Mourning The Passing Of The High Bank Hole

[Wayne SW/MO]

Should MDC quit stocking browns in Bennett/Niangua too then?

I don't see the comparison? Are you trying to say that a non native fish raised next to another non native fish shouldn't be stock in a stream a few miles away? Why differentiate between 'Bows and Brown's? I realize one is an immigrant, but neither are native to Missouri.

These ponds do provide some benefits to the urban dwellers who would otherwise not be exposed to trout fishing

So why is it necassary they be exposed to a fish they will never see again? How about Hybrid Stripers or Walleye's, do they need exposure? How about Pickerel or Bowfins, both natives to this state.

I'm not against doing what can be, reasonably, to encourage fishing in urban areas, but trucking a non native fish far and wide to enhance a dinner plate during the winter doesn't cut it in my opinion. Why don't we truck to every hamlet in the state, and not just the privileged few? Afterall there are numerous populations in the state that don't have viable cold weather fisheries.

[Outside Bend]

I don't see the comparison? Are you trying to say that a non native fish raised next to another non native fish shouldn't be stock in a stream a few miles away? Why differentiate between 'Bows and Brown's? I realize one is an immigrant, but neither are native to Missouri

If you're saying we shouldn't truck rainbows from Bennett to urban areas, why should we truck browns from Shepherd of the Hills or Neosho hatcheries to Bennett?

So why is it necassary they be exposed to a fish they will never see again?

You've never taken, or wanted to take, an once in a lifetime fishing trip? Is it meaningless because you were only able to do it once?

How about Hybrid Stripers or Walleye's, do they need exposure? How about Pickerel or Bowfins, both natives to this state. Why don't we truck to every hamlet in the state, and not just the privileged few? Afterall there are numerous populations in the state that don't have viable cold weather fisheries.

Hybrid stripers, walleye, pickeral and bowfin all have this nasty habit of eating each other in hatchery raceways. They're far more expensive to produce than pellet-fed rainbows.

The sum total of these "privileged few" is more than three million residents, or about half the state's population.

[troutfiend1985]

I don't see the comparison? Are you trying to say that a non native fish raised next to another non native fish shouldn't be stock in a stream a few miles away? Why differentiate between 'Bows and Brown's? I realize one is an immigrant, but neither are native to Missouri.

So why is it necassary they be exposed to a fish they will never see again? How about Hybrid Stripers or Walleye's, do they need exposure? How about Pickerel or Bowfins, both natives to this state.

I'm not against doing what can be, reasonably, to encourage fishing in urban areas, but trucking a non native fish far and wide to enhance a dinner plate during the winter doesn't cut it in my opinion. Why don't we truck to every hamlet in the state, and not just the privileged few? Afterall there are numerous populations in the state that don't have viable cold weather fisheries.

Wayne,

I don't think that a lot of these people are the "privileged few" rather they are tax payers like you and I. I would imagine(note, this is my opinion only) that the winter urban stockings mean more to those who lack the fiscal abilities to travel to the Ozarks. Why would I say that? Because the privileged few are either: 1. in Florida playing golf for the winter or 2. Able to go to Yellowstone/Colorado to go fishing. Poor urban residents probably aren't going to either of those locations anytime soon, and for a form of recreation trout in ponds is a way to pass a day.

And I'm not sure why stocking the Urban areas is such a shock, look at our white ribbon areas. I am still waiting to finish up that letter to the MDC(school has been kicking my butt this year) about how we are mismanaging a resource. Right now, you could draw a lot similarities between the two, so I will save time and put the major difference: there is a small percentage of fish that survive the onslaught of catch and keep practices(there are other small differences but I lack the time to spell out the alphabet).

And your "never see again" misses the point. Trout are fishable in the winter. What else is there to fish for in the winter besides a limited amount of Crappie fishing(and note; limited)?

What is the main grief over stocking trout in a pond for the winter? If this is allocation of resources, then we should also be griping over white ribbon areas, especially Hickory, Capps and Robidoux in my experiences.

The idea, at least to me, is that fishing is a hobby/passion. It doesn't take a lot of money, which is why it appeals to some. It also is a way to get out of the house, which I think is the best thing the urban program offers. These are just my opinions. If you think the urban program is a waste, that's fine but we have to remember this is only a hobby we're talking about and not life and death.

[Gavin]

I wasnt a fan of the urban program years ago...but I got over it. People seem to get allot of enjoyment out of it and those fish dont go to waste..The lakes they stock near my house see a ton of anglers..Fewer people out now that they are frozen but there are still people fishing...Not my cup of tea, but I see nothing wrong with it. Cheers.

