Trout Coming To Busch Soon

[Gavin]

Dunno Eric...life is too short to worry about what Joe Bloe is doing....If some casual angler is pooching one of my spots...I really dont care...I hope the catch some fish....cuz if they are catching...I'm pretty sure that I'll catch plenty down the way. Cheers.

[eric1978]

I see your point, but I do think we should try to recruit responsible people to the sport of fishing. The more responsible individuals who fish, and learn to love the waters they fish, the more leverage we will have on conservation issues. If numbers of fisherman continue to dwindle, I am afraid this just translates into fewer people advocating for the protection of our waterways. And that's something we can't afford.

It's too bad we can't make people take a test on responsible angling before giving them a license...like we do for driving. It's tough to just recruit the good ones and filter out the bad, so I guess we're gonna be stuck with a mixed bag. I'm not stressing over it, it's just a shame how a few slobs make me feel cynical about people in general. I've gone from innocent until proven guilty to guilty until proven innocent. I don't like it, but I've grown to be this way from simply observing humans. They do some pretty crappy stuff.

I know the old adage about conservation awareness, how the more people involved the better, I just don't see that philosophy coming to fruition. I see just as much ambivalence toward the health of our wilderness as ever. Some people are more aware, some are active; you have that core of responsible sportsmen and conservation minded people, and the rest just kind of abuse and misuse our resources.

[ozark trout fisher]

It's too bad we can't make people take a test on responsible angling before giving them a license...like we do for driving. It's tough to just recruit the good ones and filter out the bad, so I guess we're gonna be stuck with a mixed bag. I'm not stressing over it, it's just a shame how a few slobs make me feel cynical about people in general. I've gone from innocent until proven guilty to guilty until proven innocent. I don't like it, but I've grown to be this way from simply observing humans. They do some pretty crappy stuff.

I know the old adage about conservation awareness, how the more people involved the better, I just don't see that philosophy coming to fruition. I see just as much ambivalence toward the health of our wilderness as ever. Some people are more aware, some are active; you have that core of responsible sportsmen and conservation minded people, and the rest just kind of abuse and misuse our resources.

I've always thought that a test like that would be a good idea. Really...

Like you say, anytime you recruit new fisherman, you will invariably get a mixed bag. Some will go there whole lives and do nothing but abuse the resource, keep more fish than the limit allows, litter, etc. That was probably their personality before they ever picked up a fishing pole. But others may come to truly love the sport, and become a little more conservation minded, and eventually come to help our cause. Probably not many, but some.

[Gatorjet]

With all this talk about how bad the people fishing at Bush Wildlife are, maybe I'm insulated down here in Jeff Co/ So Co area. I have fished the winter trout lakes at Suson, and have not seen a sign of what you are talking about. Everyone I have met there are ethical, responsible fishermen who also fish a lot of other trout areas. In addition, they are always willing and eager to help someone new learn about the sport, and sportsmanship. Maybe it's a defiant crowd at Bush, I don't know.

[eric1978]

With all this talk about how bad the people fishing at Bush Wildlife are, maybe I'm insulated down here in Jeff Co/ So Co area. I have fished the winter trout lakes at Suson, and have not seen a sign of what you are talking about. Everyone I have met there are ethical, responsible fishermen who also fish a lot of other trout areas. In addition, they are always willing and eager to help someone new learn about the sport, and sportsmanship. Maybe it's a defiant crowd at Bush, I don't know.

Or maybe there are just BOATLOADS of people at Busch. I don't know either, but I can tell you it's littered up and fished out, and people did it.

[dgames]

Is it really that much different than the trout parks? I mean they are both put and take fisheries. I almost think the trout parks are worse with the daily stocking, the opening siren with pretty much everyone catching a fish on the first cast and people leaving with their limits after 30 minutes.

Having said that, I find I can enjoy myself at the trout parks by not fishing to opening siren, finding the out of the way spots, sight fishing to rising fish, etc. In the same way, I can see how someone could enjoy themselves at the urban winter trout ponds by ignoring the seedier aspects and just appreciate the chance to catch a fish or two locally without having to drive for hours.

[eric1978]

Is it really that much different than the trout parks? I mean they are both put and take fisheries. I almost think the trout parks are worse with the daily stocking, the opening siren with pretty much everyone catching a fish on the first cast and people leaving with their limits after 30 minutes.

Having said that, I find I can enjoy myself at the trout parks by not fishing to opening siren, finding the out of the way spots, sight fishing to rising fish, etc. In the same way, I can see how someone could enjoy themselves at the urban winter trout ponds by ignoring the seedier aspects and just appreciate the chance to catch a fish or two locally without having to drive for hours.

At least at the trout parks you can, like you said, find "out of the way spots." If you're sick of seeing people you can wade up or downstream and find a little peace and soak in the serenity. You don't get that at Busch. I'd personally rather cast all day into the same hole in some Ozark stream and not catch anything than catch dinks all day at Busch. But, that's me. To each his own.

[dgames]

At least at the trout parks you can, like you said, find "out of the way spots." If you're sick of seeing people you can wade up or downstream and find a little peace and soak in the serenity. You don't get that at Busch. I'd personally rather cast all day into the same hole in some Ozark stream and not catch anything than catch dinks all day at Busch. But, that's me. To each his own.

Busch isn't an issue with me because I live in Tulsa, but we have a similar deal with a city park pond that gets stocked with trout in the winter (by our local TU chapter by the way I believe). I also would much rather be on a stream in the Ozarks, but a local pond 10 minutes from home allows a few extra opportunities to catch a fish or two.

My comment about the trout parks is more directed at the criticism that the trout won't survive year round in these ponds. My point is that most of the trout don't survive the year in the trout parks either and a large percentage don't even make it beyond the first hour after the siren.

[ozark trout fisher]

At least at the trout parks you can, like you said, find "out of the way spots." If you're sick of seeing people you can wade up or downstream and find a little peace and soak in the serenity. You don't get that at Busch. I'd personally rather cast all day into the same hole in some Ozark stream and not catch anything than catch dinks all day at Busch. But, that's me. To each his own.

You know, the more I think about it, the more it really does set in that the whole idea of these winter trout waters are a bit silly... I guess if I'm gonna freeze I might as well do it on a pretty ozark stream.

[eric1978]

You know, the more I think about it, the more it really does set in that the whole idea of these winter trout waters are a bit silly... I guess if I'm gonna freeze I might as well do it on a pretty ozark stream.

Ding ding ding! A revelation!

No, I'm just messin' with ya OTF. But I know from reading your stuff that you're a lot like me...Much of the joy of fishing is spending time in a beautiful place, like a nice Ozark stream. A pond in Weldon Springs just can't come close to the feeling you get casting a lure in a clear-water gem an hour or so south of us. For me, it's totally worth the drive, even if I catch nothing. The fresh air and scenery are enough to call it a good day. I need to catch a 4 pounder at Busch to say that, and that's only happened for me several times.