The Meramec Red Ribbon Trout Doesn't Have To Suck!

[Chief Grey Bear]

Its the spotted bass.

[Justin Spencer]

Good info Tucker, if I was in that area I would push for some rainbow stockings, historically their numbers are anemic, and with the limited number of browns being produced, maybe they would oblige if they felt people wanted better trout fishing opportunities outside the park.

[Al Agnew]

One thing I'm curious about in those statistics is how much of the entire stretch of river is sampled to get those figures. If you sampled at various points throughout the whole red ribbon section, I believe you'd find more fish than that in the first three miles and much fewer than that further downstream.

[Gavin]

Al, I think the sample runs are standardized...at least they are on the Current...same two stretches every year...unless high or low water bollocked it up. A rookie on the net might hurt...but not that much.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Thats a good question, Al.

Also, why stock in the spring months? As Ted mentioned, why not in mid-fall as water temps drop? I'm no biologist, but that sure seems like a better time to stock than in the spring (peak flood season). Could it be a conscious decision not to coincide with gigging season? Of course it can flood anytime on the Meramec, but it just seems like the fall would give those 10 inchers the best chance (assuming they aren't gigged).

And only 5800 fish? Compared to the 2 million or so that Taney gets through repeated stockings thoughout the year . . . just seems criminally low.

Thanks for posting those #'s, Matt. I imagine it was even better back in the 80s. Would be interesting to see that data.

I can understand an off year or two on the Meramec . . . but for trout fishing, this river has consistently sucked for almost a decade now.

[Greasy B]

Is there room for experiments or does the "Red Ribbon” designation lock up trout management into a pre-described set of rules on trout stocking frequency, sizes and species? To most of us the thought of releasing a truck load Rainbows that would otherwise be bound for P&T and consequently the frying pan would be a great way to augment the fishery. To a fisheries manager working in a bureaucracy the very notion of violating protocol may be abhorrent. With a stream adored by so many and with so much unmet potential could fisheries managers get just a little flexibility from the bureaucracy?

Did I just answer my own question by using the words flexibility and bureaucracy in the same sentence?

[jdmidwest]

Trout stocking takes place in the spring to allow them optimum temperature and abundant food source. Put them in the fall and the temps get cold and food source drops off. Plus, that is about how long it takes for them to go from an egg to the stocking size.

Trout have an optimum temperature to feed and thrive. Too high in the 70's and they stop eating, too low, metabolism slows down to conserve energy. 55 to 58 is optimum if I remember, similar to our spring water.

Unless it has increased, Current River only gets 8000 browns, average 1000 per mile of river stocked, which is the park to Cedar Grove. What is the length of the area from the spring branch to Scotts Ford?

[fishinwrench]

As long as trout management has been going on in Mo. you'd think they'd have it pretty much figured out by now.

Pisses me off when they act like it's a new thing, and still in the experimental stages.

Things sure seemed to be alot more consistent back when everyone wasn't so blasted smart. LOL

Whatever !

[patfish]

but for trout fishing, this river has consistently sucked for almost a decade now.

Indeed.

[mic]

As long as trout management has been going on in Mo. you'd think they'd have it pretty much figured out by now.

Pisses me off when they act like it's a new thing, and still in the experimental stages.

Things sure seemed to be alot more consistent back when everyone wasn't so blasted smart. LOL

Whatever !

FW,

I don't think I agree with this statement. Like all technology and science, what is "figured out" in one era changes as T&S improves. You add in the changing nature of a river and social priorites, and it seems to me there is no way for things to stay static in a hatchery environment.