Catch And Release?

[Whack'emGood]

He lost his wife (Robbie) for a few hours while fishing Taneycomo a couple of years back (I think it has been that long) and then found her fishing (and catchin'em) downstream... She was okay and they (and all of the folks on the forum) had a big laugh about it. I'm sure he will give you more detail on it. Nice folks! You should look the thread about it up in the "Best of" section-- great stuff!

Whack'em

[Whack'emGood]

Oh yeah. I am primarily a bass fisherman, but definitely intense and focused 100%. It is hard to get me to go home at the end of the day/night, whether we're catching them or not. There are a bunch of us on here, that's for sure.

Whack'em

[laker67]

Why dont they reproduce? I am curious. At least the browns as they are tough as nails.

From what i can gather on the MDC website, trout are not "successful" spawners in Missouri because of water temperature and the redds being disturded after they go though the spawning proccess. T-como is way to cold for the eggs to survive. In the hatchery, they keep the water temp at 57 degrees for the eggs. At that temp it only takes 21 days. A few of Missouri's streams go through the natural cooling and warming stages to make spawning" success" possible. In the wild it takes 4 to 7 weeks for rainbow, and all winter into the spring for the browns. MDC says that about 1 percent make it in the wild. Trout parks have water temps that are acceptable for the survival of the eggs, but with all of the foot traffic, the nests are stepped on after the fact and destroyed along with the eggs and fry that remains in the redd for the 4 to 7 weeks. With water temp and foot traffic at T-como, they probably stand no chance at all. The female builds the redd, then a male moves in and they spawn. The female then covers the eggs with more gravel, and they both leave the redd at that point. They do not hang around to guard the nest like you have often heard.

[laker67]

I have asked and been informed but still confused why if the trout can do that in colorado or canada or alaska where the water is that cold, then why the difference. Just curious.

And the same walleye and smallmouth. You catch them in cold COLD water up north all the time. I thot maybe the walleye are just not fished for hard enough. Any ideas?

Wild trout spawn in the springtime, cold to warm temps. Hatchery raised trout spawn in the fall, warm to cold temps. Hatchery trout do it in reverse order and that is why they are only 1 percent successful. As far as I know, all other fish spawn in the springtime also.

[HeavyC]

Hi Everyone!

I guess I should do my part and chime in for a little confirmation of everyone's thinking.

I have lived in Colorado since I was [1] and I am now ALMOST [43]. Colorado fishing as whole declined steadily & drastically from about ~1975-1990! Since the late 80s I had practically stopped fishing in Colorado unless it was for catfish, carp or stocker trout with some young uns! ...and unlike Trav, I hate fresh farmed trout! (LOL!) Though I will take a few home to family members once and while to quite them up! My philosophy is that they are "put & take", and basically the populations are entended for sustaining the populations of other game species like Lake Trout, Tiger Muskies, Bass, Pike, Walleye, etc...

It must have been around the early 90s when you started seeing much more controls on creel limits and then came along the slot limits. I will be the first to attest, IT HAS WORKED! Slowly but surely, the size & numbers have started to come back. I will tell you one of the biggest culprits was whirling desease. For many years it decimated the rainbow populations in many areas of the state.

Due to all of this; for the better part of the last 20 years I was fishing for trout and primarily in Wyoming! I cannot say enough good things about Wyoming trout fishing, and would have still had several trips there this year had it not been for the crazy out of control gas prices this summer! I will be heading up to one of my better spots later this fall, the Wind River running in The Wind River Canyon, and when all the monster hook jawed Brownies start their upstream treks! The place is an absolute paradise for trout fishing and is NOT heavily pressured since it is on the Wind River Indian reservation and not a lot of folks know that you are allowed to fish there. It is more expensive, ($20 a day!) but def worth every penny! A 5-12# brown is a frequent event there too, ...Trav? You can clip all the fins you want and I will see if 'I' can catch them again, let me know if you ever come this way, I can point anyone in the right direction. I actually think some of these areas need a little more pressure than they currently receive! (Sorry to get off on that little tangent, I am OK now and back on track after getting a little exited thinking about it!)

In Colorado; I do wish the rangers would enforce things more than they do currently since I too see many abusers and frequently let them have piece of mind about their little rule breaking events! Overall, I personally see and firmly believe that many rivers are well on their way back to their haydays, and others are on track to be there very soon which I am so exited about!

