Question For The Creek Fishermen

[ozark trout fisher]

All the small creeks around my house are getting really swollen and muddy with snow-melt which is something that usually doesn't happen around here. We had 4-8 inches of snow on the ground before it really started melting fast yesterday It kind of reminds me of what happens to the rivers and streams in the Rocky Mountain West in the spring when the snow melts-only on a much smaller scale.

That might not be the case further south where there was less snow on the ground though. But if it is, the large amount of cold snow-melt water in the creeks is going to slow any start to warm-water fishing considerably.

[taxidermist]

Gary has it right, small road runner deep and slow in the front on the hole!

[smallmouthjoe]

All very good information, thanks.

Definitely post up how it on the James SmallMouth

Hey man, check out the James River section.

[Wormser]

All good advice and don't forget to fish in the middle of the day when the sun is at its highest this time of the year. Soon with periods of daylight getting longer each day, fish will be making runs to the shallows where the water warms quicker and looking for meals.

[ozark trout fisher]

All good advice and don't forget to fish in the middle of the day when the sun is at its highest this time of the year. Soon with periods of daylight getting longer each day, fish will be making runs to the shallows where the water warms quicker and looking for meals.

I agree with you all mostly on that... Middle of the day is the way to go for warmer water temps.

But if it's the same as it is here in East-central MO, I wouldn't be doing any mid-day creek fishing now-or doing any creek fishing at all. They are all muddy with snowmelt and only getting worse by the day- some are getting pretty close to jumping their banks.

[gotmuddy]

I went out on the eleven point today and did pretty good. Fished from 8-12, caught 10 fish the highlight being a 19" chain pickerel and a nice thick 16" smallie.

[ozark trout fisher]

I got out yesterday afternoon on the upper reaches of a Missouri River trib near home that holds some largemouth bass and bluegill. Just casting practice though-it was high and muddy with snowmelt, and there's no chance they could have seen the fly even if the water wasn't so cold they would be pretty much dormant...You know warm-water fishing is going to be tough when you have to walk through 2-3 inches of snow to get to the stream. But it was still nice to get out with a fly rod. It's been too long. In a couple weeks I may be able to go out there with some hope of success.

[Fredrick]

turkey creek had minnows and small panfish in it and something that was jumping today 02/17. Unfortunately it all so had beer cans and I found a needle (tweekers shoot up under the bridge)not to mention looks like someone disposed of their oil change including the filter in the F'ing creek . I hate white trash I didn't think white trash even changed their oil at all!!

[Dan Sweeney]

Fredrick,

Doesn't that stink??? I HATE to see that kind of mess. I'd like to hold someone's head under water untill bubbles quit coming up.

I went out for a couple hours this evening. Same story regarding the moderatly high/muddy/COLD water. All the recent snowmelt is still in there and it's up and flowing pretty well and cold cold cold. I waded and cast a bead head fly a bit but didn't expect much. It was pretty though, and I was far enough up/back that there was no one else out. There might be later in the year, but it won't ever be too busy. I'm looking forward to it!

[ozark trout fisher]

I just can't wait for things to get started. Of course I spend time on the real Ozark creeks (Blue Spring, Little Piney, Huzzah, etc) but I also enjoy the close to home stuff, which for me is Warren county. We're not really in the Ozarks here just north of the big muddy, but it looks and seems like the Ozarks in the river hills, and some of the creeks are nice spring-fed,clear streams, and can be really fun fly fishing for bass and bluegill...Access of course ain't easy with all the streams unnavigable and flowing through private property but luckily a few of the landowners are willing to let me fish, and that gives me some really nice close to home flowing water fly-fishing. I'm so excited thinking about it-it should be good here in just a couple weeks when we start to get a couple warm rains and I'll be either on the local ponds or the local creeks almost every evening until late October.