ozark trout fisher

I don't know the guy, but he seems real nice based on the videos on here. Congratulations on a great fish.

I've never really much targeted crappie, but I have caught a whole bunch on accident just about everywhere on the Bourbeuse, with the best concentrations being in the long, slow, deep pools. I'm not sure if they bite well in winter or not.

Thanks

Interesting stuff. Thanks

I thought it might be a fun thread for us to tell about some embarassing moments that have occurred on the the stream, (or lake) over the years. I'll go first. 1. I am a terrible judge of depth in streams. 2. Due to embarrassing fact #1, I have come to realize that it is REALLY embarassing to fill up your waders at Maramec Spring, especially on a summer weekend when there is plenty of a crowd to watch your mistakes 3. My first few fly fishing trips (enough said LOL)

Exactly my suspicion. Thanks for the answer.

You had to love the first kick-off being run back for a touchdown. And the rams lost too.My idea of a perfect weekend

I'm heading down for catch and release season next weekend, and I was told by a friend that the catch and release area near the hatchery is closed during the winter. I don't really think that's true, but could someone verify that for me? I know it seems a little silly to fish the catch and release area during catch and release season, but I just love fishing Montauk Lake, as it seems to always produce a few nice fish each trip.

Thanks for the answer. I had no idea there were lampreys of any sort in Missouri, that's kinda interesting. Still, I sincerely hope I never catch a fish with one of those nasty buggers attached to it

I have a quick question unrelated to the conversation at hand that will probably make me sound like a total idiot. I have never caught a fish around here with a lamprey on it, and I was just wondering if you thought it was of those same nasty kinds they have up in the great lakes that's really hurting the trout/salmon fisheries up there? Or have lampreys always been here? just curious.

Maybe I should say something but.... While I know this sounds ridiculous, I always end up feeling bad the few times I have pointed out folk's lack of ethics in that kind of thing. Most of the time I get the since that they really just don't understand how the "unwritten code" of ethics when it comes to hunting and fishing, and I end up feeling like I've upset a perfectly good guy unnecessarily. I dunno.

Yeah, the library's the way to go for that.... No doubt you'll be able to find many beginner level books around... At least there are plenty at the library here, I'm sure it's the same everywhere. Just type in "fishing" on their computer program, and you'll find all the books you need. The "Hunting and Fishing Library" books are especially good for "entry level" fisherman. They give detailed instructions about the basic, boring details you need to know to be successful. I would suggest starting off fishing for bluegill, or sunfish. They're real easy to catch, and you don't need any special formula for success. Anytime from about May through October just throw a worm under a bobber a few feet, and toss it out around some brush on any little pond, and you'll catch 'em. Good luck.

I was deer hunting this weekend on a nice conservation area I've been hunting for years. I love the area, it's really beautiful, and I always see plenty of deer. But I have also noted that the ethics tend to be somewhat lacking. I was hunting a specific draw that I've hunted every weekend for the last couple weeks of deer season. I set up my stand before first light, and I was feeling pretty optimistic about the day ahead. Sure enough though, about 8:30, I see hunter orange in the corner of my eye. I tell myself, no big deal, he'll probably turn around when he sees my stand. Not so. He looks up at my stand, and simply keeps walking on, literally ten yards in front of my stand. He ended up setting up less than 50 yards away, totally disregarding the fact that he just killed my hunt. Not wanted to have a confrontation, I simply said hello, and preceded to get out of my stand and drove to another spot. Sure, I thought of of saying something, but who knows what kind of reaction that might get, and I didn't want to make a dangerous situation out of it. But it's a bigger point than this in my mind. There are a certain line of folks in hunting and fishing that are perfectly willing to shamelessly steal your spot, and they just don't care at all that they ruin your experience. Pretty generally I just get up and move without reacting, but I always wonder if maybe I should say something. So what I'm asking is how do you all react to these situations? Am I making a mistake by not saying anything, or is it best to just let it go?

