ozark trout fisher

Thanks for the advice. By the way, I was expecting to have to run my own shuttles. I mainly want to try the Osage Fork because its really kind of out of the way. I'm thinking it might be a good option for me, because seeing a lot of floaters in a day kinda makes it not as much fun.

I love the summertime. Gonna be hitting the rivers hard. Well, the Eleven Point is right on the top of my list, and me and a buddy are gonna float it late June. Gonna do a camp trip, probably gonna take off work and do it mid week. We were gonna do the Blue Ribbon area a day, but neither of us felt ready to tackle Mary Deckar, or a few of the other rapids I'd heard about up in that area. So the White Ribbon Area it is. We'll be splitting our time between trout and smallmouth bass, as well as fly and spin fishing. We'll camp on a gravel bar one night, and try to cover seven miles each day. I'll admit I'm looking forward to the relaxing nature of a wilderness float more than I am the actual fishing. If I bring Rebel Crawfish, Spinners, nightcrawlers, tube baits, and spinnerbaits, will I be pretty much set for both species? Also (really, not trying to start an argument here, just asking), has the lead ban taken effect yet? Thanks for any help.

Interesting..... Sounds kinda tough, but oh well. I might try to go down early/mid june, and try to combine it with Capps, Crane and Roaring River, maybe one day for each. That would be four I'd could check off my list.

I was thinking about trying this 14 mile trip this summer as a two day camp trip. Can someone tell me if this is a good distance to go, and if the fishing is good? I'd like to target smallies, but I wouldn't mind catching some largemouth or catfish either.

The Meramec is really underrated. It has as many trout per mile as the Current, but for some reason its still doesn't seem to be considered as high quality trout stream by many. But I'll tell you, if you do find the fish, it can give you a great time. I like to spin fish a lot, and I know those Meramec River trout are more eager to take a Mepps or a rooster tail than one from the Current. But I also know they the fly fishing can be pretty darn good too, although I don't see as many hatches as on the Current. It seems like a lot of people here fish at Cardiac or Suicide. I just prefer to wade downstream from the park to the piles, and back up again. I can usually pick up a rainbow or two, and if I'm lucky a brown, each time through. Then I might head upstream of the spring branch a while, and try to nail a smallmouth or two. I am the only one that fishes it like this? Admittedly, I like to fish this way, in part, because it gives me the option to head into the park and fish.

Just thought I'd give a bit of an update in case someone from around here is curious. Bass They have been pretty slow for the past few weeks in all. The backs of coves tend to be best for me, especially anywhere with inflowing water with this rain the last couple days.The areas below small lake dams have been the best bet for me. Unweighted texas rigged plastic worms are the ticket. Quite a few incidental bass caught on nightcrawlers as well. Really I have caught more bass on accident than on purpose lately. Bluegill/ Redear/ Green Sunfish The bluegill, green sunfish,and redear fishing is epic right now. Twenty and thirty fish days are slow, fifty tends to be about an average day. They're slamming worms and crickets. Some days, I've caught as many as two hundred, although I try not to keep more than ten or fifteen bluegill a day, and the limit for redear is ten. I take home as many green sunfish as I possibly can, as they both taste good, and are an invasive species in the lake. As a matter of fact, I don't even think its legal to release greens in Sherwood, although its pretty hard to make yourself keep the four inchers. Catfish/Crappie Tried pretty extensively for both of these species this year, and not a one so far. It seems either the water conditions are just wrong, or the populations are down. Maybe a combination of both. I can usually do pretty well for both of these species this time of year. Grass Carp Seen a few rolling around this year, but I haven't hooked any. There aren't many in the lake, but there are some monsters. I'm not sure, but I don't believe its legal to keep any. I don't think they reproduce, so I bet there won't be any in a couple years.

Check out Walt Fulp's website. Its what got me back into trout fishing when I moved to Missouri http://www.missouritrouthunter.com/

Sorry about your job. Its tough out there these days.

