Bennet 6/25

[fishinwrench]

One thing you have to figure in is hooking mortality in released fish..... That could explain a good part of the discrepancy.

Really, the idea of making 2/3 of the park c&r sounds a bit much for me, heck the main reason why I go to the parks is so I can keep fish without feeling like I'm hurting the fishery... Considering they restock them tommorrow.

I always feel a bit bad when I keep fish out of the Blue or White Ribbon areas (not that I don't do it occasionally in a white ribbon area, but still), trout parks in my mind have always been the place that you can go and get a trout dinner when you want one, and have a heck of a good time doing it. When I want real, catch and release fishing, that's where our White, Red, and Blue Ribbon areas figure in. Plus, that would concentrate all the catch and keep anglers in zone 3 and "zone 4" aka Niangua River. That may well further hurt the fishery (and cause immense crowding) in both of those places. Just a thought.

You couldn't handle it "temporarily" until they got the numbers back up a bit ? aw c'mon.....catch some crappie, catfish, or buy some salmon or Mrs. Pauls cod sticks. Any of the above are just as tasty as a liver fed stocker trout.

[ozark trout fisher]

You couldn't handle it "temporarily" until they got the numbers back up a bit ? aw c'mon.....catch some crappie, catfish, or buy some salmon or Mrs. Pauls cod sticks. Any of the above are just as tasty as a liver fed stocker trout.

Personally I like stocked trout to eat......

[DoveTail]

One thing you have to figure in is hooking mortality in released fish..... That could explain a good part of the discrepancy.

I was walking by Zone 3 last year or the year before. There were 2 gentleman fishing on a rock ledge next to the water. Obviously bait fishing and using treble hooks. They would let the trout flop on the rocks for what seemed like a minute. Then they would drop back into the water (a poor attempt as most trout hit the rocks first and had to flop into the water). I didn't say anything.

I can't understand that. I didn't notice them keeping any, but the kill ratio had to be high. Now that's Zone 3, so it shouldn't reduce the numbers in Zone 1 or 2 from the put and take in 3.

[NoLuck]

Hey Folks,

I fished this past weekend also. I didn't make the buzzer Saturday morning though. Saturday from about 9:30am till the eve whistle I am pretty sure I caught close to 30 fish. I messed around with different patterns most of the day trying things to see what worked best. The water to me was really cloudy in Zone 2 but, not as bad in Zone 1. The flow is good and there seemed to be about the same amount of fish as the last trip a couple of weeks ago.

Sunday morning from the whistle to about 8:30am I pretty much killed them. I literally caught a fish on about every single drift. I gave my new 3wt Winston a pretty good workout. I went to eat breakfast and returned and caught fish but didn't set the world on fire. I think I caught close to 15 fish from then till about 4:30 when they really started to bite again. That afternoon between stripping a crackleback on sinking line and drifting other flies I caught another 35-40 fish. I landed a nice rainbow in water shallow enough that I should have seen the fish but I didn't. The water was fast and my drift was short but, the fish were there and you just couldn't see them. It turned out to be a football shaped kyped jawed male close to 3lbs and close to 18" long.

Is the fishing as good as it was a couple years ago??? Probably not. But, figure in the circumstances that they have had to deal with and its not all that bad. You really have to change your tactics compared to how it was 2 years ago. There is not the numbers of fish in the stream as there was a couple of years ago and we all know why. But, there are still plenty of fish there. You just can't see them like we got used to when the water was low and clear. The stream bed has changed along with less vegatation. I took this as a challenge after I accepted that this is how its going to be for a couple of years to come.

I think that the over abundance of trout in a smaller amount water spoiled us.

I like fishing Montauk as much or more than Bennett but, Bennett has way better facilities and more stuff close by if needed. I'll continue to fish both places.

Cyaaa'll later,

Rich

[tgard27]

Rich it seems like you had a hell of a day . I didn't start fishing for trout until a year and a half ago and I think that Bennett has fallen greatly since then. I’m not the worlds’ greatest fisherman nor am I an established critic, but I can tell when something has changed. I don't buy that a 10 percent decrease in stocking is to blame as I was there in April and noticed more fish of greater size than I did last week. The numbers don't add up as not all of these fish are being caught and I'm not noticing people walking away with 20 fish on there stringers lol. I'm also not noticing near as many big fish in the stream, there are some but I think there is a dramatic decrease in big fish as compared with a year ago, maybe the rains had something to do with this or maybe I'm developing cataracts at age 24.

The point is this: this isn't the first complaint about Bennett that I have seen on this board and I doubt that it will be the last. I don't notice near as many complaints about Roaring (I don't pay attention to Montauk's post). If it was a stocking thing I would think that Roaring would have as many complaints, maybe I'm wrong. I just noticed that the things that I did in the past didn't work at all on Thursday and that I wasn't the only person struggling. Needless to say that Bennett is a beautiful place and pleasurable area to spend a day or a week in. Travis.

[ozark trout fisher]

Rich it seems like you had a hell of a day . I didn't start fishing for trout until a year and a half ago and I think that Bennett has fallen greatly since then. I’m not the worlds’ greatest fisherman nor am I an established critic, but I can tell when something has changed. I don't buy that a 10 percent decrease in stocking is to blame as I was there in April and noticed more fish of greater size than I did last week. The numbers don't add up as not all of these fish are being caught and I'm not noticing people walking away with 20 fish on there stringers lol. I'm also not noticing near as many big fish in the stream, there are some but I think there is a dramatic decrease in big fish as compared with a year ago, maybe the rains had something to do with this or maybe I'm developing cataracts at age 24.

