My Trout Management Wish List

[troutfiend1985]

And this will be my last say(although I have said that before)

I think communicating over a forum is tough, and sometimes it takes a while to flesh out the real issues and what the other person really has in mind. I really like OTF's post there, and I think that is something very similar to what I was thinking.

I know that white ribbons have been managed this way for a while, and by no means do I want to re-create this management. We are mainly talking about two streams and two small C&R zones, although I would like to see a C&R zone on any white ribbon stream which could support resident trout that does not have a Blue/Red ribbon area close in proximity (but I digress). I have only fished three white ribbon areas, and only two, Hickory and Capps, fit the description that I am looking for.

C&R is a great thing, and I know people want to catch and keep. Both can coincide in one stream, we just have to find a good balancing point. And it’s not like people who want to keep trout have nowhere to go. Even if this proposal would take place, people who want to keep trout and use bait would still have: Trout parks, Lower Taneycomo, and all White Ribbon Areas which are not C&R. That is still a lot of places, and no stream would be effectively removed through this idea.

By all means, let those fisherman who want to keep trout to do so. But I think a small C&R zone, if done right, would really open up some potential to these streams that we may not yet realize.

I have enjoyed this discussion, I think all that needs to be said has been said.

Tight lines,

[Chief Grey Bear]

I know that white ribbons have been managed this way for a while, and by no means do I want to re-create this management. We are mainly talking about two streams and two small C&R zones, although I would like to see a C&R zone on any white ribbon stream which could support resident trout that does not have a Blue/Red ribbon area close in proximity (but I digress). I have only fished three white ribbon areas, and only two, Hickory and Capps, fit the description that I am looking for.

Do you even understand what you post? You claim you don't want to "re-create" white ribbon management, yet you want to add C&R to white ribbon steams. Is that not changing a white ribbon section to blue ribbon status???? That has been the whole fricking discussion here. You and OTF want to change white ribbon fishing to blue ribbon style status and you think everyone should just be all hunky dorey with it. Why? So you may stand a better chance at adding to your daily catch of stocked trout?

TF1985, I'll make you the same proposal that I did OTF. If you want to catch some true self sustaining wild trout, I will take you to a spot or two that I know of. But I just can't get behind this agenda of turning white ribbon water into blue ribbon when it is all artifical. Now that does not mean I don't like fishing white ribbon water. I do. In the winter I don't mind hitting those waters every now and then. It can be fun. I just don't get all bent out of shape when I don't catch a butt load. I just consider it a part of the challange.

And eric, any time you want to come down here and fish trout stocked waters(Hickory and Capps) and other waters in the same area and campare catch rates of native species I will buy your gas to get here. I guarantee you will be surprised by the results.

[eric1978]

And eric, any time you want to come down here and fish trout stocked waters(Hickory and Capps) and other waters in the same area and campare catch rates of native species I will buy your gas to get here. I guarantee you will be surprised by the results.

Why you draggin' me into this?

Here's what I think these guys are saying Chief...The complaint is not so much that folks keep the stocked trout from a White Ribbon stream, but rather the incredible rate at which they are taken. Here today, gone tomorrow. Why not drag it out a little and let a few other anglers enjoy the catching? I see it at Busch come February 1st, and a more disgusting site you'll never lay your eyes upon...slob upon slob stacked tighter on the bank than the fish they're after. Asses upon their buckets, trash scattered all around their feet and blowing into the lake, and Powerbait-decorated Christmas trees drooping over the water. Wasted and rotting fish left behind, mud trails so wide and sloppy it's as if a herd of buffalo passed through, and not enough room for a flyfisherman to stand a chance. Overnight, it goes from a place everyone can enjoy to a freakin' zoo of white trash in rubber boots who descend in droves to cash in on their big 7 dollar investment.

Now, the trout have to be cleaned out from the lakes before summer, and I know that, so I just kind of laugh at the absurdity these people display during their frenzied quest to bring home 4 mushy trout for dinner. In a matter of days the lakes are all but emptied, and so be it, it has to be done. But in some of the White Ribbon streams, the stockers could live indefinitely. No, maybe they couldn't successfully spawn, but they could survive to grow large (or at least larger), so why not let them, and give a few more anglers a chance to do some fishing, instead of the free-for-all, furious rush to the river to scoop out the precious meat and go home? If we're trying to make things fair for everyone, slowing down the rate of removal sounds like a better idea than the binge and purge scenario we have now.

[ozark trout fisher]

As well I have made my point that White Ribbon is not managed for C&R. It is managed primarily for those that desire to keep the trout they may happen to catch. I don't know why that is problem when another load of trout will be delivered in a few weeks.

There is not one gallon of water in this state that has trout that were not stocked by some entity whether government or private at some point in time in history. Now I have nothing against trout fishing. I love the fact that I can find wild populations of self sustaining trout in remote waters. And I am all about their protection. So much so that I will not annouce the location when I discover them. But I would take someone like yourself to a area of these rare populations only because I know you are a good steward of the wild, self sutaining populations in this state.

But when it comes to stocked trout, I don't get too shook up. Why? More are coming. I just don't see the reason to get all bent out of shape. I guess when I look at your argument, I see you complaining that you can't catch trout in the white ribbon section and you want to change is so you can. And that just ain't right in my mind. So we differ. No big deal. Nothing personal. We just don't agree and we say our peace. Or is it piece.

Fair enough.