven't floated that I'd like to get on. Since there probably won't be a Colorado or Montana trip this summer, this year might finally be the time for me to do it, as well as hit a bunch of other rivers in that part of Arkansas while I'm at it. I'd also like to try the Osage Fork sometime, as well as some of the more northern Ozark type streams, particularly the Salt and the Cuivre (I know they're not really in the Ozarks, but close enough.) I'm sure I'm forgetting some others I haven't been on that I need to, but that's all for now.

I know I'll certainly be laughed at for putting it this way, but can't we ever just talk about fishing and get along? I know I'm as much of the problem as anyone else, but I'm tired of every thread turning into this crap. There's my 2 cents worth and I'll go away now.

I think we'll know a lot more about seeding after this weekend, when Michigan State and Ohio State have played, and especially after the Duke/North Carolina game. I think that whoever loses the Michigan State/Ohio State game will probably go into the Big 10 tournament needing to at least win a few games to wrap up a two seed, while the other will have a 2 pretty much wrapped up. I think we'll also probably know who our third 1 seed is after the Duke/UNC game. I'm predicting Duke will win that game (as I'll be picking them to win the national championship in my bracket, because who in their right mind bets against Coach K?) I think that Missouri will have every chance to make a deep run in the tournament. I'll take a wild guess and say we'll get to the Elite 8 this year, although I do think our first Final Four is a real possibility. It really just depends so much on what teams we draw as our opponents and whether they're good match-ups. And here's to hoping that we don't get really unlucky and have to play K-State in the tournament!

I'm truly amazed by the level of anger and vitriole in this thread. Can none of you express your point without stooping to that? No one is going to listen to you if you are calling all giggers white trash or dropping the f-bomb every fifth word.It doesn't help your point, it just takes away from it. I don't like particularly like gigging either, but come on...Base your arguments on facts and logic, not blanket insults against a whole class of people. And there are plenty of good points to be made against gigging, just not like this.

Well, I disagree. Since Duke or North Carolina play each other this weekend, one of them is going to end up with at least one more loss, probably two since there's still the conference tournament. It's very tough to see both of them getting a 1 seed, although there's an excellent chance that one of them will. I will grant that Syracuse and Kentucky are now locks for one seeds, which really leaves that final spot. Michigan State and Ohio State were both looking good for 1 seeds for awhile, but both now have six losses and are pretty close to being completely out of consideration. For either one to get even close, they would really have to impress in the Big 10 tournament. So in my opinion, the 4th number 1 seed will probably be either Missouri or Kansas. Kansas certainly has the edge right now, with the better conference record and the recent win against us. But if they should lose in the conference tournament (or to a very tough Texas team in their final regular season game), they'll be dropped down to six losses, and once again, it's hard to see a six loss team earning a 1 seed. On the other hand, if Missouri should win the Big 12 tournament (assuming they take care of business at Texas Tech on Saturday) they will be 30-4, probably having beat Kansas 2 out of 3 times, having swept Baylor, and with a whole host of other excellent wins. If that doesn't get you a 1 seed, I don't know what will. Getting there will be difficult though to say the least, and I think anything less would get us a 2 seed.

Hey, Dixon made up for it tonight...He got 21 points, and along with Ratliffe was the only one that could make a free throw to save his life (and speaking of Ratliffe, I'm very impressed with how much he has improved on the free-throw line over the course of the season.) Iowa State is a scary team when they get going from the three point line like they did tonight. I think they could be very dangerous in the tournament. I can't be done talking about this game until I mention that loose ball that Steve Moore threw himself on the floor to get. What an effort, exactly the sort of thing that was missing in the first half. He got it to Dixon, who connected on the fast break lay-up and really changed the complexion of the game. Sometimes little things like that can be really important. So they got the win, and assuming that they don't fall apart at Texas Tech, they'll be going into the Big 12 Tournament with momentum and a real shot at a 1 seed. Things are good.

I agree with you most of the way....But I do like cats. To the point, I don't like gigging, but I don't have any major problems with those who do it ethically and do not harm game fish. That said, the unusual level of difficulty of enforcement (since it's a night-time sport) does make this a touchy issue. Still, despite my personal feelings against it, I'd have to think long and hard though before I'd support a ban. I think better enforcement practices would be a better first step, as well as regulating the kind of lights that can be used. If that doesn't significantly bring down the number of game fish being gigged, then, and only then would I think it time to consider an all out ban. The backlash of such a ban would be too great for the MDC to take on unless there was really no other way to mitigate the problem. This is especially true in a time when their funding could be on the line every year due to proposals from ignorant/uncaring legislators. Public opinion is more important now than ever, and these are all considerations that the MDC is going to have to take into account. I just wish it weren't so complicated.

I agree with you about the calls Al and there were a few times I was about to go nuts as well, but objectively I think that's just home court advantage. We got the 50-50 calls in Columbia, they got the 50-50 calls in Lawrence. In each case those calls had about the same amount of impact on the game, so I just have a hard time feeling too cheated. know it doesn't make a great deal of sense considering that all of the refs come from the Big 12 conference, but if you look at the stats, home teams almost always get the better end of the foul situation. And the bottom line is that Mizzou never should have been in a position where a couple of bad calls towards the end could have much impact on the game, considering the lead we had. KU just outplayed us at the end, the same way we outplayed them at the end of the last one. I agree with you in hoping that we meet in the Big 12 finals...With it being played on a neutral court, that game could finally determine which team is really better, not to mention huge seeding implications. What a fitting way to end such an awesome conference rivalry that would be. Even better, I would like to see the two play in the national title game, though that's probably a pipe dream. But I suppose crazier things have happened........ Now to head over to watch us hopefully bounce back against Iowa State...We need this one to clinch second place in the Big 12 and stay in the 1 seed discussion, plus to turn the momentum around a little. ISU has been very tough lately, but I'm pretty hopeful we'll pull through.