[rcguy]

I always had fun about 20 years ago fishing a couple of urban lakes in Kansas..Wyandotte County and Shawnee Mission. My 30 yr old son still remembers when I took him at 6 years old and we really got into them. Nice size, good fighting Rainbows. I was pleased a Bow was his first fish. It might just be me but a trout is still my favorite fish to catch. I haven't fished the urban lakes for years but lots of people really enjoy it. It is a great way to get out of the house during the winter.

[Justin Spencer]

It is a great way to get out of the house during the winter.

Best thing I've heard about this program. Some of the first trout I ever caught were out of Gunn Park lake in Ft. Scott Ks. Could have been playing Nintendo or watching TV, but instead went out to catch fish that weren't available to us any other time of year. Plenty of other fish to catch in the warm months so the chance to catch a beautiful hard fighting fish out of lakes like they do in Colorado spurs young and old alike to get out and do something. If you don't hunt or hike and there is no snow for sledding cabin fever can be overwhelming, this program helps alleviate some of that boredom and might even get a few kids outdoors instead of staying on the couch or typing on some silly forum.

By the way just came in from the river caught 6 bows in an hour + most on egg, 1 on zebra midge (still was rigged from my trip to White), lost a few others, good fishing no blue pipe!

[laker67]

For all of those who don't realize what Bennett was, I feel for you. You should have had an opportunity to fish it before it graveled in and the DNR smelled money.

You have said it all in this one statement. Bennett was rewarding and challenging all in the same day. It taught me how to fish.

[NoLuck]

For the guys that think people fish at Bennett because it is a "Natural Trout Stream"..

I don't believe that anyone here is saying they think it is a true natural trout stream. What WAS said was, that the hole in question is one of the most natural looking places to fish at Bennett. Huge difference friends. What I am seeing here is a few people that think they are better than people that fish trout parks. People that fish shoulder to shoulder at the outlets at Taneycomo even feel that the trout parks are a joke too.

I guess to each his own. Some people just don't have the time to spend searching for good trout streams or traveling out west or east to fish for wild fish. What is so wrong with people that like how things were at Bennett and the other trout parks??? The highbank hole was or is one of the coolest places to fish to get out of the wind or sun and relax. Shallow water with fish hiding in small pockets of water and somewhat of a challenge to most anglers. A lot of the fish caught in the riffles are more natural acting than any fish at the parks.

I just feel that it would be a shame to wipe out the current status of that particular area of Bennett to put in more easily accessible water or a concrete pad and another channeled pool for people to sit on the bank on a bucket and fling a spinning rod. There is already enough places there to do that.

But we are just speculating here right? Maybe wrench is just trying to stir the pot a little and get us all riled up for nothing.

[ozark trout fisher]

Some people just don't have the time to spend searching for good trout streams or traveling out west or east to fish for wild fish. What is so wrong with people that like how things were at Bennett and the other trout parks???

Nothing wrong with it. I don't have a problem with the people that fish trout parks-different strokes for different folks. I will say that you could probably get a lot more enjoyment if you fished the less crowded trout streams- and no need to go west, there are plenty right here in Missouri. There is the Niangua below Bennett, the Current below Montauk, and the Meramec River below Maramec Spring. None of these are anywhere near as crowded as the trout parks they border against, and you don't have to drive any further to get to them- and that's not even mentioning the dozens of other good trout streams in the state, of Blue, Red, and White Ribbon persuasion.

The fish aren't as easy, and there aren't as many of them, but if you are looking for a truly quality experience on a real trout stream, you're probably going to have to look outside of the parks. Give the areas outside the park a try the next time you head to one of the parks-why not?. I think you'll find the experience quite a bit different and possibly more rewarding.

[jdmidwest]

Not unless they start growing them with legs.

The thing that puzzles me is that the trout program is, or was, suppose to support itself. The last accounting I saw it had not, yet they can truck fish to the urban ponds? I'm not against any program to enhance urban fishing if its economically feasible, but I would think there are better fish, Channel's and hybrid gills come to mind.

For all of those who don't realize what Bennett was, I feel for you. You should have had an opportunity to fish it before it graveled in and the DNR smelled money.

The urban trout program is subsidized by the city that sponsors it and local supporters. MDC just handles the transport and signs on what is their managed lakes anyway. And it is not just taxpayer dollars. The local urban trout program is sponsored by several local businesses, Walmart is one, City Park monies, and the local TU was purchasing the lunkers last time I talked to people that know. MDC kicks in something I believe, but I don't know how much. And from all of the bluegill that I caught after the stocking this time, they may have dumped some in too while they were there, but I doubt as they would have come from a different hatchery.

This year has been the first year the trout program here has been good. First few years, the lake was silted by runoff from construction in a local subdivision. Last year, disease hit them early and killed them off. They were restocked, but the lake froze soon after and you could not fish for them. I did hit some at the Feb 1 catch and keep. This year was nice, lake was clear, weather was good, and we fished it several times after work till the DST change.