Deer Slayer

The problem as I see it is that some folks fish the same streams continiously and catch & release is in no way a guaranteed "no kill". To target a fish outside of it's legal season, even with the intent to release, is potentially and can be construed as poaching. You are still killing a percentage of the fish, and without a doubt causing them distress during their breeding season. I also feel that a trout stamp should be required to fish for, not just possess trout. The holy than thou types, who fish continiously throughout the year, potentially killing and harassing untold numbers of fish, who then look down on me for keeping a few during one of my rare fishing trips, make me sick.

Why is it that you say gigging will never be outlawed? I can't imagine that the giggers have a larger lobby than the Smallmouth and Trout fisherman. I find several trophy sized brown trout, one weighing 7lbs, every year that have been gigged in the Cardiac area of the Meremac. When is conservation going to get off their butt on this topic?

I've probably only kept 3 or 4 in the last 2 years, so a slot limit wouldn't bother me as long as people weren't having to throw back gut hooked bass just to satisfy the slot. Since I fish on a river bordering my property, I am very aware of conservation ethics and rotate the areas that I take fish from. What is your opinion on how floods affect the fish? Do they get washed to new holes and constantly restock areas or do the fish tend to remain? I see the same areas seemingly void of fish and the same stretches with an abundance, year after year.

I don't fish for Catfish or sunfish- I occassionaly will be lucky enough to include a keeper smally in with my limit of bass. Since I love to eat bass, only keep legal fish, and get to go maybe 3 times a year, I will continue to do so. It seems as though there is no middle ground here. I see comments about people keeping everything they catch, which obviously isn't legal and people adament about catch and release. Where is the group that keep a couple to eat but release everything else. There are enough rules and far too much Government intervention. Enforce the rules and laws that we have and maybe then we can talk about introducing new laws. The giggers, accidently or intentionally gigging game fish is far more of a threat to fish populations than the law abiding angler who keeps a few for the skillet. Jet boats allowed to operate in trophy brown trout waters, people using bait, littering- go after them and stay out of my skillet.

It is a good way for youngsters to be able to use bait and catch fish in the winter. There's not much else they can fish for and what does it hurt anyway. It gives you something to fish for with your 5 year old grandson on a 45 degree Sunday in January.

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There is no Gun Hunting allowed in Woodson K Woods. Archery only!

Completely agree with Fishmeister- 2 Blade Black Diamond for my recurve, 100 grain Rage for the compound.

While I am fortunate to be a land owner on the trophy brown trout section of the meramec, my heart belongs to the slow muddy, warm water of the Dry Fork River. I spend all day wading with a backpack of warm beer, an ultra light spinning rod and a couple of rapellas. I have deer water right next to me, turkeys fly overhead and I'll never see another soul all day. What I catch doesn't really matter, but I usually do alright and generally bring home a couple bass for a meal. I then finsh the day by standing in the ice cold (by comparison) meramec in front of my cabin and rinse the days heat and grime away while twitching a 5" Gold & Black repella in front of the many brown trout that don't come out of hiding until the sun goes down. -Steve

I hope that they will finally outlaw gigging in the trophy brown trout area of the Meramac. I can't tell you how many dead trout I have seen lying on the bottom of the river when I'm out bowhunting on the island across from my cabin. I fished one brownie out with a paddle that was at least 7lbs. Allowing jetboats on this stretch is a joke also. Deer Slayer