Opening Day C&r Section

[trapshot25]

Fished the catch and release section yesterday and had good day. Not too many people in this part of the park and trout were abundant. They have done a little work in this section so it was little different than last time. Some sections have also graveled in from flood last year. Sorry no pictures but did get a couple of healthy 16-18 inch rainbows. Good color and fun time on my 3wt butterstick. Got a few on small caddis dry, crackleback and soft hackles. Rest of the park looked busy, but saw several campers packing up early because of todays weather.

[Bill Anderson]

I'm just not into elbow to elbow mob fishing, so I pass on opening day at RR or the other trout parks. But I'll get down there during the week when most folks are at work or school. I do most of my fishing at RR during the C&R winter season, anyway. But RR is only 27 miles from my house, and I can be on the river in a half hour's drive from home, so I really like going there. Beaver is only 20 miles farther, and many times when I'm on the way to RR, I'll just make the drive on to Beaver. There are usually not as many people and I've been fishing the White River for the past 45 years and love the wildness of the place. RR is a bit more convenient, tho, and the folks that run it do a marvelous job. It's a real natural jewel of a place.

[Jeff Tief]

Fished the opener at RRSP and had a good day of fishing.Didn't see as many big fish as we've seen in past years but the average size of the stockers was great.I'll often go above the C&R portion on the back side and don't have to contend with shoulder to shoulder conditions.Wife Susie fished after breakfast for her first time at an opener and caught one fish of about 4# and had 2 more on in that same range.I caught one of 3 1/4# and lost another close to that size.Cut the trip short and hurried out this a.m. trying to get ahead of the weather.Old friend Danny Horton was along to join in and caught his share of the stockers.Said it was the best year in a long time for the average fish.

[laker67]

Well glad you all caught some of them 200 lunkers that was out there running around. Seems as if most were disguised as 17 and 18 inch fish. That could be why you overlooked them. But I guess the parks now consider an 18 inch stocker fish to be of lunker status, and are willing to give out a patch saying "that is so". With only a 4.5 lb fish on the board for "big fish", RR is in a sad state of affair, as is the other parks. The have farmed so many "real lunker fish" out to the urban environment, that they can no longer even maintain a tradition. Sad indeed. Opening day in st Louis looks better each season. Glad you all had an enjoyable trip Jeff.

[Jeff Tief]

laker67; only thing that would have made it better would've been you and the Mrs. joining us at the cabin.Wonder how many fish went to stock the urban area lakes made it thru the winter we have had.Don't know the size or depth of the lakes but some of the fish stocked probably didn't benefit fare very well.Oh well without a lot of big fish to fish for it left a lot of time to "just fish" and we did enjoy that.

[laker67]

WEll thanks and sorry we missed it. I let that dang ole winter storm scare me out. It is indeed nice to fish with good friends. As the weather warms, we will try and get together for a fish day. Take care.