Little Piney, Mill, Spring Creek

[ozark trout fisher]

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.

If I'm drawing attention to these streams, that certainly was not the intention. I'm just hoping people can give them a break until this heat-wave is over. Maybe most won't listen, but if because of this post a couple people don't come down and rip the poor things from their thermal refuges, then it will have served it's purpose.

This post is nothing more than a reminder of what these small stream trout have to go through when it's this hot-just something to think about before you choose to fish one of these streams right now.

There are other trout waters nearby (Montauk and the Current for example) that are still in pretty good shape. Why not fish them until things get better?

[jdmidwest]

Most trout will stop feeding when the water temps reach 70 degrees. Given the shallow runs and low spring flows of those streams, the water temps should soar over that on the hot summer days we have had lately. Catching a trout should not even be an issue if this is the case.

All fish are experiencing some stress this time of year. The lucky ones will drop off into deeper pools and shady spots. Feeding is best of a night or the hours close to it. The sun is not heating things up and the cool water source cools things back down.

[stlfisher]

Does anyone know if the MDC has ever closed a Blue Ribbon stream to fishing due to high water temperature? This would seem to make sense during hot summers such as this one.

[ozark trout fisher]

Does anyone know if the MDC has ever closed a Blue Ribbon stream to fishing due to high water temperature? This would seem to make sense during hot summers such as this one.

I have never heard of them doing that, but it's a good idea. Montana makes a practice of closing their best rivers to fishing when the water temperatures are staying above 72 for more than 8 hours a day, and when water temperatures only reach 72 during the afternoons, they leave the streams open to fishing only in the mornings. Maybe the MDC could consider a similar approach on our Blue Ribbon streams.

Until then we'll have to do this voluntarily.

[jdmidwest]

Does anyone know if the MDC has ever closed a Blue Ribbon stream to fishing due to high water temperature? This would seem to make sense during hot summers such as this one.

MDC does not do the monthly stock if an area has too high of a water temp. I know in the past Lane Spring got skipped several times because the water temp was too high. Fisheries will check stream conditions before they toss fish in a stressed stream.

Has anyone dropped a thermometer in the water and seen what the temps of these streams really are now? What are the actual temps of the streams now?

[stlfisher]

MDC does not do the monthly stock if an area has too high of a water temp. I know in the past Lane Spring got skipped several times because the water temp was too high. Fisheries will check stream conditions before they toss fish in a stressed stream.

Has anyone dropped a thermometer in the water and seen what the temps of these streams really are now? What are the actual temps of the streams now?

That makes sense. I would also like to see the MDC monitor the streams and protect the "wild" populations that might exist as well. Like OTF said I believe it is common practice in Montana and would seem pretty easy to implement. Then again it may not really be much of an issue, but it has been quite warm lately. If I am wet wading the fish have to be getting warm. Yeah, I am real baby when it comes to cold water.

[Midwest troutbum]

FYI to all. Lane spring is not stocked by any agency or conservation dept at this time or any time of the year. It is US forest service ground and is managed as a pre-settler era park. No non native mo fish are introduced to the stream at the park. The only trout in lane spring are those that are decendants from stocking during early pioneer days. Very few if any trout remain in this stream as a direct result of this non-stock management practice enacted by the US forest service and MDC. Of all the small streams in MO, it is a shame these waters are not re-considered for regular trout stocking.

[mic]

Has anyone dropped a thermometer in the water and seen what the temps of these streams really are now? What are the actual temps of the streams now?

Same question here??

[Trout Commander]

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.

I admittedly didn't take the time to read this thread so this may have already been covered. But, next time you want people to leave these streams alone why not just STFU instead of starting a thread that gets 985 views (at the time of this posting), many of which came from people who didn't even know about them let alone were thinking about fishing them on the hottest days of summer. Just seems kinda counterintuitive eh?.

[dennis boatman]

Ut Oh!