Aug 22 Nd. Fishing Trip

[upstream]

Gas tank is full suitcase is packed leader is waxed cooler are iced up car is packed. Its finally time to go fishing and a well needed vacation. Look out bssp here we come.

[NoLuck]

Same here, loaded up, hooked up and headed out.

[mic]

We will call and warn them.

[rcguy]

Let us know how the fishing is!!! ... maybe a pic or two?

[rcguy]

You catchin' any yet?????? Garlic Cheese???? Power Bait???? Red Wigglers??? : )

[NoLuck]

Fishing is a little tough. Super small fish. I've done OK. The water is slowly dropping and clearing. It should be in real good shape just about the time we gotta head out.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I hate to hear that a bunch of small fish might have gotten loose. There won't be that many fish kept the rest of this year to clean them out.

I was told 3rd hand that at a meeting last February the MDC said they would be putting in smaller fish in July and August to accommodate the larger crowds. Anyone else heard this?

I backed a way from the stream for a few years and I was amazed at how crowded it has become, not to mention the number of bank fishermen in Z 1 & 2.

[rcguy]

Families should have fun together but the kids bank fishing in zone one is not great deal. Whe the kids are back in school it will be much better. I imagine it's thinning out some now. The last 2 weeks in Sept. and Oct. should be beautiful. I seem to make a trip every year on October.

[brittsnbirds]

Wayne, the problem isn't that "little one's got loose". The problem is that the Hatchery manager has changed practice of determining how to release fish. In his infinite wisdome he either has figured out or was told to quit culling/sorting fish like they use to with the wood crates. They don't physically count them they weigh them. MDC procurred a new crane to hoist a basket with a scale attached and "weigh" the fish to be released. They base their calculations on an average 12" fish weight. What I saw that they released was nothing near 12". Many would be lucky to make 6". This whole thing comes down to $$ not stock production. If they were raising catlle or hogs they would cull out the light ones to get bigger (like they use to) and release the mature larger fish.

These small fish will definately cause me to think twice about going down again. Oh BTW on Monday I believe they were down on tags sold for the year compared to last year(approx. 9700). That's a bunch of moola. Plus not counting the dollars that they missed out on camping fees, and other sales in the shop.

I was told to voice my complaint to andrew.branson@mdc.mo.gov!!

[rcguy]

That sucks!