Blue Ribbon Regulations

[Ted Calcaterra]

It has been a few years since many of our trout streams were given blue, red, or white ribbon status. The upper Current river has always been a fantastic trout fishery. How much has the blue ribbon status made an impact on this river? Do you think it is better with more and quality fish? I was reflecting on this while fishing this past weekend.

I think the Current has improved while other fisheries, such as the Meremac, have remained the same. It would be interesting to see how others comment???

[Brian Sloss]

I think it depends. On the Eleven Point the change in designation has meant no change in regs. Our blue ribbon area had the same regs under its previous designation. That being said, fishing has improved with changed management strategies. Though we did and do get wild reproduction, but not at a level that provides more than 150-250 fish per mile. You can still get them if you know where they are successful at reproducing though. They now suppliment that population annually and that really helps a lot. The reg change to 4 fish per day in the white ribbon area I think has really helped the white ribbon area keep more fish longer. The lower river has produced well this year and some large fish have been caught everywhere this year. It didn't hurt that they put a few extra fish in the white ribbon area this year. With the improvements to the hatcheries under way, hopefully we will see increased availibility of fish for all fisheries, not just Taney and the trout parks where they are located.

[3wt]

I think the current has improved. I have personally caught fewer fish in the 10-12" range and more 14-17 inchers in my few trips this year. This could be pretty incidental but I would like to think the regs are helping.

Also, I've always understood that the browns have not spawned in the current river. But on my last trip, I caught about a 3" brown near ashley creek. It was in September, so I find it difficult to believe it is a little guy that got stuck in with the stockers (when do they stock? I thought it would have to be bigger by Sept.) I found this pretty interesting.

I think the current has improved. I have personally caught fewer fish in the 10-12" range and more 14-17 inchers in my few trips this year. This could be pretty incidental but I would like to think the regs are helping.

Also, I've always understood that the browns have not spawned in the current river. But on my last trip, I caught about a 3" brown near ashley creek. It was in September, so I find it difficult to believe it is a little guy that got stuck in with the stockers (when do they stock? I thought it would have to be bigger by Sept.) I found this pretty interesting.

[Sam Potter]

Hey Ted,

The hey day of large browns on the Current River was back in the late 90s, but I do agree that we are getting more and more large guys on the end of our lines in the last couple of years. The populations are good enough that only one stocking a year is now taking place. We will have to wait until the numbers are in from the survey that was taken this fall to see if the present stocking plans will continue.

If we can convince people to just take a photo and let those big guys go, we would all see more and larger fish on the end of your lines. Unfortunately, I see too many of them end up on the trophy board of some local establishments. An 18+ inch brown will be over 5 years old, so it takes time for them to grow. I am not sure of the growth rate for the Current River, but I have to believe that it could be faster for them. In the surveys I have helped with, and of all the fish I have caught, I have never seen a skinny brown trout in the Current River. The amount of food for them in this stream must be tremendous.

As far as the size of the stockers goes, the range is normally about 8-10 inches. Occasionally a very small guy gets in the mix and occasionally a larger one around 14 inches gets in the mix.... and sometimes even a rainbow gets in there. When fish are moved around a lot they sometimes flop into one of the other holding runs accidentally.

[3wt]

Sam,

Do you have any feel for what kind of momentum would be required to make the blue ribbon area of the current catch and release? What kind of opposition would that kind of movement face? What kind of friends would it have whith MDC?

[Gavin]

Its definitely improved. I had a chance to help with the survey this year and I got a look at the numbers. The results werent final yet but the average fish count was up 11% from the 2001 to 2004 average. Approximately 24% of the brown trout population is 15 and larger, up 5% from the 2001 to 2004 average, and browns over 18 make up about 6% of the population. There are lots of great fish in that river, but fly fishing usually isnt the most effective way to catch a big brown trout.

As for C&R only on the Current..I think a 1 trout over 18" and a bait restriction is darn near catch & release, plusit would be a really hard sell. There are still lot of folks out there who miss the "minnow days". I also doubt that C&R only would improve the fishing much anyway.

FWIW, I had a fantastic float on Saturday morning, landed 9 between 6:30 and 10am when the bite shut off. 3-4 of them were quality browns in the 14-16" range, and my fish of the trip was a 17" bow. Two friends of mine had similar fishing. It wasnt numbers or sizes like I'd expect on a tailrace fishery, but I'd stack the Current up against any small stream in the country.

Cheers