They Call Me: Creek Chub Killer (Blue Springs Creek)

[mic]

Well... I finally made it back home to Blue Springs Creek. I parked at the middle spot below the beaver dam and went downstream passed the Blue Springs Ranch cut in. I must of caught 15 to 20 creek chubs most of them were the kind with the red tails. I didn't catch any trout.

Normally, it would not concern me... not catching any trout. However, I am. This isn't the scientific method by any means, but every little hole where there should have been a Blue Springs special, they were packed with these chubs. I couldn't get a decent drift without them hammering my flies. More scary is multiple chubs would be sitting where the "alfa" should have been. I wonder if the beaver dam is keeping fish from moving downstream after low water. It might be time for the conservation department to due another sampling. I think it has been a while.

I was happy to see my nemesis trout still in the best hole in the water. Try as I might, and I did try. I just can't seem to get a decent drift in that section of water. Between no back casting space, the tree hanging in the water, and that darn eddie pulling fly line the wrong direction, I just can't figure out how to attack those fish. In the end, same story, one step to far and they spooked for cover.

Tight Lines.

MIC

[Al Agnew]

I believe the fish you were catching are either redspot chubs or hornyheaded chubs. The two species are almost identical, and some Ozark stream systems have one, some have the other, but I don't remember offhand which species is in the Meramec system.

[bfishn]

...oughtta take a bucket of those to a good flathead hole in the next week or two... Build a fire, set the clicker and wait.

[jgentile]

It might be time for the conservation department to due another sampling. I think it has been a while.

The last survey was 2013. Fall I believe. The numbers were slightly down from 2011, but Jen was crediting this to the drought of 2012.

[mic]

I haven't seen that survey. Know where it is at?