ozark trout fisher

Of course. And I also know that Izaak Walton was not a respectable writer, as he was an Episcopalian and a bait fisherman. The guy doesn't even know how to spell complete.

Very nice. I always enjoy your blog posts.

You're right that trout have a much (read infinitely) better chance at surviving in spring-fed rivers than stagnant ponds. They have essentially no chance of survival in the urban ponds, with the possible freak exception in some of the deeper Busch Wildlife lakes. But that doesn't mean those stockings are useless. It allows many people to be introduced to trout fishing who might not otherwise ever get the chance. Not enough people are out fishing these days, and I don't think it is ideal to cut any program that has the potential to get more people to care about conserving our lakes and streams. And no, I don't have a dog in this fight either. I very rarely fish any of the public trout ponds in the winter. But I don't begrudge a program that allows people to enjoy what we've all found in trout fishing. Anyway, our spring-fed rivers are already stocked with more than enough trout...We don't need more. Yes, there are some who badly abuse the winter trout fisheries. But should that prevent everyone else from being able to enjoy it?

What are ya' fishing? Lakes, streams? I'm doing well for both smallmouth and largemouth bass on the creeks out here in central MO with mostly soft plastics. 5" Zoom green pumpkin plastic worms have been hot. Rebel craws, spinnerbaits, and other fast moving stuff was good until this weekend, but finally seems to be slowing down. The water is very low pretty much everywhere as you mentioned, so on the smaller creeks it's really important to find the deeper water...Even if it some cases that means fishing where there is very little current. For the larger streams I would imagine the fish would still be holding in their summer places, the lower ends of the riffles, short, rocky pools, rootwads with good current. Don't know for sure though as I've been doing the small stream thing for the last month or so pretty much exclusively. I haven't really been doing any lake fishing either so I couldn't help out there.

Very nice! It's trout season again for sure. You've got to love those small stream monsters. They're in just about every trout creek, in the deepest, darkest, brushiest pool. We've all heard about them and maybe even caught a glimpse of them, but certainly never gotten them to take. Even though we'll probably never catch one, they're always in the back of our mind as we're catching the eight inchers. It's fun just to know they're in there somewhere.

I got out today on my new favorite north of the Missouri River smallmouth stream, for pretty much the whole day. I don't know if it is because of drought or because of the cool nights or what, but the leaves are changing colors and falling earlier than I have ever seen them. They are still maybe two weeks from their peak, but there are plenty of yellows and oranges painting the hillsides already, and the little creek was choked with fallen leaves. Let me tell you that there is nothing prettier than a gentle little woodland stream, on a cool but sunny fall day, with and imposing bluff shading the deep slot on the far bank of creek, with yellow maple leaves coating a good part of its surface. The fishing started off a little slow, but that's just because I was fishing with the wrong stuff. I started off throwing spinners, crankbaits, the usual fast moving stuff that has been working well for me on this creek for the past couple of weeks. Nothing, no follows, no signs of life. Not a good sign, but it's too early in the year for the bass to be turned off, right? Something had to work. I switched methods and tied on a 5" Green Pumpkin plastic worm and before it had made it to the bottom on the first cast a smallie took it. It was small, nine, maybe ten inches, but a very pretty fish nonetheless. About ten minutes later I was into another, slightly larger fish, which turned out to be 12 inch largemouth. As I was trying to land that fish, someone who was walking along a trail that is within sight of the creek saw me fighting it. After the bass managed to work his way off the hook, he came up and told me that he'd never fished before but it looked like fun and he'd be interested in learning. I gave him a brief lesson about how to cast an open-faced spinning set up, and how to fish a plastic worm. Within just a few minutes, I watched him land and release his first fish, a beautiful 11 inch smallmouth. Guy said that he was headed straight to walmart to buy a rod and reel. I must say that it felt pretty good to introduce someone to what is one of the greatest pleasures that anyone should ever have a right to. After that, I decided to try a little bit of new water further up the creek. It didn't end up amounting to much (just sunfish and a whole lot of chubs), and as I got further away from the public access I was using, I began to feel that I might be pushing my luck a little. This creek may be navigable but I'd say it would be a stretch. Anyway, it was wonderful to get out and fish this little jewel of a creek for a several hours on such a perfect day.

I've been trying a whole bunch of new lakes and streams lately around my new home in central Mo. For next weekend I'm thinking about giving the Carrington Pits Rec. Area a try, in the Cedar Creek portion of Mark Twain NF. Anyone fished there? What's the scenery like?

I would highly recommend Troutnut.com. There is a wealth of good info there.

