24 Inch Minimum Limit In 2009

[laker67]

KK,

I'm only talking about 24 inch on brown trout. Nothing would change as far as people wanting to keep and eat rainbows. Below Fall Creek you can keep any size rainbow.

A 24 inch female brown could weight 9 pounds easily.

[denjac]

Laker, I agree 100%. The power bait area need to be any size for rainbows. When caught on powerbait I would say at least 25% of them are going to die I dont care how fast on the stick you are.

[Murdoc]

KK,

Your 5/6wt will be fine. I've sent out a couple emails to some people to see who we need to get this started with. Just a question. Is it OK for boaters to use power bait in the slot area behind the dam?? I don't boat so I was just wondering.

[zsmith62]

Okay guys, I fish with a 5-6wt flyrod in colorado. Will this be big enough for Taney or do I need to upgrade to a heavier rod and reel with more backing, etc.

Help me out guys, I love hearing your comments.

That is what everyone else uses, except when fishing at night, then I move up to an 8 weight

[Phil Lilley]

How these things usually work is- one state tries something and if it works, the other state will follow suit.

Case in point- trophy areas. Taney implemented it's trophy area in 1997 and Arkansas followed with multiply areas on the White and other tailwaters.

I think MDC will explore widening the present lengths on Taney at some point. But as far as changing anything below Fall Creek, that I seriously doubt.

[laker67]

KK,

Your 5/6wt will be fine. I've sent out a couple emails to some people to see who we need to get this started with. Just a question. Is it OK for boaters to use power bait in the slot area behind the dam?? I don't boat so I was just wondering.

Thanks for getting on board Murdoc. Let us know what response you get.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by the "slot area".

[laker67]

How these things usually work is- one state tries something and if it works, the other state will follow suit.

Case in point- trophy areas. Taney implemented it's trophy area in 1997 and Arkansas followed with multiply areas on the White and other tailwaters.

I think MDC will explore widening the present lengths on Taney at some point. But as far as changing anything below Fall Creek, that I seriously doubt.

Thanks Phil, I know that you have dealt with these issues in the past. As far as changing anything below Fall Creek, are you saying that they would leave the 20 inch brown limit in effect, and only apply the 24 to the upper lake?

[Phil Lilley]

Hard to say. I'd think they would apply to the whole lake if that's what they'd do. What I meant was any changes to use of bait and/or slot on rainbows below Fall Creek.

[fly2fish]

I think if they increase the upper end of the slot the lower needs increasing to say to 15 inches. It seems the current 12-20 slot has worked to increase the population of fish in that range, now if we can thin out a few of the 12-15 inch fish then there would be more of a food supply for faster growth. The current slot has been wonderful over the past several years increasing the overall average size, now it is time to take it to the next level. It is great to say the average size fish caught is 16- 18 inches but it would be better if the average was over 20! Were else can you go and say the average size fish you caught was 20 inches. Most of the people on here probably would still C & R fish below the limit anyway, but a lot of the stockers just about have their lips ripped off anyway especially around the outlets when the water is consistantly lower.

HC

[laker67]

fly2fish,

My original post was to increase the lenght limit on browns only, not to change the slot on rainbows. But, making some changes in the slot would be in the fishermen's favor also. It would be nice if that could all fall together in one shot. Anyone from MDC out there lurking? Tell us what you think. Thanks!