White River Before The Dams

[ollie]

Great footage! I have only heard stories from my grandparents about the old White. They are dead now, but I do remember their stories.

[gotmuddy]

Every time I go trout fishing I think,"think how good the smallmouth fishing was before they built the dams.

[flytyer57]

Every time I go trout fishing I think,"think how good the smallmouth fishing was before they built the dams.

Every time I go trout fishing I wonder if that darn dam will colapse while I'm standing in the river below it.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I waded the White above Branson a few times right before TR was born, but I don't have any memories that stand out.

[gotmuddy]

Every time I go trout fishing I wonder if that darn dam will colapse while I'm standing in the river below it.

The thought has occured to me but I try not to obsess.

If it does happen thousands of people will die so let's hope it never happens.

[ozark trout fisher]

Plus you'd be dead, just one other downside. Maybe someday when we get some alternative energy sources going they will once again flow freely. Not sure that is what most people on the forum really want to see however. Might make an interesting topic (what if?)

I'd like to see all the big dams be taken down, everywhere, not just on the White.

But that is not exactly what they call a "majority opinion". I've never been able to get into big reservoir or tailwater fishing-I just find my self constantly thinking of all that is lost.

But what would all the big money tournament guys do if I had my way? I'd feel so bad for them.........

[Wayne SW/MO]

What's the difference between a stocked stream and a stocked tailwater, other than the tailwater fish being bigger and a little wilder.

[ozark trout fisher]

Stocked freestone trout streams are natural streams with the same basic ecosystem that they've always had. Tailwaters are entirely altered ecosystems not capable of supporting the same species they've had for centuries. And on a stocked freestone trout stream, there is no river valley buried under small man-made freshwater sea.

That's the difference.

"other than the tailwater fish being bigger and a little wilder."

I find many stocked freestone trout streams (the Current or Eleven Point for example) to have much more wild acting trout and much more wild scenery than any tailwater.

[Al Agnew]

If you happen upon the book "Freshwater Bass", by Ray Bergman, read it. Bergman was the fishing editor of Outdoor Life magazine back before the dams were built, and often fished the White. There are descriptions of several trips he made, and a whole chapter about a trip he made on the Buffalo when the White was up and muddy when he got there. He floated a middle section of the Buffalo, putting in somewhere upstream from Woolem and taking out (I think) at Gilbert. The water was very low, and when he got to the losing stretch below Woolem they had to go find a farmer with a team of mules to drag the johnboats for a couple of miles before they passed Margaret White Spring and got enough water to float again. Like so many people, he was awed by the beauty of the river, and he didn't even float the most spectacular parts.

[Danoinark]

If you happen upon the book "Freshwater Bass", by Ray Bergman, read it. Bergman was the fishing editor of Outdoor Life magazine back before the dams were built, and often fished the White.

Don't know if you caught it in this video Al, but Bergman is credited with being on this trip.

Dano