ozark trout fisher

I fished that stretch near Highway 19 where you guys went once before launching a float... That's some awesome water. I caught nearly as many trout in a few hours there as I did floating it over the next 3 days. The wading is kinda brutal in spots though. Once again, great video.

I don't know about that Fishgypsy... The winter pond nearest my home produced a few trout all the way until late April or early May last year (I can't remember exactly when I caught my last trout of the season, but you get the idea) which is probably well after the turnover. I know every year folks catch them at Busch until some time in April as well. They're thin that time of year, but they haven't gone belly up. Those folks who go out on the when its this thin ice are frankly a bunch of idiots. That would be an awful way to die too.

I agree with your guys' assessment of the 11 Pt. I've only been on it once, but its awesome both for trout and scenery.

Good luck whenever you get down there. There sure are good numbers of fish so far, hopefully that continues through the year.

I was up at Montauk that day, and I saw a few folks taking them on Caddis... Never tried it myself though.

No kidding. That's some awesome looking water up there.

Thanks.

I'm with you there... I've been proudly forgoing the opening day festivities ever since I moved here. I guess I technically can't say I don't like opening day, because I've never been, but I have a feeling I wouldn't. But for enjoy the tradition, that's great, and I hope y'all have a good time. Just not my cup of tea

No need to worry. It sounds like your intentions are good. I guess I'm not even totally sure that fish that are accidentally foul hooked can't be legally kept during the regular season. Maybe someone can fill us in.

I agree that deep hooked trout should be kept when legal, as well as those that are so played out that they can't be revived. But like Laker said, it isn't legal to keep foul hooked trout, and it's catch and release season at the trout parks anyway. But I do generally agree with you point of view on keeping mortally wounded trout when the law says its OK.

The water was definitely off color, but not nearly enough to negatively effect fishing. It was high enough to call for bigger flies than normal. The water below the mill dam was especially off color. I hope that fish survived. He was a real beauty. I did get him to swim off on his own power, so he's probably alright. But I'll never know.

I was using a #14 Copper, just regular copper colored. I agree that the Copper John bite is kind of on and off, I've always done better with them when the water is up and cloudy (as it was yesterday). When it's clearer I always do better with something more subtle.

Yeah, that's what I though too. The fish was pretty decent sized, so it would have taken a bit to bring him in. I fought a similar sized fish (fair hooked of course) yesterday, and it took me a good 15 minutes to land. I can't imagine a tail hooked fish would survive that.

Yesterday when I was fishing at Montauk, I accidentally foul hooked a very nice trout. It was clear what had happened right from the beginning. I was rising the rod for another cast after this fish had rejected my fly, but I accidentally caught his tail with my San Juan. I wasn't sure whether I should try to get him in,(and risk wearing him out) to get the fly off of him or not. Finally I decided to just break him off before he built up too much lactic acid, but I couldn't help feeling bad about leaving that fly there. Did I do the right thing, or should I have gotten him in to unhook?

Maybe that's what it's referred to... I'm not talking about the main C&R area below the hatchery that gets a lot of pressure, rather the hole just below Montauk Lake, on the boggy little flow, if you know where I'm talking about.

This is irrevalent to the way this conversation has been going, but I hope you don't mind that I actually used your video to help me catch a few fish today.... I hadn't given a certain hole at Montauk much of a chance until I saw your video. Thanks for that.

I drove down to Montauk today to do some fishing. I got to my favorite hole somewhere in the park at about noon and began fishing. They were hitting well all day on San Juans and Copper Johns. I didn't count the fish I caught, but there were plenty to keep me occupied until the buzzer. I will say one of the trout I caught was very nice, and he may have had even a bit of a hook- jaw. But I don't have a picture and I didn't measure him, so I'll just stop there . I was pretty upset for a while, because he didn't revive right away. But I kept at it for quite a long time, and he finally swam off. I hope he made it. I'm afraid I may have played him too long.

Well the roads are good enough to head down, so I'm gonna give it a try.

It isn't your posts I was referring to so much.......

It's just not that darn big of a deal though... It just makes you all sound like really angry folks. When someone says something you disagree with, it just has to be a huge fight.

I'm now feeling very sorry I piled on with this one... I disagree with calling any trout creek a dung hole personally but I do enjoy your blog, and I really like the videos. Keep it coming. It sure ain't a huge deal worthy of lengthy personal attacks.

4 solid inches is generally considered the minimum for ice fishing. You might be able to get away with less, but I wouldn't try it personally. I was thinking about heading out there today for a few hours, but I'm really getting tired of the whole ice thing. It's not that it wasn't fun at first, but it's really getting old. I think I'm just gonna wait till tommorrow when I can make it down to one of the trout streams (hopefully Montauk)

I don't know the first thing about Hickory... Never seen it, never fished, whatever. But I hear people talking trash about some of my favorite streams quite a bit, and I know I don't like it. What makes a good stream is relative, so one guy's dung hole is another's favorite stream. I know I've enjoyed every stream I've ever fished anyway, and I sure wouldn't judge one in and hour or two. One of my favorite creeks skunked me 3 times before I caught a fish, but I now I've learned it a bit and I love it. If I'd just given up after the first or second time and never gone back, I know now I'd be missing out. Just a thought anyway. I really did enjoy the video, and I apologize for piling on.

I'm hoping for one last winter trout park trip after the rain last weekend messed things up. I'm going to head to Montauk, at least if the roads are clear enough by Sunday morning, after the snow that's supposed to come on Friday.. What's the fishing been like down there lately? Are they still going after the usuals (scuds, marabous, glo-bugs, etc)?

Beautiful