"wondrin' Aloud"

[joeD]

Just a thought as I glance backwards and wave goodbye to the upper Current, and move forward to Missouri stream smallie fishing. I believe that the chances of having a successful day on the upper Current between the park and Parker's is being steadily diminished by our relentless fishing pressure (spin or fly). It is just my opinion, based on nothing but personal experience and anecdotal evidence. I do not place any "blame" on us fishermen. The Current, I believe, is still THE best trout fishing stream in Missouri. And no, I don't give up just because it can be a fickle river. Also, I give no thought or weight to excuses like the vagaries of our weather and/or rain/snow fall. Our changeable weather and river conditions are consistent over time. Yes, a few people, every so often, have great days, with big fish and multiples of fish caught. But not very often. Exceptions don't make the rule. (yes,I know, I don't know everyone who fishes there and how they did. I am extrapolating and expostulating). I am going to go so far as to say our collective catch rates are declining (Good News! That means our cost per fish caught is increasing! Gas. Equipment. Time. Wasting time. Lying to ourselves). The sheer number of lures and flies those trout see (in that section) on a daily and weekly and monthly basis is pretty staggering. Posters to this forum often scratch their heads as to the lack of answers for their (our) fishing futility. The answer, for me, in short, is fishing pressure. The constant and determined pursuit of trout in this river section by enthusiastic anglers, like us, in ever increasing numbers, is having a negative effect on our fishing success.

Well Joe, you might say, if you were a better fisherman, you wouldn't have these "negative" thoughts. Sometimes fishing isn't about catching fish. True. I am not a great trout fisherman. (For that matter, I'm not a great person either.) My sample size is small and limited. My conclusions, therefore, are suspect and tenuous at best. However, that is what I think and want to put forward. I stand behind it. Again, just an opinion. Your experience might be different. Splendid. Or it might be like mine. A long way to go for a few fish.

PS: I get it: "It's good to get out.." "I don't have to catch fish to be successful.." "Joe, your priorities are askew..." "Be thankful for what you have..." Blah blah blah blah.

PSS: I love to fish. I want, and expect, to catch fish, often big, when I do go. I can honestly say that I am somewhat disappointed when my expectations are not met. It is who I am as an Ozark stream angler and I make no apologies for it.

[kevthebassman]

Hotspots come and go. In 5 years Cardiac Hill might be the hotspot again, and people will be writing Dear Current letters on the forum telling the river that things just aren't working out anymore!

[Nortrad]

I would agree that pressure has increased, especially from those who normally do not fish the Blue Ribbon area, namely park fishermen. I have also found and cleaned up beer cans, styrofoam worm boxes, and power bait jars when fishing the Parker's area. So, between those who violate the reg's and a lot of fishermen, new fly/lure fishermen also, not just exclusively park fishermen, the trout population is getting harrassed. They were a little skittish before, they're even tougher to catch. I would also agree that the stream catch rates cycle up/down. I'm also going to concentrate more on the N. Fork and 11 Point this year. Going to hassle my fishing bud to load up the canoe. Not giving up on the Current, just going to more places.

[ozark trout fisher]

Just a thought as I glance backwards and wave goodbye to the upper Current, and move forward to Missouri stream smallie fishing. I believe that the chances of having a successful day on the upper Current between the park and Parker's is being steadily diminished by our relentless fishing pressure (spin or fly). It is just my opinion, based on nothing but personal experience and anecdotal evidence. I do not place any "blame" on us fishermen. The Current, I believe, is still THE best trout fishing stream in Missouri. And no, I don't give up just because it can be a fickle river. Also, I give no thought or weight to excuses like the vagaries of our weather and/or rain/snow fall. Our changeable weather and river conditions are consistent over time. Yes, a few people, every so often, have great days, with big fish and multiples of fish caught. But not very often. Exceptions don't make the rule. (yes,I know, I don't know everyone who fishes there and how they did. I am extrapolating and expostulating). I am going to go so far as to say our collective catch rates are declining (Good News! That means our cost per fish caught is increasing! Gas. Equipment. Time. Wasting time. Lying to ourselves). The sheer number of lures and flies those trout see (in that section) on a daily and weekly and monthly basis is pretty staggering. Posters to this forum often scratch their heads as to the lack of answers for their (our) fishing futility. The answer, for me, in short, is fishing pressure. The constant and determined pursuit of trout in this river section by enthusiastic anglers, like us, in ever increasing numbers, is having a negative effect on our fishing success.

