Trout Per Mile

[ozark trout fisher]

Hey, just wondering how many trout per mile there are in the Niangua? If no one can tell me that number, could some one tell me if this is a worth while summer trout stream, and maybe how it compares to the other trout streams in MO. It seems to not quite get talked about as much as our other streams, I was just wondering about the quality of fishing.

[oneshot]

I can't compare with other rivers but I've always done well.Ofcourse when it warms up you have a heavy Aluminum Hatch.

oneshot

[ozark trout fisher]

MDC supposably does shocking surveys periodically, the most recent was done last October I think. The results are supposed to be available to the public....but I have no idea where to find them, or who to ask. Anyone else know ?

There should be in the neighborhood of 1000 trout per mile between Bennett and Prosperine.....IF the reported stockings are true and accurate, personally I have my doubts concerning those numbers. I nevertheless love the Niangua, I think it would be my favorite river in the state, even if I lived closer to others.

I've been to other rivers where my impression was "this is just like the...Current, North Fork, French Broad, Chattahoochee, ect.", But I've never been to another river and thought it was "like" the Niangua. In my eyes the Niangua and Little Niangua stand alone.

Worthwhile in the Summer ? Definately ! The canoe traffic can actually work in your favor at times, believe it or not. It positions the fish to a degree allowing you to pattern them, and if you are a friendly person that enjoys cutting up with folks you don't even have to pack in beverages, cuz the "soda/beer cart" comes by frequently. It helps to have dry smokes and a spare lighter for bartering.

Hope to see ya there, Wrench

Well thats it, I am heading there this summer. Any stream that allows me to float and bait fish for such a good population of trout is likely to be my new favorite river. I only fished there once, in the winter without a canoe. I was trying fly fishing, and this was my first time. I was just below Bennett, and I don't think I even knew what fly I had on, except that it had feathers and a hook. Anyway, one big, (were talking like 10 pound) brown trout happened to be pretty gullible, but he eventually broke me off after a long hard fight. That was one of the most frustating moments of my life, so I haven't gone back since. But I am definitely going to give it another try . Is night fishing for big brown trout any good here during the summer? I have heard it is pretty well stocked with rainbows, with a decent population of brown trout. If so, I will probably fly fish during the day, and bait up a rod with a crawdad for the night shift, in search of that big brown, rainbow, or smallmouth bass. Sounds like one underrated river. Thanks for the response.

[tgard27]

I bet that the 1,000 trout per mile has to be how many they stocked, not how many the stream actually holds per mile. I have my feelings, as i have only fished this stream very lightly, that this stream gets like alot of other white ribbons: good when they just stocked it, bad when they haven't stocked it. But, I bet that this is a really fun stream to fish and it is very beautiful. Here is a qoute from the MDC Fishing Prospects for 2008, I know that its dated but it still is valuable info. Tight lines and good luck. Travis

"Brown trout are stocked annually and rainbow trout are stocked frequently throughout the year. Fish surveys conducted in 2007 indicate the majority of brown trout were in the 12 -16” length range, with approximately 24% of the population greater than 15” and 3% greater than 18”. The largest brown trout collected in the 2007 survey was 18.8”. The number of rainbow trout collected in the 2007 survey increased from previous years, with good numbers up to 15”. Approximately 3% of the rainbow trout population is over 15 inches. Rainbow trout will continue to be stocked downstream from Bennett Spring Branch throughout the year. Flies, spinners, and small crankbaits work well for catching both brown and rainbow trout." MDC

[Gavin]

Not sure who the biologist in charge of the Niangua is, but I'd call or email them and ask. They have always answered my questions. Try the "Ask MDC" link on their webpage.

As for the fishing...free wade access is limited, but some of the CG's will let you fish for a small fee. Probably best to float it and there is no shortage of outfitters on that stream. I've only floated it a couple times, and its not my favorite stream. The scenery is nothing to write home about when compared to the 11pt or Current, cattle have access to the creek in several places, and the stream bottom was littered with trash and beer cans. The catching was typical for a put and take section of river... Great around places where a stock truck could get to the water, slower in spots in between. Cheers.

[Ham]

If you could figure out a pattern involving berr cans, you would hurt yourself catching fish.

Young drunk and stoopids keep the bottom SO trashy.

That might be my favorite stream if it were cleaned up and not such a party river.

During the week, you can pretty much fish w/o too much interference but the river is still very trashy.

[Wayne SW/MO]

The Niangua resembles a wild stream more than a park stream. They are there, but you have to work for them. As others warned, the canoe hatch makes it unfishable from the 64 access to Barclay on weekends. A thought would be to visit Ho Humm and fish that area on a weekend.

[fishinwrench]

If you could figure out a pattern involving berr cans, you would hurt yourself catching fish.

Young drunk and stoopids keep the bottom SO trashy.

That might be my favorite stream if it were cleaned up and not such a party river.

During the week, you can pretty much fish w/o too much interference but the river is still very trashy.

Thanks to the Stream Teams, and the last flood, most of the Summer 2008 debris has either washed down to Lake Niangua or been buried in gravel, the only trash I notice now (ironically) are the red stream team clean-up bags of which there are about a dozen per mile (mostly tangled in bankside trees, too high to reach).

Fishermen need to take the river back, to a degree. They had it first, but either pussed out or didn't care enough and let college kids and party'ers from the citys intimidate them and run them off. When you fish it this year... be friendly but stand your ground and make the party floaters work around YOU for a change, that's pretty much what I do and I have yet to have a problem with anyone. With exception to a MDC agent that repeatedly blew through a island chute in a jet boat trying to impress his female passenger while I was fishing there. He blew through on me 3 times...then on the last (4th) pass through, he stopped to check my permit and asked me a bunch of stupid and pointless questions. It was an island area and I was on the narrow, shallow, rocky side, he could have more easily passed on the other side. I was mad enough to fight, and they could tell it. The badge, and the noticably embarassed plain clothed lady he had with him was the only thing that allowed him to keep his teeth that day. The only other unpleasant experience I have had on the Niangua also involved a group of lawmen, they apparently had busted someone with drugs or something earlier that day and were acting like a bunch of adreneline pumped wacko's stomping through the stream with a bullhorn and giving everyone that passed by the third degree. It freaked my daughter out, more than any drunk guy cussing could have, and that really put a bad taste in my mouth.

[Ham]

Another positive benefit of a bad flood. I really like that river and it's a good thing that it is cleaner than years past. I did not float it in 2008. I'll try to get that done in 09.

Wayne tells me that MO has the same litter laws as AR, but that they are not enforced enough. Same old deal of the few making things a hassle for the many.

[brownieman]

Hey wrench,

If you would send me your personal e-mail address if you still have mine...my computer crashed and I lost all my info.

I have some pics I think you would enjoy looking at. Thanks buddy.

later

bm