A Jungle

[fishbobber]

It is hard to understand why the officials at Montauk choose to let the stream and banks become such a mess. I was up on Saturday and the grass/weeds on the bank are head high and then the moss has taken the water, either floating or growing form the bottom. From what I heard this is what the naturalist want and I think that is great. Just glad I live in the U.S. and have the freedom of choice, I will not go back. This must also be the feelings of many more because there was very few people at the park for a Saturday morning..Keep up the good work Montauk Management!

[mhall02]

That is an interesting perspective on Montauk. I however, prefer the natrual look of the stream. Especially in comparison to the concrete sidewalks of Meramec Spring. I will be returning to Montauk as much as possible and will be avoiding the concrete/man made structures of MS. I guess that is what I like about MO for trout fishing, there a locations where you can fish, see zero or one or two fishermen like Crane, Capps or other non-disclosed streams, or you can go on Opening Day and be sholder to sholder with fellow fishermen, I have done both. I guess it is a matter of knowing what to expect for me, this must be different that what you expected based on prior years? We have well manicured/easy to manage streamsides at some locations and others that have never seen a weed eater or any other bank clearing device.

Side note, if you didn't have waders and get out into the stream I can see how a bank like you described could be annoying.

[Zack Hoyt]

Would you prefer to have someone wade out there and put the fish on the hook for you as well?

Do you know what the moss does for the ecosystem of the water?

[brownieman]

A certain amount of moss is beneficial to a stream to a point...having the rearing pools at Montauk though flushes an amazing amount of stuff straight in the river which makes the fertility much higher than it otherwise would be if the pools weren't there.

It affects the river for miles downstream...the pools are part of the problem for the algae and moss within the park.

If your talking eco-systems the hatchery and the sewage lagoons just below the park are not meant to sit on the headwaters of a stream.

[3wt]

Just got back, and I have to say:

"what moss"

and

"Don't touch any banks, and really don't clear them"

Go to meremac springs if you need easy access to banks. Th only moss problem I see is maybe in the bait area pools, but there is much, much less vegetation in the water up in the fly area compared to the past few years.

Keep montauk more natural. It's not a jungle, but it is a forest, and we should keep it that way. I love feeling like I'm fishing in stream in the woods. If we put a road or nicely trimmed lawn right up to the stream then the whole experience is diminished.

[3wt]

And, anybody that thinks the place is getting less popular is crazy. You can't get a campsite during the week unless you plan for months in advance.

If it does cut down on the crowds then I like the natural concept even more.