ozark trout fisher

This is an interesting topic. Really going place, right. It may have run its course though. But then again maybe not. I know I'd rather turn my attention to the Crane Creek issue.

Interesting. This still concerns me a lot, but it does put it in perspective a bit.

I can. It is a free-flowing Ozark stream, and we already have too few of those. I'm not losing another without a fight, even if its not in the prime trout fishing section. Also, unless I'm mistaken, the lower end of the Blue Ribbon trout area is one of the best areas to tangle with one of those McCloud Rainbows. Below the Blue Ribbon trout area, (in the stream section that will most certainly be impounded) there is a population of smallmouth bass, along with other species native to ozark coolwater streams (goggle-eye, longear sunfish, pickeral). If we dam it, these will be replaced by the typical lowland species, (largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill), instead of the species she holds right now. It just seems wrong to me, to take one more stream like that.

Now that's a fish.... Congrats to the guy that caught him, bigger than the biggest one I've caught. Oops, did I just admit to that? :lol:

This post is not going to be nice. I'm warning you ahead of time. If you don't want to feel offended, then don't read it Dutch. This is extremely short-sighted of you. Do you have absolutely no regard for the natural world? Is your property value all you care about? I am not willing to see one more Missouri stream dammed, not because it will hurt the fishing, but because I feel it is a moral transgression of enormous proportions. We need to stop thinking with our wallets, and begin thinking about what is best for the future of our world. As I said in an earlier post, we can only keep taking so long without it coming back to haunt us. The time has come to begin trying to make our world more like it should be, more like it originally was, not less. I will not sit back and allow those who do not care about conserving our earth plow over those who do any longer. I care. I will be fighting this. Stop thinking about what will be best for your pocketbook in the short term. Instead, ask yourself what is the truly moral, right thing to do here. Damming a stream never is. I guarantee you that in the state of Missouri there are more of us than you. We're not going to give up.

I've never bled fish.... Never seen the need. But they might taste better that way, who knows.

Sounds good. I haven't been by there lately, but I'm trying to plan a trip there soon. Might even use a Panther Martin. Just kidding

I don't think it destroys anything. I think it just makes things more interesting. If we all got along, and never argued, this forum would be pretty boring if you ask me. I say let any point of view in, even if it may seem ridiculous or even offensive to most of us. Just my opinion. Heck, a good part of the reason I log on to this forum every single day, is to participate in the many knock down drag outs that occur on this site. I think its fun. Just me though. I don't feel the need to ignore anyone on here. Probably 95% of the questions I ask are met with at least a few thoughtful, and helpful answers, and that seems to be widespread throughout the forum. I don't see a problem.

Native snakes (ie Copperheads, Cottonmouths, rattlesnakes) have never caused a recorded death in the state of Missouri. They're not the super dangerous killers many would suppose them to be. They still scare the heck out of me though. Great pictures by the way.

I don't know a lot of about the Lower Illinois, but I know its a quality year round trout stream, and that rainbows are way more common than browns. I've also heard there's pretty good striper fishing up by the dam. I'm sure the normal small spinners and spoons will work for the trout if there anything like the tailwater trout in Arkansas, but I can't help you with the stripers. Good luck fishing, and welcome to the forum. You should try the trout streams in the Missouri Ozarks as well sometime. They're not that different from the Appalachian streams your probably used to fishing.

GOOD LUCK. I HOPE YOU CATCH A LOT OF FISH. :lol:

Yeah... I think this rod was worth about $20 when I bought it, but by this time it probably was worth less than the line I had spooled on it..... I only own one expensive rod (A fly rod worth about $350), but that was given to me as a gift by my Grandfather many years ago. I wouldn't ever dream of buying an expensive rod personally.

I've fished the Auxvasse a couple times, with fair results for smaller bass. Not really a great creek, but if you live in the area you might try it. C &R is a must for those little creeks around there. Partially for conservation reasons, and partially because you have no idea what may be polluting them. The Loutre also is decent for bass and catfish, although I've only caught spots and largemouths there, no smallies.

