Mdc Fishing Report Errors

[FlyFishinFool]

Maybe MDC needs to get an independent local fisherman who will provide a weekly report to be summarized in their email report. If they are relying on local vendors to provide a report it appears that they hedge their report to the good side - after all the vendors do not want to scare away their own potential customers. Personally, I would rather have an honest accurate report than have someone just blowing smoke!

I NEVER rely on just one fishing report, but can usually get some kind of an idea what a stream looks like before I make a trip from a combination of the water gauges, several fishing reports, a phone call or two, etc.; and with the price of gas these days, I want as much accurate information before I spend my limited gas $ .......

[FishinCricket]

Maybe MDC needs to get an independent local fisherman who will provide a weekly report to be summarized in their email report. If they are relying on local vendors to provide a report it appears that they hedge their report to the good side - after all the vendors do not want to scare away their own potential customers. Personally, I would rather have an honest accurate report than have someone just blowing smoke!

I NEVER rely on just one fishing report, but can usually get some kind of an idea what a stream looks like before I make a trip from a combination of the water gauges, several fishing reports, a phone call or two, etc.; and with the price of gas these days, I want as much accurate information before I spend my limited gas $ .......

You'll note that your motivation is similar to that of the vendor (and the MDC).. It's all about the benjamins...

[Al Agnew]

Fishing reports that actually say how good the fishing is and what the fish are biting on are pretty much useless. Things often change rapidly, and the fish don't read the reports. The most useful thing a fishing report can do is tell you water conditions and water temperatures. Water conditions are always important, water temps are important mostly in the spring and fall periods. Of course, reports that come out on Thursday with info coming a day before that can be totally wrong on water conditions by the time the weekend comes around. To tell the truth, I can't remember the last time I actually read a fishing report, let alone found one really useful. It's gotten to where I rely almost entirely on the USGS gauges.

[flytyer57]

I'll only use the fishing reports to get an idea of where to start and change as needed.

[oneshot]

Use to be you could call Weavers and get a good idea whats going on.Not sure anymore.

oneshot

[FlyFishinFool]

Use to be you could call Weavers and get a good idea whats going on.Not sure anymore.

oneshot

I agree, used to be much more accurate - now the Weavers fishing report is frequently sunshine, clear water and fish attacking the same set of flies they regularly sell.

[FlyFishinFool]

Fishing reports that actually say how good the fishing is and what the fish are biting on are pretty much useless. Things often change rapidly, and the fish don't read the reports. The most useful thing a fishing report can do is tell you water conditions and water temperatures. Water conditions are always important, water temps are important mostly in the spring and fall periods. Of course, reports that come out on Thursday with info coming a day before that can be totally wrong on water conditions by the time the weekend comes around. To tell the truth, I can't remember the last time I actually read a fishing report, let alone found one really useful. It's gotten to where I rely almost entirely on the USGS gauges.

Al - I agree with most of your comments, everyone knows the fishing was always better yesterday (or tomorrow!) and what the fish are biting on is only for a few moments.

My issue is the comments that the water level is normal and clear, when I was there a couple of days before and the water level was NOT normal and was NOT clear, and I left in the morning just before they had a gully washer of a storm that afternoon. Then a couple of days later they are stating the water level is near normal and clearing? This is nothing more than blowing smoke in the hopes that people will come down and spend money. All I had to do was check the USGS water gauge and it was obvious that the BSSP stream level was more than a foot above normal. So my comment still stands - MDC needs to get someone who gives accurate reports or just drop it off the fishing report altogether. I would prefer not to have their input than be provided obviously false information. And if that fishing report is full of manure, it reflects on all the other reports as well - how many of them are also just BS in hopes of folks coming down and spending money?

[laker67]

Al - I agree with most of your comments, everyone knows the fishing was always better yesterday (or tomorrow!) and what the fish are biting on is only for a few moments.

My issue is the comments that the water level is normal and clear, when I was there a couple of days before and the water level was NOT normal and was NOT clear, and I left in the morning just before they had a gully washer of a storm that afternoon. Then a couple of days later they are stating the water level is near normal and clearing? This is nothing more than blowing smoke in the hopes that people will come down and spend money. All I had to do was check the USGS water gauge and it was obvious that the BSSP stream level was more than a foot above normal. So my comment still stands - MDC needs to get someone who gives accurate reports or just drop it off the fishing report altogether. I would prefer not to have their input than be provided obviously false information. And if that fishing report is full of manure, it reflects on all the other reports as well - how many of them are also just BS in hopes of folks coming down and spending money?

You are exactly right. It's always a "come on down", we don't care if you spend your hard earned gas dollars on a trip you would not take if you knew the real conditions of the creek. And just for the record, the hatchery personel at MSP are always honest when I ask water conditions. Not so much the case elsewhere.

[ness]

I never read any 'latest fishing report' to make any decisions. If I'm going, I'm going. When I get there I'll try different stuff until I find something that works -- hopefully before I run out of time. Of course those decisions will be based on an accumulation of knowledge over time. I gave up copying the last guys success a long time ago.

I suppose there would be somebody who'd complain if they stopped printing them though.

[Mitch f]

I never read any 'latest fishing report' to make any decisions. If I'm going, I'm going. When I get there I'll try different stuff until I find something that works -- hopefully before I run out of time. Of course those decisions will be based on an accumulation of knowledge over time. I gave up copying the last guys success a long time ago.

I suppose there would be somebody who'd complain if they stopped printing them though.

A little local knowledge always helps, if you can trust the source. But when planning a trip away from home, I can't take the risk on having enough time to "try different stuff until I find something that works---hopefully before I run out of time". Again, the source has to be credible and should be someone you have history with. I don't really go by the fishing reports either.