The point is this: this isn't the first complaint about Bennett that I have seen on this board and I doubt that it will be the last. I don't notice near as many complaints about Roaring (I don't pay attention to Montauk's post). If it was a stocking thing I would think that Roaring would have as many complaints, maybe I'm wrong. I just noticed that the things that I did in the past didn't work at all on Thursday and that I wasn't the only person struggling. Needless to say that Bennett is a beautiful place and pleasurable area to spend a day or a week in. Travis.

There is bound to be more and bigger fish some days than others, considering they stock different numbers each day... And sizes vary by season. That could explain this.

I just don't see how a daily stocked fishery can really be "declining" for any reason except for less fished stocked. It's just a pretty hard sell for me. Of course if they stock 10% less fish each day, it will appear as if the fishery is declining, but that is a hatchery problem, not really a problem with the fishery itself, if you ask me.

Frankly, I fish 95% catch and release in the red, blue, and white ribbon areas, but I will be honest with you, when I go to a trout park, I come back with a stringer of fish. I don't think there is a thing wrong with it either. I mostly fish with bait, catch four, keep them all, and spend a nice, relaxing day at camp, or maybe go squirrel hunting, or fish for smallies on a nearby stream. It's all just part of the trout park experience for me, and I like it. If other people want to fish with flies, and catch and release, that's fine (there's even a catch and release area just for folks like you). I don't see why people have a problem with the way I choose to fish, and want to make 2/3 of the trout park catch and release only.

[fishinwrench]

I don't see why people have a problem with the way I choose to fish, and want to make 2/3 of the trout park catch and release only.

OTF, I didn't mean to imply that I had a problem with the way anyone fishes, cuz I don't. And I was just suggesting that maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea for us to give the fishery a break for awhile...out of kindness. Ya know, kinda like helping a friend when he's struggling.

I only included zone 1 and 2 in that suggestion....which would not effect your bait fishing at all.

[ozark trout fisher]

OTF, I didn't mean to imply that I had a problem with the way anyone fishes, cuz I don't. And I was just suggesting that maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea for us to give the fishery a break for awhile...out of kindness. Ya know, kinda like helping a friend when he's struggling.

I only included zone 1 and 2 in that suggestion....which would not effect your bait fishing at all.

No problems.....

[Paola Cat]

Rich (No Luck) .... Right on! I think you nailed the analysis. Bennett is just tougher to fish right now. We were spoiled in the past. You've got to change to be successful now. The same old tried and true patterns just don't do it consistently now. I'm trying different patterns .... some decent .... some not so good. Last time down I likewise had a good day. PC

[tgard27]

"Frankly, I fish 95% catch and release in the red, blue, and white ribbon areas," Same as I do and I think that its a wonderful way to fish. "when I go to a trout park, I come back with a stringer of fish." Thats why you pay your three dollars and I have no problem with that whatsoever as I do that occassionally. "If other people want to fish with flies, and catch and release, that's fine (there's even a catch and release area just for folks like you)." Not at Bennett and that is my point. I think that this would be a nice addition for a trout park, a trophy area if you would, come and see if you can snag a lunker. "I don't see why people have a problem with the way I choose to fish, and want to make 2/3 of the trout park catch and release only." I have no problem if someone wants to go to a trout park and catch and keep. NONE! But I think that MDC can do a BETTER JOB WITH WHAT THEY HAVE! Its not the average fisherman who I am concerned of, ITS THE PEOPLE WHO RUN IT! This is how people get misled, and I'm not trying to bash anyone here. I went to Bennett, had a rough day and have noticed that I have more and more rough days at bennet than I do anywhere else, including blue ribbon streams like Crane. Hey, if I can catch trout at Crane I should have an idea of how to fish a trout park. Not trying to be rude or cocky, but there is something going on at Bennett and I don't understand why. I know that stream conditions change and you have to adapt, to me this is the fun part of fly fishing. But, when I notice dead fish and less fish than normal I think it would be safe to assume that something unusual is going on at Bennett. I have all the luck in the world at Roaring, Capps, Taneycomo and at least a few fish most everytime that I go to Crane. But for the amount of fish that they are supposed to stock in Bennett I have absolutley no idea why I struggle, and notice others struggling so badly. I think that its great to go to a trout park and keep fish and there is no way on earth that I would ever want to see 2/3 of Bennett turn into catch and release only, but it would be nice if there was some section that would be catch and release. I think that it would be a great idea as obviously the amount of fish that are going to be stocked this year will be less than the amount of previous years.

Finally, I'm not tryng to make anyone feel that they should dislike Bennett or that Bennett is any less enjoyable. If you love this place, then you should keep loving it. There is something to be said for someone who can find happiness and I am no one to take that happiness away. I worry about a trout park that is only 1.5 miles long and can have up to 180,000 anglers every year. The mere pressure that this stream receives is enough to hurt the fishery, but I think that the overall atmosphere is still an enjoyable one. Travis