Well then... You fly fish for the exact same reason I like to spin fish. I do, however feel that there is value to introducing people to the sport of fishing, so they can enjoy the same thing I do. It only seems right to me that I shouldn't horde the thing that makes me more happy than anything else, even if it it makes my experience a little less serene. I don't fish for numbers. On my favorite trout stream around this area, I feel great if I land 2 or 3 seven inch trout, but mostly I'm just there for the solitude, because I rarely see others fishing. If its a small stream, with unrestrictive regs that will truly be hurt by writing about on a forum, then I'll hold my tongue. If not, I'm willing to tell others about the stream, if their in it for the same thing is I, that is the solitude. I don't any longer think your a snob, or a troll. I did think this at first, but now I realize that you care about the fishery, and the solitude at the Current, and in my opinion are just a bit over zealous about it. I've been known to be like that myself sometimes. To each their own. Anyways, although there was a bit of a rocky start, welcome to the forum. I look forward to reading your posts.

I dunno. Trout unlimitted said they were gonna tell the national council, but I never heard anything further come of it.... Don't know if they decided not act on it, or if they're still considering it. I believe I'll email the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance, as they may be interested in the Shoal Creek end of things.

Nope, it was a pretty bad rod..... I was more worried about the fish. It was only about 15" long, but that's perfect eating size :lol:

You would know better than I..... I've always loved the late October bite, especially in the tiny creeks that contain both trout and smallies. The water temps are good, and both species seem to bite well for me at that point. Also, gigging isn't much of a problem in such areas. Of course your just talking about small trout and bass, not very many of either species will top 10". But mainly, I'm excited for deer season. I'm considering trying a canoeing, deer hunting, and fishing trip this year, probably on a stream stretch that primarily flows through public land. Seems like it would be a fun way to kill a couple days.

If anybody has any ideas, I know I'm willing to help. Just tell me. I don't live in Crane, or any where near there actually , but I know it's an extremely valuable resource, and I'll be willing to go to great lengths to save her. Everyone thinks we can just keeping on taking from nature at will, while giving nothing back. This will not work long term. It's very sad that many people can't see this. This is a moral issue to me more than anything else. I am against any and all dams that may be built on an Ozark stream. Whether its Crane, Shoal, or Indian Creek, I will fight this to the bitter end. We can't falter on this one. We can't afford to.

Also, Mr Scuds Rule, fly fishing is great. I'm not attacking your sport. And your right. It probably is more difficult to master, and it most definitely can be WAY more effective than anything I can toss on my spinning rod at times. But, there are a lot of miles of trout streams in Missouri, and we can fit both fly and spin fisherman in somewhere. Anyway, I hope you have a good, nice, relaxing fishing trip sometime soon. Because you need to relax.

I am beginning to feel the first autumn chill in the air. I realize it's not really fall just yet, but am I getting excited for it already. Only good things come with the changing of the leaves around here. Brown trout runs on the Current and Meramec. Active stream smallies. The biggest feeding binge of the year for big largemouths. Catch and release season in the trout parks. The end of the aluminum hatch. Deer season. The best scenery of the year. I could go on and on, but I will suffice it to say that I'm really excited for fall to come. This is my favorite time of the year, and I'm so glad it's getting closer. Anyone else?

I am beginning to feel the first autumn chill in the air. I realize it's not really fall just yet, but am I getting excited for it already. Only good things come with the changing of the leaves around here. Brown trout runs on the Current and Meramec. Active stream smallies. The biggest feeding binge of the year for big largemouths. Catch and release season in the trout parks. The end of the aluminum hatch. Deer season. I could go on and on, but I will suffice it to say that I'm really excited for fall to come. This is my favorite time of the year, and I'm so glad it's getting closer. Anyone else? I posted this topic twice on accident. Oops.

You are allowed to fish catch and release for trout after you reach your limit, in all state waters except the trout parks. Fly guy was perfectly legal here.

Look, I'm not arguing with you any further. It's not worth my time. If nobody talked to anybody else about fishing spots, we wouldn't recruit anyone more to our sport. I don't want to be responsible for that. As FishinCricket said earlier, there are more important things than your secret spot.

Great story.... One time I was fishing a winter trout pond with powerbait (I was keeping what I caught because the water was warming out of the trout's comfort zone, so I wasn't too worried about deep hooking fish). Anyway, I threw out three rods (the maximum allowed where I was fishing), sat down in a lawn chair, fell asleep, and when I woke up had my limit of three trout for the pond I was fishing, one on each rod. While I was fighting the first fish, the fish on my second rod pulled my set up in the water, and I had to dive into 60 degree water to retrieve it, while still fighting another fish. The moral to the story, don't fall asleep while fishing :lol:

I may have been outfished by a flyfisherman once or twice........................................................................ Okay, maybe every single time I go fishing. :lol: