ozark trout fisher

I am not sure I exactly understand the meaning of that post... And haters? I'm not sure anyone is hating anyone else here, at least I'm not.

Very nice. "Too funny....but only because I have felt this way a few times on here before....haha" I can relate as well...

Has anyone been fishing lately? I went out this evening on the winter trout pond near my house-got five fish on a Olive woolly-3 rainbows and 2 bluegills. Nice warm evening to be on the water.

I envy all of you that get to spend time in Montana. I was up there a few years back for most of the summer, and its just a place you just never forget. It gets in your blood, and no other part of the world that I've been to can come close. I am going to have to move there at some point in my life, preferably sooner than later. I am just in the process of figuring out when and how I can make it work.

I am pretty sure that's true too. But I still find it pretty hard to classify sharing stringers as poaching, although its probably not a good idea if you don't want to be accused of it. I know when I was a kid and I went fishing with my Dad, we would always share stringers, and if we both got a limit then I guess it would look like we were poaching even though we really weren't. But I don't think we ever thought about that. These days I usually don't keep fish, and I mostly fish alone, so I don't have to worry about it much. But still I think sharing stringers isn't really poaching even if its illegal.

I think the confusion is in the fact that it is clearly the same guy that is pictured with a stringer of four rainbows who is holding a fifth that was kept-the big old brown. But like I said, I'm not thinking this was an infraction. But it would be easy to take it the wrong way.

Hope it's true. I wrote that.

Interesting... I hadn't noticed that. Still, I don't think its quite fair to jump to the conclusion that the guy went over his limit. Since there were two fisherman, it's very possible that they were just sharing a stringer or something... Also it seems pretty unlikely that a poacher would post pictures displaying an illegal catch on a public forum that Conservation officers probably look at from time to time, and where most all the members have operation game thief in their cell phone. In the interest of the benefit of the doubt, for now I'll assume the "shared stringer" idea or something similar is the case and that nothing funny is going on here. I don't want to accuse someone wrongly, and I have a feeling that this guy didn't go over his limit and then have his friend post pictures of it on a forum. Hope I'm right. But I think an explanation from the original poster might be helpful in stopping folks from coming to conclusions.

A few months ago I probably would have vehemently disagreed with you about that, but I am now sort of coming around to that line of thinking. It is a non-native stocker in a put and take section of river and a legal fish...If it was a smallie I might be feeling different, but it's not....So if I am "the fly fisherman from Eastern Missouri" being referred to, I can assure you my head is still intact (if it ever was). So nice fish, and pretty pictures.

I know I probably wouldn't post here any more (which may be a good thing according to some lol) if there wasn't a conservation issues portion-what good is a fishing forum where you can't talk about issues that could effect fishing, hunting, and the outdoors? It really is by far the most important sub-forum on here. My personal opinion is that political issue that are directly relevent to fishing like the Conservation Bill thread before it got way off on the president and Bill O'Reilly and all that should be allowed. The question is whether we can talk about local political issues that directly affect fishing without bringing in the nasty rhetoric that surrounds national politics these days. So far it doesn't seem that we're capable (and I'm guilty as much as any), which negates a lot of the usefulness of this forum. If we cannot have semi-civil discussions about these types of issues then I wonder whether its even worthwhile at all to post here. There are other fishing forums that I post on where similar conservation issues are discussed without things getting nasty or overly political. On those forums the tone is just different,and a lot more relaxed, and you can have disagreements without things getting over the top. Personally, I will do my part to back off a little on the sharpness in some of my posts in the future-it's just not necessary at all.

Multiple infractions...LOL. Wouldn't be the first time I've seen that at Montauk, especially at the good old social hole. There is someone committing "multiple infractions" pretty much all the time there. Ranger: Are you are aware that you're committing multiple infractions right now? Fisherman: What in tarnation is an infraction? And I'm not committing to anything. I'm just loadin' up the freezer for me and my buddies. Ranger: What I mean is that if you snag trout, start fishing an hour before the buzzer, net broodstock out of the hatchery,use Powerbait in the fly fishing only area, and keep five limits, then you're probably going to be in trouble. Fisherman: I still don't understand. Ranger: What I mean is, we're going to have to take your fishing license away for awhile. Fisherman: Good luck with that. I haven't bought one in eight years.

Agreed. Only you forgot Glenn Beck (who happens to turn my stomach far more than the rest with his fake crying routine and his predictions that the world is pretty much about ready to end if we have a Democratic president for a couple more years, or something to that effect-though I do watch him when I'm in the mood for a good laugh)as well as Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Rush Limbaugh and the rest of the crew. What this has to do with the Missouri Department of Conservation I have no idea though. It is kinda sad that we can't have a thread about a "conservation" bill that doesn't degenerate into what this thread has though. We oughta be able to talk about political issues that affect fishing without it getting into the usual "tea party" vs. "bleeding heart liberal" debate. Still to be fair, I must admit to being guilty of stirring the pot politically from time to time-like in this post for example.

I'm not at this point going to sign this petition. I not convinced that we will not be better off on the whole if these hatcheries are closed. Even though it wouldn't be intentional,this could be one of the best things that ever happened to native species.

It will indeed be a good day if/ when he is voted out. I am certainly ready to contact my representative the moment this looks bill (or any other similar bill) looks like getting anywhere. I said after their failure to prosecute the folks that shot the Mt. Lions that I wasn't too keen on defending the MDC, and I'm still not. But the fate of all sportsmen in Missouri is tied with theirs, and as it is they generally do a pretty darn good job. The real threat to the MDC isn't really the Cathorn guy-without support he can't do a darned thing. But if there was ever a time when a guy like him could possibly gain traction, it's now. I don't think this will come to anything this time around, and probably not this year. But its still good to keep a close eye on this.

Yeah, you'll need to wait till late June-mid-July at least for the hoppers to really get going-although they should start taking ants sooner. One trick though-a small (say, about a #12) hopper will sometimes take wild trout at just about any time of the year. I don't know what they take it for during the seasons when there are no hoppers, I guess maybe a big caddis fly or something, but it can work. Hopper fishing on the LP can be tricky business. It's got a lot of tall grass along it, so there are lots of hoppers, but the best hopper fishing happens on hot late summer afternoons. That is also when the water temperature gets a little high for the fishing to be all that good, unless you're pretty darn close to the springs. But then sometimes you can just knock them dead on hoppers if the conditions are right.

I hope you're right, but I wouldn't count on it. Sure, the MDC is safe for the time being, but with the way things are going politically, anything could happen in the next couple years. Anything. As Chief said, look at Wisconsin. I wouldn't be shocked to see the same sort of things happening in this state before long. What I'm saying is don't get too confident. I have a feeling we will eventually have to have a major fight to keep the MDC funded the way it needs to be. Look what is happening to the conservation department in New York and other such places. I am no fan of much of the Republican establishment now as most on here already know, but this isn't a partisan issue. There are plenty on both sides that couldn't care less about conservation. Take David Patterson, the democratic governor of New York who drastically cut the DEC's (equivalent to the MDC)funds to the point where they really can't even operate any more. I think I may have strayed over the political line a bit. But this is a political issue that greatly affects angling and all other outdoor sports.

Well for me the waiting is over... The warm-water season is finally here. I've been out quite a bit over the last couple days with my fly rod and a box full of woolly buggers on the local lakes, and lo and behold I'm actually catching fish-not all that many yet, and they are still coming from 8-10 feet of water, but I am still getting them. They are mostly bluegill, with some decent bass mixed. I just can't even begin to express how excited I am that the season is finally here. Anyone else been out lately in pursuit of bass and bluegill? Most of them are coming on very slow retrieves, and the best fishing is where a culvert or some other form of inflowing water is coming in. Beadhead Olive Woollies have been my go to fly thus far.

This bill is nothing more than further proof that some rural politicians would like to turn the entire state into a parking lot or a corn field, whichever would bring in more money to their district. No surprise there. I'm not very happy with the MDC right now with the way they refuse to prosecute those that shoot Mt. Lions for no reason, but then I'm also very pleased with the way they are reintroducing elk. I'm also smart enough to know this state wouldn't have any fish or game to speak of if it weren't for the MDC. I guess when it comes down to it you have to take the good with the bad, and the MDC does do a better job than most state conservation departments that I've encountered.

I hope they can get one at Montauk personally. That would not only give folks a good idea about water levels/clarity in the park but also what's going on in the Blue Ribbon area. USGS can give you a good idea, but that just tells you the water-flow, and you can't tell what the clarity is going to be like. I say they're a good idea at all the trout parks. I just don't understand the complaints against them in the least. The only complaint I can understand at all is cost-but the cost comes to almost nothing when compared to the cost of raising all the stockers and maintaining the campgrounds and such.

When I am keeping them I keep 4 fish, take them to the cooler in the bed of the truck, and then come back and keep 4 more. I do this four of five times throughout the day. (Before the MDC shows up at my front door to take my fishing license and fine me a few hundred dollars, I should probably point out I'm kidding.)

I see we have a golfer here among us. Be careful what you say...

http://family-outdoors.com/Ozark-Trout-Fishing.html This one is fairly detailed, but not so much as the one you linked to for Utah. Of course its impossible for any hatch chart to be anywhere near exact for a region as large as the Ozarks and the wild variations in weather from year to year, but this should be helpful for you anyway. But without consulting any hatch chart, I can tell you that on Little Piney or Mill you that you're likely to find caddis, blue-winged olives, midges, or any combination there-off mid-morning through late afternoon over the next couple weeks. More olives and midges on cloudy days and more caddis on nice sunny days. I can also tell you with nearly absolute certainty that you will not need anything like an exact imitation of any of the insects I just mentioned. If they are not rising, use a #16 or 18 Hare's Ear or Pheasant Tail Nymph, and if they're rising use an Elk Hair Caddis or Adams in the appropriate size. If the conditions are okay, and you have half-way decent small stream fishing ability, as I believe you do based on your posts, then you will almost surely catch fish with those flies.

As for the poachers there-I hope they get caught. To put it simply they are selfish SOBs that are stealing from other folks that fish those lakes, especially people that for one reason or another can't fish much anywhere else. They are thieves, plain and simple, no better than shop-lifters, and maybe worse. But honestly I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. If those fish don't get caught out they'll be dead in not much more than a month anyway- a lot of them will die when the lake turns over here fairly soon and the rest will late April/early May when the water temp gets above 70, except the odd fish that may find a spring-hole at the bottom of one of the lakes or something. I'd rather the agents spend their time patrolling less fisheries that have a shot of outlasting the next couple months. As a side note, if I ever become so desperate as to be sneaking more than my limit of Busch Wildlife stockers because I just can't get enough of that kind of fishing, then I am in dire straits and should probably take up golf.

I am envious. I need to get to the Current soon!

Welcome back to the forum. I am looking forward to more lively discussion about spotted bass and other matters. One more thing to fill you in on that Ness left out. I have been called a jack@&& or some variation there-of exactly 352 times since you left. Mostly about cell phones on rivers, opinions on stream access laws, and mountain lions, but plenty of other reasons too.