Well Joe, you might say, if you were a better fisherman, you wouldn't have these "negative" thoughts. Sometimes fishing isn't about catching fish. True. I am not a great trout fisherman. (For that matter, I'm not a great person either.) My sample size is small and limited. My conclusions, therefore, are suspect and tenuous at best. However, that is what I think and want to put forward. I stand behind it. Again, just an opinion. Your experience might be different. Splendid. Or it might be like mine. A long way to go for a few fish.

PS: I get it: "It's good to get out.." "I don't have to catch fish to be successful.." "Joe, your priorities are askew..." "Be thankful for what you have..." Blah blah blah blah.

PSS: I love to fish. I want, and expect, to catch fish, often big, when I do go. I can honestly say that I am somewhat disappointed when my expectations are not met. It is who I am as an Ozark stream angler and I make no apologies for it.

You are certainly right in saying the heavy fishing pressure makes the fishing more difficult on the Current, especially below Baptist Camp where there aren't that many park migrants hanging around. Those fish have seen every fly known to man and can be pretty careful about what they eat.

That can be a curse if you want but I see it as more of a blessing. When I want to fish for trout that are not selective, then I will fish somewhere where the fishing pressure is less-like on one of the wild trout creeks. But when I want a challenge for difficult trout I like to fish the Current. I love having to go through my fly box, trying everything, until I find what the fish are wanting. That's more than half the fun on a relatively difficult fishery like the Current below Baptist. And if the fishing gets too tough, you can always tie on an egg pattern. You can just about always catch a couple on one of those, and often a lot more than a couple. I'll stick with the Current as my favorite trout river here in Missouri, with the possible exception of a certain wild trout creek.

If nothing else the scenery down there is plenty to keep me coming back. That makes the trip well worth it even if I never so much as see a trout. That is just who I am as an Ozark stream angler and I will make no apologies about it.

[snagged in outlet 3]

I agree Joe.

We went down on a Wednesday in the winter and there were several cars at both Tan Vat and Baptist.

Same can be said about all of the trout areas in the state. Parks and Taney included.

That stupid movie and trout magazines ruined my solitude years ago.

SIO3

[ozark trout fisher]

Same can be said about all of the trout areas in the state. Parks and Taney included.

Not all trout areas in the state. You can find solitude and good trout fishing if you're willing to look in the right places.

[stlfisher]

I usually have good fishing on the Current so no dissastisfaction from me. I do agree that the pressure around Tan Vat especially last time I was there was trout park like. I just think it is the time of year more than anything with the weather getting nicer and everyone trying to cure cabin fever. I usually catch more fish ouside the park than in it.

[Outside Bend]

Fishing pressure probably makes a difference, and fish are probably getting more selective as pressure increases, but the fishing can still be downright silly from time to time, the fish population on the Current is probably as good as it's ever been, I see good numbers of big browns when I'm down there, and the last few trips down I've caught more streambred rainbows than I have in years past- all good things.

That's what I like about the Current- it's not a trout park, and you can't expect to be rewarded without putting in a fair bit of effort.

[Gavin]

Dunno...the last couple of years have been great, IMO. I've seen more 20"+ fish caught on that river in the past two years than I have in the previous five.

You have to have realistic expectations though. Are the crowds are bad? Spring through fall they are. No worries though......Most of those anglers will never have more than a random chance at any of the better fish down there. Most dont have a clue about how to fish for them, others have different objectives, and many wont expend the effort.

I'd say that 24" is about the upper end of the range though...which isnt bad for a small freestone river anywhere in the US of A..Cheers.

[Nortrad]

Point taken Gavin. You must learn how to fish this stream. I do not fish it like I did when I first started. It's challenging, no guarantee's, that's what makes it a great stream.