Little Piney, Mill, Spring Creek

[ozark trout fisher]

The water levels are getting pretty low on the Gasconade basin trout creeks and the air temperatures are high. These fish have plenty of things to worry about right now, including the predators they are more vulnerable to this time of year (otters, herons, etc), low oxygen levels, and warm water in some areas. Please, until we get a nice cool rain to pep these things up, don't fish them for awhile. There aren't that many breeding sized fish in these streams and they need to be carefully protected. So if you could direct your angling attention elsewhere (Upper Current, Big Piney, or Eleven Point for example) for a bit, all of us who love this creeks would really appreciate it.

Thanks.

[FishinCricket]

You mean streams like the Roubideaux? Can trout spawn in that little creek?

(just curious)

[ozark trout fisher]

You mean streams like the Roubideaux? Can trout spawn in that little creek?

(just curious)

I'm not sure about the Roubideaux... I think most of the trout in there are stockers although there are probably a couple wild fish.

Honestly, I was more concerned about the Blue Ribbon stretches of Little Piney, Mill, and Spring, which aren't stocked and rely either mostly or totally on natural spawning to sustain the trout population.

[eric1978]

I'm not sure about Mill and Spring Creeks, but the White Ribbon section of the Little Piney below Milldam is stocked in fall and winter...not sure about the numbers, but I'm sure a few of them make their way upstream.

[ozark trout fisher]

I'm not sure about Mill and Spring Creeks, but the White Ribbon section of the Little Piney below Milldam is stocked in fall and winter...not sure about the numbers, but I'm sure a few of them make their way upstream.

A few stockers do move up from the White Ribbon area on Little Piney, but at least up in the Lane Spring area most of the fish you catch are clearly wild (perfect fins, most of them smaller than stocking size).

But that's not really the point of my post anyway. All I'm really trying to say is that folks need to leave the trout on these streams alone for awhile as they are very stressed from low water and warm temperatures. When conditions are like this, catch and release survival goes way down.

There will very likely be good fishing in all these creeks come September, just please give 'em a break until the weather cools off a little and things get back to normal.

[fishinwrench]

Now that you mention it I haven't fished those streams in a long time. I bet they'd eat a club sandwich hopper with reckless abandon right now.

[ozark trout fisher]

Now that you mention it I haven't fished those streams in a long time. I bet they'd eat a club sandwich hopper with reckless abandon right now.

Why not wait till it gets a little cooler? They'll take hoppers around here until mid-October most years.

I'm sure fish can be caught right now, it's just a matter of whether it's good for the trout population given the conditions.

[jdmidwest]

The trout are pretty tasty off those streams right now, kinda like boiled salmon.....

Most streams here locally are like wading in bath water. But they are not spring fed and fast running.

[eric1978]

All I'm really trying to say is that folks need to leave the trout on these streams alone for awhile

Good luck with that...I'd say you're only making it worse by drawing more attention to those streams. I happen to agree with you, but it's not like anyone is gonna listen.

[ness]

OTF -- good on you for bringing this up.

You know, fellers, he's right.

Eric -- Mill's not getting stocked. I don't think Spring is either. Little Piney gets some, but it's hardly a trout park. Those little fellers are sure not liking the heat, but the water volume may make it more tolerable for them.

Best of all, my lack of fishing plans now has a reason -- I'm giving the little streams a rest, fer the good of the fish.