Yes, the landowner is almost certainly in the wrong there...No doubt that stream is floatable. Doesn't mean they couldn't cause you considerable trouble though. That is just the sad reality.

For a stream that's such a breeze to wade most of the time, I have had some real adventures wading the Meramec when the flows are high. Once or twice I've tried wading it when the water levels were above or right around 1000 CFS at the Steelville gauge, which is just not a particularly good idea. I've never gotten into serious trouble, but things have gotten a bit exciting a few times (plus the fishing is very tough at those flows...)I think 700 cfs is about the highest that I'd now want to go for the stretch above Dry Fork, about 550 for below Dry Fork.

What a great video. Thanks for posting!

The Meramec is a very fun and challenging trout stream, one that will make anyone pull their hair out. I usually fish the first mile to mile and a half below Maramec Spring branch. The last time I was down there the fishing was very good, but I'm usually working hard for every fish. The thing is, the habitat isn't as easy to read as on most of our smaller trout streams...You really have to fish all the water, from the slow flats to the fast riffles to figure out where the fish are concentrating on any given day. Scud patterns, glo-bugs, Hare's Ears, and small Woolly Buggers all work very well on the Meramec. I won't lie to you and say that it's anywhere near the best trout stream in the state, but it can certainly give up a lot of fish on a good day. Inconsistent...That's the best word I can think of to describe the trout fishing on the Meramec. But all that said, it's definitely a place you'll want to try. I enjoy fishing it, even though it frustrates me more often than not. One problem is that it gets high and unfishable a lot easier than any other Missouri trout stream I know of.

Hey, nothing wrong with a shadow bass. It beats the washed out hatchery rainbow that I had as my pic for a year or so:)

I don't feel too bad about what happened this weekend at all. To go up by 19 at Phog Allen is something that no other team has done in a very long time, and probably won't again any time soon. Kansas just did to us what we did to them a few weeks ago, namely we got a big lead, fell asleep, and they took advantage. It does make things a little touchy as far as getting a 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. I think we will probably have to win out, and it would probably have to include beating KU in the Big 12 Tournament Finals. Even that could be a little dicey, but I think it would be enough. Got to start against a pretty tough Iowa State team on Wednesday. I'll be there! As hard as it is to admit, I think Kansas is the slightly better team, but that has nothing to do with the result of this game. Goodness do we pose a match-up problem for them. Jeff Withey can't do anything against us, and it's something we ought to be able to exploit if we meet again in the Big 12 Tourney, as I hope we will.

Current River: Dries: #14 Ausable Wulff, #18 Adams Wets: Tri-color Glo-bug, #14 Pheasant Tail Nymph Streamer: #10 Olive Woolly Bugger

Good luck!

Well I I do see what you're saying, but I respectfully disagree. The average size of smallmouth in lots of places I've fished has been larger than what we see in the Ozarks, in Michigan, the Adirondacks, really most every place I've ever fished for them. I know of rivers in those places where it's really pretty easy to take multiple fish in the 17-18 inch range in a half-way decent day of fishing with 20 inchers always a very real possibility. And none of them were even considered to be particularly high quality smallmouth streams for their region. I've yet find a place quite like that in the Ozarks, though that's not to say they don't exist. I don't really know whether it's because of regulations, fishing pressure, or habitat, or some other factor I'm not thinking of. It is almost certainly a combination of all these things. But I'd still rather spend a day floating and fishing on the Big Piney or Gasconade than any of those streams up north where I've caught a lot more hogs. I'd naturally like to catch bigger smallmouth on our rivers, but I still can't say I've ever gotten done with a day of smallie fishing on any Ozark stream and been anything less than extremely happy. In the end, little of it has to do with fish size; that is just one small factor that doesn't really matter a great deal in the end. It has a lot more to do the bluffs, the blueish-green water, the isolation, and catching bass more or less non-stop from sunup to sundown. So I guess I'll stick with saying our smallmouth streams are world-class, and would be even if the they didn't have a single fish larger than 15 inches.

Couldn't agree more. It's possible to get away with a lot, most of the time. That's when you have to decide whether you're going to do the right thing when someone isn't looking over your shoulder. And Tippet, I'll bet you anything that there are going to be conservation agents out this coming year enforcing this regulation. You may well get caught. Just do the right thing. Go out and buy a new pair of boots, or get some contact cement to treat your felt soles, and all will be well. You certainly have the right to disagree with the regulation, but it is the law (or will be in a few days) and it's just best to live with it. It's really not that hard to comply, and if absolutely nothing else, it just isn't worth having to get nervous every time you see a conservation agent.

Well Chief, I remember once upon a time when we were having another of these fun little smallmouth discussions when you told me that I fished very little...The year I logged near about a hundred days on the water. How much do you fish man? It must be a lot. Not all of us are blessed to live right on fantastic smallmouth water, but that doesn't mean that we fish "very little", and shouldn't have a say in this. Just something worth pointing out, and I want to do my fair share to get this thread to ten pages:)

I know that. I was defending someone else in this case, because I thought it had to be done. I don't like it when people assume that those who disagree with them "have issues." That is all. I actually I agree with Eric on the substance of his argument. It's just...all the other stuff. Anyway I'm done with this silliness for awhile anyway. I've got to get out and go fishing. Speaking of smallmouth, they're finally starting to bite now!

It's just that you don't need to do that. Your point about what the MSA does is good enough in itself, no need to resort to low blows. Carry on.

Wow, that's pretty uncalled for. For the record, I do totally support what the MSA does, but still, way too far I think.