Vandals On The Ozark National Scenic Rivers.

[jdmidwest]

I spent the first part of the week fishing and floating 3 sections of the ONSR. Sunday it was Eminence to 2 Rivers, Monday was Akers to Pulltite, and Tuesday was Alley to Eminence. Granted I was floating with a big group, but we always managed to catch several fish in the past floats. The Akers to Pulltite float was the worst, nobody did very well that day. We did manage to see plenty of OTTERS. One hole in the Sunday float produced 3 at once, one was chomping on a fresh caught smallie. I tried to get over and get a pic, but it dived under the weeds. Same hole produced the pic of the one on the rock that scratched itself for several minutes till one of the bird dogs bailed out of the canoe and started barking at it. We saw a few in several holes on the Current float also. I wonder how many there are really if we saw that many on a day time float among a lot of other floaters.

[Guest]

deleted

[Gavin]

Sounds like a fun trip....Akers to Pulltite rarely fishes well...bought the only time it has is during high water years when lots of trout get washed down from above.

[Trout Commander]

There deserve to be there as much as the smallies do

This is debatable as the MDC introduced them to most river systems in our area.

I haven't seen that they hurt fishing all that much either, unless it is a really small stream.

They have wreaked havoc on even the Big Piney in my (hometown) neck of the woods, as well as many private ponds.

[Trout Commander]

I spent the first part of the week fishing and floating 3 sections of the ONSR. Sunday it was Eminence to 2 Rivers, Monday was Akers to Pulltite, and Tuesday was Alley to Eminence. Granted I was floating with a big group, but we always managed to catch several fish in the past floats. The Akers to Pulltite float was the worst, nobody did very well that day. We did manage to see plenty of OTTERS. One hole in the Sunday float produced 3 at once, one was chomping on a fresh caught smallie. I tried to get over and get a pic, but it dived under the weeds. Same hole produced the pic of the one on the rock that scratched itself for several minutes till one of the bird dogs bailed out of the canoe and started barking at it. We saw a few in several holes on the Current float also. I wonder how many there are really if we saw that many on a day time float among a lot of other floaters.

Not a great thing to see, but it is better than people being vandals, which is what I expected to see coming into the thread.

[eric1978]

This is debatable as the MDC introduced them to most river systems in our area.

It is not debatable, as MDC RE-introduced them. They are native to Missouri and the Ozark streams. What is debatable is whether or not they are very bad for fish populations, and how to control the number of otters on a given stream. I like seeing them on the rivers because I think they're entertaining little creatures, but that quickly fades as I realize they are eating some of the fish I want to catch.

They DO deserve to be here, but their populations definitely need to be controlled. Too bad fur hats aren't in style anymore.

[Trout Commander]

My mistake.

[id10t]

It is not debatable, as MDC RE-introduced them. They are native to Missouri and the Ozark streams. What is debatable is whether or not they are very bad for fish populations, and how to control the number of otters on a given stream. I like seeing them on the rivers because I think they're entertaining little creatures, but that quickly fades as I realize they are eating some of the fish I want to catch.

They DO deserve to be here, but their populations definitely need to be controlled. Too bad fur hats aren't in style anymore.

This is just great. Has anyone ever tried to explain catch and release to these critters? It ain't easy. To them a fish is a fish. Very frustrating. It makes it even harder being that their lineage is not local. They have no regard for the history of those who lived here before them. If they would just listen just a little they might start to get it. All they seem to want to do is play and eat, play and eat. Seems the attitude is all about what was given to them for free. Try telling them how hard their life could be if they went back to where they came from and you get nothing but a wink and another nibble of the fish they are eating. They appeal to the ladies and children who think they are so cute. None of the parties women, children or critters care about my fishing day or how hard I slave to go enjoy the river. No they just want for themselves. I will keep trying to explain it to them but I don't think it will work. Hasn't had an affect on those bugling Elk in Boxley Valley on the Buffalo. They just stare at me like I'm talking to a tree. The corn was not planted for them its for me. I just wish they would take my wants and needs into consideration. Critters are just plain hard to teach.

Humor Fully Intended

[Liv2flyfish]

Very funny, and they don't pay taxes either. They must be Amish otters.

[jdmidwest]

Not really, they don't "deserve" to be there. They were extinct because they could not hack it, and man decided to reintroduce them. Now, the MDC is relying on trappers to control them. Unfortunately, fur prices dropped and there is less of a demand for them, and less trappers than before. They are a predator that is high on the food chain, not much really keeps them in check other than the Alpha Predator, Man. In a perfect world, nature would balance itself out, but in this case, fishing suffers because of them. I really should have not seen any of them on this trip as they are mostly nocturnal and rare, but they outnumbered deer and turkeys on this float by a long shot

Think about that trophy smallie released ending up in the paws of this furry little critter. Maybe they will open a gigging season on them.