Trout Management Types

[ozark trout fisher]

I'm just curious. I don't know all that much about Missouri trout fishing. I know the regs for each designation, but that's it, and I'd like to see what people's favorite's are. I'm guessing either Blue Ribbon or Taneycomo, but I might be way off.

[Al Agnew]

Since I don't do a whole lot of Missouri trout fishing (much prefer river smallmouth), when I do I want the best experience possible. To me that's the blue ribbon trout streams, no contest. In fact, I don't HAVE a second choice, although if I lived closer to Taneycomo it would probably be a strong second. I'll take the Current, the North Fork, the Eleven Point, the Niangua, and the Meramec...you can have all the trout parks and pay to fish places. I might like the wild trout creeks if I lived closer to them, as well, but the closest one to me is Blue Spring Creek, and it is very tough fishing.

[ozark trout fisher]

Since I don't do a whole lot of Missouri trout fishing (much prefer river smallmouth), when I do I want the best experience possible. To me that's the blue ribbon trout streams, no contest. In fact, I don't HAVE a second choice, although if I lived closer to Taneycomo it would probably be a strong second. I'll take the Current, the North Fork, the Eleven Point, the Niangua, and the Meramec...you can have all the trout parks and pay to fish places. I might like the wild trout creeks if I lived closer to them, as well, but the closest one to me is Blue Spring Creek, and it is very tough fishing.

I've only fished Trout parks, as well as one Blue Ribbon Area, (Little Piney), and one Red Ribbon Area, the Meramec. I've only caught three trout in Missouri total, all from the trout parks, but I prefer the experience of the Little Piney. I doesn't hurt that the Little Piney is full of smallmouth that are pretty easy to catch... As for the private trout farms, too expensive to be a consideration for me, but they might be enjoyable for some.

[Ham]

Ehhhh, I have no idea aout MO regs so I can't answer the poll. I prefer big fat dumb trout. I would be ok with total C&R.

I think barbless on flies are unnecesary. Very few fish are killed by flies. Why not have fly only zones instead?

Live Bait and PowerBait are the trout killers.

I'd like to use jerkbaits, spoons, and inlines in the C&R areas BUT I can't. So I use flys or ZigJigs instead.

[Gavin]

I like to canoe and fish the Current, 11pt, NFoW, and Meramec for trout in the winter, and I like to canoe and fish for smallmouth in the summer time. I'm not a fan of trout parks or tailwater fishing. Cheers.

[ozark trout fisher]

I like to canoe and fish the Current, 11pt, NFoW, and Meramec for trout in the winter, and I like to canoe and fish for smallmouth in the summer time. I'm not a fan of trout parks or tailwater fishing. Cheers.

Thanks for the votes and replies everyone.

[fishinwrench]

Blue Ribbon sure "sounds" better, but honestly there is only one BR river in MO. that I always find myself truly looking forward to returning to.

Never really thought about it before now, but with equal time spent on all I must say that I have had more consistent action, and the most enjoyable times in White Ribbon areas, by far.

Taneycomo tailwater, which to me is just another trout park, is my least favorite.... mostly because of the unpredictable flow.

[ozark trout fisher]

Blue Ribbon sure "sounds" better, but honestly there is only one BR river in MO. that I always find myself truly looking forward to returning to.

Never really thought about it before now, but with equal time spent on all I must say that I have had more consistent action, and the most enjoyable times in White Ribbon areas, by far.

Taneycomo tailwater, which to me is just another trout park, is my least favorite.... mostly because of the unpredictable flow.

While I said earlier on in the topic I had only fished Blue and Red Ribbon Areas, I have fished the lower white ribbon area on Little Piney, and saw some nice trout, though I couldn't get a hold of any... My impression was that at least this White Ribbon Area was under fished, and really had some good sized, but hard to catch trout. I also agree that tailwaters can be a little intimidating. I have never fished Taney, but I have tried bank fishing on Bull Shoals. All eight generators were pulling, and that made things tough. I only caught two trout in two hours of hard fishing.

[laker67]

My 1st choice would always be Lake Taneycomo. With rising water, falling water, high water, low water, and sometimes all of this happening more than one time in a single day. If you "wade" fish all phases of the tailwater, I guarantee it will be the most challenging of any trout fishing that you will do in the state of missouri. It can also be the most rewarding. Some days you will do no wrong, most days you will drive home talking to yourself. I do not have a second choice.

[ozark trout fisher]

My 1st choice would always be Lake Taneycomo. With rising water, falling water, high water, low water, and sometimes all of this happening more than one time in a single day. If you fish all phases of the tailwater, I guarantee it will be the most challenging of any trout fishing that you will do in the state of missouri. It can also be the most rewarding. Some days you will do no wrong, most days you will drive home talking to yourself. I do not have a second choice.

Tailwaters certainly have there own appeal. I did notice on the White that while boat fishing with a guide, we did very well, but it is just really hard catching them of the bank at peak generation, at least for a novice like me. Wading clearly wasn't an option. Utah's Green River can be fun too...