ozark trout fisher

I'm pretty sure spotted bass were stocked in the Loutre River as well, but I don't know it as a fact. Does anyone know for sure?

I just closed the deal on a two week trip this summer to the Adirondacks in upstate New York, and I'm getting pretty darn excited about it. The fishing opportunities up there are about endless... I'll be right on the West Branch of the Ausable, a really great brown trout stream that I've fished a couple times, and really learned to like. But there's also a multitude of other trout and smallmouth streams to check out, as well as Lake Champlain. I'll have to bring everything from my six weight for brown trout, to a big old baitcaster for Northerns in Champlain... I think I'll even have to buy a little 4 weight for fishing the brushy little brook trout streams. Good problem to have. I've been up there before, and I have a pretty decent list of places in my mind that I'll definitely fish, but if someone else has any ideas, I'd sure appreciate it.

I'll have to look into that. Thanks.

Thanks for the compliment. I wouldn't have expected a fish like this to come from that relatively small water, especially in winter. It kinda gave me a pretty good shock. Just curious, how much would a low end waterproof camera set me back? I have enough of a propensity to lose things that I'd better not buy anything too expensive.

I'm trying to become a better nymph fisherman, but I'm having a bit of difficulty. The only methods I'm really doing well at all with right now is down and across, and indicator fishing. I've really been working on the whole upstream/ high stick nymphing thing, but I haven't been having a great deal of success. I never seem to be able to feel any strikes until its too late, and eventually I end up giving it up and fishing downstream. Still, I know there are situations where downstream nymphing just doesn't get it done, especially when fish are spooky, or in smaller streams. Should I just give it up and use an indicator when fishing upstream, or should I really try to learn the whole high sticking game? Sorry to be a bit repetitive with this topic.

Thanks

A bit rude, but whatever. Why do you care? Also, what does this have to do this have do with the new look of the forum? Just curious. Anyway I sized it down a bit... Hope you're no longer offended.

Thanks. I have never really posted pictures before anywhere, but no reason not to start now.

This is just really mean spirited. I know based on some of the causes Eric 1978 has taken up he is a conservationist, and that's not something to lightly question. And to say that he blindly follows the MDC, well you just must not have actually read his posts. I told myself I would be done arguing this issue on OAF, but I can't let this go without saying anything. There are so many insults being thrown both ways that this is really getting out of hand. I have no problem with someone expressing their opinion, but there should at least be an attempt made to be respectful about it.

Nope. Frankly I have no idea how to upload them... Just too much trouble. Also, because I have an embarrasing tendency to wade too deep, I never carry a digital with my while I wade fish. Excuses, excuses.... I know

I think it looks fine. Way different than before, but I think its better.

Thanks guys. I wasn't able to find a fly shop, but I was able to scrounge up enough nymphs and eggs to have a pretty good day of it.

I got to the park about noon, and headed to the fast water at the head of the spring branch. I switched on and off between Egg Patterns and BH Hare's Ear (#14), and both produced about equally. The day's fish count was far from impressive, something like a dozen 10 to 14 inchers. I headed up to the river up above the spring branch for a little while to see if I could get into any smallmouth, and I spent a few hours casting fruitlessly with a #8 Don's Crawdad. I knew it was probably pointless with it being as cold as it is, but I kept trying. Finally, as light was fading, I felt a tug, and I was on. After a good long fight, I brought to net a really nice smallmouth. I put a tape to him real quick before release, and he measured right at 20". I know there are bigger smallies to be caught in the Meramec, but it was the biggest I've ever gotten on a fly rod, and it was on 7x. I couldn't have been more happy. All in all an awesome day.

Is the park store open during the winter? I'm headed down tomorrow, and I need some flies. If not, is there any place to get flies along the way? I know there aren't any fly shops, but all I need is a few Hare's Ear Nymphs and Woollys, nothing fancy, and I figure a normal tackle shop might carry those.

