C&r Area

[Flyflinger]

I am heading down next week for a day trip. I mentioned this earlier in another thread...anyways. I guess I never knew how big this area was so I guess my questions are...

Is it worth spending some time in the C&R area?

Is there good fishing above the park? Seems like everyone talks about below the park.

If you had only a day to spend on the water down near the park (actually parking your car in the park area) where would you go?

Thanks in advance, and happy fishing.

[hfdhoosier]

The catch and release area is great! Would highly recommend it, there are some monster fish in there. There is no above the park, the park fishing starts at the spring and goes downriver. Below the park is good fishing but sometimes it takes a while to get used to where to fish and how to fish it. The spring road has several parking areas next to the fly area of the river, any of the fly water is good to fish. Hope this answered your questions. Hope you have a great time fishing. I am assuming you are fishing with flies since that is all that is allowed in catch and release and below the park. Fish hard and have a great time!

[lizard]

spinning gear is allowed also. Just no soft plastic or bait

[Flyflinger]

I'll be fishing flies...I look forward to it. Thanks.

[mhall02]

Best I recall the catch and release is pretty narrow water (5-6' across in some areas). I guess if you like the 'small' water go for it, I like catch and release but its a little too small for my liking. Otherwise, I would focus on the fly zone or drive down the Baptist Camp MDC access and wade downstream. Enjoy, it is a beautiful area and I can't wait to get down there again.

[Gavin]

The C&R isnt much to look at.....just a skinny weedy channel thats maybe 50-60 yards long and 10' wide on average...Its got some nice fish in it, but they get flogged on a continuos basis. I think that you will have a much better experience outside the park. Cheers.

[Flyflinger]

The C&R isnt much to look at.....just a skinny weedy channel thats maybe 50-60 yards long and 10' wide on average...Its got some nice fish in it, but they get flogged on a continuos basis. I think that you will have a much better experience outside the park. Cheers.

I was thinking that also, I have never had to much fun inside any of the parks.

[ozark trout fisher]

I am heading down next week for a day trip. I mentioned this earlier in another thread...anyways. I guess I never knew how big this area was so I guess my questions are...

Is it worth spending some time in the C&R area?

Is there good fishing above the park? Seems like everyone talks about below the park.

If you had only a day to spend on the water down near the park (actually parking your car in the park area) where would you go?

Thanks in advance, and happy fishing.

The catch and release area can be a lot of fun. There are some nice trout in the 3 to 5 pound range and plenty of smaller ones. The atmosphere is all wrong though-it's pretty ugly to be honest. If you do fish there, try a hopper dropper rig, with a Dave's Hopper and a small scud as a dropper.

There isn't much if any fishing above the park-the headwater springs of the river occur in Montauk State Park, and the river (it's called Pigeon Creek I believe upstream from the springs) is pretty small and warm.

I would try fishing the water just below the headwater springs on the river downstream to the old mill dam, if you want to fish Montauk. There is a lot of good water and good fish in that area, and the setting is much better than in the catch and release area. The area below Montauk is good too- I like to fish at Baptist Camp, 2 miles below the park, but the fishing is also good just below the park and around Tan Vat. If you are fishing below the park (which is what I would suggest), particularly below Baptist Camp, it is important to fish in the early mornings and evenings in order to avoid the canoes. If you're really wanting to park your car at Montauk, park it at the lower campground loop, and walk downstream until you come to the cable seperating the trout park from the Blue Ribbon area, and work your way downstream from there. That area is pretty productive most of the time.

Bring lots of scuds, Hare's Ear Nymphs, Rubberlegs, and woolly buggers, as well as whatever other flies you won't be comfortable without. I'm speaking generally right now-I've been on vacation a couple of weeks, so I don't know what if any hatches are going on, although I would suspect a morning trico hatch, and you may do well on hoppers, ants, and other terrestrials. Sometimes egg patterns even work at this time of year, although that can be uncertain.

The water levels are low according to USGS, so fish early morning and late evening and use a long, light leader. Good luck.

[Flyflinger]

The catch and release area can be a lot of fun. There are some nice trout in the 3 to 5 pound range and plenty of smaller ones. The atmosphere is all wrong though-it's pretty ugly to be honest. If you do fish there, try a hopper dropper rig, with a Dave's Hopper and a small scud as a dropper.

There isn't much if any fishing above the park-the headwater springs of the river occur in Montauk State Park, and the river (it's called Pigeon Creek I believe upstream from the springs) is pretty small and warm.

I would try fishing the water just below the headwater springs on the river downstream to the old mill dam, if you want to fish Montauk. There is a lot of good water and good fish in that area, and the setting is much better than in the catch and release area. The area below Montauk is good too- I like to fish at Baptist Camp, 2 miles below the park, but the fishing is also good just below the park and around Tan Vat. If you are fishing below the park (which is what I would suggest), particularly below Baptist Camp, it is important to fish in the early mornings and evenings in order to avoid the canoes. If you're really wanting to park your car at Montauk, park it at the lower campground loop, and walk downstream until you come to the cable seperating the trout park from the Blue Ribbon area, and work your way downstream from there. That area is pretty productive most of the time.

Bring lots of scuds, Hare's Ear Nymphs, Rubberlegs, and woolly buggers, as well as whatever other flies you won't be comfortable without. I'm speaking generally right now-I've been on vacation a couple of weeks, so I don't know what if any hatches are going on, although I would suspect a morning trico hatch, and you may do well on hoppers, ants, and other terrestrials. Sometimes egg patterns even work at this time of year, although that can be uncertain.

The water levels are low according to USGS, so fish early morning and late evening and use a long, light leader. Good luck.

Thanks for the advice, I'm heading down tomorrow.