I'm planning to try to fish every Missouri trout stream this summer, and Hickory is the one I know least about. So, I got a few questions What baits/lures/flies would you reccommend? Does it have a good trout populations? Does the fishing hold up into the summer? If anyone could answer these questions, I would really appreciate it.

Awesome pictures. That stream in the first pick looks like a nice little trout stream lol

What a terrible tragedy! I can't believe things like this happen, its just not right. I don't really mean the way the parent was a bit misguided taking five kids on a canoe, I believe in God in and everything, but how can he let things like this happen. It just kills me to think of it. We really need to keep our thoughts and prayers with that family. Stories like this make me want to cry, they really do.

Haven't been trout fishing in two months, I really getting the itch. Last trout I caught was the second week of April, and that was out of a winter stocked trout pond. So I'm really looking forward to some "real" trout fishing. Not sure if the tournament is gonna happen (quite a few have backed out) but I will be fishing regardless June 6 and 7. Does anyone know if the campground stretch is fishing well? That's generally my favorite place to fish at Montauk, although I occassionally like to go up to the fly area and do some jig fishing.

Bummer. Big thumbs down to cranky landowners who think they own navigable waterways. I've had a similar confrontation on Little Piney. Its navigable much of the year, and a publicly managed trout water. If any commercial activity has ever occured on a stream, its considered navigable. I know at least one guide takes clients on the Little Piney, so that should make it considered navigable in itself, besides the fact that it is often actually navigable.

If you are below the high water mark, you are legal But that isn't much help if the landowner is really mad and has a gun......... brings back experiences from when I lived in Colorado.

I believe that's actually Walt Fulps.......... From everything I've heard he's a top notch guide. He also runs the best trout fishing website in Missouri.

Sounds like you did pretty well. Sometimes those big Corp of engineer lakes absolutely kick my butt.

I'm sorry to say this, but this sounds mighty anti-second ammendment. Lawful citizens with guns are good. Unlawful citizens with guns are bad. You will have the latter no matter what laws you make. Still, I'm very sorry about your incident at Longview Lake. People like that make me absolutely sick to my stomach.

I wasn't trying to be judgmental at all personally. I thought the story was really cool, and it was definitely a great read. You would probably know better than me on this one. I guess not too many people come running to a river just because an article was written on it. Constant, heavy publicity, I know can hurt waterways, but probably not just one article in Field and Stream. I hope you understand, I just would like to see our rivers as pristine, and as secluded as possible.

I agree with you about the "two legged variety" being more dangerous. I do think guns should be allowed. Love the sign Bear %^&* has little bells in it, and smells like pepper lol

I'm headed down to Montauk on June 6, 7. Looks like there is a possibility the tournament I was going to fish could get canceled because of lack of participation, so I might hit the Blue Ribbon Area. I haven't caught a brown trout in forever and a day.

I think guns should be allowed in all national parks, as well as hunting. I'm a big 2nd ammendment guy. But pepper spray is proven to be wayyyyyyyyyyyyy better bear protection than any gun, as well as not lethal to the bear. And it won't kill you if it goes off accidentally.

I kind of did think that Rolla and Springfield got short changed. Both of those towns are right in the middle of trout and bass fishing paradise, as well as pretty good whitetail hunting, and world class turkey hunting. Oh well. I do have kind of a hard time believing Booneville and Kirksville ranked higher than either of these towns though. Fishing opportunities aren't nearly as good there as Rolla or Springfield, and although some would disagree, I even like to hunt more in the southern part of the state than the Northern section. Not as much upland game or big bucks, but Mark Twain National Forest more than makes up for that.

Boonville #33, Lebanon #93, Kirksville #124 Springfield #155, Rolla #157 Kirksville was #14 on the best towns for whitetail hunting. ...... Not to bad I'd say, considering that Missouri doesn't really have as many natural resources as many states. I'll chalk it up to the MDC, but I know some will disagree.

Cardiac is closer about 2 1/2 miles. You might just be better off to start at the park though.