Summer Army Is Here

[NoLuck]

Looks like the summer army of kids and everybody else is at Bennett now.  Tons of people that have zero clue about trout stream etiquette running rampant.  I'm glad that I'll miss the month of June while working out west.  I feel sorry for anyone that is trying to do any relaxing fishing at Bennett. 

The fish size has decreased already from a few weeks ago. There are a few decent ones in there but they aren't going to be easy picking. Tons of bank fishing going on in Zone 1 which is unprecedented.  Never seen it so bad in my life.  The water has a little better flow than it did a couple weeks ago but it's still low and gin clear.  The coming week shows promising for some much needed rainfall that'll maybe get the stream in better shape. 

I'm lucky that I don't mind not fishing as much this time of year.  If I drive down and it looks like a zoo I retreat to the camper and relax and grill and have a few cold beverages. 

I'm really looking forward to late summer and fall to get here now.  

[MOPanfisher]

If it's any consolation they are pretty much on every body of water this weekend and next weekend will be worse.  I just hope they all make it home alive.

[Old plug]

Lots of drunks amd druggies as well.

[MOPanfisher]

The are and will be plenty of both, although having been around the parks on holidays for many years I would much rather have someone who likes to smoke a joint in the evening and doesn't cause any problems than a whiskey drinker who decides his wife/family/neighbor Ned's a little smacking around, or the occasional trustee of modern chemistry who's greatest joy is another hit of meth.  I alway wanted hot, dry, windy holiday weekends.  Let them drink some beer, get sun and wind burned and wore out, then by midnight they are asleep.  Cold rainy weekends and some folks decide to just sit around and drink, invariably by midnight someone will get a free night in the county pokey.

[fshndoug]

I went to Bennett over the weekend and saw tons of bank fishermen in zone 1 and 2.Fishing seemed tough to me.Maybe that will discourage some in the future.saw several peopletfishing illegal lures in the wrong zones.Did not see an agent as usual,oh well

 

 

 

[DADAKOTA]

I really don't look at any trout park as being anywhere close to trout fishing.  It is just a different type of pay operation.  Fish dumped in on a daily basis pay your tag fee and take your trout home.  Oh yummy.  I have had the good fortune to fish true trout streams in Michigan, Colorado, and Wyoming.  Some were small creeks and others were rivers with some in between.  Places you never saw another fisherman other than those you went with.  No concession stands, swimming pools, or signs that said deep hole.  Not real different than private catch and carry trout operations.  Just not trout fishing as I know it.  With that said, to each there own.  If that is your thing then you've got several parks to choose from.

[laker67]

35 minutes ago, DADAKOTA said:

I really don't look at any trout park as being anywhere close to trout fishing.  It is just a different type of pay operation.  Fish dumped in on a daily basis pay your tag fee and take your trout home.  Oh yummy.  I have had the good fortune to fish true trout streams in Michigan, Colorado, and Wyoming.  Some were small creeks and others were rivers with some in between.  Places you never saw another fisherman other than those you went with.  No concession stands, swimming pools, or signs that said deep hole.  Not real different than private catch and carry trout operations.  Just not trout fishing as I know it.  With that said, to each there own.  If that is your thing then you've got several parks to choose from.

It's my thing!

[NoLuck]

3 hours ago, DADAKOTA said:

I really don't look at any trout park as being anywhere close to trout fishing.  It is just a different type of pay operation.  Fish dumped in on a daily basis pay your tag fee and take your trout home.  Oh yummy.  I have had the good fortune to fish true trout streams in Michigan, Colorado, and Wyoming.  Some were small creeks and others were rivers with some in between.  Places you never saw another fisherman other than those you went with.  No concession stands, swimming pools, or signs that said deep hole.  Not real different than private catch and carry trout operations.  Just not trout fishing as I know it.  With that said, to each there own.  If that is your thing then you've got several parks to choose from.

You know DaDakota,

Some people don't have the time to travel around the world fly fishing. So we take what we have available and learn to deal with it.  Sure I would love to be able to go every weekend to a pristine trout stream in the mountain wilderness. But, it just isn't practical for most folks including myself.   I rarely, if ever keep any trout from the MO streams. Having said that, I've seen people fishing remote trout streams and it looked a lot easier than fishing for trout in a MO trout park on Sunday evening after a huge crowd of people tromped up and down the stream for 3 days.

If it is so easy fishing the trout parks, why do I see so many people come and go all day long and never hook a fish?   Sure you can put a gut fly or pellet fly on and catch dumb fish. But, if you choose to use natural bugs to fly fish to actually trick the fish into biting,then it is a little more satisfying. 

Ive said it a lot,  and I'll say it again. You have to take what you have and enjoy it for what it is.  If you expect it to be something that it isn't then you are setting yourself up for disappointment. 

I go there because it's convenient and it's good practice for when I do go someplace more natural. Plus I have a lot of good friends that I can see there and have a great time.  It's also about tradition. My family has been going there since as long as I can remember.  I'm now 51 years old, and I plan on going there till I can't walk and fish anymore.  Maybe even longer if I can find me someone to roll me around and watch. 

 

So before writing off something that you don't understand fully of how someone else is thinking, please think of someone else's perspective.  I know I'm guilty of it about a lot of things but in this case I can relate.

Rich

[jpb2187]

14 minutes ago, NoLuck said:

So before writing off something that you don't understand fully of how someone else is thinking, please think of someone else's perspective.  I know I'm guilty of it about a lot of things but in this case I can relate.

Rich

I agree, but would have to point out a little bit of a flip-flop in regards to your OP. A lot of these people fishing are first timers, or just inexperienced and maybe trying to take their kids out and learn for themselves or teach their kids. 

Spent the weekend at the Lake with a friend's family who wasn't very familiar with fishing. Sure I would have loved to spend a couple hours on my own not having to show them what to do, baiting/unhooking fish, but I took some time to show them a few things. They weren't familiar with regulations and wanted to keep anything they caught. I had them buy licenses and taught them about length regulations. They were happy to do so, just didn't know about it before bc no one was there to teach them. 

I feel your pain when it comes to relaxation/getting away, but you gotta be proactive in education if you want people to learn your philosophy. They're will always be people that are inconsiderate, but there is a large group who just don't know anything about it, but will learn if they have someone to show them the ropes. 

[NoLuck]

9 minutes ago, jpb2187 said:

I agree, but would have to point out a little bit of a flip-flop in regards to your OP. A lot of these people fishing are first timers, or just inexperienced and maybe trying to take their kids out and learn for themselves or teach their kids. 

Spent the weekend at the Lake with a friend's family who wasn't very familiar with fishing. Sure I would have loved to spend a couple hours on my own not having to show them what to do, baiting/unhooking fish, but I took some time to show them a few things. They weren't familiar with regulations and wanted to keep anything they caught. I had them buy licenses and taught them about length regulations. They were happy to do so, just didn't know about it before bc no one was there to teach them. 

I feel your pain when it comes to relaxation/getting away, but you gotta be proactive in education if you want people to learn your philosophy. They're will always be people that are inconsiderate, but there is a large group who just don't know anything about it, but will learn if they have someone to show them the ropes. 

You missed the part where I said I'm happy just heading back the the camper to relax and enjoy myself.  That is how I deal with people that haven't a clue about steam etiquette.  It's not my job to teach them. I feel if I have to teach them then I become the jerk. So it's better to just walk away. 

I've  always thought that when people buy a tag they should have a handout or at least a board with stream etiquette as a guide for beginners.  It would save a lot of grief. But then again people would have to actually give a rats behind.  

So, it's nice to have options.