Good Fly Fishing Areas - Below Trophy Area

[Lincoln]

I guess that depends on how you intend to prepare the fish. I would agree that filets off a 11" fish wouldn't be very hearty. If you grill the fish whole, however, I think an 11 incher is a pretty good size.

[Thom]

An 11 or 12 inch trout are the best fish to eat out of Taney in my opinion. You will be able to catch 12 inchers wading below the dam and they will be legal. Most of the fish in the lower end of the slot (12" and under are thick and healthy at the dam. If they are filet right there is a pretty good portion. My wife and I had the filets from two fish that we harvested last week for dinner today and it was about the size of the portion most resturants servc.

Don't be intimidated by the signs at the dam. I never keep any over 20" except on a photo but will often take two or three home for lunch. Thats what the regulations allow.

Folks that want to keep legals and amount that are legal are not the problem. It's the people that make two or three trips to their coolers in the car or back home and come back again to fill a second stringer is what causes a problem.

Clarification: I meant take home 2 or 3 12 inchers. (see previous post)

Thought I'd better clarify my statement before the literary critics start picking it apart to remind me you can't keep 2 0r 3 20 + inchers.

You can keep 4 12 inches or below.

[troutchaser]

Well . . . alright. If you say so. I might just keep some 12" fish for dinner this Saturday. You'll be able to spot me. I'll be the guy in the ratty cowboy hat trying to hide a stringer of short fish.

[WebFreeman]

Not trying to nick-pick, but don't 12-inchers need to go back. I think the reg. reads the slot is 12"-20" must be returned. So they need to be 11 15/16 and under to keep. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Also, I've been wondering about the "possession" limit. If I have 20 trout in my freezer (I don't, btw), am I in violation of the 8 trout possession limit?

[Lincoln]

I'm new to the area, but my understanding is that 8 in possession means 8 in possession. So 20 in the freezer would be a violation. I'm not the definitive source on that, however. I'm sure someone will step up with a correction should I be wrong.

[troutchaser]

WebFreeman, your a lawyer, ain't ya!?!

[WebFreeman]

No, but I don't want to hire one if I get caught w/ 4 12-inch fish. I bet that fine would be hefty!! (Heftier than 4 12-inch stockers!!)

[Andrew Schaefer]

I was down at Taneycomo for my annual two week trout fishing trip in july/august and to me it seemed like the upper end is a little crowded with short fish, I didn't keep any of them but I thought about it. I also noticed that some of the fish I caught were awfull skinny. I don't know if there really is a crowding or food shortage problem but it kinda seemed like it to me.

[Gavin]

I wouldnt feel bad about keeping a limit under 12" above Fall creek. Last time I spoke with an MDC trout biologist about the upper end, he said that he wished folks would keep more fish under 12". Not sure about the "possession" limit. I've never got more than 3-4lbs of fish in the freezer at any one time, but I think that the possession limit pertains to transportation of fish.

I think the reg says you have to have the head & skin intact on all trout in possession while your on the uppper end, and the limit is 4 fish under 12", 8 in possession. I really think it means that you cant take more than 2 limits of fish home on a two plus day fishing trip...If you happen to have a few more fish in your home freezer, so be it. Cheers.

[Thom]

I inquired about the 12 inch size while talking to one of the game wardens on the trophy water when he checked for liscense and limit. He told me that 12" was OK and they don't get picky about the 12 inch measurement. Just don't push it. How do you make an perfectly accurate measurement wade fishing.

He also indicated that he was looking for the big violaters and bait fishing.

I just don't understand why anyone would be ashamed to keep 12" fish. That partly what they are stocked for and again are the best tasteing fish. I probally returned 25 fish every day I fished last week. I kept a limit in the live well twice all week and enjoyed what my tax money and tag fees entitled me to.

I think some of the folks on this forum read it to find some technicallity to comment on every post.

Whattssup up folks. This is for fun and information not nit picking. I really don't think most of the rules were put in place to try to trick someone into getting fined.