Browns

[Wayne SW/MO]

Crickets statement got me to wondering if the present state of the lrge stocking of browns didn't reveal a flaw? It seems that despite a lot pressure and high water they are still hanging out in the area where they are most vulnerable. It makes me wonder if the MDC shouldn't try stocking fewer fish, but do so from a boat and scattering them along the river?

[Gavin]

Float Stocking would probably help...In the few times that I've floated the Niangua it was pretty easy to figure out were the trout were. Just look for a road leading to the water.

[FishinCricket]

True, true....

[dennis boatman]

Fished today...4 browns and 1 rainbow...one of the browns was a 12"er...caught 3 of em on top...fun...

[ciRe]

Stocking from a boat would be ideal but they don't want to waste their time with that kind of stuff.

[10pointer]

Ive talked with the biologist that covers that part of the Niangua and Bennett and you would be suprised how many of the fish end up in the park that were stocked in the ribbon waters outside the park no matter how far down they are stocked. They have clipped fins and stocked down the river and the browns end back up in the hatchery runs in the park amazingly. . The main issue with the brown stocking is the water temps in the summer from what he says...the water just heats up too much and doesnt cool down enough at night to support the big browns alot of summers on the Niangua.

[Gavin]

There are multiple issues on the Niangua...habitat, float pressure, loose regulations, & lots of folks killing everything in order to have meat on the table for dinner...heck last time I floated it was a couple days before deer season...more gunfire than I hear when I float the Big Piney near Ft. Leonard Wood.

[Gavin]

There are multiple issues on the Niangua...habitat, float pressure, loose regulations, & lots of folks killing everything in order to have meat on the table for dinner...heck last time I floated it was a couple days before deer season...more gunfire than I hear when I float the Big Piney near Ft. Leonard Wood.

[Aaron J Scott]

There are multiple issues on the Niangua...habitat, float pressure, loose regulations, & lots of folks killing everything in order to have meat on the table for dinner...heck last time I floated it was a couple days before deer season...more gunfire than I hear when I float the Big Piney near Ft. Leonard Wood.

Ha, hopefully their bullets are a little smaller! Which reminds me, I need to find something in blaze orange for fall/winter fishing excursions.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Ive talked with the biologist that covers that part of the Niangua and Bennett and you would be suprised how many of the fish end up in the park that were stocked in the ribbon waters outside the park no matter how far down they are stocked. They have clipped fins and stocked down the river and the browns end back up in the hatchery runs in the park amazingly. . The main issue with the brown stocking is the water temps in the summer from what he says...the water just heats up too much and doesnt cool down enough at night to support the big browns alot of summers on the Niangua.

I hate to be cynical, but I would question real quick the statement that river fish end up in the hatchery runs. That's a pretty tough road if you think about it. Then there is the fact that the rainbows stay in the river and they like colder water. The hatchery people used to say the lack of browns in Bennett was due to the fact that they headed to the river.

I think there are two reasons for their lack of survival, one is that they tend to stay low in daylight when its feasible and two is that they feed at night and so do giggers.

As for habitat it is true that the river is raped. Building on its banks has compromised its depth, the floaters tear up the shoals preventing a good insect and crawfish hatch, and who knows what they put in the water every summer.