I don't know about the Spring River, but I've had very good success for smallies at night, mostly fishing topwater. I'd say it might be a little late in the year for night fishing though, with temps dropping down into the mid 40s. It seems to be better mid-summer. It's worth a few casts though. You can't know for sure until you've given it a shot.

Very nice! Thanks for the report.

Oh come on. Maybe you are yanking my chain? Blasphemy?! Get real. We are talking about trout. Little fish with pea sized brains. It seems that your argument lies on the false premise that fish have any sporting instincts at all. They would rather live their lives quite undisturbed by us, and they certainly do not care what type of fly they are caught on. If there are any religions implications in fishing (which I hold that there may well be) it is in the scenery, the beauty and poetry of a spring-fed river, spending time outdoors in unspoiled country. It has nothing to do with whether I'm tossing a Griffith's Gnat or an egg pattern.

I prefer dry fly fishing to all else, but I am not going to come on here bragging that I would not use egg patterns because they are somehow unfashionable, because I could not care less about such things. Heck, I'll even throw a Panther Martin spinner or a Rebel Craw every once in awhile and I'm not the least bit ashamed of it either. The only thing wrong with using bait is that fish tend to swallow the hook. Not a problem with glo-bugs, woolly buggers, san juan worms, and other such uncouth fly patterns. I don't care whether how I fish is considered "proper", I'm just out there to relax, have a good time, and maybe even catch a few fish. I have no need to prove anything to myself or to anyone else. We are all equal in the eyes of the trout.

Well, to each their own I guess.

Statement 2 probably answers question 1... That's just fishing though. Can't expect to tear them up every time.

Very nice! I especially enjoyed the under water shots.

Nothing like getting them on dries! Awesome report.

We've got a fair amount of leaves on the ground out here. We are beginning the annual deal of it being hard to fish crankbaits, topwaters and that kind of stuff because I'm getting constantly hung up on them. Oh well, the benefits of fall outweigh the difficulties by far.

Southwest Paddler site will give you the info you need on accesses, mileage, etc. The first link covers the stretch from Tan Vat to Big Spring, the second from Big Spring to the Arkansas line. http://southwestpaddler.com/docs/current2.html http://southwestpaddler.com/docs/current3.html

That's a fact!

Hey, I want a spring creek! But I'm afraid it's not gonna happen in this lifetime...

I would recommend Ozark Mountain as well. I have stayed there a couple times, it's a nice place and the owners are good people. I would try to stay out of Montauk Campground if I was you, it's really loud and not exactly the atmosphere I know I want when I go camping on an Ozark stream. Now I about always just camp on the river though.

This stream is one of the few in the area blessed with real, honest to goodness public access. No long stretches or anything, but there are a few places that you can fish and be pretty well assured that you're legal, which is nice. Thanks for the nice comment on the blog!

I haven't. I'm located quite a bit further east, but I'm out in the KC area a fair amount as my brother and some other family lives out that way...Might have to give it a try sometime when I'm out there. Al, what you described is exactly the case on this creek. There isn't a very long stretch at all, probably based on what I was able to gather, no more than 2 miles of suitable smallmouth habitat, and probably less. It is truly amazing how quickly it turns from a clear, pretty little stream into more or less a muddy ditch where you couldn't really expect to find anything but catfish and carp. But that just makes the search all the more exciting on that kind of a stream!

I really do respect your attitude about this. It has often been my first impulse to sort of dismiss what I have always thought of as the "trophy hunter" aspect of the sport, but I'm more starting to think to each their own. All fisherman have at least slightly different mindsets about what they are trying to get from the sport and there ain't nothing wrong with that.

Sounds like a good trip at about the best time of year. I would probably take out at Riverview if you are going all the way to Scotts Ford day 1 (which you should know is a pretty full day, as that is 9 miles and that stretch of river has plenty of slow water.) That will give you about 7 miles on day two. For trout fishing, it should be pretty good for 3-4 miles below Maramec Spring Branch. Above and below is mostly smallmouth water, although there is the possibility you could catch trout all the way down to Scotts Ford and below. Woollies, egg patterns, #14-18 Hare's Ears, Scuds, and Pheasant Tails, and Prince Nymphs usually work for the trout. Focus on the riffles and fast runs, don't spend much time on the deep slow water. Woollies, crayfish patterns, and conehead muddlers #4-8 for the smallmouth, as well as some surface bugs. That stretch of river is a pretty straightforward, easy float (certainly no places harder than class I), unless the water is high , in which case it can be very dangerous. In any case strainers (trees that have fallen across the river) are going to be your main hazard on that river. Watch the weather beforehand and have an escape plan in case of a flash flood for a two day camp trip, and have a good time. The Meramec is often pretty fun this time of year, with most all of the party crowd gone and the fishing about as good as it gets, especially for trout.