What Are They Doing?

[fishinwrench]

No really.....It WAS bette before they got so "smart and high tech".

The cynicism in this case is entirely appropriate.

[NoLuck]

No really.....It WAS bette before they got so "smart and high tech".

The cynicism in this case is entirely appropriate.

I'm just razzin you a little about being cynical. I don't really know what happened from the time I was younger till present. I've been fishing Bennett since about 1969-70. When I was that young I couldn't remember that much to compare it too. I'm 47 now so it wasn't that long ago. LOL But with a lot of things, newer isn't always better. Maybe more effecient, but not better. The stocking of the stream is like a top secret mission now compared to when I followed the truck around on a bicycle to watch them stock the stream. I pretty much quit going there from about 1980-1989. So in that time it changed a bunch. Over the last 5 years is when I saw the most change though in fish quality. Maybe it's because I care about the place so much compared to back then.

I get the feeling that some of the guys on here think some of us are complaining to hear ourselves complain. I know it is frustrating, but we are just along for the ride pretty much. If there was a way for our concerns to be heard it should be explored. I don't want Bennett to be a trophy trout area but I do want it to be a quality place like it used to be. It's a trout park and I understand that. Some states don't even have what we have so I guess we should be thankful for what we have. Just keep hoping.

[fishinwrench]

My hopes are that eventually they will begin managing the fishery BELOW the park more seriously, and I know that'll never happen until they have the Spring branch fishery at or near peak.

I wanna see the Niangua managed similar to the way the Current river is before I croak. It definately has tbe potential, and the area could benefit alot from more river-friendly "friends".

[Wayne SW/MO]

I've been fishing it since the about 57's, I'm not one to remember exact dates or even years, and lived in the park for a year and nearby for several. Things didn't change a lot until Sam Welch and Jim Rogers got their heads together. It was all down hill from there for the average fishermen.

The DNR can't do anything to really help the river because they are part of the problem. The started renting canoes, as if there weren't already enough, about the time they should have started regulating.

[stlfisher]

I don't understand why the Niangua seems to be a bit overlooked either. I would think it could grow some big browns, but you have to give them a chance to grow. Seems like they get picked off pretty quickly.

I do think it will get better, I am sure the economy is not helping speed the rennovations along. I actually thought that was all completed last year and that it would take a year to grow some decent fish. It would be nice if we could get some information.

[Wayne SW/MO]

stlfisher, Saturday morning on the Niangua is a circus, and I'm sure others will agree. Much of the problem with the river, IMO, is the number of people who drag a rod along and maybe catch a fish. Take that times several 100 every weekend and then ad in several hundred more walking through the shoals to insure that no aquatic insects can survive and you have formula that just isn't conducive for growing anything in any viable numbers.

[laker67]

Things didn't change a lot until Sam Welch and Jim Rogers got their heads together. It was all down hill from there for the average fishermen.

.

Yep, you are absolutely correct Wayne, I have said the very same thing for years.

[laker67]

I don't understand why the Niangua seems to be a bit overlooked either. I would think it could grow some big browns, but you have to give them a chance to grow. Seems like they get picked off pretty quickly.

I do think it will get better, I am sure the economy is not helping speed the rennovations along. I actually thought that was all completed last year and that it would take a year to grow some decent fish. It would be nice if we could get some information.

Well stl, the niangua used to grow big browns, several up to 15 lbs, were caught in the late 80's and the 90's. As Wayne stated, not so much anymore. Only a couple of respectable fish have been caught since 2000, a 17lber caught by our own OAF member Jeff Tief, and an 18lber caught by Jack Bushacker. I am afraid conditions will not improve with the current administration being guided and led around by the nose from the 2 gentlemen that Wayne talked about. The new hatchery facilities is just a guise like a well planned CoC event. Kind of a "come on down" things are getting better. I am a huge supporter of MDC, but somehow bssp is falling through the cracks. I am not sure why they are turning a deaf ear to the anglers and the local business owners not associated with JR.

[stlfisher]

stlfisher, Saturday morning on the Niangua is a circus, and I'm sure others will agree. Much of the problem with the river, IMO, is the number of people who drag a rod along and maybe catch a fish. Take that times several 100 every weekend and then ad in several hundred more walking through the shoals to insure that no aquatic insects can survive and you have formula that just isn't conducive for growing anything in any viable numbers.

That is a bummer...seems like the norm in many areas today. I am guessing different regulations wouldn't help the cause then.

[stlfisher]

Well stl, the niangua used to grow big browns, several up to 15 lbs, were caught in the late 80's and the 90's. As Wayne stated, not so much anymore. Only a couple of respectable fish have been caught since 2000, a 17lber caught by our own OAF member Jeff Tief, and an 18lber caught by Jack Bushacker. I am afraid conditions will not improve with the current administration being guided and led around by the nose from the 2 gentlemen that Wayne talked about. The new hatchery facilities is just a guise like a well planned CoC event. Kind of a "come on down" things are getting better. I am a huge supporter of MDC, but somehow bssp is falling through the cracks. I am not sure why they are turning a deaf ear to the anglers and the local business owners not associated with JR.

Those are some nice fish...to bad we don't have more of them. I agree it just doesn't make sense to let Bennett slide so much. I wonder if there is somethig else going on we don't know about.