That's what I think we should do too, but after the last "discussion" about spots I was a little afraid to post that. That would really give the smallies an edge without having to introduce a hatchery element to the fishery. And it would get the PETA folks all riled up, which is always a positive thing. I guarantee you there's be plenty of folks down there that would be more than happy to take those spotted bass off the MDC hands if they did that. I doubt a single one would go to waste. Eric, I know the state stocks a ridiculous amount of trout each year. But I'd sure hate for the smallmouth fishing in Missouri to look like our trout fishery, with them being a native species. Whether we should be stocking those trout is a different argument entirely.

I agree that there are definitely some arguments for stocking smallies, and I do see your line of thinking there. But there are a few reasons why I don't think stocking is really a viable option to restore the stream. When spots entered the stream 20 or so years ago, they were only a small minority of the bass population. Still, they managed to out compete the smallies, and now they've become the predominate species. I think theoretically, heavy stocking of smallmouth could bring the spot population down, for a while. But it seems to me the evidence shows that due to the habitat, spots are simply better at spawning. Sure, while you continued to stock smallies, you might be able to force them to become more numerous than spots. But I seriously doubt that you could totally crowd the spots out of the river. I bet within a couple years of pulling the plug on the stocking, spots would begin to regain the ground they'd lost. Also, I would worry about the stocked strain bass getting into other parts of the river system (mainly the Meramec) and altering the fish genetics there. I might support fish stocking if somehow they could get the same strain of smallies that are native to the Meramec basin. It certainly would have the potential to give us a few more years of good fishing on the river. But still, I always think of smallies as being a totally a natural fish around here, and I think introducing stocked fish would kinda ruin that notion. I'd almost rather have just a few smallmouth among the spots than a whole bunch of stockers. I do understand your opinion though, and I agree we need to do something. The fact is that I have no idea what the right thing is, and suppose this is as good of an idea as any I have. As a side note, I will continue to fish the Bourbeuse, but only when I want a few spots for the frying pan. It's the only situation where I feel okay about keeping bass, so I try to take advantage of that. But other than that, I agree. It's a waste of time.

I'm not sure they should stock them on the Bourbeuse... I just don't think it's a long term solution. Fact is, if the spots were gone there are still enough smallies scattered around to bring the population back up. I think the only way stocking could really raise the smallmouth bass population would be by making it a put and take fishery, stocked at least every year or so, and I don't think anyone really wants to see that happen. You could just do a one time stocking, which would let us all catch a bunch of smallies in the short term, but I'm sure it would be just a couple years till the spotties took back over. Maybe stocking is better than doing nothing at all. It's such a tough situation, and I'm not really sure there is anything we can do to make that river worth fishing again, although we can't just give up on it. It makes me really sad to think about.

Keep trying man..... It was like my fifth time fly fishing for trout here before I got my first, but it's really a rewarding way to fish. Totally worth the trouble.

Sounds like a lot of fun. I would get down there and do some fishing next weekend, but I think I may have to go deer hunting instead. Tough choice.......

Agreed. I know I tend to argue quite a bit on this forum, but I can tell you that I have learned a lot from even the folks that I disagree with the most. Thanks to all that have been so helpful. Just reading the site really has helped shorten the learning curve for fishing around this area, and I sure appreciate that.

Bourbeuse River Kentukies on a stringer.... Now that brings joy to my heart. Good job.

Eric 1978 advice for a map is right on. This page on Missouri trout hunter isn't a map, but it has about all the info you need on the Meramec, including directions to the various accesses. http://www.missouritrouthunter.com/MeramecRiver.htm

I did that trip a few years ago. You gotta love those brookies.

Heck no, that ain't true.... Trout are way better especially those ones in Busch Wildlife..... :lol:

Thanks for the good advice. I'd seen those "poacher forms" on Missouri trout hunter, I might have to print a few off the next time I head down that way.

Baptist or Tan Vat are fine. Glo bugs, scuds, and beadhead nymphs (prince, hare's ear, pheasant tail #14 to18) bounced right along the bottom are about all ya need. Oh yeah, I'd make sure I had some san Juans too. Keep your glo-bugs like your outer layer of clothing this week: Orange.