But Sometimes It Is

[Justin Spencer]

On the NFoW the red ribbon is the brown trout water so we lose a lot to bait as well, we have to remember these are put and take fisheries, and I guess they must think this is what the majority wants, I wish it was different, but at least we still get stockings.

[Greasy B]

If we could get a self correcting situation with fishing pressure, If we could get a couple of good water years and if we could all keep our mouths shut... That's a lot of if's.

[stlfisher]

On the NFoW the red ribbon is the brown trout water so we lose a lot to bait as well, we have to remember these are put and take fisheries, and I guess they must think this is what the majority wants, I wish it was different, but at least we still get stockings.

The Current is a bit unique in that it is managed as Blue Ribbon Trout water right outside of Montauk. So the Blue Ribbon water and the bait water border each other with no barrier between the two. It is my understanding, from previous discussions on the board, anglers can keep 4 brown trout in the trout parks as long as they are over 15 inches. When the Brown's migrate over the imaginary line (and they do) they get massacred. The local lunker boards show it. Because of the trout park loophole it actually allows more brown's to be caught. The Current is the only place I know that this is really an issue. I just think a statewide

1 brown over 18 is the way to go. Let the stocker rainbow's be eaten...not the wild ones though:)

[mic]

Brown trout should be catch and release only in all of MO in my mind. Let people keep bows.

[Gavin]

I agree with Al. The fishing between 2008-2010 was nutso good. We seem to be on a down cycle though. I sent an inquiry to the biologist. Will see what he has to say in regard to fish numbers and size structure.

[Justin Spencer]

Brown trout should be catch and release only in all of MO in my mind. Let people keep bows.

Don't think catch and release but maybe over 18" most places. We have a unique situation on the NFoW due to no stocking of rainbows, I couldn't care less if people keep browns (still plenty of big ones) just let all the rainbows go. I would prefer a slot on browns, keep 1 or two 15-18" then release the bigger ones.

The Current river situation is messed up, definately need a change in regs in the park, but it is a park so people want to be able to keep, they pay a fee so they have "bought" their fish regardless of species, and I understand the arguement.

[Gavin]

Got an email back from John Ackerson...fish numbers are down this year due to the drought and decreased stocking.The river received 8,500 brown trout per year between 2003-2006. Problems at the hatchery led to decreased stockings of brown trout in the 2007-2011 time frame, 5,600 brown trout per year. 6,200 brown trout were stocked in 2012.It was nutso good in the 2008-2010 time frame. Most likely due to the 2003-2006 stockings. Most of those fish are probably crawdad food by now due to old age.He said fish counts are averaging 310 per mile right know but it has been much higher in previous years. As for size structure, 43%>15", 12%>18" with good survival in the 2012 year class (look for an adiopose fin clip). They only sampled from the park to Baptist this year due to low water, with some fish in the low 20's in the mix...4 20", 3 21", a 22" and a 23". Kinda low numbers of big fish for the most productive water on that creek, IMO. It also corresponds with the upper end of what we have been catching for the last two years. I havent seen a legit report of a fish over 24" since I saw my buddy Kip land a 24.5" fish on Thanksgiving weekend in 2010. We both spend at least 15-20 days a year down there and we both agree that its taking allot more effort to round up a 20" fish. Pray for rain and better results at the hatchery.

[cnr]

Thanks for the info Gavin. It still is a great place to fish and enjoy the day. The nice part about the downturn in the fishing is that the pressure will probably come down, people stop going when it's not as productive as they expect it to be. That can only be good for the die-hards who stay with it in the long run.

[Outside Bend]

Got an email back from John Ackerson...fish numbers are down this year due to the drought and decreased stocking.The river received 8,500 brown trout per year between 2003-2006. Problems at the hatchery led to decreased stockings of brown trout in the 2007-2011 time frame, 5,600 brown trout per year. 6,200 brown trout were stocked in 2012.It was nutso good in the 2008-2010 time frame. Most likely due to the 2003-2006 stockings. Most of those fish are probably crawdad food by now due to old age.He said fish counts are averaging 310 per mile right know but it has been much higher in previous years. As for size structure, 43%>15", 12%>18" with good survival in the 2012 year class (look for an adiopose fin clip). They only sampled from the park to Baptist this year due to low water, with some fish in the low 20's in the mix...4 20", 3 21", a 22" and a 23". Kinda low numbers of big fish for the most productive water on that creek, IMO. It also corresponds with the upper end of what we have been catching for the last two years. I havent seen a legit report of a fish over 24" since I saw my buddy Kip land a 24.5" fish on Thanksgiving weekend in 2010. We both spend at least 15-20 days a year down there and we both agree that its taking allot more effort to round up a 20" fish. Pray for rain and better results at the hatchery.

Makes sense, bigger fish tend to take low water/DO harder than the little ones- compile environmental conditions with angling pressure and it doesn't surprise me there's fewer fish in the system this season. But like Gavin and others have mentioned, periodic drought is a recurring component of the Ozarks- it happens, and there;'s not much we can do about it. The fish will do what they need to in order to survive, regardless of how it affects our fishing. It may be a couple seasons before we start seeing lots of big fish in the Current again, but I don't imagine it bodes ill for the long-term health of the stream.

[stlfisher]

Wow...310 fish per mile does seem awfully low for the sections sampled.