While this has nothing whatsoever to do with the "conversation" above, I'll throw it out there anyway. What if the MDC instituted a "Smallmouth Stamp". It would work just like the trout stamp we already have in place, you'd pay $8 or $10 for an annual kill stamp if you wanted to keep smallmouth bass. Just like the trout stamp, you wouldn't need one if your were fishing catch and release. If this was brought into existance, and it had the intended effect, it would reduce (maybe only slightly) the harvest of smallmouth bass, and secondly, it would bring in some extra money for the MDC to spend on habitat improvements and more enforcement. Personally, I would support an overrall rise in the price of fishing licenses to bring in these funds, but that wouldn't fly with a lot of folks. Maybe this is a bad idea, but then again, it may help. My personal opinion is that this would need to be coupled with more restrictive regs, or at least a slot limit, to have the intended effect.

I sure as hell wouldn' t go out on the ice. Like I said I was fishing off a dock. It's quick and easy fishing, but it's not much fun. I know people have gone out on the ice to fish at Busch, because they had to rescue a guy last year.

Gavin's right, that's a good place to camp and fish if you like wild trout. I prefer Little Piney, but Mill's okay too. The White Ribbon area on Piney around 7400 (at the campsite recomended in the above post) should be fishing pretty well too if you like stockers. Good luck. I know I'll be fishing below Montauk this weekend, that area is really nice for winter fishing. I'll admit that I'm not above breaking through the ice to catch trout in those ponds... There's one right by my house, and when it gets frozen up I just go out on the dock, break through the ice with a hatchet, rest the water for a few minutes after the commotion and get fishing. Those times can produce the easiest fishing of the year, but it's not really sporting or too enjoyable. I don't think there are docks at Busch anyway, so that's probably out.

Is the area open till 9 year-round? Sunrise to sunset. This time of year I'd go after trout... I doubt if Muskies or hybrids would hit much of anything this time of year, but who knows. I've also heard rumors of smallmouth in some of the lakes... I doubt there are any, but does anyone know for sure?

It doesn't take a lot of money to change regulations. Just a bit of guts. I don't know of many good trophy fisheries for any species that don't have restrictive regulations. We need to at least take a good stab at making our streams better before we give up on it. Whether that means a slot limit, catch and release, or a restrictive length limit, I believe regulations can have a major effect. It would be best if it was coupled with habitat improvements (buffer zones, etc) and better enforcement (both of which do cost money), but more restrictive limits are at least a start. It is the easiest, and least costly first step in making our smallmouth streams better. It should not the last step, just a good stepping stone to making things better.

I agree that the majority, maybe even the vast majority of people follow regs just because they are in place. But I have had encounters with a fair share of folks that are clearly poaching, and looking over their shoulder all the time. It seems clear they know what their doing in those cases. Thats where enforcement comes in. If their using bait, and effective fisherman, they can take a huge toll on the fishery. I do think enforcement is important, and I would support more money spent on it. I do see your point though.

I answered yes to all the questions. I voted for pure C&R for the regulations (statewide preferably)... Not gonna happen, but it is what I want. I do not see a need for people to keep smallies, there are enough food fish. Catfish and bluegill both taste WAY better anyway. I also said that folks who want tighter regs are in the majority, but I can't be sure about that. I will admit that there was a time when I would keep a smallie here and there, among a stringer of sunfish, catfish, etc. I just didn't realize the harmful effects at the time.

Most certainly I would be willing to pay more. If I had to pay $20 more for a license, for better enforcement, I'd go for that in a heartbeat. If it would really go to enforcement.

beautiful

Critical, yes, but not hateful. I believe I had read every article on the old MSA site you are referring to, but I may have missed something. I think their have been some posts on this forum about this that have been wholesale attacks on the MDC. And I do not support that in any way. They do a good job, but I really can't get around the fact that I think they're kinda abandoning the smallies here. So I have no problem saying that the MDC made a mistake, but I will not insult them. Good luck with the MSA chapter in SWMO. Hope it works out. I have considered joining the MSA around here. I would not have time to attend meetings, but like Fishinwrench said, if a silent membership would help, I'll do it.

This is most certainly not a waste of time. I think this is a good idea.