ozark trout fisher

I just thought of another idea that might be helpful. If we could get the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance to help us with this, it may be make the cause sound a bit more legitimate. I know there are some members here on this board.

http://mdc.mo.gov/contact/ Go under the "online comment form" and select fisheries as your topic. This put me into contact with one of the head Fishery biologists at the department. I firmly believe the MDC generally does a good job, and I'm not willing to attack them in a wholesale manner. But I believe they've got it wrong this time. Write out a petition, and I will sign.

I agree that the "regulatory support" provision doesn't seem right. It kinda seems like they're just throwing in the towel on the smallmouth streams where regulations are not enforced well. The fact of the matter is, if a regulation is put into effect, most people will follow, just so they don't have to look over their shoulder. Of course not everyone, but most. I want this not to be a political issue, but a biological one rather. I think when they are evaluating a stream for SMA status, there should be only two factors considered. 1. Will it positively affect the smallmouth bass population? 2. Will it negatively affect any other native species in the stream? The ones about regulatory support, and angler use really need not be considered. They are not biological factors, and this is a biological issue.

Eric, as you have seen before, a small, loud, minority can, and often does slow or even stop things like this. Even though we are clearly in the majority here, that may not be the deciding factor. Whoever makes the most noise will get there way, and if the regs changed significantly, you can bet the catch and eaters will make themselves heard pissing and moaning to the MDC. It's worth a try attempting to change the regs though. I will make my voice heard on this one... I am going to respectfully email the MDC right now with some of my concerns right now.

I'm hoping for a three day float on the 11 Point right after Christmas.

For what its worth, I also catch plenty of fish down there tossing one fly at a time. It's a lot simpler, and you won't tangle as much. But I suppose it also could reduce your catch rate somewhat. This time of the year, if you have scuds, and globugs, you'll catch fish. Whether you fish them one or two at a time. Sight fishing will be your best bet most likely.

When I say sunnies, I'm basically referring to longears, pumpkinseeds, bluegill, green sunfish etc.... It's kinda like the whole goggleye vs. rock bass vs perch debate... There all the same thing, but it seems everyone has a different word for them Same could be said for smallmouth... lets see, bronzebacks, smallies, brownies, greens, I know there's more but I can't think of them.

I especially have a problem with the Bourbeuse not being an SMA. The regulations are not working at all. Smallmouth populations are becoming devastated, and we at least need to give them a break from harvest. I was also wondering what studies on Rock bass have to do with smallie regs. I cannot see how instituted special smallmouth regs would in any way affect the rock bass population. Theoretically new regs could result in larger smallies, which theoretically could result in less rock bass. But the connection is so indirect. It just doesn't seem to be enough to rule a stream stretch out as smallmouth management area. Eric, You know I agree with you on the 18" and 1 idea... But it ain't gonna happen any time soon. Frankly, I need think we need to start putting the health of our fisheries above the complaints that will be made if regulations are changed. If new smallmouth regs can be given time to take effect, I would think they would produce larger (and more numerous) bass, and thereby happier anglers.

I will. I've heard rumors that it's kinda polluted, so who knows. I may wait till we get some warmer weather, and then give it a shot. It probly at least has some sunnies.

Thanks for the great write up... I've got a few ideas. Current River: There should be a special management area for sure. I think the stretch from Round Spring to Two Rivers would be best. This is one of the best smallie streams in the midwest, and no special management area. What gives? Meramec- I agree the Franklin county stretch should be an management area for sure. St. Louis County may be too far gone, but I sure wouldn't be opposed to it. It might help somewhat. Little Piney- Kind of gravelled up, but it sees way more harvest of smallies than it should. The habitat is there, but the fishing just isn't what it should be. I think it would be a good candidate, maybe from Newburg down. Bourbeuse- With what's happening with smallie vs. Spotted bass ratio, I think this needs to be 18" and 1 for smallies, preferably catch and release. Those fish have it coming at them from both sides, between anglers and spots. I really wish we could just have 18" and 1 for smallies statewide. But that will probably not happen in my lifetime. Chief, I want to clear up that I'm not in any way attacking the MDC with this post. I think they do a good job, but suggestions never hurt.

Scuds, glo-bugs, hare's ears, pheasant tails, San Juans. Scuds and glo bugs are most important now, bring plenty. I like the river just below the spring best pretty much any season, but that's just me. There always seem to be more fish, and the wading is easier.

You would be surprised how large of trout you can find on some of these wild trout creeks. They are the exception, not the rule, but they are there. I've never heard of anyone catching one as large as 10 pounds, but I have seen pics of a surprising number of fish in the 2 to 4 pound range. The biggest that I have actually brought to net in a wild trout creek was 19", from Little Piney. But honestly, I can't say that fish was 100% for sure wild.... They do stock about 4 or 5 miles downstream from where I was fishing. It did look wild though. I hooked another there that was considerably larger. Got a good look, but couldn't slip it into the net before it threw the hook. All of the creeks have a few lunkers, but they're awful tough to find, and they aren't easy to catch once you do find them. If you really want big ones, stripping streamers is really the only consistent way I find. It cuts your catch rate about 90%, but the ones you catch are generally pretty decent sized.