Now, the "high country" that "LostMyWife" mentioned, continues to be the absolute Mecca of trout fishing! Definately aided by the elevation and lack of pressure. You WILL earn your stripes if you choose to accept that mission, but the rewards are the memories of a lifetime!! The fish are exceptional and the most beautiful trout you would ever imagine put on this here earth! Here is a link to a post from today on the forum I most frequent. Not real sure where the place was, but a decent representation of the color some of the cutthroats have in the higher lakes!!!

http://www.fishexplorer.com/fx/fxrforum.as...t&pid=19220

We literally have thousands of these type of high country lakes in Colorado that are open to the public if someone so choose to put in a day hike to get there! Most are absolutely packed with huge populations of these trout and can also use more pressure IMO than they currently see. There is no better place for seclusion and scenery, Alaska included on the scenary, but once in a while you might find a mountaineer up there with you! Might be comprable in Alaska for the scenary, but impossible to be better!

To finish this off; I would like to mention the fact that I will be traveling to Mizz in just two weeks to partake in your fine offerings on Taney and TR! Of course I could only make it surrounding Labor Day, so I hope all you regulars stay out of this crazy tourist's way!! (LOL! I am too funny sometimes!) Seriously though, I have been frequenting OA forum for quite awhile now and eating up all you fine folks' knowledge and hope to apply it in [15] days!!! YES! Definately plan to spend ample amounts of my time on both Taney & TR, and put to practice all the tips that are offered on this site so freely. THANKS so very much for all of it, everyone! I also heeded many of your advice and will be spending day on Table Rock with Don House and I am more exited about fishing w/ Capt. Don than anything since I was a teenager and figured out what I could do with...........Oops, can't tell that story here!

Definately looking forward to my trip to the Ozarks, heck I am a half 'ozark' boy anyway, my momma was from outside Conway, Ar. and I will be visiting a aunt in Conway while we are there. (Workmans & Carters, mainly from the North Little Rock, Conway, Harrison areas if any of you might be kin!)

p.s... Colorado has also made even better progress on the warm water species front by incorporating the same type of strict creel, possession and slot limits. Bass & walleye fishing in Colorado when I was young was practically non-existent and now it thrives! Heck, our state record for the eyes is bigger than either Minn or Wisconsin!

[HeavyC]

Wild trout spawn in the springtime, cold to warm temps. Hatchery raised trout spawn in the fall, warm to cold temps. Hatchery trout do it in reverse order and that is why they are only 1 percent successful. As far as I know, all other fish spawn in the springtime also.

I would think it is the higher water temp rather than it being too cold. They spawn here in Colorado at a much colder temp than mentioned previously. Funny though that I just learned why I have seen eggs in stocker rainbows in the fall when I know darn well they spawn in the spring! Thanks for that bit of info, now I can act like I is smart again

[soggyfeet]

I would think the poor spawining conditions was a result of the water release from the dam. Not haveing a steady flow and lake levels rising and falling either destrowing the redds or leaveing them high and dry.

[laker67]

I would think the poor spawining conditions was a result of the water release from the dam. Not haveing a steady flow and lake levels rising and falling either destrowing the redds or leaveing them high and dry.

I would have to agree. I think heavy generation would be harmful to the redds.

[shawncat]

HeavyC,great post.Nice to hear the fishing world's not coming to a end..............soon. Very good outlook for Colorado and Wyoming sounds like.........hope that keeps up.With your attitude Im sure you'll have a great time here in Missouri.Hope you have a good time,keep us posted.Great pic by the way. The world's round so everything is downhill.

[HeavyC]

It is great to once again say I fish in my own home state! It has been along time coming for sure. Actually to go a bit further, the high country fishing was about the only fishing that never did decline.

I am so stoked about being able to try for a big brownie in Taney. I have wanted to go for some time now, and plan to make it a yearly event for years to come.

I mentioned my postings here to a friend who works a a local bait shop, and of course he wanted me to market him a little with you all, and I certainly would if this was the place for that. However, I did promise to post some more pics of the cutties we have in the high country lakes. Also, FYI.... this is actually the only remaining game fish native to Colorado. Sad, but true. All other type of trout we have are all introduced.

So here are a few from recent posters on our forums.