Chasing Niangua browns

[Bill B.]

Made my first (and only) fall Niangua trip yesterday. The river is low and clear. The browns, which seem to get smaller every year, rather than bigger, were smaller this year than ever before. Where I used to catch fat, healthy 15-inch fish, this year I caught skinny, 10- to 12-inch fish. Pretty disappointing.

[drew03cmc]

Where do you fish for these fish? It could be due to the river itself being lower than in years past, and possibly on less forage for the fish to eat...just a suggestion.

[McManus]

Are you fishing the Barclay Access?

[fishinwrench]

I'll back that statement up. I have been working the Niangua over HARD since late September....and you are right, the Browns are few AND puny. It was reported that they released 5000 12-13in. Browns, spread out at 5 locations....I'm beginning to have some serious doubts about the accuracy of that. Like you I have some "reliable" holding areas located, but the few fish that are there are not worth the trouble it takes to get to them, that's for sure. Even the stocker Bows are small and skinny.

Lately on the N. I get more sport from the Chubs than the trout.

[Bill B.]

I've no doubt that prolonged low water has seriously affected the fishery.

McManus, I was in the general vicinity of Barclay.

[McManus]

I parked at Barclay and went up stream---about 3 weeks ago---and didn't even get a bump.