Its all good... Yes, I have never been to Taney. These things are interesting to me though.

You don't have to convince me that fishing is really about the beauty of the fish, not the size. I think we should leave the North Fork as is... It seems to be doing just fine. When I was talking about Kamploops Rainbows, I was talking about streams that have to be stocked with rainbows, not the North Fork. And really its not a big deal to me, it would just be kind of a nice novelty.

After fully reading through the thread, I must apologize for my last post. You took enough crap for this post already, and I didn't mean to be piling on. Honestly, I think a thread like this is not a good idea. There was no good way this thread could have turned out. Whoever started this must have known this was going to be a knock down drag out.

I'll admit I hadn't read the whole thread... It's so long and I just got home. I'm just saying that I don't think there's anything wrong about the way the guy caught it, and while I don't think anyone deserves respect just for a fish, we don't need to be looking down on him for it. It just doesn't sound good. I think, if you are looking to have people stop tossing bait, it's best to not to be talking about how its unsporting. I was a bait fisherman for quite a while myself, and I will tell you that the only way people are going to change their methods is when they make that decision. And people telling them their method is "wrong" or unsporting just slows that process. I know we want the same thing here, just saying. Sorry to make you explain something twice.

Oh come on. It's a state record. A hell of fish no matter how you look at it. I don't know the guy, so I can't say whether I respect him or not, but I don't see anything wrong with the way he caught the fish. I'm a catch and release fisherman 99% of the time, and I've now quit bait fishing, but I think talk like this is detrimental to our cause. It sounds condescending, and I know for a fact this kinda thing turns people away from catch and release. Congrats to the guy who caught the record. It's not right that people are trying to make less of it.

I agree its probably not a smallie lake, but no need to be so nasty about it.

On the stocked areas, Missouri mainly stocks Arlee strain, and Missouri Arlee strain rainbows. I don't know what strain is present in the North Fork. I would like to see some form (or at least a hybrid) of kamploops rainbows stocked. They tend to act wild sooner after being released from the hatchery than Arlee rainbows. I know Westover Farms has good success with them, it might be a worthwhile project. It would require A LOT of work to do this, so it's probably no more than a pipe dream. But I do think it would make our stockers a little tougher to catch, which is ultimately a good thing. Triploids just seem too fake to me.

Sitting back here, in my chair typing this, I agree that it would be ideal for it to have been released. But then, I have never caught a state record fish, so I have no idea what I'd do in the situation, so I won't judge. I would hope I would release it, but I just don't know if I'd have the self control in that situation. I'll need another bowl of popcorn please. I have a feeling this is gonna get good

Great fish! Where do these stripers come from? They aren't stocked are they?

I have fished the Lees Ferry area several times. It is a world class river, but you need a good guide and a boat. Tons and tons of fish. Field and stream says 50,000 per mile, but it's a really huge river. Again, a good guide and good boat is a must for a newcomer.

I have heard many people say that they have gone fishing, and been unsuccessful, because they did not catch any fish. This is a statement that I can not and do not understand. It may sound cliché, but in many ways it is true that fishing is a parallel to life. There are those who are purely results oriented, and do not care about the process of fishing, or just about anything else. If they win, get the promotion, or catch a fish, they are successful. If not, they have utterly failed. I do not consign myself to this line of thinking. I believe that life, as well as fishing, is more about the art, beauty, and perfection than it is about personal gain or recognition. Fishing is about the cold water rushing past your legs, the eagle flying over your head, and all other form’s of God’s creation that surround you at the moment. When you are fishing truly and purely, your thoughts, and your whole mind are consumed by the sounds of the river and the fly you are casting and the fish you see in the pool just upstream. Intermixed are no worries, no fears, or anything else that takes away from the beautiful experience that is presently occurring. When I am fishing, I find myself inadvertently seeking perfection and purity that is found so few places in this world. I have yet to find it in it’s most peaceful and uncluttered form, and it may be that I never will. I have had fleeting glimpses, but I have never felt this feeling long enough to get a true grasp of it. But the fact that maybe someday I will, is enough for me to continue my love affair with the stream, and the fish that reside in it. If somehow I knew I would never would, it may be that I would never fish again. It would lose its meaning. For now, I’ll continue to make my sojourns to the river in this moment’s pursuit. I will cast, watch, and wait for the twitch of my line and the sharp pull of a fish. But maybe, when I find this moment, it will be on a day I didn’t even see a single fish.

Thanks for that... I just researched it a little more, and also found a whole smorgasbord of opinions regarding spawning temps. Some would fit more into your original conjecture on the issue, and some mine. Based on looking at what I saw, it kinda appears they spawn at about the same temp. It seems for every 10 pages on the subject though, there are about 10 different opinions.

I am starting to lean more to the conclusion that enforcement, not current regs, is the problem here. I think there would be some new regs that would be ideal, but if we had good compliance with our current regulations, that would be all we would need. Thanks for the post.